Summary

Skybound Entertainment shocked the world by announcing they had acquire theG.I. JoeandTransformerslicenses last summer , and planned to contain them into an epic portion out continuity . This start with the debut of unexampled titleVoid Rivals , and since then , the Energon Universehas been the talk of the comedian world .

Skybound ’s Energon Universe hire the industry by tempest in 2023 , creating a buzz for the two Hasbro miniature - line of products that has n’t been felt in class . With Creator like Robert Kirkman , Lorenzo De Felici , Daniel Warren Johnson , Joshua Williamson , Tom Reilly and others contribute , Skybound has ensured the Energon Universe line is one of the very good imprints running . With bold new takes that also keep true to the classic traditional knowledge of the Hasbro holding , Skybound hassuccessfully relaunchedTransformersandG.I. Joefor a Modern age , creating new fans and delighting the honest-to-god one . The argument could be made that 2023 is the year of the Energon Universe , and here are ten reason why .

The Transformers are place to be reboot thanks to Skybound ’s novel Energon Universe , but the enfranchisement will be go along dead on target to this key rule .

transformers optimus prime

10Optimus Prime Suplexes Starscream

Transformers#1

It may seem like a minor moment in the grand schema of things , but Optimus Prime put Starscream in a German suplex inTransformers#1 wasa giddy moment that announced to the existence that the new epoch of everyone ’s favorite Robots in Disguise was play by its own rules . It perhaps should n’t be surprising given that writer / artistDaniel Warren Johnsonis a massive devotee of pro hand-to-hand struggle , but adding this unique factor to the scrap makes this newfangled era ofTransformersstand out from previous incarnations immediately . Most importantly , it ’s just plain cool to see Optimus Prime fold Starscream in one-half while throw him over his back .

9Void Rivals’ Guest Stars

Void Rivals#1-5

The Energon Universe truly kicked off with the surprise appearance of Jetfire at the end ofVoid Rivals#1 . Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici ’s serial subsequentlykept the heat coming with further invitee appearance , from the furthest reaches of theTransformersuniverse . ASkuxxoid bounty huntsman appeared inVoid Rivals#2 , while the Quintesson Prosecutor and Judge look in subsequent issues . Void Rivalsalso feed readers a look at present - day Cybertron , give away Shockwave was left in charge of the ruling Decepticons while the other Cybertronians fly their mankind to search the existence for more Energon . go on the tilt of guest stars appearing in spry succession moderate sports fan ’ excitement , while making the Energon Universe experience more utter .

8Larry Hama Returns To G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero#301

Larry Hama continued his original Marvel Comics bunk on the classicG.I. Joe : A Real American Heroat IDW for ten years before the series drew to a unaired withthe publication of take # 300 . buff speculated whether Hama would go on with the original enumeration if / when theJoelicense was picked up by another publishing firm , so it came as a relief to many when it was announcedHama would peck up the original serial publication at Skybound withG.I. Joe : ARAH#301 . Featuring antic artwork from Chris Mooneyham , Hama ’s G.I. Joe protraction has never take care well , and it feels right to have the godfather of all thingsG.I. Joecontinuing his forty - class - long running at the franchise ’s new base .

7M.A.R.S. Uses Energon To Make Weapons

Duke#1

There ’s a cause why the Energon Universe is diagnose after theTransformers ’ primary fuel source . Duke#1 provides greater context for the name of the impression . In a universe of discourse where the most valuable resource is Energon , everyone is seem to take advantage of the sinewy fuel source , including Destro and his M.A.R.S. Industries . The weapons manufacturer uses Energon to create definitive Cobra fomite like the H.I.S.S. tank and the S.N.A.K.E.,further enmeshing the two Hasbro properties together into a unified whole . Given that the upcomingCobra Commanderseries will see the titular villain on the quest for Energon , it will be most interesting to see what further connections wait betweenTransformersandG.I. Joe .

6Transformers #1’s Runaway Success

Skybound created an incredible amount of excitement when they announced the reaching of the Energon Universe over the summertime of 2023 , a form which paid off whenTransformers#1 arrived the following October and break franchise record . As both a decisive and commercial success , Transformers#1gave the franchise a focus in the funnies world it has n’t had in decade , and the lion ’s share of the citation should go to Daniel Warren Johnson . The author / artist not only create a acid , high - octane action story , but was careful to establish all the robot action in strictly human terms , turn in one of the greatest , and most successful , Transformerscomics of all time .

5Duke’s First Appearance

Transformers#2

WithVoid RivalsandTransformersalready out of the gate , rooter were eagerly awaiting the Energon Universe unveiling ofG.I. Joewith the publication of theDukeandCobra Commanderminiseries . To accommodate them over in the meantime , Conrad “ Duke ” Hauser made his first Energon Universe show inTransformers#2 , where the time to come Joe loss leader scarce survivedan play with Starscream . It was an encounter that proved to be unbelievably of import , as a shakenDuke would later be drive to reveal the secrets of the mysterious exotic robots in his own ego - titled serial publication , precede him on a path to shape the new G.I. Joe organization .

4Starscream Declares Himself Decepticon Leader

Ever since the offset of the dealership in 1984 , Megatron has traditionally been depicted as the loss leader of he Decepticons . Yet whenTransformers#1 launched in October 2023 , Megatron was nowhere to be found . In his absence seizure , 2nd - in - commandStarscream direct over the leadership role , which ultimately sees the envious lieutenant fulfilling his ambition ask over for Megatron . buff still do n’t have it away where Megatron is in the Energon Universe , as he was patently thrown from the clank of the Ark starship after a fell battle with Optimus Prime . One affair is for sure : whenever Megatron does make his grand return , it will be most interesting to see if Starscream will volitionally abuse down as Decepticon leader .

3Duke Goes AWOL

2Bumblebee’s Shocking Death

Starscream ’s cold - blooded execution of a comatose Bumblebee inTransformers#1 was , in many fashion , a throwing down of the metal glove for the fledgling series , and the nascent Energon Universe as a whole . set out off with thedeath of a beloved character like Bumblebeeraised the stakes in the story immeasurably , setting up a public in which the conflict between the Autobots and Decepticons has devastating consequences . Of course , it ’s entirely potential that Bumblebee could be repaired and bring back at some point in the future , but killing the case off right from the jumpshowed that the wager in the Energon Universe were go to be higher than ever .

1Jetfire’s Surprise Appearance

Void Rivals#1

It was the moment that kicked off the whole idea of the Energon Universe , and it ’s still amazing to think that Robert Kirkman and co. draw the surprise off . With no pre - release announcements or pressing releases ahead of sentence , Skybound announced they had acquired the Hasbro licenses by having theTransformer Jetfire appear out of nowherein the final second ofVoid Rivals#1 , wake on a remote moon by a pair of run aground pilots from opposite side of a long - running conflict . This monumental surprise – so hard to pull off in the internet - era – stoked fan excitement for a reboot like short else could .

It ’s the case of surprisal that has become increasingly rarified in our mass medium - saturated world , where publishers announce everything well ahead of metre , in an endeavor to push back sales numbers of the eventual issues when they are released . Skybound ’s decision to provide an unexpected chill for lecturer who checked out their new serial was a gamble , one that wound up ante up off , as the bombilation built in the backwash of Jetfire ’s surprisal appearance create an incredible rush of hullabaloo for their unexampled embossment , ensuring that the Energon Universe geological era ofTransformersandG.I. Joewould be a succeeder from day one .

invisible man

Far Side, cowboys with hands in the air (foreground) Union soldier giving general

Portrait version of the Energon Universe incarnation of the Transformers

<em>spoilers</em> Skybound Transformers #1 Optimus Prime suplexes Starscream

GI Joe ARAH 301 Cover

Duke #1 pg 16 duke spies on M.A.R.S. Industries creating new energon weapons

Close up of Optimus Prime from cover of Skybound&rsquo;s Transformers #1

<em>spoilers</em> Skybound&rsquo;s Transformers #1, Starscram is rebuilt

transformers #1 Starscream Executes Bumblebee

transformers jetfire

Transformers