This weekend’s NYCC 2023 saw Skybound and Hasbro explode with news at our Energon Universe panel! Fans were treated to character reveals, first appearances, and new art from the latest G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Void Rivals comics. But no worries if you couldn’t make it to the convention. We’ve got you covered, with all the official details and a gallery of cover and pages direct from Skybound HQ below… Enjoy!
At the official Energon Universe panel at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this weekend, Skybound, in partnership with leading toy and game company, Hasbro, revealed secrets from upcoming issues of the shared universe in a panel featuring superstars Robert Kirkman (Void Rivals), Lorenzo De Felici (Void Rivals), Daniel Warren Johnson (TRANSFORMERS), Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), Tom Reilly (Duke), and Sean Mackiewicz (SVP/Publisher, Skybound).
The Energon Universe officially began in June 2023 with the surprise first appearance of iconic TRANSFORMERS character Jetfire in Void Rivals #1, introducing the historic new collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, with TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE comics finding a new home with the publisher. The Energon Universe recently expanded with TRANSFORMERS #1 from writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb, DC’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon), kicking off a brand-new era for the iconic franchise.
Following the historic debut issue launch and instant sellout at comic book shops, TRANSFORMERS #2 picks up November 8 with the Decepticons unleashed. As Optimus Prime and Autobots regroup, Starscream terrorizes humanity.
The NYCC audience was granted an exclusive preview of issue #2, which features the surprise first appearance of G.I. JOE favorite Conrad S. Hauser (Codename: Duke) and sets up a major new presence in the all-new shared Energon Universe.
The 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 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.
At the NYCC panel, Williamson and Reilly revealed a lineup of characters debuting in the series including Colonel Hawk, Stalker and Baroness, and showcased all-new images of the fan-favorite characters.
The second of four action-packed G.I. JOE miniseries that will introduce the best and worst humanity has to offer in the Energon Universe, Cobra Commander #1 launches 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.
Fans were treated to another stacked character lineup reveal with Williamson announcing that Cobra Commander, Destro, Zarana and Mercer would all appear in the series with new character art by Milana.
Readers can now preorder copies of upcoming Energon Universe issues Void Rivals #5 (Lunar Code 0823IM476 | $3.99), Transformers #2 (Lunar Code 0923IM456 | $4.99), Duke #1 (Lunar Code 0623IM806 | $4.99), and Cobra Commander #1 (Lunar Code 0623IM807 | $4.99) right now at their local comic book shops.
VOID RIVALS TM & © 2023 Hasbro
TRANSFORMERS TM & © 2023 Hasbro
