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

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Void Rivals #20 is also out!

It's a good issue. It's kind of juggling a lot of plots again. I actually like this book more when it's more focused, like the Skuxxoid spotlight last issue. But, we still get more Skuxxoid this issue, because of course we do.

It finally feels like this book has found it's legs a bit. Things are happening more consistently than before. I'd say it's gotten good. It's worth picking up.

To be fair, I wouldn't want to mess with Solila right now, either. You don't mess with someone who just got a power-up. You always know they want to show off.

Wow, he literally shot her in the back. A little on the nose, there.

It's tough being a Handroid.

Meanwhile, Skuxxoid (uhh..."our" Skuxxoid? Scarred-Skuxxoid? This is going to get confusing...) gets thrown into a slime pit! How's ol' Skuxxy gonna get out of this one, folks?!

Oh, now suddenly Dulin doesn't feel chatty? Great time to just decide not to tell Solila the thing that could stop her from attacking you, maybe.

If your bet on how Scarred-Skuxxoid was gonna get out of the slime pit was "the medical robots just let him out", you win! Okay, that's the second worst doctor's waiting room I've ever seen.

Apparently, the robots are very concerned that Cobra-La's acid talons were able to permanently scar Scarred-Skuxxoid. Since they all have healing factors. So, yeah, that could be a problem with the so-called "invincible" Skuxxoid army they got brewing above.

And they KILL Freshly-Budded-Skuxxoid! Oh, Buddy, we barely knew ye!

Talking about Skuxxoids is going to be a lot like talking about Smurfs, isn't it? And...now I'm imagining all the Skuxxoid's singing a little song introducing themselves...great.

Dear, sweet Akronus really wants some new armor. But, he would NEVER use the junk on Junkion. No matter how rad and metal that would be. Right? Okay, he's definitely going to be decked out the next time we see him.

Okay, so we have a bit of a conflict. One side of believes that they need to release the Goliant now to ensure it's destroyed. The other thinks everyone on the Ring will die if they release it, with Zerta not caring about them. Okay. That's a fine conflict. It would have been nice if Zerta mentioned HOW she was planning to destroy the Goliant. That little piece of information would have solved a lot of upcoming problems.

Meanwhile, Zalilak (the other leader) completes his trials that's he's been undergoing since issue #13. Man, that's been a slow-burn of a plot thread. Anyway, Zerta tells him to help Solila wake up the Goliant.

And in the letters page, they mention there's going to be a exclusive SDCC toy set with Jetfire, Solila, and Darak. (And probably Handroid, too!). Neat! I'll never see one in real life, but it's neat! Now, the real question is, when are we getting a Skuxxoid figure? Because you KNOW Kirkman is trying to getHasbro to make that one next. This time next year we'll probably get a three-pack of "Scarred" Skuxxoid, "Buddy" Skuxxoid, and Skuxxoid Alpha.

Gyconi is apparently going to play a bigger role in the story soon. That's...okay. I don't know what to make of that.
 
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#1 Signal Lancer Fan

New member
Citizen
The new creative team taking over with Issue 25 has been announced.

Robert Kirkman will be writing with Dan Mora stepping in as the artist.

The current colorist (Mike Spencer) and letterer (Rus Wooton) will be staying on.
 

Fullstrength Motleypuss

Well-known member
Citizen
Oh boy. You think the pace is slow right now - Kirkman just asked somebody to hold his beer!
 

LordGigaIce

Another babka?
Citizen
The new creative team taking over with Issue 25 has been announced.

Robert Kirkman will be writing with Dan Mora stepping in as the artist.

The current colorist (Mike Spencer) and letterer (Rus Wooton) will be staying on.
Dan Mora drawing Transformers comics will be a treat.
 

#1 Signal Lancer Fan

New member
Citizen
But not Transformers slowing down to VR's pace.
I mean, it likely won’t for a few reasons

A. The story is already in motion, so there’s no need to set everything up.

B. Void Rivals is a brand new IP, meaning the world and characters all need to be established, which takes time

C. Transformers is a different kind of story than Void Rivals. VR is a sci fi with mysterious elements and political rivalries that this run of Transformers isn’t. Something like that is going to be slow paced.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen

I agree that Dan Mora on Transformers is going to be fun to see. He does a lot of good work. And his work on "Once and Future" and the "Elementary" arc of World's Finest shows he can do knights and robots, so he should be able to knock Transformers out of the park. And there are a few preview pages in the link above to give us a idea of what we're going to have to look forward to.

And, well, Kirkman doesn't JUST do slow-burn stories. Kirkman can do faster-paced stories, too. Usually when there's heaps of ultra-violence on the page, but still. So, I tend to agree his version of Transformers won't be paced the same as Void Rivals. I have a feeling Kirkman will have a itch to do something more action-packed. I feel like Void Rivals was paced the way it was to kind of sync up with Transformers. If Kirkman is writing both, he won't have to worry about matching another writer's pace.

But, at the same time, I tend to think this team won't last as long as DWJ's run. I have a feeling this is a temporary team for as long as the "Quintesson War" crossover lasts. 6 to 12 issues, maybe. Then we're likely to get another creative team. Probably. We'll see. But, that's my gut reaction right now.
 
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Swerve

Life of the Party
Citizen
Dan Mora list Bumblebee as one of his favorite characters...hope that means he's coming back. He doesn't need to even been one of the main bots...just not dead.
 

Swerve

Life of the Party
Citizen
They already got Red Bumblebee :p
You are not wrong....been my only real complaint on this title. DWJ killed Bumblebee because he wanted to use Cliffjumper and proceeds to not write him as Cliffjumper but "Red Bumblebee".
 

Magnusblitz

Well-known member
Citizen
Thrilled to get Dan Mora, loved his work on Once and Future.

Kirkman, I have my reservations, but we'll see how it goes.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
This isn't quite Energon Universe related. But, I guess I'll put this here since this has kind of become the general Transformers comic thread.

Simon Furman has been inducted into the London Film and Comic Con Hall of Fame!

Congratulations! It's nice to see him get a bit of nod for all his work over the years.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Transformers #22 is out!

This is another good issue. Exciting things are afoot. Things are getting paid off. Action is being had. A few cameos that I didn't expect show up. It's a good time all around. The end to DWJ's run on this book is shaping up to be one to be remembered.

Since this is the lead up to the conclusion, I can't recommend that you start here. But, if you've been following this since the beginning, I think you'll have a fun time. Fair warning though, if you're a animal lover...this book just wants to hurt you, I'm sorry.

D'aww...I kinda feel bad for the Aerialbots. It's always tough when you lose a brother-in-arm. (I'm sorry.)

Back on Cybertron, only one Bot can return to Earth to help out, and that bot is....Cliffjumper. They want Shredhead to stay on Cybertron to help out in the war. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing for ol' 'Jumper.

...But, it doesn't really matter because Cliffjumper decides to throw Shredhead into the portal instead, because Shredhead's got a better chance of saving everyone. It's kind of a cool move by Cliffjumper. Good for him! It lands him in jail, because of course it does, but still kind of a nice moment of Cliffjumper taking a stand for what he believes in. Even if he's probably going to end up regretting this. Maybe in multiple ways. I could see Shredhead taking things too far on Earth, but we'll see.

Back on Earth, Optimus and the other Autobots get sent to a emergency medical facility. They can't really do much for robots, but apparently they have a pretty good tow truck guy because Ratchet's corpse is here.

Apparently, the Matrix is allergic to angst, because it just pops right out of Optimus's chest. Really it's the "Quintesson Matrix" energy from Megatron's arm, but it is weird how it seems to respond to Optimus being down on himself. That might actually be a plot point, I'm not sure.

Wheeljack could maybe stand to work on his bedside manner. Then again, he's the inventor, not the medic.

But, Spike gets the bright idea to work as a conduit between Optimus and the Matrix, linking the two together. Sending all of them into a coma. Or a vision quest within the Matrix.

Which is where we get the first surprise cameo of the issue: The Thirteen show up. They're only statues in the Matrix Quest Vision (TM), but I still find it interesting that the Skybound comics are even referencing the Thirteen at all. I was convinced that we'd be more likely to see the "Five Faces of Darkness" Primes rather than the Thirteen. Specificially, in the Hall of the Primes we see Prima, Solus, Alchemist/Maccadam, Nexus ( in the foreground), Quintus, and I think that's Onyx up above Quintus. Weird layout, but what can you do?

Meanwhile....hey, do you remember that poor deer that Optimus stepped on at the beginning of the series? Well...Megatron digs up the poor deer's body and proceeds to SQUISH it just to make a point. That...felt unnecessary. I mean, sure, it highlights the fundamental difference between Optimus and Megatron. But...geez.

Meanwhile, Starscream gets to have some fun blowing up army jets. It's nice that Megatron lets him have a little bit of fun, even though he's still a mind-slave.

Bruticus and Devastator's contest to see who can stomp the most tanks is almost adorable. It's good to see the "kids" "playing nice" together.

Meanwhile, Carly gets interrogated by General Flag. So...how long until Carly joins GI Joe? I'm not even sure if I'm kidding or not.

Meanwhile-er, Doc has a crisis of conscious and frees Ultra Magnus, who scoops up Carly and they make their escape. I guess Doc's getting court-martialled for this one. But, Doc doing this inspires Ultra Magnus to rejoin the fight.

And while Spike and Optimus are still in their Matrix-induced coma, everyone else prepares to make their final stand in Chicago.
 
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Swerve

Life of the Party
Citizen
It was a good issue
I think Ratchet is coming back.....my guess is more than him thanks to the matrix. Love the 13 Primes. One thing that has been great over the years is how new versions of Transformers combine lore. I need more Doc and Ultra Magnus. Both have been tortured POWS and that kindred spirit bond is worth exploring. Still feel Cliffjumper is basically getting Bumblebee stories and characterization. Curious what we will see Shredhead do on earth. I'm worried that Shredhead might be what Arcee was shocked to find in the sneak peak of 25. So...are humans going to know of Transformers and even build on a relationship with the Autobots similar to the cartoon, but a more serious take?
 


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