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IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher

Posted by william-james88 Jul 23, 2018 at 8:57am CDT 15,185 views
We now have an image of Cover B from artist Sara Pitre-Durocher, for Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B. She shared it on Twitter and you can read her tweet below.

This is the big finale to the current Shockwave centered arc which ties directly with the Unicron event which will probably end all IDW continuity as we know it.

Optimus Prime #22—Cover A: Kei Zama

John Barber (w) • Sara Pitre-Durocher (a) • Kei Zama (c)

END OF THE ROAD! Trapped between Shockwave’s attack and Unicron’s onslaught, Optimus and the Autobots struggle to make sense of what’s left of their world. Shockwave reveals ancient truths—as an old friend tries to reconnect with Cybertron.

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Optimus Prime #22—Cover B: Sara Pitre-Durocher

John Barber (w) • Sara Pitre-Durocher (a & c)

FC • 32 pages • $3.99


Transformers News: Variant Cover for IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher

More Bots. More News. More Awesome.

Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by steve2275 Jul 23, 2018
doing it with style
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Jul 23, 2018
What's kinda funny about RiD/TF/OP is that the whole thing is basically the same book but with 3 different names, like MTMTE/LL. And considering both are 1 long narrative, both will end with more issues to them than the original US Marvel run, which is very impressive.

Also, with what Shockwave has done, it still raises a few questions for me:

1) The Matrix. Where, why, how does this fit in with everything being made up?

2) Shockwave didn't know anything about the colonies before he got sent back in time, so how did he know which planets would host colonies?

3) Shockwave, the Maximals, and Unicron. Connection please.

4) How did Galvatron know OnxyWave was coming? How did he know what was going to happen?

5) more Unicron, but still applies here: 13th colony?

6) Poor Scoop. He's super dead Jim.

7) If OP and BB are simply data, does that really mean they still have sparks? it sounds like resurrection is a bit too easy, unless sparks can survive being turned into pure data and somehow reignited. Wholly possible I know, but a bit funky.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Ironhidensh Jul 23, 2018
AllNewSuperRobot wrote:For someone who has read comics for around three decades, the answer is very simple: just pick a book you like the look of and start reading. I'll give you an example, the first issue of Uncanny X-Men I ever bought was #314. Wherein Emma Frost possesses Iceman and runs amok before discovering her previous students were all dead. I had no context for any of that, But, I liked what I read so I kept reading. Filling in the blanks over time.


Heh. Mine was #307, where they play some football, and Scott and Jean make an announcement.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Ms. Trebuchette Jul 24, 2018
Just popping in to say, after having re-read exRID #44 (Aileron's first appearance) straight through to OP #21, both of Arcee and Aileron's character arcs have been building to that moment and their friendship (and feelings for each) really starts to kick off in OP#8. <3 <3 <3

It's also really easy to see a whole new subtext as to why Aileron was such a basket case during First Strike (OP#11&12) which doesn't payoff entirely until OP#15.

As a re-read, Arcee and Aileron and the REAL B plot of whole "The Falling" arc.

The A Plot is obviously the "falling" of the entire belief of Cybertronians.

The B Plot is Arcee and Aileron falling for each other, literally and figuratively and it happens throughout the whole arc leading up to OP#21.

Re-reading Aileron's narration in OP#17 is almost like reading a love poem now.

I'm dying to see the fallout from both the kiss and everyone's least favorite time-traveling furry's plan to kill belief in OP#22.

From the 5-page preview from Unicron #2, it doesn't really seem like Aileron minded too much. :D
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Va'al Aug 2, 2018
We have three more previews of IDW Publishing Transformers comics, coming from both the publisher themselves and regular outlet iTunes for the one included below to begin with - a three page preview for the ongoing series Optimus Prime and its issue #22, as we lead towards the Unicron event already starting in its own mini-series.

Check out the three mirrored pages below, featuring art by Sara Pitre-Durocher, and prepare for the full issue out soon.

Description

END OF THE ROAD! Trapped between Shockwave’s attack and Unicron’s onslaught, Optimus and the Autobots struggle to make sense of what’s left of their world. Shockwave reveals ancient truths—as an old friend tries to reconnect with Cybertron.


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Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by ZeroWolf Aug 2, 2018
Is it me or does bee look even shorter there?
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Randomhero Aug 2, 2018
It’s available at IDW too
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Aug 2, 2018
I'm liking the fact that we are coming back to the dreams OP had in All Hail Optimus
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Va'al Aug 3, 2018
Courtesy of both IDW Publishing's website and artist Kei Zama on Twitter, we have the full cover reveal for Cover A of the upcoming Optimus Prime #23 issue of the ongoing Transformers comics series, which features, as you can see below, the Junkion rulers Rum-Maj and Wreck-Gar, along with background Sharkticons.

Also included below, thanks to Zama, are the lineart for the cover, the initial sketches and pencils, and a reminder of the concept designs for both Junkion leaders. Check it all out!

The battle against Unicron forces Optimus Prime’s colonist soldiers to contend with a brutal reality—they have no homes to return to. But when they make a move against Trypticon, the human-controlled home of the next generation of Cybertronians… can the end be far behind?


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Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Va'al Aug 7, 2018
The first of our full previews for upcoming IDW Publishing Transformers comics this Tuesday comes in the form of Optimus Prime #22, running to catch up to the Unicron event in the overall scheduling, and sort of sliding in both before and just after the first issues of that mini-series.

Check it out below, and head back for a review here on Seibertron.com once the book is released!

Optimus Prime #22—Cover A: Kei Zama
John Barber (w) • Sara Pitre-Durocher (a) • Kei Zama (c)
END OF THE ROAD! Trapped between Shockwave’s attack and Unicron’s onslaught, Optimus and the Autobots struggle to make sense of what’s left of their world. Shockwave reveals ancient truths—as an old friend tries to reconnect with Cybertron.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Optimus Prime #22—Cover B: Sara Pitre-Durocher
John Barber (w) • Sara Pitre-Durocher (a & c)
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Variant cover by Kei Zama!


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Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by ZeroWolf Aug 7, 2018
Poor cliffjumper, he never gets a break.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Deadput Aug 7, 2018
ZeroWolf wrote:Poor cliffjumper, he never gets a break.


Yeah besides the occasional background cameo Cliff sure was forgotten by idw after the death of op issue.

Sigh I remember spotlight Cliffjumper which makes me all the sadder.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by ZeroWolf Aug 7, 2018
Although..
Wasn't he one of the ones who died in the movie?
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Big Grim Aug 7, 2018
Nope, he survived with Jazz, Bumblebee and Spike.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Va'al Aug 8, 2018
...fallen?
(Spoiler free-ish)



Synopsis
END OF THE ROAD! Trapped between Shockwave’s attack and Unicron’s onslaught, Optimus and the Autobots struggle to make sense of what’s left of their world. Shockwave reveals ancient truths—as an old friend tries to reconnect with Cybertron.


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just, generally


Story
The Falling is over, now comes the fallout. As we pick up the pieces of what took place during the latest story arc in the Optimus Prime ongoing, we also finally connect to the story continuing over in the mini-series that is the Unicron event finale - even with the lateness and repercussions that this has, more so than previously in this book specifically.

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err.. surprise?


Other than the return of both Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, with the former's troubled and questioning ethical and personal issues about how the entire universe may be right in not being that happy with him or Cybertron after all, both being utterly spoiled by now by the Unicron book, there are some interesting aspects of returning characters and intersecting universes that work well in the issue.

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heads up: recap puns


In particular, we get to see how Rom is involved in the situation at hand (before the events of Unicron #0), along with many of the other characters previously seen in the Hasbro Universe and still/back on Earth since they were last shown in the series in recent months. And, for someone who mildly enjoyed the titular series, there was some stand out, emotional beats that entirely justify the inclusion in the story.

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...


There are other peaks in terms of how the extremely large cast is being placed in relation with one another. Pyra Magna in particular leans even further into her role, as played pretty much against every major Cybertronian - something that will continue in Unicron - Bumblebee being used as exposition in the best way possible, and Optimus pretty much just taking it all in for the whole book, his silence actually quite tangible.


Art

Sara Pitre Durocher is the sole artist on the issue this time, and her work on the eyes of the characters (as well as what seems to be thicker inks, to me) is what stands out in particular on the page. From the very opening of Optimus' awakening, running through several close-ups, the layouts bring us closer and closer in to the story and how it's affecting the characters

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starting point


I am still impressed by how much of the series' tone has been given by the tonalities that Josh Burcham brings to his colours, which mark it as its own unique thing even when different artists are concerned, and this issue is no exception to that. With the multiple different settings and scenarios, the lighting strikes just right, and some on staff didn't even realise the artist had changed again!

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cold


As for the lettering from Tom B. Long, we only have a couple of particularly visible elements of font work, but the script is one of those exceptions to Barber's style which don't take captions to tell the story, and rather rely on dialogue - meaning that the job may not be as striking, but the careful laying out of the speech bubbles is meticulously done, and precisely on point.

In terms of covers, you can find all three in full size in our database entry, but the Pitre-Durocher one in the thumbnail in particular highlights my point about this book's character focus, while the Zama/Burcham main variant dwells on the story.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead
What initially seemed to be mostly exposition, as I pointed out above with Bumblebee, and as is partially also true with Shockwave, is also deployed by Barber really quite effectively as it sets in motion a number of cogs that the book itself remarks upon, though quite subtly, and it's probably the most intriguing hook from an issue that would otherwise be utterly flattened by knowing the general conclusion - and which may be the sole biggest fault of the book.

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*curses against scheduling*


On the other, very positive hand, it was a pleasure to see how Rom and other Hasbro Universe characters and storylines are being brought in finally without it feeling like a strain. Dinobots, Jazz, the Council and Marissa, Trypticon, the colonists on Earth - all pieces being set up for the next in the game, which OP's removal from the conversation actually shows how much his presence can be a hindrance to their development. (That sentence itself may have foreshadowing hues on what is left of this story.)

. :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON: - out of :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON: :CYBERTRON:
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by ZeroWolf Aug 8, 2018
Good review, and I love that artwork there of Shockwave talking about Eurakris and Antila. I just can't fathom how the scheduling got this messed up.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Va'al Aug 8, 2018
ZeroWolf wrote:Good review, and I love that artwork there of Shockwave talking about Eurakris and Antila. I just can't fathom how the scheduling got this messed up.


Thanks!

Admittedly, this was more as a big picture weird scheduling. It's not something to do with things being too late or missed releases, it just happens to work weird leading into the Unicron stuff (which was bound to come out for FCBD from the start, from what I know).
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by ZeroWolf Aug 8, 2018
Va'al wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:Good review, and I love that artwork there of Shockwave talking about Eurakris and Antila. I just can't fathom how the scheduling got this messed up.


Thanks!

Admittedly, this was more as a big picture weird scheduling. It's not something to do with things being too late or missed releases, it just happens to work weird leading into the Unicron stuff (which was bound to come out for FCBD from the start, from what I know).

I see, I have to wonder when they were sat planning this out, if this was the best worst approach. Given what they wanted to cover in Unicron 0#, they must have resigned themselves to certain events loosing impact.
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by Ms. Trebuchette Aug 8, 2018
Everything being sort of spoiled was totally worth it for that one panel where that one character was doing the most important thing EVER with her right arm.

*swoon*
Re: IDW Transformers: Optimus Prime #22 Cover B Shared by Sara Pitre-Durocher (view post)
Comment by AlphaBass Aug 8, 2018
I'm....actually kinda happy I'm annoyed at Optimus. That's some really good writing there.

Didn't think I'd side with Pyra, but.....yep.
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