BotTalk Reviews

Void Rivals Clash! They do, here in issue # 20 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 joins Kirkman and colorist Patricio Delpeche in this issue as Darak and Solila come to blows over what is to be done about the uniting of their peoples against the looming threat of Goliant! Dey fight? Yes, Darak and Solila have gotten conflicting information over what to do about Goliant, which leads them into combat this issue. Darak’s father, M...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Andrea Milana (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letter) Story : After a training exercise at the Pitt, the Baroness wishes to have 48 hours of leave (even though she's technically a prisoner).  Clutch brings Autobot Hound into the base.  Cobra Commander and Destro look at the Transformers battle in Seattle and decide to try to retrieve whatever they can from the devastation, though Cobra Commander wants a fully functioning Cybertronian.  Baroness is allowed a leave but Cover Girl needs to go with her.  They get to know each other a bit and enjoy some time in Paris until Major Bludd sends his agents after the Baroness.   Writing : This is a good character-driven issue, especially for the Baroness and Cover Girl.  We get some background on them and they seem to really start to bond over a few shared similarities.  Cobra Commander is still cryptic with Destro but a larger picture is starting to form, c...

It’s a Combiner Wa… skirmish…scuffle? Yup! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series, with Jorge Corona on pencils and Mike Spicer on colors! In this twenty-first issue, Megatron leads a massive assault on the Ark, and he wants his arm back! That’s fine, because Optimus doesn’t want that smelly thing anymore anyhow! He doesn’t care HOW cool and edgy it makes him look! What’s this about combiners then? Well, Megatron’s got TWO to Optimus Prime’s ONE, as Superion makes his debut and immediately needs to take on both Bruticus and Devastator. That is, unless Bruticus and Devastator don’t wreck each other first! As for the rest of the excitement, Optimus finally realizes that the weird visions and violent spells he’s been having are due to Megatron’s arm! Apparently he never played Metal Gear Solid 2 and fig...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Andrea Milana (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Plot : Cover Girl asks General Hawk about some files and he dismisses it and proceeds to shred them.  Elsewhere, Beach Head is tasked with retrieving an item from a rich man's home and runs into problems with another group trying to get it.  Eventually, he succeeds with some help but feels he was too "sloppy" in it.  His help was Lady Jaye and Flint, who have an offer for him.  Meanwhile. Major Bludd is upset over his troops' failure to procure the item.  Writing :  Mystery is the name of this issue.  What were in the files Hawk shredded?  What's the item Beach Head is trying to get?  Who is Major Bludd out to get?  And what are Flint and Lady Jaye up to?  Following the conclusion of the first arc, this one introduces a few Joes new to the Energon Universe.  Like before, the framework of their character is there (Beac...

Skuxxoid Begins to Return Forever! He does and it starts here with issue # 19 of Void Rivals! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’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. Lorenzo De Felici steps away from this book with this nineteenth issue as we welcome new ongoing artist Conor Hughes to tell a tale of Skuxxoid! A new artist? Yep, according to the letters page, Conor Hughes is our new ongoing artist for Void Rivals and he makes a great debut with a sort of Skuxxoid origin tale! I did apprecia...

G.I. Joe Picking up from where issue #6 leaves off, Hound and Clutch are at odds but realize they can help each other and a familiar name helps them.  Meanwhile, Cobra Commander's energon supply might be in jeopardy.   A nice interlude that expands on the end of issue 6 of the on-going G.I. Joe title.  We get a bit of background on Hound and how he came to be reactivated.  We also get to see a familiar face from the Cobra Commander mini-series make a reappearance.  I did like this story but do worry that if someone skipped this issue, they might be a bit lost when they pick up issue 7 (though we'll see when it comes out!). Transformers Jazz is kicked out of his Cybertronian band but seems to be searching for something more.  On Earth, he seems to have gotten closer to finding it.  A nice "slice of life" style story, we get to see Jazz on Cybertron playing in his rock band and, like on Earth, they have drama.  This plays up to a lot of Jazz's perso...

Trains, planes, and automobiles! Yup! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has returned to regular penciling duties after Ludo Lullabi filled in for a Megatron solo story last issue! So Megatron is back? He is and it’s time for him to put his house in order. And that means dealing with triplechanger Astrotrain, who wants revenge on him for some unspecified thing we… probably won’t get closure on! Also, Starscream’s about due for a whuppin’ too, right? If there’s one thing this issue does, it’s sell Megatron as the primary threat and mightiest Decepticon, able to basically no-sell Astrotrain even as wounded as he is. Megatron’s cruelty is on full display here as he doles out punishment t...

Void Rivals Meet Again! They do and it continues here with issue # 18! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’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. In this eighteenth issue, Darak and Solila’s separate paths are set to converge again as the truth about Unity is revealed to them both! But is it the same truth? Seems like they split up or reunite at the end of every arc. Yep, that seems like the pattern thus far! Solila’s been gifted insight and an upgrade from Zerta Trion and Vector Theta, while...