WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Transformers #9

Shockwave enters the fray in Transformers #9, and the Decepticon ruler of Cybertron gets a twisted new take in the Energon Universe. Skybound has upped the stakes of the franchise by increasing the brutality of the Decepticons but this new version of Shockwave might be the most extreme of all, as the Decepticon is downright terrifying.

Transformers #9 – written by Daniel Warren Johnson, with art by Jorge Corona – opens with Shockwave arriving on Earth, after creating a bridge from Cybertron. The Decepticon leader immediately establishes himself as a major threat by transforming into his alt-mode and killing the Autobot Ratchet.

Things only get worse for the Autobots from there, as Shockwave hands Optimus Prime a rather crushing defeat when the two come to blows. Prims is forced to make a tough decision in the aftermath, leaving the wounded Cliffjumper and Jazz on the battlefield for Shockwave to take as prisoners.

Shockwave’s Brutal Arrival On Earth Makes It Clear The Energon Universe Is Going Dark

Transformers #9 – Written By Daniel Warren Johnson; Art By Jorge Corona, Mike Spicer & Rus Wooton

“These Autobots have been on this planet for many years,” Shockwave explains while looking over the fallen Cliffjumper and Jazz. “I must conduct experiments on the effect this has had on them.” Chillingly, Shockwave drags Cliffjumper away, promising that the Autobot is in for “painful experiments.” It’s a blood-curdling moment, made all the more horrifying given Shockwave’s casual attitude of cruelty. It is hard not to get an icky feeling watching the Decepticon take Cliffjumper away to a potentially horrible fate, a story beat made all the more effective by having Cliffjumper screaming in terror as he’s abducted.

Shockwave is also interested in learning about the biology of humans, something that is revealed when Astrotrain kidnaps Spike Witwicky from the hospital. The Decepticon triple-changer is eager to get into Shockwave’s good graces, hoping to do so by bringing a live human sample for him. Astrotrain also notes that the process will also be painful for Spike, saying that the human boy will be subjected to torture once he’s delivered to Shockwave. Shockwave was always ruled by logic in the classic G1 continuity, so his curiosity to examine the life-forms around him is in keeping with his character.

The Decepticons Are More Than Cartoon Villains In Transformers’ New Continuity

The Energon Universe Is A Dangerous Place

Transformers” creative team has cast Shockwave as a major threat in the Energon Universe. Soundwave is the current leader of the Decepticons on Earth, and seems to have come to an agreement with Shockwave now that the Decepticons have built a bridge between the planet and Cybertron. So far, Skybound’s Energon Universe Transformers has emphasized how serious of a threat the Decepticons are – increasingly raising the stakes of their presence on Earth. This is precisely what makes the Energon Universe era of Transformers so exciting, as the action continues to get even more intense with every issue.

Transformers #9 is on sale now from Skybound Entertainment