Daniel Warren Johnson will be ending his acclaimed run onTransformersthis year, and the solicitation for the fourth trade paperback collection promises an ending that no one will see coming. The war on Earth between the Autobots and Decepticons is about to reach a boiling point, leading to an epic conclusion that could change the Energon Universe forever.
Transformers Vol. 4: Conquer and Controlwill collect issues #19-24 of the ongoingTransformersseries, as well as a story from this year’sEnergon Universe Specialavailable on Free Comic Book Day.
TRANSFORMERS VOL. 4: CONQUER AND CONTROL
November 25th, 2025
Cover Artists:
Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer
The Eisner Award-winning series from Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona reveals the answers to long awaited questions as the Cybertronian war on Earth explodes in TRANSFORMERS VOL. 4.
ONE SHALL STAND, ONE SHALL FALL.
Megatron has returned to lead the Decepticons, and only Optimus Prime may be able to stop him.
The war between the Autobots and Decepticons has all been leading to the shocking conclusion that NO ONE will see coming!
The critically acclaimed team of Daniel Warren Johnson (Do A Powerbomb) and Jorge Corona (Middlewest) break all the rules in this brand-new volume of the Eisner Award-winning series.
As the swan song for Eisner Award-winning creator Johnson, hisfinal arc onTransformerswill be going out with an absolute bang.Megatron is officially backand taking control of the Decepticons just in time for an ending that “no one will see coming.”
The Energon Universe’sTransformersSeries Promises That “One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall”
TransformersPromises Shocking Ending to Daniel Warren Johnson’s Run
The solicitation forTransformers Vol. 4makes reference to Optimus Prime’s immortal line from 1986’sTransformers: The Movie. In that iconic scene, Prime tells Megatron that “One shall stand, one shall fall” before the two engage in their most brutal battle, which results in the death of Optimus Prime. Johnson’s time with the Robots in Disguise as both writer and artist has been marked by many things, but chief among them is a high body count. Several major characters have been killed offin the newTransformerscontinuity,so it would be easy to assume more will fall before all is said and done.
Daniel Warren Johnson will draw one final Transformers story in theEnergon Universe Specialfor Free Comic Book Day 2025
Most exciting of all is the chance to see Megatron and Optimus Prime finally go at it in the Energon Universe. The Decepticon leader has been largely absent from the Energon Universe, leaving first Starscream and later Soundwave to take up the leadership reins in his absence. Aside from a brief flashback showing how the Cybertronian Ark crashed on Earth centuries ago, fans haven’t gotten the chance to seeOptimus Prime throw down with arch-nemesis Megatron in the new continuity. The fact thatOptimus Prime is currently making use of Megatron’s cannon armshould add an extra layer of tension to their eventual smackdown.
TransformersWriter/Artist Daniel Warren Johnson Deserves to Take a Bow
The Award-Winning Creator ReinvigoratedTransformers
However cataclysmic Johnson’s conclusion to his run will be, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate what the acclaimed creator has brought to theTransformersfranchise. When all is said and done, Johnson’s tenure will go down asone of the greatestTransformersstories of all time, as his almost Spielberg-ian mix of character drama and spectacle has resulted in one of the best reads on the comic stands, month-in and month-out.
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The Autobots have a new ally, as the Energon Universe debuts a totally original character in the latest issue of Transformers; meet SHREDHEAD.
After writing and drawing the first six issues, Johnson handed over the art chores to Jorge Corona, who has continued the artistic standard of excellence while also bringing his own unique spin to the proceedings. Whether or not Corona stays on as the artist ofTransformersremains to be seen, but the Robots in Disguise will continue their adventures in the Energon Universe. While it will be exciting to hear who the new creative team will be, it’s nice to hear that Johnson will be ending his time onTransformerswith an epic conclusion.
Transformers Vol. 4: Conquer and Controlis available November 25th, 2025 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.
