Picture this – it’s 2021, and you’ve learned that IDW, the publisher of probably the best Transformers comic (More than Meets the Eye and its sequel Lost Light), has lost the Hasbro license and, with it, the right to publish Transformers comics. And even though the original IDW universe ended 3 years earlier (and the 2019 continuity was short-lived), the news still might not feel right. Especially when you hear rumors that Robert Kirkman’s Skybound is in talks to pick up the license.
And then, two years pass and nothing happens. In February 2023, Skybound announced an “all-new shared universe” that would spin out of the sci-fi book Void Rivals, written by Skybound founder Robert Kirkman (of The Walking Dead and Invincible fame), with Lorenzo De Felici on art and Matheus Lopes and Patricio Delpeche on colors.
Void Rivals: The Gateway into Energon
The pair of Kirkman and De Felici had already worked together on Oblivion Song, so fans were excited for more sci-fi goodness. The story follows two pilots from rival worlds – Darak from the Agorrians and Solila from the Zertonians – who crash-land on a desert planet. After an initial conflict, they realize they must abandon their directives to kill each other and work together to survive and escape.
The story and art are both very compelling. The characters are drawn in a simple style, yet the color palette creates enough contrast between them and the planet to make them stand out. The desolation of the planet, along with the space vistas, is wonderful to look at and evokes the same sense of curiosity and wonder you’d feel in Star Wars or similar stories.
But it was the big secret reveal that really stole the cake (which, if you ask me, is somewhat of a shame, since the book is good on its own!). During the first issue, while trying to salvage their ships, the pair stumbles upon a familiar white jet fighter with red stripes. After powering it up in hopes of escaping, a satisfying CH-CHIK reveals Jetfire – and the real Energon Universe begins to unravel.
Jetfire quickly leaves the pair to fend for themselves, and they do – expanding the story of Void Rivals, building the lore of this new universe, and introducing a range of new characters and conflicts. But the Transformers (and broader Hasbro universe) reveal took the comic world and the internet by storm – people started making videos, posts, speculating, and talking about it.
Kirkman loves his surprises (he hid the ending of The Walking Dead until the issue dropped), and this was no different – no one knew what Void Rivals and the Energon Universe would be until the issue was released.
The story of Void Rivals is still ongoing and has been collected across three trade paperbacks:
- Volume 1: More Than Meets the Eye
- Volume 2: Hunted Across the Wasteland
- Volume 3: The Key to Vector Theta
Each book collects six issues of the title. There is also a Void Rivals Deluxe Edition hardcover collecting the first 12 issues and the Energon Universe 2024 Special – and like every Deluxe Hardcover in the Energon Universe, it features two different covers for readers to “pick a side.”
Transformers: Daniel Warren Johnson Rolls Out!
When it came time to assign the creative team for Transformers (which was bound to be the biggest draw of the Energon Universe), the decision had to be made carefully. It ultimately fell to the magic team behind hits like Extremity, Murder Falcon, and Do A Powerbomb – Daniel Warren Johnson on writing and art, with Mike Spicer on colors.
The Energon Universe’s Transformers launched in October 2024 to a fantastic start – these bots are bold and bright. Just like other books by the duo, the comic showcases bombastic action mixed with a lot of heart. Both the robots and the humans are stylish yet very expressive, and the story doesn’t slow down once it starts.
And it starts right where Void Rivals left off – with Jetfire landing on a planet to find both Autobots and Decepticons crash-landed and inoperative, with the fate of Cybertron unknown. After booting up some of his friends (Starscream, Skywarp, Optimus Prime, and Ratchet), he involuntarily restarts their conflict. The planet where this takes place? Earth, of course. And caught in the middle of it all are humans Spike Witwicky and his girlfriend Carly.
Be warned though – this book is not for the faint of heart. Humans and Transformers alike meet grisly deaths from issue #1, with some fan favorites from recent years not even making it past a brief cameo before being brutally written off. Nevertheless, it’s endlessly fun and a welcome return to form for our favorite robots in disguise!
The team changed slightly – with Jorge Corona taking over on art from Daniel Warren Johnson, who stayed on as writer. Corona does a fantastic job maintaining consistency with DWJ’s masterful artwork. Recently, it was announced that Daniel Warren Johnson would be leaving the title after issue #24, but the future for Transformers is still very bright!
Just like Void Rivals, there are trade paperbacks you can get, each collecting six issues:
Again, there is a Transformers Deluxe Edition with the familiar gimmick – choosing your cover – Autobot or Decepticon!
G.I. Joe: Yo Jo-shua Williamson
To start off – sorry for that terrible pun – I HAD TO! While Void Rivals and Transformers got ongoing titles, G.I. Joe (another Hasbro staple) received a slightly different treatment. In the pages of Transformers #2, Starscream faces off against two fighter pilots – one of them escaping with his life after besting the Decepticon. The pilot’s nametag reads a simple word – Duke.
The Duke miniseries launched in December 2023, written by Joshua Williamson, with Tom Reilly on art and Jordie Bellaire on colors. This version of Duke is deeply personal and closely tied to the Transformers story – after surviving his close encounter with Starscream, Duke realizes that no one believes his claims about a transforming jet fighter. In his search for answers, he becomes entangled in something far greater than he could have imagined.
Tom Reilly does a great job with the Real American Hero. His sleek character designs clearly differentiate the team members, and the action is kinetic and fun – just as it should be in a comic like this. Bellaire’s coloring always delivers, and the somewhat simplistic flats used here are applied with the exact precision of a master. There’s a sequence in the first issue where the grays quickly devolve into bloody red panels, followed by an explosion of gunfire that will get your pulse going!
On the other side of the medal, the Cobra Commander mini (launched in January 2024) tracks the rise of Cobra. Penned by Joshua Williamson, with Andrea Milana on art and Annalisa Leoni on colors, this book leans more into horror territory. Following Cobra Commander as he seeks to use and exploit Energon, the mini introduces us to the underbelly of the Energon Universe and serves as a counterpoint to the G.I. Joes. With a more painterly quality – and a precise splash of blood red where needed – this mini crawls under your skin and sends a shiver of dread. Both Duke and Cobra Commander are collected in the Codename G.I. Joe Deluxe Edition book.
The following June, two more series hit the ground running – Scarlett by Kelly Thompson (writing), Marco Ferrari (art), and Lee Loughridge (colors), and Destro by Dan Watters (writing), Andrei Bressan and Andrea Milana (art), and Adriano Lucas (colors). The Scarlett mini follows Shana “Scarlett” O’Hara as she infiltrates Clan Arashikage – a dangerous black ops mission that introduces many characters fans have been clamoring for. Meanwhile, Destro positions the villains (including the “Crimson Twins,” Tomax and Xamot Paoli) on the board in their chase for Energon.
With the four minis building up to the creation of G.I. Joe and Cobra in this universe, Williamson, Reilly, and Bellaire launched an ongoing G.I. Joe series in November 2024. As you might have guessed, the story follows the fight between the two factions. What’s interesting about this version is that it's set against the backdrop of the clash between the Autobots and Decepticons.
The Future is Bright for Energon
There seems to be no stopping the teams behind the new Energon Universe. Every page bursts with action and intrigue, and so many hanging threads are being placed across all titles that it makes me giddy with excitement.
What makes me very excited is that Kirkman has stated there are plans to bring in other Hasbro brands, but he doesn’t intend to have more than four series running at the same time. We won’t be getting too confused here – everything should be manageable and sleek – just like the books.
Furthermore, those deluxe editions are looking so tasty, and I can’t wait to have them on my shelf. What about you? Which books are you most excited about? And who are you rooting for – Autobots or Decepticons? G.I. Joe or Cobra?
