Transformers #36 Preview: The New Superion Debuts as Cobra-La Strikes Back
Robert Kirkman, Jason Howard, and Mike Spicer bring the current Transformers arc to an explosive close
Transformers #36 brings the latest Energon Universe arc to a massive conclusion on September 9, 2026, and Skybound is not playing small with this one.
The issue marks the end of the arc, the debut of a new version of Superion, and a shocking escalation as Cobra-La pushes deeper into the Transformers side of the Energon Universe. Written by Robert Kirkman, with art by Jason Howard and colors by Mike Spicer, this chapter looks ready to deliver the kind of oversized chaos that has made Skybound and Image Comics’ Transformers run one of the most talked-about franchise comics on shelves.
The big hook is simple: Thundercracker takes his place among the Aerialbots. That alone is a wild enough idea to sell the issue, but Transformers #36 also teases something even stranger and louder on the horizon:
COBRA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!
The New Superion Changes Everything
Superion has always been one of the most recognizable Autobot combiners, but Transformers #36 gives that legacy a major Energon Universe twist. With Thundercracker joining the Aerialbots, the new Superion is not just a power upgrade. It is a statement.
This version immediately raises questions. Can Thundercracker truly function as part of an Autobot combiner team? Does this make him a full ally, a temporary necessity, or something more complicated? And how does a Decepticon-turned-Aerialbot affect the balance between Autobots, Decepticons, and the expanding threats around them?
That uncertainty is exactly what makes the debut exciting. Kirkman’s run has leaned hard into consequences, shifting loyalties, and battlefield decisions that rarely come without a cost. The new Superion feels like a bold evolution rather than a simple nostalgia play.
Cobra-La Enters the Fight in a Big Way
The other major hook is Cobra-La.
The Energon Universe has already proven that Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, and M.A.S.K. can share a connected world without feeling forced. Transformers #36 appears to take that shared-universe promise and drive it directly into the middle of a Cybertronian war story.
Cobra-La’s presence gives the issue a different kind of danger. These are not just soldiers, machines, or standard villains. Cobra-La brings body-horror weirdness, ancient menace, and a bizarre organic threat that clashes perfectly against the metallic scale of the Transformers.
That contrast is what makes this arc feel fresh. Giant robots are built for war, but Cobra-La brings something more unpredictable. The result is a clash that feels chaotic, strange, and exactly right for the Energon Universe.
Jason Howard and Mike Spicer Bring the War to Life
The preview art and cover lineup make one thing clear: Transformers #36 is built for spectacle.
Jason Howard’s art gives the issue a kinetic, battle-heavy style, with large-scale action that still keeps the characters readable. The new Superion pages are especially striking because the action has weight. This is not just a combiner standing around for a splash-page reveal. The pages suggest momentum, danger, and a battlefield that is constantly changing.
Mike Spicer’s colors add another level of intensity. The issue leans into bright energy blasts, cold environments, smoky battlefields, and sharp contrasts between mechanical bodies and organic enemies. That visual contrast helps sell the issue’s central collision: Autobots, Decepticons, Aerialbots, and Cobra-La all smashing into the same battlefield.
For readers who enjoyed the intensity of Transformers #35, this next issue looks like a direct escalation.
A Strong End-of-Arc Issue
End-of-arc chapters can sometimes feel like cleanup. Transformers #36 does not look like that kind of issue.
Instead, it appears to be a turning point. The debut of the new Superion gives the Autobots a major weapon, but the Cobra-La tease suggests the victory may not be clean. The issue also looks like it is setting up the next phase of the Energon Universe, where the lines between franchises become even more dangerous and unpredictable.
That is where the current Transformers run has been most effective. It respects the classic iconography while refusing to simply replay the past. Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Thundercracker, and the Aerialbots all carry franchise history, but this series keeps pushing them into new combinations and new consequences.
Cover Lineup
Transformers #36 arrives with a strong lineup of covers for collectors:
Cover A: David Nakayama
Cover B: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
Cover C: Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni
Cover D: ITO
Cover E: Homare
The main Image Comics release page spotlights Cover A by David Nakayama, while collectors looking at incentive and variant options can also check listings such as the Midtown Comics Transformers #36 Cover E Homare variant.
Each cover highlights a different piece of the issue’s appeal, from combiner power to Decepticon firepower to the larger Energon Universe war machine.
Why Transformers Fans Should Watch This Issue
There are several reasons Transformers #36 should be on fans’ pull lists.
First, it is the end of the current arc, which makes it a natural payoff issue. Second, it introduces the new Superion, a major development for longtime Transformers readers and Energon Universe collectors. Third, it pushes Cobra-La further into the conflict, strengthening the connection between Transformers and G.I. Joe mythology.
For collectors, that combination matters. New combiner formation. End-of-arc status. Cobra-La crossover energy. Robert Kirkman writing. Jason Howard interiors. Multiple strong covers.
That is a lot of heat packed into a $3.99 issue.
Final Thoughts
Transformers #36 looks like a major Energon Universe chapter.
The new Superion debut gives the issue a powerful collector hook, but the real excitement comes from how unpredictable the story feels. Thundercracker joining the Aerialbots is the kind of twist that opens new doors instead of simply checking a nostalgia box. Add Cobra-La’s growing presence, and this issue has the potential to reshape what readers expect from the Transformers side of Skybound’s shared universe.
Robert Kirkman continues to treat Transformers like a war comic, a character drama, and a franchise reinvention all at once. With Jason Howard and Mike Spicer delivering explosive visuals, Transformers #36 should be one of the bigger Image Comics and Skybound releases to watch on September 9, 2026.
Issue Details
Title: Transformers
Issue: #36
Publisher: Image Comics / Skybound
Story: Robert Kirkman
Art: Jason Howard
Colors: Mike Spicer
Letters: Rus Wooton
Cover A: David Nakayama
Cover B: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
Cover C: Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni
Cover D: ITO
Cover E: Homare
Price: $3.99
On Sale: September 9, 2026
Available At: Comic book shops and digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play
Join the Discussion
Are you ready for Thundercracker to become part of the new Superion, or is Cobra-La about to make the Energon Universe even more dangerous?
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