Publication history
Background
Before IDW Publishing lost the licenses to produce Transformers and G.I. Joe comics at the end of 2022, in December 2021, it was reported that Skybound Entertainment, an imprint of Image Comics, was in talks with Hasbro to acquire those licenses. [5] [6] Skybound would officially announce it in June 2023. [3]
Development
The Energon Universe debuted on June 14, 2023, with the original series Void Rivals , written by Robert Kirkman, drawn by Lorenzo De Felici and Conor Hughes, and colored by Matheus Lopes and Patricio Delpeche. [1] Kirkman and De Felici had previously worked together in another comic titled Oblivion Song . [7]
Kirkman said, "It's a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner. 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." [8]
Michael Kelly, who was Vice President of Global Publishing on Hasbro until December 2023, added, “When we first discussed the plan for the surprise reveal in Void Rivals #1, I never expected it would be a secret we could keep for over a year. 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.” [8]
Void Rivals is followed by a Transformers ongoing series and four G.I. Joe limited series featuring Duke, Cobra Commander, Scarlett, and Destro as main protagonists. [9] Kirkman also brought up the possibility of adding other action brands from Hasbro in the future, [10] and confirmed that they will not have more than four series running at once, [a] as well as not adding more titles (for now) to keep the line at a manageable, easy-to-follow size. [b]
In June 2024, Skybound officially announced the new G.I. Joe ongoing series that follows its four previous prequels. [11]
In November 2024, Skybound announced deluxe editions during the coming years. [12]
Distribution and localization
| Publisher | Country | Language | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ades Media | Sweden | Swedish | N/a |
| Moztros Editorial [c] | Spain and Latin America | Spanish | [14] [15] |
| Nagle Comics | Poland | Polish | [16] |
| Panini Comics | Brazil | Portuguese | N/a |
| Germany | German | N/a | |
| saldaPress | Italy | Italian | [17] |
| Szukits Kiadó | Hungary | Hungarian | N/a |
| Tiandi Press | China | Chinese | N/a |
| Urban Comics | France | French | [18] |
