Thundercracker Joins the Aerialbots?! Transformers #36 Unleashes a Wild New Superion and the Forces of Cobra-La

Skybound, Image Comics, and Hasbro are closing out the current Transformers story arc by throwing gasoline on the Energon fire, because Transformers #36 is bringing us a brand-new Superion, one very unexpected Aerialbot, and the arrival of Cobra-La in the Energon Universe. Yeah, mi gente, things are officially getting weird in the best possible way.

The two-time Eisner Award-winning series continues under the creative team of writer Robert Kirkman, artist Jason Howard, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Rus Wooton, with issue #36 hitting comic shops on September 9, 2026. Kirkman has been carrying the momentum forward after Daniel Warren Johnson’s run, and now the current arc is looking to land with the kind of twist that gets comic shops talking before Wednesday morning coffee even kicks in. So, about that new Superion.

In one of those “hold up, say what now?” moves, Thundercracker is joining the Aerialbots. Yes, Thundercracker. The Decepticon. Apparently somebody looked at the traditional team lineup and said, “Nah, let’s make this spicy.”

The Aerialbots manage to assemble, and right when it looks like Superion is about to become the biggest thing happening on the battlefield, another sound starts creeping in from the distance.

COBRA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!

If that chant just unlocked some deeply buried childhood memory, congratulations, you’re my people. The arrival of Cobra-La pushes the Energon Universe even deeper into crossover territory, bringing another piece of classic Hasbro madness into a shared universe that has already spent the last few years proving Skybound is not scared to remix the toys in the toy box. Transformers #36 is not simply closing an arc, it is planting another flag for just how unpredictable this universe can get when its biggest franchises start colliding.

Cover collectors are getting plenty to chase too. The main cover comes from David Nakayama, while Cover B features work by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer. Jason Howard and Annalisa Leoni handle Cover C, with incentive variants coming from Ito at 1:25 and Homare at 1:50.

The timing could not be better for a swing this big. Transformers has become one of the cornerstone titles of Skybound’s Energon Universe, the shared continuity created through the collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound that has brought Transformers and G.I. Joe under one roof while expanding the mythology around both franchises.

That universe now stretches well beyond Optimus Prime and Cobra Commander. Void Rivals continues from writer Robert Kirkman, artist Conor Hughes, and colorist Patricio Delpeche. G.I. Joe rolls on under Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana, and Lee Loughridge, while M.A.S.K. adds another major Hasbro property to the mix with writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, and colorist Pierluigi Casolino.

The whole strategy has been built around making every title feel like it matters. Big reveals do not stay locked inside one corner of the universe, and characters crossing franchise lines are no longer some once-a-year gimmick. The connective tissue is becoming the story, and Transformers #36 looks ready to push that idea even harder.

Thundercracker becoming part of Superion would already be enough to make this issue a must-watch, but dropping Cobra-La into the mix tells us Skybound is nowhere near finished messing with fan expectations. Good.

Comics should surprise us. Shared universes should feel dangerous. And if you’re going to combine Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, and now M.A.S.K. into one giant sandbox, then swing for the damn fences. Transformers #36 arrives in comic book shops on September 9, 2026. And somewhere, somebody at Cobra-La is already yelling that chant again.

You know you heard it.

The full list of variant covers is below:

• Transformers #36 Cover A by David Nakayama (Lunar Code: 0726IM0539)
• Transformers #36 Cover B by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (Lunar Code: 0726IM0540)
• Transformers #36 Cover C by Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code: 0726IM0541)
• Transformers #36 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Ito (Lunar Code: 0726IM0542)
• Transformers #36 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Homare (Lunar Code: 0726IM0543)

Transformers #36 (Lunar Codes Below| $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.