“The Ally Who Could Turn the Tide”: Transformers Brings Back the Autobots’ Greatest Warrior

WARNING! Potential spoilers ahead for Transformers #17The Autobot/Decepticon war has been raging in the Energon Universe, but the return of one major character in the pages of Transformers (2023) could be enough to turn the tide in the Autobots’ favor. As the Cybertronian war heats up, both sides are going to need all the help they can get, so fans should expect many cameos and surprise appearances in the issues to come.

Set to be released in February of next year, Transformers #17 will be the third part of the new arc started in issue #15. The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons continues to rage on Earth, which leads Optimus Prime’s forces to seek out an old ally: Ultra Magnus.

Ultra Magnus has already made his debut in Skybound’s shared continuity, being brought to Earth by Elita-1 and repaired to help Optimus Prime. However, Ultra Magnus’ battle scars proved to be more than just skin deep, and the Autobot warrior fled the battlefield once he laid eyes upon the Decepticon Shockwave.

What The Return of Ultra Magnus Means For Transformers’ Energon War

Will the Autobot Warrior Turn the Tide of Battle?

Ultra Magnus had good reason to run at the mere sight of Shockwave, as the grizzled Autobot veteran spent years being tortured by the Decepticon on Cybertron. Elita-1 was able to lead a strike team into a Decepticon stronghold and rescue what was left of Magnus, who had been stripped down into little more than a robot skeleton. Once a bridge between Earth and Cybertron was opened by the Decepticons, Elita managed to bring Magnus through with her. Optimus Prime decided to use what was left of their Energon to resurrect his old friend, although Magnus ultimately left the Autobots high and dry.

Judging from the info in the solicits, a “covert group of Autobots” will be sent to find the missing Ultra Magnus, which sounds like an exciting, Guns of Navarrone-styled “bots on a mission” scenario. It will also be interesting to see what Magnus has been up to since fleeing the battlefield in Transformers #11, and where the Autobot veteran has been hiding out on Earth. Whatever happens, fans can expect a harrowing examination of the trauma of war, as this has been the major theme explored by Daniel Warren Johnson and co. in the new series.

Our Take: Transformers Comics Are Keeping Franchise Fans Guessing

Which Transformers Will Next Appear in the New Continuity?

In addition to the return of Ultra Magnus, the solicits for Transformers #17 also tease the “debut of an ALL-NEW <SPOILER> character.” The wording of that tease is interesting, as it doesn’t necessarily say that this character debut will be a Transformer. Is it possible that a member of G.I. Joe or Cobra will make their first appearance here, much like how Duke first appeared in Transformers #2? Or is it possible that the Energon Universe will be adding another original character following the debut of Genvo in Transformers #13? When it comes to the Energon Universe era of Transformers, anything is possible.

Transformers #17 is on sale 2/12/25 from Skybound Entertainment

Transformers (2023)

Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.