Energon Universe - ongoing Transformers and G.I. Joe comics from Skybound

This is a MASK book, now. Deal with it!

"Remember kids, if you play out in the street, you may just get to see some sweet multi-car pile-ups! And maybe even a giant robot or two! So...keep it up!" This message has been brought to you by the International Deathball Association.

"Mayhem doesn't pay enough for giant robots!" That does seem like something you should get hazard pay for. Or at least, a hefty Christmas bonus.

So, Clutch decides to call in that favor that Matt owes him for keeping his secret. Matt was probably thinking more along the lines of a nice dinner, maybe. But, instead it's fixing Hound's broken communicator.

And so, off Matt goes. Off to start his own spin-off book. May it last more than 6 issues, dear Matt!

And so, Duke and Optimus finally get to meet! Well...sorta. This is taking place sometime AFTER Elita took his job. So, Optimus isn't so "Prime", anymore. Strange timing, I'll admit.

Duke finds out that Starscream is "dead". (He's not, but Optimus doesn't know that.) And...he's not as happy about that as you might think. All of Duke's awesome revenge fantasies...gone, in a puff of smoke. Duke and Optimus bond over war stories. But, Duke warns Optimus, if he finds out he's lying to him, there's gonna be problems. So...I'm not sure if they're setting up Duke finding out Starscream is alive and turning on Optimus or not.

Clutch and Hound spying on Optimus and Duke's conversation is pretty funny. They know their leaders well.

They promise to call each other if they need any help. And Hound decides he's staying with the Joes.

"GI Joe...ROLL OUT" He said the thing!

Duke and Clutch decide to keep Hound a secret from Hawk. Which, given he's actually Zartan, is actually a pretty good idea.

Meanwhile, Hawk/Zartan put out a "bounty" for Scarlett. He even printed up a wanted poster and everything. For a highly secret spy mission. Maybe not the most subtle choice, ever, but it definitely gets the point across. The Joes have to bring in Scarlett from the Arashikage Mountain Dojo...Dead or Alive!

"More Than Meets the GI" Ugh. I both love that pun and hate it. I think that's the first time anyone's ever used that?

That's probably because no one really ever pronounces "GI" as "guy." Especially not within the context of G.I. Joe.

"More then meets the G.I." > like Eye, G-Eye.

The first issue of MASK is coming out! And...we really don't get anything major revealed in the solicitations. Fair enough, since it's the first issue. I am halfway expecting MASK to get their own pet Transformer eventually, just like how GI Joe has Hound. It seems like a easy way to connect these books. The covers are all a little generic, but again, it's the first issue, so fair enough. I do like that one cover (Cover K) of Matt going through a fast food drive-thru, though. At least they're having fun with it. Also, this will be the first Energon Universe book to do blind bag variants. Which...I'm not the biggest fan of, but it's a relatively harmless fad that's come back around again. Meh on the blind bag stunt, but whatever.

In a somewhat odd move, Skybound is reprinting the original Marvel adaptation of the Movie in individual issues. I guess it is the anniversary and all. Still, that feels strange to me. It doesn't sound like it's quite a "facsimile edition" with the original ads and everything reprinted. Still, EJ Su did one of his painterly covers for the first issue, so that's kind of cool. We don't see enough of EJ Su's art. I might pass on this, personally, but we'll see.

Over in GI Joe, we're getting a origin for the new Joe, Risk! Also, Baroness and Destro are going to be meeting again. They don't really have much to do with each other in this universe, so who knows how that will turn out? Destro's dating someone else in this universe, so if anything, they might be more rivals than anything else. But, I guess that could change in the future. Funny how the giant glowing animals on the cover don't get any mention at all. Them's the breaks, I guess.

Transformer's solicitation this month is SO generic that I don't even have anything to discuss. Sounds like it's a team building issue. I do like the main cover, though. Arcee Magnus is looking pretty cool in that art style. Also, there's a spoiler cover. So, either someone new is joining the cast..or someone's gonna die! Given this book, it could be either, really.

You demanded it, and Void Rivals is delivering it, folks! This what we've all been waiting for...Skuxxoid versus Skuxxoid! All Skuxxoid, all the time, just like your momma warned ya about! More Skuxxoid than you can shake another Skuxxoid at! In this issue...a Skuxxoid DIES! Will Skuxxoid manage to free Skuxxoid, and defeat the evil Skuxxoid? And that mysterious, new character hidden in the shadows...could that possibly be...SKUXXOID?! NO WAY!!! You are NOT prepared for THIS. MUCH. SKUXXOID!

More Than Meets Gee Eye.

We find out why Solila didn't recognize Proximus. Over than the whole getting "Darth Vader"-ed thing. Turns out he betrayed her back when they were kids, leaving her behind in a dark prison cell, while he volunteered to join the High Guard. Back when he was still named Polada! Such deep lore! Yeah, that was probably worth the betrayal for the new name alone. "Proximus" is WAY cooler than "Polada", not even close.

Meanwhile, Darak's dad is getting REALLY into this new VR Tactical RPG he picked up. It's so realistic you could swear you're actually getting attacked by Sharkticons!

Enter...The Tribunal! In what I think is supposed to be a special black and red screw-ship. But, the art doesn't really sell the scene, to be honest. I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a special ship or not. What is "The Tribunal"? Well...if you guessed a black Quintesson repaint with a awesome side-mohawk, you'd be a winner! A super special, never-before-seen Quintesson. All lasers and space-shades! I'm not even kidding. This thing is kind of ridiculous in the best way. He doesn't need 5 faves, oh no! He only requires War, Death, ...and the new special exclusive face...DOMINION!

As for the "Elite Sharkticons" that The Tribunal brings with him...I"m pretty sure those are black and red repaints, too. Hasbro's going to love this! I feel like Kirkman REALLY wants Hasbro to start making toys based on the comics, so he's throwing them a few softballs.

"Count Three: You are BAD AT WAR!" Harsh! I think they were doing pretty decent, myself. I think they deserve to at least be recognized as "Mediocre at war".

Meanwhile, on the Cobra-La ship, Grakula gets a change of clothes! Riveting! And their ship get attacked and start crashing. Oh...the snake-manity!

Galvatron being the sane one would be an interesting twist.

So, Megatron's having another one of his episodes, again. The 6,353rd time this has happened, apparently. I wonder if that number's significant, somehow? Anyway, they're working their way up to a trillion. So...we're going to be here for a while.

All the Quintessons want is for Megatron to accept his "Gifted Form". So....yeah, that does sound like they're working their way up to Galvatron, doesn't it?

Oh, and we finally get a name for the Quintesson Matrix. The Matrix of Oppression! Kind of on the nose, but it fits. In order to fully use it's power, you too must accept that you are oppressed. Deep.

The Matrix of Oppression houses the essence of all the greatest Decepticon Leaders. The Fallen! Straxus! Alpha Trion's cousin who leads a biker gang! Oh, wait that's supposed to be Trannis. Deep cut. Someone's been skimming the Wiki on their lunch breaks, it seems. Scrash is probably somewhere around here, too. Along with Trailbreaker's ghost. I guess when Megatron "eats" someone, their spark ends up in the Matrix of Oppression. I guess that explains how Transformers can "die".

But, Megatron wants MORE! That's the spirit, Megatron! Hold out until they offer you a free Paramount+ subscription!

After the 10,000th trail Megatron has had enough! Megatron's used to repetitive schemes, but this is getting ridiculous! Time to meet the big boss in his giant, Decepticon-Logo shaped lair. The new boss has style, at least.

And the master of the Matrix turns out to be...Megatronus! The Fallen, himself! Huh...so....the Quintessons are working for the Fallen in this universe? That feels...strange. It kind of works. But, still...strange.

And so, in the real world, the Matrix of Oppression starts consuming Megatron's entire body. Forming a cocoon around him. And what hatches from it is....not revealed this issue! Could it be Galvatron? Or Super Megatron from Battlestars? Or a brand new form, never seen before? Could this be the birth of....Butterfly-tron?! Probably not! But, given all the other new forms we've been getting for different characters, I could see us getting something different than we might expect.

In the letters page, we learn that Ultra Magnus isn't wearing armor in this universe. He just looks that way. There's nothing underneath there, so stop checking.

I'm not quite sure why, but my impression was that Megatronus is just shown here as an avatar, not that he's actually the one behind everything. Maybe because he also showed up with Straxus and Trannis as one of the old Decepticon leaders? I'm probably just reading too much into it, trying to discern a mystery where there isn't supposed to be one (and we take the lines about "bow before Megatron, join your will to mine" etc. at face value) but I can't quite shake the feeling there's still a Bigger Bad working here.

I do love seeing the DW The Fallen design get some love (even if it's just because of his recent toy), almost as much as I hate the name Megatronus.