New Transformers Death Permanently Rewrites the Connection Between Humans & Transformers

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Transformers #6

A major death just rocked the Transformers universe, and the impact could have lasting ramifications for the Energon Universe moving forward. Publisher Skybound Entertainment previously teased the death of a featured character in the recently-released Transformers #6, and the creative team has delivered on that promise in an emotionally resonant way.

Transformers #6 comes from the creative team of Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer and Rus Wooten. The issue picks up the story of Optimus Prime and the Autobots, who find themselves under attack from Devastator, the combined form of the Constructicons. Optimus Prime is beaten to within an inch of his life, and it seems at first like the Autobot leader won’t survive the damage.

Prime prepares to hand off the Matrix of Leadership to the Autobots as his last action, dropping it to the floor before he can choose a worthy successor. Just as all hope seems lost, human ally Sparkplug Witwicky decides to sacrifice himself, giving over his life energy by stepping into the Matrix itself.

Sparkplug Witwicky Sacrifices His Life To Save Optimus Prime

“My men. Jimmy. Spike,” Sparky says, reflecting on his fallen military comrades and his two sons. “Whenever something bad happened to them… I’d always think… ‘If only I could have taken their place. If only it was me instead of them.’” By choosing to give his life over to the Matrix of Leadership, Sparky’s life force proves to be enough to restore Prime to full health, giving him enough power to take on Devastator single-handed. It’s a moment that the creative team has been building to for this entire first arc of the series, and one that feels particularly relevant given Sparky’s characterization thus far.

When audiences first met Sparkplug Witwicky in Transformers #1, he was a broken shell of a man. A war veteran who is struggling to deal with his trauma in addition to the recent loss of his oldest son in a space shuttle crash, this version of Sparky is a far cry from the version seen in the classic G1 cartoon, where he was portrayed as a gruff but ultimately good-natured blue-collar worker. The Energon Universe version of Sparky is far deeper and more complex, so consumed by his own pain that he can barely see its effects on his only surviving son, Spike.

Highlighting how damaged he is, Sparky’s first reaction to the Transformers is to attack, so blinded by his own fear and anger after witnessing the brutality of Starscream that he fails to see the Autobots as potential allies. It’s through his violent retaliation against the Transformers that his son Spike is shot, taking a bullet in the crossfire as Sparky orders his VFW friends to fire upon the ’bots. It’s only after Prime and the others risk their lives to get Spike to the hospital that Sparky begins to trust the Autobots, as he sees the parallels between himself and Optimus Prime as war veterans haunted by their experiences.

Will Sparkplug’s Death Have Greater Ramifications In the Energon Universe?

In that way, Sparky’s sacrifice completes the arc he’s been on since his introduction in the first issue. By seeing something greater than himself and his own pain, Sparky is able to step outside of himself and into something greater; this metaphor is visualized beautifully by having Sparky literally step inside the Matrix of Leadership to heal another old soldier. While Optimus Prime promises that Sparky’s memory won’t be forgotten, there are still very real consequences of his sacrifice, as the heartbreaking final image of Spike waking in the hospital, wondering where his dad is, will attest.

Aside from the thematic resonance, Sparky sacrificing his life force does pose an interesting question for the Autobots and Decepticons moving forward from here. If one human’s life force is enough to fully heal Optimus Prime, does that mean that humans themselves can be used as a power source for all Transformers? Prime and the Autobots fled Cybertron to search for more Energon, and the chief threat facing both Transformers factions has been over gathering enough power to revive their comatose brethren. If humans can indeed act as a power source for the Cybertronians, it could spell disaster for Earth if Starscream and the Decepticons ever figure that out.

Considering that the imprint is called the Energon Universe, all the titles in Skybound’s line are about the search for the Transformers’ valuable power source. Dwindling resources are a major theme running through all the titles, all stemming from the Transformers leaving their homeworld to ensure the survival of their species. If humans could be used as a power source, that could have major ramifications for the G.I. Joe corner of the Energon Universe, as well. Cobra Commander has been on the hunt for Energon in his own miniseries, learning the secrets of the Cybertronians through his capture of Megatron. Is Skybound setting up a major story for when Megatron finally breaks free and realizes that humans can be used as an alternative power source to Energon?

Sparkplug’s Death Is A Heartbreaking End For Transformers’ First Arc

Sparky’s death winds up being the perfect note on which to end Transformers’ debut arc. It shows that, while the Autobots finally have a significant victory on their hands, it comes at a cost. Daniel Warren Johnson deserves special mention for how well he has brought the arc to a close, and ultimately pulling off the surprise of Sparkplug Witwicky’s death. Given the history of the franchise, it would have been easy for fans to assume the big death in Transformers #6 was going to be Optimus Prime, and Johnson milked those expectations for all they were worth going into the issue before pulling a last-minute swerve.

The ultimate fate of Sparkplug Witwicky will go down as a landmark moment in Skybound’s Transformers series. While Daniel Warren Johnson sadly won’t be drawing the book anymore, he will be joined with new artist Jorge Corona in next month’s Transformers #7, ensuring that the comic will still be one of the best-looking books on the stands. Given the exciting developments of the first arc, fans can rest assured that the Energon Universe era of Transformers continues to be in good hands.