Void Rivals

Void Rivals is an American comic book ongoing series written by Robert Kirkman, drawn by Lorenzo De Felici. It debuted on June 14, 2023,^[1] published by Skybound Entertainment, an imprint of Image Comics.^[2] The story follows Darak and Solila, two individuals from opposing sides of an ancient extraterrestrial racial war, whose ships crash on a barren planet. Forced to cooperate for survival, they uncover the truth that their races are actually the same and that the war is based on secrets and lies.

Void Rivals
Issue #1, cover A.
Publication information
Publisher	Skybound Entertainment (Image Comics)
Schedule	Monthly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Science fiction
Publication date	June 14, 2023 – present
No. of issues	18
Main character(s)	Darak Solila
Creative team
Created by	Lorenzo De Felici Robert Kirkman Matheus Lopes
Written by	Robert Kirkman
Artist(s)	Lorenzo De Felici Conor Hughes
Letterer(s)	Rus Wooton
Colorist(s)	Patricio Delpeche Matheus Lopes
Editor(s)	Ben Abernathy Sean Mackiewicz Jonathan Manning Bixie Mathieu

It is the first installment (and only original intellectual property) in the Energon Universe, a shared universe that combines new Transformers and G.I. Joe comics developed by Skybound, in collaboration with Hasbro.^[3]

Publication history

Comics

Void Rivals was announced in February 2023 as the beginning of an "all-new shared universe" developed by Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics.^[2]

The series is being written by Robert Kirkman, drawn by Lorenzo De Felici and colored by Matheus Lopes.^[4] Kirkman and De Felici had previously worked together on another comic titled Oblivion Song.^[5]

Kirkman said, "With every project I do, I’m always trying to challenge myself. One thing I’ve always loved doing is starting small with a story and expanding the depth, scope and stakes as we progress. With Void Rivals we’ll be going bigger than I ever have and at a much faster pace. This project is going to be monumental. I can’t wait for people to see what Lorenzo and I have been cooking."^[4]

Sean Mackiewicz, publisher and SVP for Skybound Entertainment, also added, "Void Rivals takes every element fans expect from Skybound comics—incredible worlds, dynamic characters, and jaw-dropping twists—and kicks off our first shared universe. This comic is the start of something we’ll be talking about for years to come."^[4]

By the time the first issue was published, Skybound announced the series to be part of the Energon Universe, which combines new comics based on Hasbro brands Transformers and G.I. Joe.^[3]

Toys

In March 2025, Hasbro announced a three pack toy line featuring Darak, Solila and Jetfire figures for San Diego Comic-Con.^[6]

Premise

The Sacred Ring is a massive, disk-like artificial structure that encircles a black hole located in a desolate quadrant of space. This black hole draws in resources such as comets and other celestial bodies towards itself and the ring. On either side of the Ring reside two once-united worlds, Agorria and Zertonia. Both were once thriving planets whose societies fractured into opposing races after their parent star collapsed. They then spent thousands of years and generations building and assembling their respective halves of the Sacred Ring around the black hole, in a desperate struggle to survive.^[7]

The remnants of each world now inhabit their halves of the Ring and are locked in a bitter, racial hate-driven conflict, fighting over the resources that the black hole attracts, trying to sustain their struggling civilizations. After a battle in outer space over these resources, two survivors—one from each race, find themselves stranded on a barren planet. They are then forced to work together to find a way off the lifeless rock, or die there. As they navigate their challenges, they uncover a troubling truth: their war has been perpetuated by a cycle of secrets and lies. In reality, the Agorrians and Zertonians are the same species, but those in power wish to keep them divided for undisclosed reasons.^[2]

Overview

Title	Issue(s)	Writer(s)	Artist(s)	Colorist(s)	Premiere date
Void Rivals	1–	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici Conor Hughes	Patricio Delpeche Matheus Lopes	June 14, 2023[2]
Energon Universe 2024 Special	One-shot	Daniel Warren Johnson Robert Kirkman Joshua Williamson	Lorenzo De Felici Ryan Ottley Jason Howard	Annalisa Leoni Matheus Lopes Mike Spicer	May 4, 2024 (Free Comic Book Day)[8]
Energon Universe 2025 Special			Conor Hughes Daniel Warren Johnson Andrea Milana	Patricio Depelche Lee Loughridge Mike Spicer	May 3, 2025 (Free Comic Book Day)

Plot

Issue	Written by	Drawn by	Colored by	Publication date
Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye"
01	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	June 14, 2023
The Agorrian pilot Darak crashlands after battling with an enemy Zertonian ship on a remote planetoid far from their home on the Sacred Ring. After Darak's artificial intelligence assistant Handroid revives him, they are ambushed by Solila, the Zertonian pilot. Darak wins the fight but spares her on the condition they work together to repair one of their ships and return to the Sacred Ring, to which Solila and Handroid reluctantly agree. During the repairs, Solila is nearly killed when she accidentally detonates part of their energy supply, and she leaves in a huff after Darak saves her. She returns several hours later with news of another spacecraft buried nearby, which Handroid confirms is neither Agorrian nor Zertonian in origin. Darak and Solila attempt to reactivate the ship but are astonished when it suddenly transforms into the Cybertronian scientist Jetfire; horrified at his eons-long slumber, Jetfire leaves them behind to return to Cybertron. Darak suggests salvaging parts from their flight armors to re-repair Solila's ship, which would mean removing their helmets and violating their peoples' most sacred degrees. Solila agrees, and they discover to their shock that they are actually the same race beneath their helmets, as foretold in a mysterious vision Darak had.
02	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	July 19, 2023
Darak tells Solila about the vision he experienced after leaving Agorria on a mission from his leader, Minister Dulin, which detailed the history of the Sacred Ring – Agorria and Zertonia were once two warring planets whose populations united after their sun collapsed, and the Sacred Ring was built to contain the black hole. The surviving Agorrians and Zertonians took half of the Ring each, but the peace soon broke down and the conflict resumed fiercer than ever. However, the vision warns that unity must happen again soon as "Goliant" is coming. Solila believes the voice in Darak's vision belonged to the Zertonian religious figure Zerta, to his skepticism; regardless, both agree that they should continue working together to return to the Sacred Ring and discover the truth behind their war. The two spend the next twenty days crafting a patchwork shuttle out of the remaining materials despite Solila's conflicted feelings over her new relationship with a supposedly sworn enemy. The shuttle finally takes off, but Handroid informs Darak and Solila that they will take years to return to the Ring. However, they are soon captured by an asteroid-shaped spaceship and its pilot, the bounty hunter Skuxxoid.
03	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	August 16, 2023
Darak and Solila engage the Skuxxoid and escape deeper into his ship. As he opts to inspect their shuttle rather than pursue them, Solila fends off a strange mechanical scorpion and Darak realizes she is actually a Zertonian warrior, not a mere pilot as she previously claimed. Darak agrees to release another of the Skuxxoid's prisoners in exchange for passage off the ship but discovers it is a Quintesson. The three return to the Quintesson's ship in the main hanger, where the Skuxxoid confronts them and offers them another deal; in exchange for the Quintesson and their junker shuttle, Darak and Solila can leave using another functional ship. The two accept, to the Quintesson's dismay, and they return to the borders of the Sacred Ring within a few days. They agree to split up and continue investigating within their own people, but Solila betrays Darak and knocks him out.
04	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	September 27, 2023
Solila returns to Zertonia with the captured Darak, narrowly fending off an attack from Handroid. As Zertonian leader Premier Zalilak is informed of their arrival, Solila apologizes to her new frenemy and agrees to keep their discoveries secret until they can reconnect and figure out who to trust. Zertonian guards arrest Darak as the Skuxxoid attempts to sell his Quintesson prisoner on Cybertron; however, the Decepticon Shockwave orders them to leave, having no spare resources to buy or barter for the Cybertronians' most hated enemy. Zalilak informs Solila that Darak will be kept alive for negotiation purposes and immediately becomes suspicious at her relief. She is arrested and thrown in the same cell as Darak, who finds their shared imprisonment hilarious despite the revelation that their leaders are both in on the deception. Zalilak secretly removes his helmet and contacts Minister Dulin to inform him of the situation; Dulin regretfully allows Zalilak to proceed with his judgments even though Darak is his son.
05	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	October 25, 2023
Zertonian guards sedate Darak and drag him away for interrogation as Solila is visited by Mistress Vil and the Keepers of the Light, a mysterious religious sect that Solila abandoned to become a pilot. Vil gives Solila advice for her upcoming quest and a strange green key bearing both Agorrian and Zertonian markings. At the same time, the Skuxxoid tries returning his prisoner to the Quintesson home planet of Quintessa. The five-faced Quintesson Judge is furious at the Skuxxoid's insolence and orders the Allicon horde to execute him, but pauses when the Skuxxoid mentions the Zertonian shuttle. Darak endures three days of torture before a young child named Ultum rescues him and returns his clothes, helmet, and Handroid. Ultum brings him to the Unifiers, a group of Zertonian resistance fighters dedicated to reconnecting the two halves of the Sacred Ring, and Darak demands that they retrieve Solila as well.
06	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	November 22, 2023
The Unifiers reluctantly agree and rescue Solila as the Skuxxoid offers the Quintessons Darak and Solila's shuttle; the Judge orders the ship scanned for any information on Zertonia's whereabouts, musing about how a mysterious "her" must have succeeded eons ago. Solila is surprised that Darak helped engineer her escape, and the Unifiers request the two deliver a data packet to their counterparts on Agorria, with whom they recently lost contact. Zalilak is notified of Darak and Solila's escape as they venture into the destitute Zertonian public; however, Ultum betrays them out of hope the Zertonian guards will help him find his mother. Darak and Solila flee and eventually escape into the desolate Wastelands separating the two halves of the Sacred Ring. However, Zalilak refuses to risk the Sacred Ring reuniting and the coming of Goliant and orders Proximus, their most terrible hunter, to be revived.
Volume 2: "Hunted Across the Wasteland"
07	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	March 6, 2024
In the past, Darak was once a construction worker tasked with maintaining the edge of Agorria. After he saved a fellow worker from an accident, the intense gravity at the Sacred Ring's edge threw him off Agorria into the middle of the Wastelands. Relying on hazy memories of his survival, Darak maintains that they need to make it halfway across the blasted landscape to succeed; despite Solila and Handroid's reservations about not having enough supplies for a three-month journey, they agree to follow his lead. Zalilak mentally contacts Proximus, whose ruined body is sealed inside a life support tank, and orders him to hunt down Darak and Solila before they reach Agorria. Proximus agrees, and the Zertonian scientists release him and reassemble his body using cybernetic limbs. Solila continues pressing Darak about his vision, maintaining it was a message from Zerta while Darak believes it was a mere hallucination brought on by the space travel. Later that night, Solila secretly examines the key Mistress Vil gave her, who senses that she is on the destiny chosen by Zerta.
08	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	April 2, 2024
In the past, Solila's mother sold her and her younger brother Polada into the Zertonian military, where their new superior officers were impressed by their ferocious fighting. In response to Solila's continued questioning about their destination, Darak admits he vaguely remembers where to find an oasis in the center of the Wastelands. The two are suddenly beset by a rain of energy arrows as Proximus catches up to them. Darak is immediately knocked out, and Handroid distracts the hunter long enough for Solila to stab him with her spear. As the Wastelands' high winds scatter the three combatants, Proximus removes the spear and hurls it after them. When Darak wakes up, he finds that Proximus is gone, but he also discovers that the spear throw managed to impale Solila.
2024 Special	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Matheus Lopes	May 4, 2024
The Skuxxoid finally reunites with his longtime bounty-hunting partner Slizardo, who makes his displeasure at being left behind known by threatening to shoot him. The Skuxxoid manages to calm Slizardo down after telling him how the Quintessons had confiscated a ship he had recently tracked down for its unique alloys after discovering its Zertonian origin. Although Slizardo is interested in hearing more, the conversation is interrupted by the Autobot Hot Rod, who is also keen to learn more about the Zertonian ship. Hot Rod threatens the bickering bounty hunters by telling them he has been tracking a missing ally for some time, warning them that it would be much wiser to help rather than hinder his quest; the Skuxxoid agrees and gives Hot Rod all the information he had on the ship, where he discovered it, and the trajectory its former pilots took after leaving. A satisfied Hot Rod leaves, and the Skuxxoid also decides to return home, unaware that a mysterious robotic figure was recording the meeting.
09	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	May 22, 2024
Although the spear missed all of Solila's vital organs, she refuses to remove it for fear of bleeding out; the two continue their trek towards the oasis, now much closer than before thanks to the winds. The Skuxxoid returns home to see his family, only to remember that they are no longer around, as Solila collapses from blood loss and Darak finally finds the oasis – a small shelter containing an alien green and yellow vehicle. Darak admits to Handroid that he doesn't remember anything else about the oasis, only that someone there returned him to Agorria, but is interrupted when the vehicle suddenly transforms into the Autobot Springer. Springer initially confuses them for other mechanical beings and agrees to help, but Proximus ambushes them again and attacks the triple-changing Autobot. While tending to an unconscious Solila, Darak discovers the mysterious green key as a Quintesson Scientist reports his findings to the Judge: the shuttle's alloys date back to ancient Cybertron, and Zertonia might be connected to their ancient enemy Zerta Trion.
10	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	June 26, 2024
Zalilak is forced to admit to Dulin that Darak is still alive and the two prisoners escaped, while Solila awakens for long enough to warn Darak against inspecting the key. Springer eventually subdues Proximus, but he escapes after Darak asks for his help again. Springer takes the two to an underground laboratory under the oasis and is shocked to see that the gems on Darak and Solila's foreheads are actually Energon ports. After Springer pours some of his Energon into Solila's gem, she begins glowing pink as her body absorbs it and receives a vision from Zerta telling her she must journey into the Sacred Ring and find her. A fascinated Springer explains that although the Agorrians and Zertonians are organic, their physiologies somehow contain synthetic Cybertronian materials; furthermore, the Sacred Ring is actually a massive Energon-producing machine, which the Cybertronians require for food and fuel. He also tells the two about how he left the civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons to look for the mythical Cybertronian Zerta Trion. Solila asks to hear everything about Zerta Trion, but they are interrupted as a heavily armed squadron of Zertonian soldiers arrives at the oasis.
11	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	July 24, 2024
The Wastelands' gravity proves too strong to allow Darak and Solila to escape in Springer's helicopter mode, so the three decide to fight back against the Zertonians. During the battle, Darak manages to find and repair the old construction exosuit he used during his last visit to the Wastelands, which manages to turn the tide. Before the Zertonians retreat, he asks Springer to give one of the soldiers information about Energon production and refinement, admitting to a shocked Solila that he no longer cares about sides and just wants to help all their people. The Skuxxoid meets with a new client on the planet Chaar, unaware a mysterious robotic figure is spying on him, as a Quintesson cruiser begins sweeping the asteroid field where the Skuxxoid found Darak and Solila's ship. The Autobot Hot Rod arrives, also searching the area for Springer, and the Quintessons follow him as he sets course for the Sacred Ring. An injured Proximus stows away on one of the Zertonian tanks as they leave the Wastelands, while Darak asks Springer to take him and Solila to Agorria and share his knowledge about Energon. Although he agrees, Solila reluctantly tells Darak she cannot go with him and must leave on her own quest.
12	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	August 28, 2024
Zalilak meets with Dulin again and requests that he prevent unity in his stead; as he leaves the meeting, he instructs the Zertonian scientists to confirm all of the miraculous information received from the Wastelands before proceeding. Proximus is discovered hiding in a Zertonian alleyway by Ultum, who was kicked out of the Unifiers for his betrayal and forced to become an army cadet. Ultum sadly admits his mother is most likely dead, and Proximus reluctantly allows him to stay and hide with him. The Skuxxoid successfully completes his latest job, but mournfully reflects on his current place in life as Solila prepares to leave on her search for Zerta Trion. Although Darak reluctantly understands the need to separate in order to unity the Sacred Ring, he gives her Handroid so she does not have to travel alone. Solila presses her forehead against Darak's, briefly connecting their gems as the two say goodbye; however, they are unaware that the connection briefly awoke an enormous mechanical figure with glowing green eyes, slumbering inside the black hole at the center of the Sacred Ring.
Volume 3: "The Key to Vector Theta"
13	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	October 23, 2024
Pythona of Cobra-La awakens from a nightmare in which she failed her leader Golobulus to find that the Energon signature she and her team have tracked through deep space[a] has led them to a small planetoid. They discover the evidence of Darak and Solila's escape and depart to trace the new signal, hoping it will eventually lead them to Cybertron. As Darak and Springer leave for Agorria, Solila descends into the Sacred Ring's cramped interior despite Handroid's persistent doubts that a Cybertronian like Zerta Trion could fit. Darak tells Springer about his encounter with Jetfire, despite not knowing which direction he left, while Zalilak meets Mistress Vil at the Temple of Zerta's Light. At the Agorrian capital, Darak has a cold reunion with Dulin, who rebuffs his son's pleas to stop the war and warns that unifying the Sacred Ring would actually destroy them all. Vil echoes these warnings to Zalilak but also states that unity would bring both an end and a new beginning.
14	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	November 27, 2024
A humbled Zalilak agrees to follow Vil's teachings as Dulin apologizes for concealing the ramifications of unity from Darak. Before he can explain fully, they are interrupted by alerts of an alien vessel approaching Agorria, and Darak agrees to investigate. The Skuxxoid seemingly forgets about his family's departure as two of the Cobra-La soldiers encounter a strange green crystal interfering with their bioship's tracking abilities; although they remove it and repair the ship, they fail to notice small growths appearing on their armor from the crystal's energy. Solila uses Vil's key to guide her through the Ring's interior as Darak receives a new Handroid and again falls unconscious while jumping into deep space; instead of experiencing another vision, he psychically connects with Solila. The two update each other on recent developments, with Solila especially shocked to learn that Dulin and Zalilak know the truth of unity, and Darak suddenly wakes up to find the alien vessel almost colliding with him. After a short skirmish, the two pilots apologize, and the other introduces himself as Hot Rod of Cybertron. Solila also wakes up and is dropped further into the depths of the Ring as the Quintessons, following Hot Rod's trail, arrive and realize the mythical Ring of Zerta is real.
15	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	December 26, 2024
The Quintessons quickly retreat to prepare their revenge as Pythona notices the crystal's effects on her soldiers' armor, but their ship is suddenly captured by the Skuxxoid before she can investigate further. Darak and Hot Rod return to Agorria, where the latter's size and the sudden appearance of Springer alarms Dulin and the other Agorrians. The falling Solila and Handroid are caught and saved by glowing green energy, which she attributes to Zerta as the key continues to guide them through the darkness. Springer and Hot Rod reconnect about Zerta Trion and the Sacred Ring's Energon production capabilities. Dulin is wary about trusting the Cybertronians, but Darak assures him they would make valuable allies. Darak also realizes Dulin's aide Elander is one of the Agorrian Unifiers; meanwhile, in Zertonia, Ultum helps Proximus rebuild his mechanical body. Solila finally discovers an opening for the key, which reactivates the ancient Cybertronian supercomputer Vector Theta.
16	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	January 22, 2025
The Skuxxoid's awe at his new find is quickly replaced with irritation when he is attacked by the Cobra-La soldiers. Although he manages to kill one, he is eventually overwhelmed and cut in half by the rest. Unable to risk encountering more dangers inside the Skuxxoid's ship, the surviving Cobra-La troops depart to continue their mission, unaware that their fallen comrade is seemingly still alive. Within the Sacred Ring, Vector Theta confirms that Solila will find Zerta Trion at the end of her path, then orders her to leave and deactivates again. Elander confides in Darak that the Unifiers believe he will usher in a new age for the Sacred Realm, but Dulin arrives and orders them both to be arrested. Solila eventually reaches another sheer cliff and, before jumping into the darkness again, notices the still-living Zerta Trion before her.
17	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	March 12, 2025
The weakened Zerta recognizes Solila and psychically reveals the true origin of the Sacred Ring – long ago, during the Age of Wrath on Cybertron, she was once known as Beta. Alongside her companion A-3, she led a massive rebellion against their Quintesson overlords, for which they were given the honorable titles of Zerta Trion and Alpha Trion. In a desperate last resort, the Quintessons sent their ultimate weapon to destroy the Cybertronians – Goliant, a monstrous machine the size of a planet. Zerta lured him away from Cybertron to a distant star for him to consume, and she convinced the inhabitants of the two planets orbiting the star to build the Sacred Ring around him as he feasted. Goliant was trapped inside the resulting black hole, and Zerta used his essence to generate Energon and create the Agorrian and Zertonian races. Although she was gravely wounded and unable to escape the Ring, she could still influence its people, with the Zertonians responding to her calls better than the Agorrians. Zerta informs Solila that the Agorrians and Zertonians must unite to free Goliant and defeat him at his weakest, lest he should regain his strength and escape. Meanwhile, Dulin rages at Darak that Goliant must stay contained at all costs, but he agrees to spare his son and tell him the full truth. Springer and Hot Rod oversee the Agorrians' construction of an Energon well, while the Cobra-La troops come across the Quintesson cruiser and decide to follow it. In Zertonia, Proximus defeats several groups of soldiers while searching for information about Ultum's mother but grows suspicious that more were not sent to stop them. One of the soldiers reveals that Zalilak has been missing for months; he is undergoing a series of trials at Mistress Vil's command, who believes that he may be the first Zertonian chosen one.
18	Robert Kirkman	Lorenzo De Felici	Patricio Delpeche	April 30, 2025
In Zalilak's absence, still secretly undergoing Vil's trials, Proximus takes command of Zertonia. Dulin finishes telling Darak about how the Agorrian sacred texts warn against reuniting to free Goliant, and he reluctantly accepts the deceit to reconcile with his father. Deep underground, Zerta reactivates Vector Theta, and the irritated supercomputer grants Solila the power to command the Sacred Ring itself. With her new abilities and upgraded form, she leaves to find Darak, who visits Elander and learns that the Zertonian Unifiers were able to construct an Energon well of their own based on Springer's schematics. Darak reiterates the benefits of Energon to a skeptical Dulin while Hot Rod catches Springer up on news from Cybertron, including Elita One's strict Energon rationing and the continued disappearance of Optimus Prime and the Ark. With no word from Zalilak, Dulin decides to send Darak on a recon mission to Zertonia, but Solila suddenly bursts from the ground in the center of Dulin's throne room. The two rivals happily reunite, but an apoplectic Dulin orders Darak to kill Solila.
Volume 4: "First Chosen"
2025 Special	Robert Kirkman	Conor Hughes	Patricio Delpeche	May 3, 2025
On the planet Quintessa, the Quintessons have inexplicably halted all executions, giving a group of prisoners enough time to escape. In their chambers, a group of Quintesson Judges discuss the recent discovery of the Sacred Ring; one of the Judges proposes assembling a fleet to conquer the Ring and retrieve Goliant, but they are interrupted by news of the escaping prisoners. The Judge orders the Sharkticon horde to be sent after them, and the prisoners' leader, the Cybertronian Wheelie, helps fend off several Sharkticons as the Judges return to their discussion. They agree that Goliant remains their best defense against an unnamed cosmic threat and officially declare war on the Sacred Ring.
19	Robert Kirkman	Conor Hughes	Patricio Delpeche	May 28, 2025
A group of Junkions board the Skuxxoid's ship and discover that the two halves of the alien's bisected body are each regenerating into a new Skuxxoid. Their leader, Wreck-Gar, brings both Skuxxoids and the ship back to their home planet of Junkion, where the two aliens awaken. The older Skuxxoid explains to his younger counterpart that neither of them is the original Skuxxoid, with whom they share their memories and personalities. Every time a Skuxxoid is significantly injured, the maimed pieces regrow into a new version of themselves. As the two Skuxxoids take stock of their surroundings, they are attacked by Akronus, the Cobra-La warrior the previous Skuxxoid felled and who stowed away on the Junkions' ship for revenge. The Junkions force Akronus to surrender, who explains to the confused Skuxxoids that their speech is somehow littered with phrases and terminology from Earth television. Suddenly, a mysterious robotic figure attacks and kidnaps the two Skuxxoids, bringing them to a horde of other Skuxxoids led by the original Skuxxoid Alpha.
20	Robert Kirkman	Conor Hughes	Patricio Delpeche	June 25, 2025
Darak refuses to fight the newly empowered Solila, but he is forced to defend his father after she defeats the throne room guards with ease. As the two rivals duel, Darak and a horde of Agorrian soldiers manage to surround her; however, she disappears into the floor again and takes them all out one by one. As Darak and Solila argue about their newfound differences on what unity means, Skuxxoid Alpha orders the two new Skuxxoids to be sent to processing. They are examined by several medical robots, who take note of the first Skuxxoid's unhealed scar and order the panicked second Skuxxoid moved to priority processing. Not wanting to be separated, the older Skuxxoid attempts to follow his younger counterpart but is electrocuted for his resistance. On Junkion, Akronus reluctantly considers allowing the Junkions to help repair his organic armor with forbidden mechanical parts, while Darak finally manages to defuse the tension between Solila and Dulin. The two Agorrians relate their understanding of their sacred texts to Solila, who counters that the knowledge she learned directly from Zerta must be correct. However, Darak and Dulin remain unconvinced that releasing Goliant is the right option, and Solila is left unsure whether Zerta's plan ultimately accounts for the survival of the Agorrian and Zertonian peoples. Meanwhile, Zalilak's trials conclude with a message from Zerta, who orders him to assist Solila at all costs. Now fully convinced of Zerta's righteousness, he burns his old robes and dons new armor from the Keepers of the Light, who name him First Chosen of the Zertonians.

Characters

Agorrians/Zertonians

• Darak
• Solila
• Handroids

• Minister Dulin
• Keepers of the Light
  • Mistress Vill
  • Premier Zalilak
• Unifiers
  • Kanela
  • Director Elander
  • Ultum
• Proximus

Cybertronians

• Autobots
  • Jetfire
  • Hot Rod
  • Springer
• Decepticons
  • Shockwave
• Beta/Zerta Trion
• A-3/Alpha Trion
• Wheelie

Monacolians

• Skuxxoid
  • Skuxxoid Alpha
• Lord Gyconi
• Slizardo
• Bosch

Quintessons

• Judges
• Prosecutor
• Scientist
• Scorpia
• Allicons

Earthlings

• Cobra-La
  • Golobulus
  • Akronus
  • Bola
  • Grakula
  • Pythona
  • Vipria

Other

• Goliant
• Vector Theta

Reception

The series received positive reviews, with critics praising the surprising guest appearance of several Transformers and G.I Joe characters in each issue.^[9]

The first volume collecting issues #1–6 has gotten positive reviews from the book review and cataloging website Goodreads, holding a strong average score of 3.84 out of 5 stars for 1,089 ratings, and 154 reviews.^[10]

In February 2025, the initial 18 released issues have received a collective positive review from the Review Aggregator website Comic Book Roundup, holding a strong average critic rating of 8.4 out of 10 for 142 reviews, and a slightly higher average user rating of 8.6 out of 10 for 315 reviews.^[11]

Collected editions

Title	Material collected	Pages	Publication date	ISBN
Trade paperback
Void Rivals, Volume 1: More than Meets the Eye	Void Rivals #1–6	136	February 20, 2024	ISBN 978-1534398184
Void Rivals, Volume 2: Hunted Across the Wasteland	Void Rivals #7–12 Energon Universe 2024 Special (Void Rivals story)	128	September 3, 2024	ISBN 978-1534328372
Void Rivals, Volume 3: The Key to Vector Theta	Void Rivals #13–18		June 10, 2025	ISBN 978-1534326910
Void Rivals, Volume 4: First Chosen	Void Rivals #19–24		December 9, 2025	ISBN 978-1534329539
Deluxe
Void Rivals: Deluxe Edition, Book 1	Void Rivals #1–12	272	June 24, 2025	ISBN 978-1534328242

See also

• Energon Universe
  • Transformers
  • G.I. Joe
• List of comics based on Hasbro properties

Notes

1. As depicted in Cobra Commander #5.