BotTalk Reviews

It’s Elita Prime Time! A bold new era for the Autobots and this book begins! Robert Kirkman, chief architect of the Energon Universe, writes the flagship Transformers title and Jason Howard takes over as regular penciler for this new story arc with Mike Spicer on colors. Howard had previously drawn issues # 13 and # 14 of this book, along with many covers. In this thirty-second issue, Elita Prime and the Autobots that chose to follow her return to Cybertron via a space bridge portal and land in enemy territory. It isn’t long before Shockwave arrives with a welcoming party for them and a huge battle erupts! Can Elita prove herself worthy of the Matrix in her first major test as the new Prime? Fighty-fighty? Oh yeah, this entire issue is a big fight between Elita and Shockwave’s forces, allowing Jason Howard to showcase his artistic chops at action scenes. Things quickly become desperate for the Autobots and Elita Prime ends up having an “Open, dammit, open!” moment with her new Matrix t...

What’s all this then? Oh, it’s just time for a Free Comic Book Day Energon Universe Special! For 2026, this edition features four tales: M.A.S.K., written by Dan Waters with art by Pye Parr. Transformers, written by Robert Kirkman, penciled by Jason Howard, and colored by Sarah Stern. Void Rivals, written by Robert Kirkman, penciled by Conor Hughes, and colored by Patricio Delpeche. G.I. Joe, written by Joshua Williamson, penciled by Tom Reilly, and colored by Lee Loughridge. Oh. Yeah, it’s the usual Free Comic Book day teases of upcoming storylines or in M.A.S.K.’s case, a new ongoing comic. Accordingly, M.A.S.K. gets the longest story that sets up the ongoing as Matt Trakker and Miles Mayhem begin to assemble their teams. The Transformers tale is free of dialogue, introducing a mysterious new human character and a classic Autobot who has been absent from the Energon Universe so far. The Void Rivals tale takes place after the current “Quintesson War” arc (and annoyingly SPOILS some pl...

War continues, next on Void Rivals! The Quintesson War continues in issue # 29 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. Penciler Andrei Bressan and colorist Patricio Delpeche join Robert Kirkman for the fifth and penultimate part of “Quintesson War”. In this instalment, Darak and the Agorrians are being pushed back by the massive Quintesson Tribunal, while the war continues to be fought on other fronts by Solila, Pythona, Proximus and many others. Wait, what’s the ...

Megatron belongs to somebody! He does and in this issue we find out who! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, he now takes the writing reins of the flagship Transformers comic series as well. Ludo Lullabi returns on pencils with Mike Spicer on colors for this “breather” issue focused on Megatron! In this thirty-first issue, the secret of Megatron’s enforced servitude is revealed as his hidden master tightens the reins on the Decepticon leader! Has this got to do with the glow-y eyes and seizures Megs has been suffering? Yep! We finally learn who is pulling the strings of the Quintesson Dezimir who had put Megatron through those “trials” and how Megatron’s gun mode can control those who wield it. It’s a concept that has been utilized in Transformers fiction before and Kirkman looks to be offering a new spin on it. Megatron must undergo another series of trials in his own mind as his not-so-mysterious benefactor pits him against Decepticon leader...

War continues, next on Void Rivals! The Quintesson War continues in issue # 28 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. Penciler Andrei Bressan and colorist Dee Cunniffe join Robert Kirkman for the fourth part of “Quintesson War”. In this instalment, the Quint invasion continues on both Agorria and Zertonia as the Quintessons up their game and level up in response to resistance from both planets. Proximus has had his suppressed memories unlocked and Cobra-La has en...

There can be only ONE Prime! Unlike Magni, I guess! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, he now takes the writing reins of the flagship Transformers comic series as well, with Dan Mora now on pencils and Sarah Stern on colors. In this thirtieth issue, Optimus Prime must contend with Elita-1 as she challenges his leadership of the Autobots! So they fight? A little bit. Optimus really has no quarrel with Elita, but she’s been fighting the war on Cybertron for so long that she can’t really see anything else. The entire issue is built around their conflict with no cutting away from this momentous occasion and in the end, Optimus must compromise in order to do what is best for Earth. Basically, Optimus is put in a difficult position by Elita, who is practically immovable in her views and his ultimate decision leaves the Autobots on Earth in a tighter corner than they were already. It’s a very Optimus thing to do and Kirkman doesn’t play him as indec...

War continues, next on Void Rivals! The Quintesson War continues in issue # 27 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 artist Andrei Bressan steps in along with regular colorist Patricio Delpeche to join Robert Kirkman for the third part of “Quintesson War”. In this instalment, the Quint invasion continues on both planets while Darak and Solila reunite to find a solution. Also, Cobra-La's Pythona reenters the scene and Proximus comes to an important realiz...

Calling all Magni! There’s at least two now! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, he now takes the writing reins of the flagship Transformers comic series as well, with Dan Mora now on pencils and Sarah Stern on colors. In this twenty-ninth issue... FIGHT! Fight? Yep, that’s about it. After Megatron’s shocking killing of Trailbreaker last issue, Optimus Prime and his boys (and girl) show up to lay the smackdown on the Decepticons. Guess they didn’t have to even roll out to find them! Kirkman takes a break from seeding plot threads to have an all-out Brawl (well, they’re not all Brawl) between the Decepticons and the Autobots for just about the entire issue! It’s a chance to showcase Dan Mora’s art as the two teams of Transformers on Earth go at it. The Decepticons have the objective of freeing Soundwave from the Ark’s prison cell, while Optimus is rightly ticked at one of his soldiers being turned into a Capri Sun by Megatron! Uh, what else? Ag...