Void Rivals Fusion!
UNITY is here in issue # 23 of Void Rivals! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman’s sci-fi comic that tells the tale of two crumbling planets linked by a “Sacred Ring” (it’s not Halo), their peoples at war for generations. When a member of each culture are stranded together, the two find they must put aside their differences if they want to survive. This story takes place in the so-called “Energon Universe”, Skybound Entertainment’s initiative to relaunch properties like Transformers and G.I. Joe within a shared universe that also happens to include the original characters and setting of Void Rivals.
New ongoing artist Conor Hughes has joined Kirkman and colorist Patricio Delpeche as Unity is finally at hand in this latest issue. Why were the Agorrians and Zertonians kept separate, and why do their leaders fear the unification of the two races so much? Find out here!
So this is a big pay-off issue?
Uh, sort of. We do get to see what Unity entails, how it is linked to the distant threat of Goliant, and how it affects both Darak and Solila’s races. That said, there’s a bit of a pullback here as Unity is thwarted by the end of the issue, at least for now. I guess this is just more of a “taster” for what everything Kirkman has been building towards if anything.
While the arc still has an issue to go, it seems like the rising action happens here and quickly falls. Next issue will probably be an “aftermath” and setting up for the next arc. I don’t mean to sound down on this instalment, but there is a sense of Kirkman quickly throwing all his toys back in the box towards the end there.
So what about Transformers stuff? Kirkman’s writing that now too!
We of course get a bit of update on Skuxxoid and Hot Rod and Springer. Well, Hot Rod and Springer are just kind of observers to the main plot of Void Rivals at this point, and it kinda feels like Kirkman’s getting ready to perhaps migrate them over to the main Transformers book. We also get an update on the Cobra-La crew, as they come across the Wild Boy of Quintessa himself, Wheelie!
There’s clearly a lot more to Unity, Goliant, and the agenda of Zerta Trion to be told, but I’ve got a feeling that Hot Rod and Springer’s part in this story is reaching its end. If you’re only reading the book for them, then next issue might be a jumping off point for you.
Cube?
There’s interesting stuff happening here, but nothing particularly shocking yet. Kirkman’s not ready to lay all his cards on the table, so like I said, this feels just like a preview of things to come. Still, the art’s great and the characters are well-defined and believable in their motivations, which goes a long way.
Buy Void Rivals # 23 this week because chicks dig Goliant robots.
