Transformers Image/Skybound Discussion

Pretty sneaky sis a solicited crossover event called Void Rivals by Robert Kirkman, Matheus Lopes and Lorenzo De Felici, due to begin next week, turned out to be the announcement of a new shared Transformer/GI Joe universe, and that Kirkman's Skybound Entertainment has the rights.

Edited by Zarius on Jun 9th 2023 at 8:33:10 AM

And sure enough, Kirkman confirms the beans have been spilt.

On the upside, we haven't seen any art regarding the big reveal.

Which is more than I can say about Amazing Spider-Man #26. HEY-O!

Honestly I think this might Be for the best. Transformers has had an abysmal history with Hunan characters while gi joe has struggled to keep anywhere near as much staying powDr.

This fixes both issues.

The new continuity has a name: Energon Universe

Transformers#1 is due out October, with two GI Joe books, Duke and Cobra Commander, following in December and January

I'm hoping this works out.

I'm curious to see how they'll portray humanity as well.

And if the Decepticons will still be freedom fighters and the Autobots corrupt.

The second continuity averted that last part, so I'm curious to see what Image/Skybound will do.

Oh, Jetfire is looking BOSS here.

Here's another boss look at Jetfire, noticeably missing his Autobot badge.

Nice choice of leads, has a lot of potential for an inner dilemma.

Any word on who is working on the main Transformers comic?

Edited by ChicoTheParakeet on Jun 11th 2023 at 9:50:21 AM

I thought IDW still has the rights to GI Joe?

No official word (yet), but some are speculating that Daniel Warren Johnson (Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Jurassic League, Do A Powerbomb) is set to write and draw for Transformers. He's established multiple times that he's a big fan of them and he drew the spoiler cover of Void Rivals #1 that features Jetfire.

Nope, they lost G.I. Joe around the same time they lost Transformers.

Side note: With new TF comics coming soon, I wonder if they'll release comics with some of the toys. They did that in the Thrilling 30 era and I always thought that was cool of them.

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Jun 13th 2023 at 10:02:57 AM

Bump.

Daniel Warren Johnson confirmed! Check out Optimus Prime nailing that superhero landing!

Also confirmed, Joshua Williamson for both Duke #1 (with art by Tom Reilly) and Cobra Commander #1 (with art by Andrea Milana)!

Edited by TargetmasterJoe on Jun 13th 2023 at 11:44:37 AM

Am I the only one who is getting ROM vibes out of the Void Rivals guys?

Optimus' right arm looks weird.

I'm glad we're getting people with good reputations who are passionate about the property.

As for toys, I have no idea if the people working on the book will deviate and create new characters and designs.

I hope williamson doesnt burn himself out, hes already writing 3 dc books and an image book

Edited by Deadpoolrocks on Jun 13th 2023 at 4:21:19 AM

I have created a trope page!

…Please don't look at how many times I had to edit to fix the typos.

I only picked up Void Rivals for the Transformers connection, but I'm intrigued enough that I'm going to stick with this.

Also, did Jetfire's reveal catch anyone else off guard? I knew there was going to be some TF stuff, and in hindsight I should probably have recognised his alt-mode, but that was a heck of a reveal.

First printing of Void Rivals #1 has already sold out.

The article I posted contains images of the second printing variant covers. A great tribute to such an old book though Muppet anatomy does not suit G1 Jetfire.

Edited by ChicoTheParakeet on Jun 16th 2023 at 7:52:59 AM

Larry Hamma will continue his long running G.I Joe universe at Image

Solicitations for Transformers and G.I. Joe characters with some blurbs.

Don't read them if you want to go in blind. Seems like G.I. Joe is going to be really involved with the Transformers. I commend the people at Image for that while treating Hasbro's properties equally.

Edited by ChicoTheParakeet on Jun 18th 2023 at 12:16:46 PM

Between this and the ending of Rise of the Beasts, I suspect Hasbro is trying to reinvigorate general interest in G.I. Joe by pairing it with Transformers more often/prominently. It makes sense; the MCU has basically made a franchise out of doing exactly that: boosting the popularity of more obscure heroes via the hook of connecting them to the popular ones. Not that G.I. Joe is obscure, of course, but it's definitely not as popular as it once was.

Edited by lbssb on Jun 18th 2023 at 12:29:56 PM

Begun, the main cast revealing has.

Right now, it's Optimus Prime and Arcee. The other three are blacked out, but Wheeljack is easy enough to recognize. The other two are most likely Ratchet and Bumblebee.

Looking rad with Daniel Warren Johnson in art (and writing!) and Mike Spicer in colors!

Yeah.

That's definitely Bumblebee and Ratchet. Oddly enough, it's an interesting mix of the first movie cast and the ROTB cast, with only Bumblebee and Optimus being involved with both.

The next reveal!

Get ready to have your buzz going on...with CLIFFJUMPER?!

Well that's surprising

Oh damn.

We got played. Well done Skybound. Well done.

.... Are we sure now that that's Ratchet and Wheeljack? Like, Ironhide is the only other person who shares Ratchet's mold, but he doesn't have the head crest, and I don't know anyone else who sports Wheeljack's look....but still.

Lets keep our eyes open.

Edited by HandsomeRob on Jun 21st 2023 at 1:55:08 AM

Yeah, Cliffjumper ended up bamboozling me. Heh.

But anyway! Next reveal!

Don't panic, it is Wheeljack!