Transformers Vol. 1: Robots in Disguise

Spike Witwicky and his girlfriend, Carly, find a crashed ship in the mountains. The computer Teletraan 1 revives Jetfire, Starscream and Soundwave, and Carly's father is killed in the first attack. The Autobots wake up, and Optimus Prime learns about Earth from Spike. The war resumes with humans caught in the middle: Optimus loses an arm to a militia missile, the Autobots run low on energon, and Ratchet loses both legs. Against Devastator, Optimus ends up near death and pulls the Matrix from his chest. In the end, Spike's father, Sparkplug, gives himself to the Matrix to restore Optimus, who throws Devastator off the mountain and retakes their base. Spike wakes up in the hospital asking for his dad.

1. Behind the scenesTwo Eisner Awards

   In 2024, the series won the Eisner for Best Continuing Series, and Daniel Warren Johnson took Best Writer/Artist.

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2. Behind the scenesSix issues all his

   Johnson wrote and drew issues #1–6, with colors by Mike Spicer. From #7 on, he only writes.

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3. ReferenceEchoes of the 1986 movie

   When a dying Optimus pulls the Matrix from his chest, the scene calls back to The Transformers: The Movie (1986).

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