| Void Rivals sounded like a science fiction series that does not sound like Transformers because it was being kept as a secret project for almost a year “disguised as” an original (which is the idea) of a world-building concept from Robert Kirman, the founder of Skybound Entertainment and creator of The Walking Dead was a huge Transformers fan.
After IDW Publication lost the rights for G.I. Joe and Transformers there was rumours that Skybound Entertainment had acquired the license. But everything was kept low key to the point Void Rivals was sort of a Trojan Horse. But there was never any indication, which is Kirkman’s way of marketing the books published extra special. This guy published the last issue of the Walking Dead comic book series and didn’t announce that it was the final issue. A week before the first issue's release leaked pages revealing a certain Cybertronian Scientist making an appearance in this series that would eventually happen. Local retailers didn’t order that many books and there were no details or even descriptions of what Void Rivals is all about other than it takes inspiration from two warring societies in a conflict similar to another popular graphic novel series titled Saga minus the romance. |
Published: 19 July 2023
Age Rating: General Audience
Language: English
The initial story is about two worlds in conflict living in the “Sacred Ring” send two of their best people to end up crash landing outside their quadrant on a deserted asteroid-type planet, where an Agorrian named Darak and Zertonian named Solila are stranded taking a truce and trying to find a way to leave this planet until their discovery of a lost ship that crashed there had its own mystery.
A new series that would build together an established franchise is a fresh take and disguised as a series to introduce Transformers and G.I. Joe was a stroke of genius and at the same time shock for longtime readers of Transformers comic books. Robert Kirkman is infamous for this type of secrecy certainly what made Skybound Entertainment a force to reckon with.
It clearly shows that Void Rivals is the series to look at not in terms of a connection to the world of Transformers and G.I.Joe, but also to the original idea to its core, the story of the conflict between two worlds grounded in science fiction is worth the read without spoiling the details on what’s to come next.
But it is clear that this series opens its doors by introducing Transformers, which spins out into their upcoming title set for October 2023 release followed by Duke #1 for 2024. The two characters introduced in the book are also the eyes of the readers, and where they’ll take the next chapter in their adventure as well as trying to resolve the conflict that reveals its true nature.
Jetfire, not the Side Character
In the scene in which Solila discovers a downed alien ship that’s been there before both her ship and Darak end up they found an old one aging in rust. There are no markings whatsoever with no information on both their database. They clearly inspect the damaged ship with no information other than their plans to strip it for parts.
Of course, they are desperate and running out of time, and they use what little power cell they have to see if they can activate the ship and use it to escape this barren rock. But it suddenly awakens and turns into a giant robot named Jetfire, you know, the Cybertronian Scientist? It might appear to be a cameo scene, but it gives readers the chance to see and confirm that Skybound Entertainment has plans, but just like Jetfire he had to go back to his home planet without any explanation leaving both characters an air of mystery and no ship to use to escape.
At the end of the final act in their desperation breaking sacred laws and revealing themselves by taking off their helmet was the cliffhanger. Both are the same species and that leaves more questions than answers for the next issue.
Overall, nobody has seen Void Rivals coming, and any Transformers fan would want to get their hands on the first issue. But they were in limited copies, which produced a Second Print Edition due to the popular demand. The writing of course is superb as Robert Kirkman did so well as always, which is accompanied by the art of Lorenzo De Felici that nailed that “indie” style aesthetics of this book that was really subtle and revealed itself in the end.
By this time, a third print edition will be released, and accompanying this second print edition is the second chapter of their daring escape from that barren rock that will change their lives is certainly More Than Meets the Eye.
Bravo Kirman, Bravo.
NEXT: Void Rivals #2: The Sacred Ring
Void Rivals #1 (Second Print Edition) is brand new ongoing series published by Image Comics under Skybound Entertainment, and this is sold internationally for $3.99 USD ($ 5.37 AUD | ₱ 208.08 Pesos), but this was acquired at a local comic shop in the Philippines for ₱ 260.00 Pesos ($ 7.12 AUD | $ 4.58 USD). Please contact or visit your local Comic Shop for availability.
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