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Confirmation of rumors about where and when Transformers would return to the world of comic books has arrived today, with Bleeding Cool posting the news that next week's Void Rivals #1 from Image Comics will feature the debut of the Transformers in a new shared universe. If your next question is "shared with whom?", the answer is unsurprisingly the real American heroes of G.I. Joe.

Void Rivals' first issue arrives next week on June 14th with writing by Robert Kirkman - yes, the one you've heard of from The Walking Dead - and artwork from Lorenzo De Felici. Image's website teases the book with the following description:

The blockbuster OBLIVION SONG team of ROBERT KIRKMAN & LORENZO DE FELICI 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!

War rages around the Sacred Ring where the last remnants of two worlds have collapsed around a black hole in a never-ending war.

However when pilot Darak and his rival Solila both crash on a desolate planet these two enemies must find a way to escape together. But are they alone on this strange planet? And what dark forces await that threaten the entire universe?

It's hard not to think of IDW Publishing's ill-fated attempt at a shared universe of Hasbro properties that began with 2016's Revolution series when reading this news as Transformers fans have not been especially keen on following non-Transformers comic series alongside the franchise's own books. Of course, we also don't yet know what other series may follow in the near future related to Void Rivals, or how many of those there will be ("Would G.I. Joe fancy a team-up with M.A.S.K.?"), but if the story's good enough those secondary concerns really don't matter.

Regardless of any past history, the fact remains that Transformers will return to comic books next week, and that's pretty exciting.

Seeing Robert Kirkman's name in this article is automatically making me picture a new AMC show where Chris Hardwick discusses TF and Joe lore with a celebrity guest panel, then cuts to Kevin Smith and friends trying for the umpteenth time to clarify what Transformers even is.

Then a minute later, Image's history makes me assume this reboot is going to make us all appreciate just how good IDW was in hindsight, Revolution included.

And just next week? Were there any specific whispers of this earlier?

I've been trying to track any news of the return to comics now for months, and no. No one knew.

Even on Comic Geeks, discussion on the premier itself was confused. Only today did the pieces come together.
But the creator has done this before.

https://undeadwalking.com/2022/11/28/ho ... comic-end/

With The Walking Dead, he ended the series by pretending to solicit fake issues months out, so when it ended in #193, there was still supposedly months to go, but no one knew until it hit the shelves. This feels like the same, only done at the start.

Bumblevivisector wrote:Seeing Robert Kirkman's name in this article is automatically making me picture a new AMC show where Chris Hardwick discusses TF and Joe lore with a celebrity guest panel, then cuts to Kevin Smith and friends trying for the umpteenth time to clarify what Transformers even is.

Then a minute later, Image's history makes me assume this reboot is going to make us all appreciate just how good IDW was in hindsight, Revolution included.

And just next week? Were there any specific whispers of this earlier?

There's been speculation for months, and hints that there was going to be a license reveal based on communication between Kirkman and comics retailers as part of the marketing of Void Rivals. Twitter searches and TFW forum posts are rabbit holes available if you want to go down those.

I kept waiting for transformers comic news and now that I have it I’m not sure I care. Which is a weird feeling for me. I guess I’ll give the first issue a try. I’m also not sure how G.I. Joe will fit into this.

One question answered--who gets the license. Many questions follow, and we probably won't learn the answers to others next week. But with SDCC right around the corner, we'll learn more sooner than later.

This event immediately kicked off the rumors, though I'm shocked that they didn't get more explicit until last week.
https://twitter.com/RobertKirkman/statu ... 6seVQ&s=19
Robert Kirkman on May 13:
"Very grateful to all the awesome comic shop retailers who joined our big VOID RIVALS call last Thursday. We revealed our super secret shared universe to them and it was great to get a first look at what it's like when people learn the surprise."

Transformers return to comic books and THAT'S the cover they went with?
Corporate comics and their bad art went above and beyond.

Oh well, back to Manga.

A shame that Transformers is considered a brand for "only" little kids in Japan because lately (if ever), all the TF manga were funny parodies and that's it.

I might as well just sail the Seven Seas and look for the classic G1 Marvel comics.

So Image will be the Transformers' new comic-based home? Cool.

Didn't want to editorialize too much in the news post and now that I have a few minutes to reflect, I'm not sure how I feel about this. The stealth relaunch that almost was would have been fun to watch, but a few days early is still impressive. Image definitely gets points for the balls it takes to get a big license and not announce it.

I'm apprehensive about whatever Void Rivals' main thing is, or whatever Yoseph Joseph is doing out in space with probably Bumblebee or someone. It already looks too darn serious and after the blase Ruckley run that tried and failed to be high drama, I was hoping for some fun.

Will be delighted to be wrong about this. Not expecting much from VR 1 though, TFs are probably a last page reveal.

I’m a bit confused as to the where and how anything TF/Joe fits into this story we’re being presented. Is this story itself setting up a bunch of other titles, including TF?

Regardless, it seems people are pretty pro-Kirkman so far, and I definitely count myself as a big fan of his. Can’t wait to see what we’re in for this time around

I know nothing about this story or publisher, so i really don't know what to think yet

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I know nothing about this story or publisher, so i really don't know what to think yet

It's Robert Kirkman and Image Comics.

Kirkman is one of the biggest names to hit pop-culture in the past 20 years. Having read Kirkman's entire Walking Dead series thanks to originally liking the TV show when it first came out, then giving the original comics a try, and then getting pissed off at the TV show, and became a bigger fan of the comic than I was the TV show in the end. Kirkman is really good at world building, regardless if you like Walking Dead or not.

Image Comics is, well, Image Comics and #3 in the industry. Just leaves Dark Horse and DC of the big 5 to have a go at Transformers.

I can overlook the whole "secret launch" thing, but the "shared universe" thing? ugh ...

Stormshot_Prime wrote:I’m a bit confused as to the where and how anything TF/Joe fits into this story we’re being presented. Is this story itself setting up a bunch of other titles, including TF?

Presumably so, but since it's a brand new thing that doesn't even release until Wednesday, no one knows so yet.

Retail poster announcing the shared universe with art of Jetfire and Void Rivals characters. Transformers and GI Joe launch in the fall.



https://www.tumblr.com/decepti-thots/71 ... urce=share

This time, I hope that the TFs wipe out GI Joe and Cobra because they're so effing annoying.

I definitely wont be rushing out to purchase this on day 1. I supported Marvel as a kid, (started with issue 9, picked up back issues and supported until the end) G2 just out of high school (purchased the GI Joe lead ups, and supported until the end) DW as a young adult (supported all the way through in my 20's), and then IDW (supported in my 30's and into early 40s. I stopped purchasing however when the original continuity ended in 2018).

IDW for the most part was lackluster and soured me on the idea of TF comics. The whole concept just wasn't for me. I'm not rushing out and purchasing Image's books day one like I have every other iteration of TF. I'll wait and see. If my local shop gets any copies, I may flip through and see if it has any potential.

It's odd because I know I've had the very contrarian opinion of saying DW had the best iteration of TF in comics, despite the fact that it was left unfinished, and had a corrupt head; the stories and artwork I thought were really great (yeah people make fun of Pat Lee's wonky style, but the other artists like Figueroa did some great work).

But as I browse Seibertron and other forums, and look at comments, and people in chats/podcasts, I realize I'm not alone. Sure we are far, FAR from the majority. But I do find it interesting that the further we get from DW in time, it seems the more they are missed, but at least I can say I've missed them since I picked up the first issue of IDW in late 2005 and found it to be instantly inferior to DW.

the whole "secret launch" was basically a PR push for the void rivals comcic and in fairness to kirkman it worked, as i got the last copy of it in my LCS.

Ya get basically 2 pages of jetfire to acknowledge the TFs exist and thats about it.

kinda surprised the other info on this hasnt been posted yet and thats that Daniel Warren Johnson is slated to write AND draw the book beginning in October of this year

he's behind the indie book murder falcon (iirc) and is probably best known for his run on beta ray bill for marvel.

i'll be honest his style ISNT to my liking but the pic he put of of prime does have a nice geoff senior-esque feeling to it so who knows. apparently he's meant to be a fan but in media EVERYONE would say that about a book their doing .

guess well find out in 4 months.

Seibertron wrote:

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I know nothing about this story or publisher, so i really don't know what to think yet

It's Robert Kirkman and Image Comics.

Kirkman is one of the biggest names to hit pop-culture in the past 20 years. Having read Kirkman's entire Walking Dead series thanks to originally liking the TV show when it first came out, then giving the original comics a try, and then getting pissed off at the TV show, and became a bigger fan of the comic than I was the TV show in the end. Kirkman is really good at world building, regardless if you like Walking Dead or not.

Image Comics is, well, Image Comics and #3 in the industry. Just leaves Dark Horse and DC of the big 5 to have a go at Transformers.

dunno how much involvement in the book kirkman will actually HAVE.

BUT if he does i think the fact he also wrote INVINCIBLE bodes well for handling a sci/fi war story.

partholon wrote:dunno how much involvement in the book kirkman will actually HAVE.

He's writer for Void Rivals #1, and gets an editorial page at the back of the book talking about the shared universe he's creating. So while he may not be writing Transformers, he'll be overseeing the shared universe.

Having read this issue, I look forward to what's to come with a bit of optimism. The low point for me was the Zertonian/Agorian reveal..it was predictable, but otherwise, a solid book.

But the issue did the one thing it was meant to do, and that was leave enough carrot dangling to make you want to see where this is going.

Overall, a good read, and with Kirkman overseeing things it might just be a half decent shared universe.

Yesterday, it was announced that two of the world’s most popular franchises – Transformers and G.I. Joe – have a new comic book home as part of the historic partnership between toy and game company Hasbro and Skybound, effective immediately.

Comic book fans who picked up their copies of Void Rivals #1 in comic shops today were the first to learn the news, as the blockbuster Oblivion Song team of writers Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), along with colorist Matheus Lopes (Step By Bloody Step) and letterer Rus Wooton, revealed that the highly anticipated series was actually a stealth launch of this new shared “Energon Universe” with the surprise first appearance of iconic Transformers character Jetfire.

Three upcoming releases, alongside Void Rivals, mark the beginning of the interconnected “Energon Universe” featuring both the characters and franchises you know and love, along with entirely new concepts developed in partnership by Hasbro and Skybound.

“It's a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner,” said Robert Kirkman. “I've loved these characters for most of my life and to have the opportunity to add to the already rich tapestry Hasbro has built with the all-new Void Rivals is an unbelievable opportunity. If you look at everything done with Transformers and G.I. Joe, you can see the inkling of a vast universe with tremendous potential for crossovers and interaction that will enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts. I look forward to exploring that potential for years to come.”

“When we first discussed plan for the surprise reveal in Void Rivals #1, I never expected it would be a secret we could keep for over a year,” said Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s VP of Global Publishing. “Now that it is finally here, we are all excited to finally be able to talk about all the amazing stories to come from our great new partners at Skybound.”

Launching in October, Transformers #1 begins an all-new era for the iconic robots in disguise from superstar creator Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb, DC’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater). Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.

“To my readers, retailers, and fellow transformer fans: GET READY! I've only been drawing Optimus Prime and the rest of this amazing cast since I was in FIRST GRADE,” said Daniel Warren Johnson. “This is a dream project for me, and I'm so glad to be adding a new chapter to the decades long celebration of robots turning into cars. Also, cab-over trucks are so fun to draw!”

The new Energon Universe expands in December with Duke #1, a limited series from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride), Tom Reilly (The Thing) and Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33), that tells the story you’ve never read before – the origins of G.I. Joe and Cobra in a world grappling with the arrival of the Autobots and Decepticons. When Conrad S. Hauser (codename DUKE) investigates the mysteries behind The Transformers, the answers will lead to the birth of forces for good and evil that the world never imagined.

Duke will be the first of four G.I. Joe limited series coming from Skybound, setting the stage for a fresh new take on G.I. Joe, Cobra and the iconic characters that you only think you know!

"Childhood dreams come true! Get hyped! Tom and I are bringing you a new take on Duke and the formation of G.I. Joe that honors all that we love about the characters but takes it into a new and exciting direction,” said Joshua Williamson. “It's been awesome working with Skybound and Hasbro to bring this new take on the G.I. Joe franchise. For the last few years, I've been picking up all of the new G.I. Classified figures, so I am pumped to contribute to this new world of G.I. Joe and Transformers!"

“I’m super excited to be working with Josh and the team at Skybound to usher in a new beginning for these iconic characters,” said Tom Reilly. “The Joes have a rich history in comics, one that we look forward to adding something new and exciting to. It’s going to be a fun ride!”

This will be followed by the launch of Cobra Commander #1 in January 2024, from Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) and Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song). In a world where Cobra doesn’t exist, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon will send shockwaves across the globe.

“My first comic was G.I. JOE, and I couldn’t be more excited to unite the Transformers and G.I. Joe into one universe,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP, Publisher. “This line is being guided by the best comic creators in the world and features the same action-packed, surprise-filled, emotional storytelling you expect from all Skybound comics.”

Void Rivals #1 (JAN238443) is available today at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

Fans can pre-order their copies of Transformers #1, Duke #1, and Cobra Commander #1 right now at their local comic book shops.

Below is Transformers #1 Cover A by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.

Why has prime got human hands that's one thing I hated with the original marvel comics art, the knuckles look too organic and it feels more of the artist is used to drawing human hands (hands are hard to draw) rather than that's the alien technology

Humanity’s only hope of Survival is Optimus Prime

Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same.

Retreadacon sighted!

Adding the Joes to the mix and my interest in this new series is as long as it was for IDW's dull last effort.

I actually like the Wildman-style human hands, but otherwise, the art is just . . . uninspired.

AUTOBOTS, ROLL OUT! SKYBOUND ANNOUNCES LINEUP OF AUTOBOTS TEAM IN DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON’S TRANSFORMERS #1

The Hugely Anticipated New Series Launches This October

LOS ANGELES 06/23/2023 — Today Skybound, in partnership with toy and game company Hasbro, announced the full lineup of Autobots team members that will appear in writer/artist powerhouse Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers, launching with issue #1 October 4, 2023.

Teasers of each character appeared on Skybound social channels this week, showcasing the all-star team of Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Cliffjumper, Arcee, and Wheeljack. Fans should stay tuned to Skybound social channels next week, as the Decepticon team will be unveiled daily.

In the recent surprise heard ‘round the world, Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’s Void Rivals #1 launched the all-new shared “Energon Universe” with the surprise first appearance of iconic Transformers character Jetfire. The stealth launch introduced the historic new partnership between Hasbro and Skybound, with Transformers and G.I. Joe comics finding a new home with the publisher.

Transformers #1 (Lunar Code 0623IM805) begins an all-new era for the iconic Robots in Disguise from Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb, DC’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope for survival is Optimus Prime.

Transformers #1 (Lunar Code 0623IM805| $4.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, October 4, 2023.