Energon Universe - ongoing Transformers and G.I. Joe comics from Skybound

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
January Solicitations are out!

And a little about them.
Looks like it's a month for battles! Place your bets, folks!

Devastator vs Bruticus! This should be fun! My money's on Bruticus. He's newer than Devastator, and I think they probably want to hype up the new guy.

Skuxxoid VS Pythona! A battle I actually didn't see coming. Now, usually, I think most people's money would be on Pythona. But, Skuxxoid seems to be Kirkman's pet character in Void Rivals. So, at the very least, I think Skuxxoid lives to see another day.

And finally, Duke VS...some guy! I don't recognize him. So...ummm...I'm gonna say it's going to be a tie. Just for variety.
 

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
GI Joe #1 and Transformers #14 are both out!

Let's start with the new kid. GI Joe #1! It's been a long road getting here. And this first issue does see a lot of the different plotlines from those various miniseries all come together. All the players are on the stage, so now we can finally start the show.

Art-wise, I actually really like the style of this comic. It's got a pulpy, explosive feel to it that really seems to fit well with GI Joe. I really can't complain about the artwork.

Writing wise, this is still a bit of a reintroduction to these characters for those who didn't pick up EVERY miniseries they released. So, it's still a bit of a setup issue. But, by the end we kick off the action with explosive results.

For those wondering, there are references to the stuff that happened in recent Transformers comics...like that piece of Cybertron that's just hanging out in the Pacific. But, we don't actually do much with them this issue. So, if you don't care about GI Joe, you can comfortably skip this issue for now.

But, still, this is a perfectly solid first issue. We get a refresher on the characters. We get some action. I do feel like if you haven't been reading Skybound's other Joe comics you might be a *little* lost on a few scenes, though, since it doesn't explain every little thing. But, still, I enjoyed myself. It's worth a read.

Again, I just have to say, I really like the effect they do on the very first splash page of the issue. I don't know if it's the coloring or the textures they use or what. But, it just has a neat "3D" like look to it that I dig.

Ah, good ol' "reliable" American engineering. Always buy American when you buy your jet packs, folks!

"Meanwhile, in Springfield..." Horrible things are happening. Just horrible. Please keep Shipwreck away from here.

Cobra Commander's got himself a robot hand now! If this was the 80s CC, I would expect a few Young Frankenstein-esque running gags with this, but this version does seem to be more on the serious side.

Abu Dhabi, it's far away! Abu Dhabi, that's where you'll stay! Abu Dhabi, the place to be for any kitten who's annoying me, yeah! I'm sorry, I only know this place from Garfield and Friends.

We get a few pages of...some guy...beating up some other guys. It's pretty well done and stylish, but I have no context for any of this. I think his name is Risk and he seems to be a boxer? I think he's new? I dunno?

Duke isn't sure if this team is really coming together. And he's right. To really make this a team, I think they need to recruit a few more people with pets along with them. It's tradition.

Cover Girl changed her hair color just to annoy Clutch. That's a nice reference to the cartoon.

So, anyway, somehow part of a entire PLANET crashing into the ocean didn't make the news, because Duke acts like no one knows that a part of Cybertron is now on Earth. I mean, I know the news has been pretty busy the last few weeks but still, you'd think people would notice something like this. Anyway, part of this is being transported away so they can study it and Cobra wants to steal it.

Does anyone speak Russian? Because I have no idea what Baroness and Stalker are saying to each other. Kind of rude to not even give us a translation in captions or something. Of course, maybe it's too rude to translate? I wouldn't know.

So how long until Baroness sees Destro for the first time and it's love at first sight? I give it 3 issues.

And Rock 'N Roll gets shot by a bunch of lasers! I'm sure he's fine. He's got a parachute! Parachutes solve ALL the problems in GI Joe, in my experience

And we end the issue with the faces of a BUNCH of people who are Skybound Insiders. Anyone you know? Did you make it into the issue?

And now for Transformers #14.

This is a continuation of Starscream's story from last issue and it's actually pretty fun. It's kind of a hoot. It didn't quite go the direction I thought it might be. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say much other than that.

This isn't the most plot-heavy issue of the comic ever. But, it is a fun read. I recommend it!

Thus is born Star-Tank! Hmm...S.T.A.R. Tank? It's Starscream with a HISS Tank for legs! (Which works doubly so if you remember the old STARS club from the toys. I doubt that was intentional, but it's still neat.) That alone is worth the price of admission. Where's our toy of this Hasbro!? Actually, this would be pretty easy to kitbash...hmmm.

Starscream handles this with all the dignity and civility that we've come to expect from him.

But, honestly, he's mostly just upset that they didn't draw him right. I'm honestly not sure if that's a meta-joke or not? Honestly, I think the art has been pretty good in this comic, myself. There's always a critic.

He almost kills one of these guy's pet cat! Yes, they actually brought their pet cat into a warzone with a giant robot that they're running tests on. At least ONE team in this universe knows how to put together a proper team! Take notes GI Joe! You could learn a few things.

Apparently, this main guy's name is Horton. (He's a who?) And as far as I can tell, he's not a reference to anybody. I think he's just new?

"HMPH, well played, squishy" Ah, Starscream's already giving them nicknames. I think these guys are going to stick around for the long haul!

Meanwhile, in the past, Megatron mind controls Starscream into killing innocent civilians against his will! Harsh! And probably a bad idea, in retrospect. I guess this is what gave this version of Starscream his taste for needless violence.

Back in the now, Starscream recruits Astrotrain by promising to let him have Megatron's head. I mean, someone's got to have it, it might as well be him.

It's so weird that this huge piece of metal falling from space has such a minor impact on the planet. But, I guess it's lighter and has less mass than it looks? Maybe it has mass conversion properties like the cassettes, I dunno. I guess it just gently fluttered down from the heavens...like a giant potato chip falling from the sky.

Starscream also recruits the Combaticons. This is really turning into a adventuring party now! So, who's the wizard of the group?

"Bask in my glory, Onslaught!" You're awfully full of yourself when you're only half of your usual self there, Starscream.

Okay, maybe I was wrong about some of these Cobra guys sticking around long term. That "long haul" was about half a issue. But, at least the cat and the artist survive. Someone needs to be around to chronicle Starscream's deeds.

So, they're all united now! United by their hatred of Soundwave! Why does HIS face get to be the Decepticon Logo, anyway!? It's unfair!
 

The Phazer

Well-known member
Citizen
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There will be an exclusive cover variant of issue #1 of the TF book and a limited sketch version at the Transformers pop up store in London Battersea on the 27th. Nice cover (though that is a... very big Prime).
 
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ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
Pretty good trailer!

Also, Void Rivals #14 and Transformers #15 are out!

...Maybe. Depending on your area. Diamond's been having shipping problems ever since they closed their Plattsburgh location. So, if they're anything like my shop, your local comic shop might be having issues beyond their control.
(I know a lot of retailers are unhappy right now.)

I did finally manage to get my hands on these issues though.



Let's start with Void Rivals! And it's a solid enough issue. Things ARE picking up. I think things are going to start really heating up from here onward.

Let's just say a few new characters showed up and seem to all be converging on the Void Rival's homeworld. All the pieces are SLOWLY coming together. And once they do come together, this whole book might go up like a powder keg!

This does still feel like setup. But...it's setup that's getting CLOSE to having something happen. Which I do appreciate.

Oh no! Religion?! Well, now things are gonna get REAL bad! Religion in comics is never a good thing. Just look at 90% of Jim Starlin's work.

Just when we're about to finally find out what "The Goliant" is...problems arise that we have to deal with RIGHT NOW. Boo! You tease!

The Skuxxoid was sad! But now he's determined to provide for his family...who left him several issues ago! I don't know what's going on, but it's going! That's for sure! It keeps going...no matter how many times we tell it to stop! There it is...GOING!

Meanwhile, the Cobra-La crew get exposed to a radioactive rock! I'm so sure this will have NO consequences whatsoever! Nope, no one's getting fun, toyetic mutations here, nosirree!

Even MORE meanwhile, Solila is using her magical USB drive to help find her way through the Black Pyramid at the center of the planet!

Darak gets sent to intercept the Cobra-La ship, so that's going to lead to something interesting....next issue-ish.

Collect all 7 different Handroids today! Kamen Rider Super-1 would be proud!

"You LOVE Handroid" This clumsy attempt at a double-entendre is appreciated!

Guess who shows up, just in time to complicate things? That's right it's Hot Rod! He gets in a dogfight with Darak. That Free Comic Book Day issue is finally relevant!

Also, the Quintessons are here! So, everyone's all converging on the Ring of Zerta all at the same time!

From the looks of things we're going to probably end up with a 5-way-war happening for control of this planet. With the Agorrians, Zertans, Cybertronians, Quintessons, and Cobra-La all vying for control of this world. It's been a slow burn, but I'm getting a little hyped. Oh, and maybe Skuxxoid will do something, too, I guess.

As for Transformers #15, this is kind of a transition issue. We're kind of starting a new arc with this issue. So, we're kind of putting things into place for the next arc.

Still, it looks like we'll be right back in the action next issue. And this issue still has all the violence you've come to crave from Skybound Transformers!

So, yeah, this issue is a little slower than normal. But, it's still pretty good.

They really are trying to make Thundercracker more sympathetic than the other Decepticons. I'm just not sure if they can really top IDW's version of Thundercracker for me. That's a bit unfair, but that version of Thundercracker will probably always be my favorite version of the character.

So, Cliffjumper ended up back on Cybertron after the events of the last few issues. And..it actually looks like his luck has changed since he's on a different planet! He teams up with Bluestreak, Blurr, and Warpath! Maybe things are finally turning around for Cliffjumper! Or maybe something FAR worse is just around the corner! This book can be cruel, sometimes.

"And I will never not be proud of you" D'awww! Okay, that's a nice moment between Papa Optimus and Arcee, right there.

Sounds like Arcee will be out looking for Ultra Magnus, where ever he ran off to.

Optimus and the others try to go help the city the Decepticon's are destroying...but they get mixed up for each other by the locals. And...the locals have a tank! Not sure how they got that here so fast. But, yeah, this issue has Optimus vs a tank! Spoilers, Optimus wins! Handily.

Literally around another corner, Cliffjumper's crew finds a Decepticon...and Bluestreak immediately shanks him and siphons off his inner energon for themselves. Brutal, but effective.

Back on Earth, Optimus is almost about to bring another Autobot back...but they immediately get attacked by Starscream's Kill Krew! I guess this book just refuses to deal with the whole Trailblazer/Trailbreaker/Trailcutter naming headache.

It's surprising how simultaneously menacing and ridiculous Starscream can be with a HISS Tank for legs, right on the same page. Optimus sums it up perfectly. "What..?"

And it looks like we'll be having a little Decepticon Civil War between Soundwave and Starscream's factions as Bruticus AWAKENS!

Next issue it looks like we'll be getting Devastator versus Bruticus! Yeah, that's going to be a fun issue!
 
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ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
February Solicitations are out!

And some discussion.
We're getting a new character in Transformers! Place your bets! I'm going to bet on...Wreck-Gar! Why not?

And over in Void Rivals, it sure does look like the Cobra-La crew is going feral.
 

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
Oh, that kind of "new" character.

Got me excited for something completely original, there, for a sec.
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
I mean, they COULD mean a Skybound-original character. The wording isn't clear. I just assumed it was a new-to-the-universe kind of "new" character. But, maybe DWJ made his own character who will be important to the newest arc.
 

MrBlud

Well-known member
Citizen
Hehe poor Ramjet. He has met very ignominious ends. Beaten to death by Megatron. Launched aimlessly into space. Gutted by Bluestreak. Chumpjet amirite?

Have to assume Tacoma being literally ******* destroyed will at least merit a mention over in GI Joe
 

ZakuConvoy

Well-known member
Citizen
March Solicitations are out! (*Ahem* Yeah...I kinda forgot until the last minute for last month's solicitations).

And some commentary:
Transformers #18 gets a alternate spoiler cover. So...something's happening! It might just be a followup on that "brand new character" they mentioned last time. Or maybe someone's going to die. Either way, I really like that cover with Bruticus.

And over in Void Rivals we get...ZERTA! Looks like our long journey will finally bear fruit! I'm looking forward to FINALLY getting some revelations! Maybe. Hopefully.
 

Tuxedo Prime

Well-known member
Citizen
The cover does make me nostalgic for both 1986 and 2004.

"UUUUUURRRRRRRRH!"
 


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