Your Guide To Skybound’s Energon Universe (Transformers and G.I. Joe)

Transformers and G.I. Joe have been a staple of comic books for decades. They’ve seen stints at Marvel Comics, IDW Publishing, and a few smaller publishers throughout that time but have found a new home at the Image Comics imprint Skybound. With this new base of operations, the much-loved Hasbro properties will have new comic series set in the same shared universe, known as the Energon Universe.

If you’re a Transformers or G.I. Joe fan, you’re probably interested in learning more about this new comic book universe. Luckily, you’re in the right place, with this guide on the Energon Universe giving you everything you need to know to get started. This includes the comics involved, details on how this line of comics is structured and heaps more.

Updating…

The Energon Universe is slowly rolling out, with new comic series having a staggered release in late 2023 into 2024 and beyond. As a result, many of the details are revealed incrementally. This guide will be updated regularly as more information is available – whether it be new series, plot premises, creative teams, or universe structure.

Who is Skybound?

Skybound is Robert Kirkman’s imprint at Image Comics. It has been the home of Kirkman’s comic book series such as The Walking Dead, Invincible, Fire Punch, and others. Over the years, it has expanded to become the home for other people’s creator-owned comics and, recently, a few licensed properties like Lego Ninjago.

While comics are front and centre in what Skybound do, they’re a multimedia company that has expanded into different mediums. This includes film and television production, video game distribution, and podcasts.

How was the Energon Universe revealed?

Things don’t get introduced traditionally when Robert Kirkman is involved. For instance, The Walking Dead comic had a surprise ending. So when it came to the Energon Universe, it wasn’t simply a matter of sending out a press release. Instead, it was a stealth reveal in Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo de Felici’s Void Rivals #1, a creator-owned comic that no one expected to feature a Hasbro property, signalling to the world that Transformers and G.I. Joe were coming to Skybound. (Apparently, this was an idea that was years in the making.)

In retrospect, the signs were there. Skybound was a name that was batted around when it was announced IDW Publishing was to lose the license to Transformers and G.I. Joe. Further to that, the solicitation for Void Rivals #1 includes the following:

“..debut the biggest new comic book series of 2023 with the launch of AN ALL-NEW SHARED UNIVERSE and a SURPRISE you won’t see coming!”

Additionally, retailers were told in advance of Void Rivals #1 release so they could confidently order the comic. While the news leaked a week before the announcement, it’s a phenomenal feat that it didn’t get out sooner than that.

How will the Energon Universe be different to other versions of Transformers and G.I Joe?

While many story details have not been revealed yet, as the comics are still months away, we do know some of how the Energon Universe compares to other incarnations of Transformers and G.I. Joe. In an interview with AIPT Comics, Robert Kirkman discussed the familiarities that fans will have and how many new elements there will be:

Hasbro reached out to us, and I wanted to try and come up with a new way to do Transformers and G.I. Joe comics because IDW had been doing a lot of great Transformers and G.I. Joe comics for a long time. You didn’t want to just kind of come in and do more of the same. I thought doing a ground zero, like square one, like a retelling of the origins of these characters, the Energon universe is very much like a new beginning for these characters. It’s kind of like new origins. It’s retelling of familiar origins in a lot of ways. It’s akin to kinda like the Ultimate universe from Marvel. So all of these characters will be familiar, but there will be kind of new angles to them.

Additionally, the two Hasbro properties will be more organically incorporated than in the past. In this universe, the presence of Transformers will lead directly to the formation of G.I. Joe.

Which comics are part of the Energon Universe?

Read on to find out more about which comics are part of the Energon Universe.

Void Rivals

Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Lorenzo de Felici.

Void Rivals tells the story of Darak and Solila, aliens on different sides of warring factions but stranded on a deserted planet together. They’ll have to sort out their differences if they want to survive.

As mentioned earlier, the series introduced the Energon Universe to readers. Speaking in broad strokes, this was done with an obvious Transformers connection halfway through the first issue.

This is an original creator-owned series that has been incorporated into the shared universe with Hasbro’s Transformers and G.I. Joe. Early issues interact with Transformers characters. Void Rivals #13 will see the series collide with G.I. Joe. Future issue will continue to see the different properties mix in this shared universe.

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Transformers

Written by Daniel Warren Johnson. Art by Daniel Warren Johnson, Jorge Corona, and Jason Howard.

This ongoing series will see the war between the Autobots and Decepticons continue on Earth after being waged on Cybertron. While this will be very familiar to fans, this comic explores this idea in new and exciting ways. This includes exploring how the war between the two factions effects Earth, sweet wrestling moves, and a whole lot of heart.

Some of the characters that have been featured in the series so far include:

• Autobots: Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Cliffjumper, Arcee, and Wheeljack
• Decepticons: Starscream, Rumble, Skywarp, Laserbeak, and Soundwave

With Daniel Warren Johnson writing and drawing it, this Transformers series will be visually spectacular – especially if previous sketches are anything to go by. Jorge Corona is the artist for the second story-arc, starting with Transformers #7. Jason Howard will be a guest artist on Transformers #13-14.

This series won two Eisner Awards (the Academy Awards of comics) at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. One for Best Continuing Series and the Daniel Warren Johnson won Best Writer/Artist for his work on the title.

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Duke

Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Tom Reilly.

Duke is the first of four G.I Joe miniseries. This five-part limited series focuses on Conrad Hauser aka Duke, who reacts to a rapidly changing world after the emergence of the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth.

His hunt for answers will have him become the most wanted man in the world, which will have him crossing paths with dangerous figures and fan-favourite characters.

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Cobra Commander

Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Andrea Milana.

Cobra Commander acts as the other side of the coin to Duke, showing the rise of Cobra. This five-part series will see Cobra Commander plant the seeds to their nefarious organisation, which will involve the sinister use of energon.

Readers will learn more about who Cobra Commander is and how they plan to use the emergence of the Transformers to their advantage.

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2024 Free Comic Book Day Energon Special

Written by Daniel Warren Johnson, Robert Kirkman, and Joshua Williamson. Art by Lorenzo De Felici, Ryan Ottley, and Jason Howard.

Skybound will be publishing a special as part of Free Comic Book Day 2024 for free. This will have three new stories involving Transformers, Void Rivals, and G.I. Joe, which are likely to help set up future stories for each of these series. This should be a good jumping-on point if you’ve missed the earlier comics.

It’s worth noting that a paid will be available as well. This edition has the same contents inside but has four different covers – catering for collectors. This is referred to as “Energon Special 2024 Special #1“.

2024 Free Comic Book Day Energon Special is available for free on 4th May, 2024. Energon Special 2024 Special #1 will be available 8th May, 2024.

Scarlett

Written by Kelly Thompson. Art by Marco Ferrari.

Shana “Scarlett” O’Hara is on a black-ops mission to infiltrate the Arashikage Clan after Jinx, her former partner, becomes an enforcer for the ninja clan. While undercover, he discovers a weapon that could change the balance of power on Earth.

The solicitation for the first issue in the five-part series hints that the series will “introduce some of the most anticipated characters to the Energon Universe in ways you’ll never expect!” With the Arashikage Clan involved, could that mean fan-favourites Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow could soon be introduced into this shared universe.

Scarlett #1 was published on 5th June.

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Destro

Written by Dan Watters. Art by Andrei Bressan.

M.A.R.S. Industries, lead by James McCullen Destro XXIV, is the leader in high-tech weaponry. However, the emergence of Energon has shifted the balances of power, with Destro competing against rivals such as the Crimson Twins and assumed ally Cobra Commander.

This five-part series looks like it will be full of bad guys doing terrible things. Writer Dan Watters goes as far as saying “This is going to be a visceral, explosive thriller in which he [Destro] isn’t very nice to anyone at all — everything you’d want from your favorite amoral arms trafficker.” in the series’ announcement.

Destro #1 was published on 19th June.

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G.I. Joe

Written by Joshua Williamson. Art by Tom Reilly.

After four miniseries, Skybound is finally publishing a G.I. Joe ongoing series. Reacting to the Autobots and Decepticons arriving on Earth, forces of good and evil have assembled. Duke has brought together the team known as “G.I. Joe” to take on the mysterious Cobra, who has unleashed the power of Energon. As writer Joshua Williamson points out, this will put the Joes as major disadvantage.

Expect to see plenty of your favourite characters and the debut of a new character called Risk. Risk has been described as a thrill-seeker, with his actions putting him in conflict with Duke.

G.I. Joe (2024 series) #1 will be published on 13th November, 2024.

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What about G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero?

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was the original G.I. Joe comic, published by Marvel Comics from 1982 to 1994. Writer/editor Larry Hama wrote the majority of the 155-issue run. Hama returned to the series when it was revived at IDW Publishing in 2010 and wrote it until it reached issue #300 in 2022.

With G.I. Joe heading to Skybound, the series has been revived again and will continue on with the original numbering – beginning with issue #301.

It’s worth noting that this will not be set in the Energon Universe. Instead, it will be situated in its own universe as the previous 300 issues were.

Have your say!

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