The Transformers universe is getting blown up by a comics legend

I don’t know anything about professional wrestling, but Daniel Warren Johnson’s gonzo wrestling comic Do a Powerbomb One of my favorites of the last two years. It’s got killer art, a story full of heart, and roller-coaster stakes.

I don’t know anything about Transformers, either, but Daniel Warren Johnson’s TransformersThis week, #1 was released. After reading the issue I’m sure Transformers diehard fans will be excited. But I’m hoping even more that this is my gateway into understanding the space robots that turn into cars and stuff.

Despite Transformers’ hold on culture, I’ve never really found the right entry point into the franchise’s sprawling continuity — an irony for Polygon’s resident expert on superhero continuity. But if Daniel Warren Johnson can make me care deeply about a foreign subject once, I bet he can do it twice, because if there’s one thing he’s good at, it’s translating his enthusiasm.

That’s a trick that isn’t just about good action and the rule of cool — although Johnson is superlative at that. It’s not just that he’s gonna show me Optimus Prime suplexing Starscream, complete with beautifully rendered sound effects and palpable kinetic motion. He’s also gonna make sure I know why Optimus is a good guy, even if I’d never heard of him before.

With a huge BOOM rendered behind them, Optimus Prime suplexes Starscream, cracking the ground beneath them, as two teens, dwarfed in size vs. the huge robots, run, in Transformers #1.

“What... are you?” asks Optimus Prime, his face looming hugely over a couple of teen humans. “I... I’m Spike,” answers one. “Get behind me, small creatures!” Optimus cries, shielding them from Starscream’s laser blasts in Transformers #1.

TransformersIt’s a fresh, new start on Earth where teens are dreaming of art school and astronauts. They haven’t heard of Autobots nor Decepticons. Or at least it seems that way — I thought the teens were original characters at first, but I looked it up and it turns out that Spike and Carly are are some real OGs!

So I can’t rule What are you waiting for? out! I know just enough about Transformers to know I don’t know anythingTransformers. This is enough.

“Ratchet! Transform!” shouts Optimus Prime, as he starts to transform, carrying two human teens in his arms. A sound effect declares KHEE KHE KO KO KAH in Transformers #1.

Optimus Prime and Ratchet, in their car forms, zoom across the panel with a big VROOOOO as Optimus says “And roll out,” in Transformers #1.

Can make me go:

A still of Leonardo DiCaprio pointing in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He is sitting in a chair holding a beer and cigarette in one hand and pointing at the screen excitedly with the other — He did it? *KEE KEE Ko kah*Then, he said something.

But also so little that I couldn’t confidently say whether Optimus Prime and Optimus Primal are the same dude or not without consulting a wiki. I’m like Spike and Carly in Transformers #1: I’m getting introduced to a big alien world, and I’m hopefully about to become best buds with a robot space warrior, but I’m also thinking to myself, “Holy shit that gun is big.”

Spike and Carly, two human teens, work to gether to push Optimus Prime’s gun within reach of his hand, as Starscream and Ravage try to wrestle him to the ground in Transformers #1.

If you’re a Transformers fan, I’m excited for you — you’re getting a comic from one of the coolest artists working today. And if you’re not — maybe you should be reading the comic anyway, because it’s being made by one of the coolest artists working today. That’s what I’m doing.

Perhaps soon I will also learn to appreciate the huge cassette tape which transforms into a puppy that is eager to bite Optimus prime. Here’s hoping!

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