#Daniel Warren Johnson

[jkparkin]

Transformers #21 (Skybound, June 2025) cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

[sumjag]

Grabbed by the visage of an angel serenading me through times of horror and strife. Optimus Prime on the piano

[browsethestacks]

Mothra

Art by Daniel Warren Johnson

[spaceshiprocket]

Batman by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

[lynbeeslair]

Save me, Skybound Starscream 🙏🙏🙏

[extraordinary-heroes]

Artist Showcase: Daniel Warren Johnson (Here There Be Giants)

[superectojazzmage]

A big aspect of the Skybound Transformers - as I've observed before - is framing the Autobots and Decepticons as akin to dysfunctional families, and I really adore all the ways that manifest. But in particular I like how Starscream and Soundwave are depicted as basically abused siblings who each learn horrible things from abusive father figure Megatron, causing them to perpetuate the cycle of abuse in their own ways.

Starscream picked up - or rather, had it beat into him - Megatron's viciousness and general toxic-masculine meathead worldview. He spent his youth being essentially slapped up the head and told to act like a man or else he was a pussy and no son of Megatron's is gonna be a pussy. Thus you get his present day self as basically an insecure thug who's constantly bullying everyone around him and blows up at the slightest provocation because he thinks that if he shows any softness whatsoever than he'll be a failure of a man, and that to show weakness is to be hurt. He beats around the other Decepticons and threatens them into following his lead, repeating the exact kind of treatment Megatron subjected him to, and he does it just because that's what he's been taught a leader is like.

Soundwave picked up Megatron's holier-than-thou attitude, hypocrisy, and warped "family comes first" ethos. He genuinely wants to do what's right by his fellow Decepticons, but also cares about them over everything else and thinks nothing of violating his own morals for their sake. And as he commits awful crimes, he avoids reflecting on the implications of what he's doing by using "the cause" as a blanket justification for everything he does, convincing himself that he lacks agency. In his head, it's not HIS fault he kills people, he HAS to do it, his troops are counting on him and the new world that will be born from a Decepticon victory will make all the suffering mean something. And when the other Decepticons question it, he just berates and guilt trips them back in line to avoid having to question himself, becoming the exact kind of domineering jerk of a commander that he hates.

I might make another post about the other examples of this theme, but for now I'll just say, if you're not reading Daniel Warren Johnson's Transformers, you NEED to be reading it, it's so damn good.

[thehauntedrocket]

Darth Vader vs Luke Skywalker

Art by Daniel Warren Johnson

Colors by Morgan Hickman

[vertigoartgore]

Wolverine #400 variant cover by artist Daniel Warren Johnson (2025). Source

[wwprice1]

10 amazing DC covers for November!

[curtvilescomic]

Batman by Daniel Warren Johnson

[kryptonbabe]

From Transformers Vol. 1 - Robots in Disguise (2024) by Daniel Warren Johnson

[soranatus]

Optimus Prime In spray paint, by Daniel Warren Johnson

[spaceshiprocket]

Star Wars by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

[lynbeeslair]

Beware, he’s out there to get you (yes please)

[tomoleary]

Daniel Warren Johnson Beta Ray Bill #4 DPS pages 16-17 (2021) Source

Colors by Mike Spicer