BotTalk Reviews

Group huddle! It’s reunion(s) time in 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. In this thirty-fifth issue, virtually our entire cast gather, take stock, fight, make new friends, unmask, and do various other things! So everyone’s here? Geez, almost. With Skuxxoid arriving on the planet that Darak and Solila, not to mention Pythona’s gang and ROM are currently stranded, that’s nearly the entire cast of Void Rivals in this issue. That’s not even mentioning the final cou...

Story : Flint is able to stop the G.I. B.A.T. but Duke is hurt so Night Force and the Joes head back to base. The Baroness makes contact with a handler of some sort to get supplies and information. Hawk/Zartan meets up with General Flagg and they discuss the Mobile Command Center and its Energon stores. Hawk/Zartan splits the Joes up into two teams - one to track the Baroness and one to escort the MCC. Flint is unhappy he needs to take the G.I. B.A.T. again and asks Scarlett to keep an eye on Cobra activity that would indicate the Baroness gave them info. Hawk/Zartan contacts Zarana and Zandar to get them to mobilize Cobra to make it look like Cobra knows something. Meanwhile, the Baroness finds Hawk's cabin and a surprise inside.  Writing : Not as much action here, but there in going-ons. Many plots are building to a head and Flint isn’t so sure of Hawk anymore. We also get to see Doc and Flagg in the Joe comic now too!   Art : Really good throughout the issue. Getting to see...

Back to Cybertron again! The war changes once again! Robert Kirkman, chief architect of the Energon Universe, writes the flagship Transformers title and Karl Kerschl pencils this issue with Mike Spicer on colors. In this thirty-seventh issue, we return to Cybertron to check in on Elita Prime’s contingent of Autobots as they battle Shockwave’s forces on their contested home planet. Will sabotage from within force Elita Prime to change her mind about Optimus and those still on Earth? That’s what happens, isn’t it? Yeah. Basically this issue is just working towards Elita Prime admitting she was wrong about Optimus and becoming amenable to sending him help on Earth. There’s a bunch of skirmishes with Shockwave’s forces that culminate in a “reveal” that the Autobots have been compromised by a saboteur that nearly swipes the Matrix from Elita! I think Elita has looked kind of shortsighted under Kirkman so far, with her butt-headed decision to oppose Optimus and take the Matrix. Maybe Kirkman...

Add an "R" for less brand confusion! Enter Predaco- er...PREDACRON in issue # 34 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. In this thirty-fourth issue, Darak and Solila, along with their acquaintances in Cobra-La and their new ally ROM the Spaceknight are attacked by alien bounty hunter Predacron! Also on the way to the main plot; SKUXXOID! Preda...cron? Y'see, late in G.I. Joe's run, there was a sub-line called ...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Tom Reilly (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Duke's G.I. Joe team fights off against Flint's Night Force team in trying to capture the Baroness.  Duke vs. G.I. B.A.T., Beachhead vs. Stalker, Roadblock vs. Risk and Flint, Shooter and Lady Jaye vs. Clutch, Autobot Hound, and the Baroness.  We get more details on what Zartan is after, and Snowjob has brought Scarlett back for debriefing.  Meanwhile, Cobra Commander uses the Energon Sword to train/fight Major Medusa, using Crystal Ball's D.I.R.E. Tech - which leads Destro to finding out something about Cobra Commander.  Eventually, most of the Joes and Night Force realize things are getting too far gone once G.I. B.A.T. tries to kill Duke, against the current orders to capture the team.   Writing : Lots of action and a lot going on. The Baroness and Clutch have a good conversation in which the Baroness accuses him of never trusting her.  We...

More thrills! More shocks! More new arms! The bold new era for the Autobots and this book continues! 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-sixth issue, a new Superion is born! Doctor Arkeville proves his worth! Starscream prepares a plot! And Beachcomber searches for a new purpose! What is it with Skybound and giving people new arms? Optimus, Rom, and now Superion… I dunno. Anyhow, as practically EVERYONE expected, Thundercracker becomes part of Superion in this issue! And uh… well, there’s not a lot of fanfare to it, actually. It’s just treated as something Thundercracker could already do. Off-panel upgrades from Wheeljack, I guess? I dunno what I expected, maybe Cobra-La to have the Enigma of Combination or something, but it just...

It’s a ROMlution! Or a Romvolution? Rom the Space Knight is here in issue # 33 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. In this thirty-third issue, Darak and Solila make formal acquaintance with Rom the Space Knight and his partner, the organic blob known as Carpet! Also, Cobra-La is still there and we catch up with Skuxxoid as he arrives on a new, very-familiar planet! Who’s this Rom guy? You know! Rom! The Space Knight! Yet another Hasbro property folded into the...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer),Tom Reilly, Andrea Milana (artists), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Flint, Beachhead, Lady Jaye, and Shooter are fighting some Cobra S.N.A.K.E (System: Neutralizer—Armed Kloaking Equipment) Battle Suits as training and officially reveal their name as Night Force.  Hawk/Zartan fights the Baroness after the events of last issue and he issues an order to capture her but she gets away.  Baroness was able to see something was wrong with Hawk.  He orders the Joe team to take her out.  Cobra Commander reveals his upgrades to Crystal Ball's D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) Tech and his new "left hand" Major Medusa.  On her yacht, the Baroness is confronted by Night Force but tries to explain and that anyone who talks to her will probably be killed.  The rest of the Joes show up to help the Baroness with Flint surprised to see Autobot Hound but then he releases Night Force's own surprise - G....

Aerialbots VS Yodelling! The bold new era for the Autobots and this book continues! 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-fifth issue, the Autobots must rely on their new human allies to save the dying Shredhead’s life! Also, Thundercracker leads the Aerialbots to track down the forces of Cobra-LUH-LUH-LUH-LUH-LA! So Shredhead ain’t dead? Nah, they’re fine. Although who knows after Doctor Arkeville gets done with them. It does seem like Onslaught is dead for now, which is a shame and kind of weird considering he’s got a new toy out currently, but I guess Kirkman isn’t constrained to Hasbro’s whims as much as other writers were. Wheeljack and Doctor Arkeville have a bit of back-and-forth about fixing Shredhead, which is kind of amus...

Creators : Joshua Williamson (writer), Andrea Milana (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letterer) Story : Risk and Crystal Ball continue their fight and we discover Crystal Ball's background and a bit more on Risk.  Destro and Baroness work together to free Stalker and Chameleon, which allows Risk to win the fight.  Both Joes and Cobra are able to return with some valuable prizes.  Cobra Commander plans to use the D.I.R.E. (Dread-Inducing Responsive Energy) tech while the Baroness witnesses something she shouldn't have. Writing : Williamson keeps the action flowing in the first half of this issue.  Crystal Ball gets a pretty decent background while keeping some of his original ("7th son of the 7th son).  The last half wraps up a few other plot points (Scarlett's return, Duke's mission with Clutch) and sets us up nicely for the next issue.  I do wonder if Williamson will "rewind the clock" a bit so we get some more details of what happened el...