TRANSFORMERS AND G.I. JOE LAUNCH NEW SHARED COMIC BOOK UNIVERSE!

GI Joe

by toynewman
June 14, 2023

One of the best-kept secrets in comic-book history has finally been revealed. With today’s release of writer Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici’s Void Rivals #1, Skybound has stealth-launched the “Energon Universe,” a universe shared by the ever-popular Transformers and G.I. Joe! In October, that universe expands with Transformers #1 from creator Daniel Warren Johnson. December will bring the first of four G.I. Joe limited series, Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly’s Duke #1 (exploring the origins of the Joes and Cobra). And January 2024 will witness the arrival of Williamson and Andrea Milana’s Cobra Commander #1. Read on for all the official details and a look at the full cover of Transformers #1 by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer — featuring everyone’s favorite Autobot, Optimus Prime!

Today, it was announced that two of the world’s most popular franchises – Transformers and G.I. Joe – have a new comic book home as part of the historic partnership between toy and game company Hasbro and Skybound, effective immediately.

Comic book fans who picked up their copies of Void Rivals #1 in comic shops today were the first to learn the news, as the blockbuster Oblivion Song team of writers Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), along with colorist Matheus Lopes (Step By Bloody Step) and letterer Rus Wooton, revealed that the highly anticipated series was actually a stealth launch of this new shared “Energon Universe” with the surprise first appearance of iconic Transformers character Jetfire.

Three upcoming releases, alongside Void Rivals, mark the beginning of the interconnected “Energon Universe” featuring both the characters and franchises you know and love, along with entirely new concepts developed in partnership by Hasbro and Skybound.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner,” said Robert Kirkman. “I’ve loved these characters for most of my life and to have the opportunity to add to the already rich tapestry Hasbro has built with the all-new Void Rivals is an unbelievable opportunity. If you look at everything done with Transformers and G.I. Joe, you can see the inkling of a vast universe with tremendous potential for crossovers and interaction that will enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts. I look forward to exploring that potential for years to come.”

“When we first discussed plan for the surprise reveal in Void Rivals #1, I never expected it would be a secret we could keep for over a year,” said Michael Kelly, Hasbro’s VP of Global Publishing. “Now that it is finally here, we are all excited to finally be able to talk about all the amazing stories to come from our great new partners at Skybound.”

Launching in October, Transformers #1 begins an all-new era for the iconic robots in disguise from superstar creator Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb, DC’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth). Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.

“To my readers, retailers, and fellow transformer fans: GET READY! I’ve only been drawing Optimus Prime and the rest of this amazing cast since I was in FIRST GRADE,” said Daniel Warren Johnson. “This is a dream project for me, and I’m so glad to be adding a new chapter to the decades long celebration of robots turning into cars. Also, cab-over trucks are so fun to draw!”

The new Energon Universe expands in December with Duke #1, a limited series from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride) and Tom Reilly (The Thing), that tells the story you’ve never read before – the origins of G.I. Joe and Cobra in a world grappling with the arrival of the Autobots and Decepticons. When Conrad S. Hauser (codename DUKE) investigates the mysteries behind The Transformers, the answers will lead to the birth of forces for good and evil that the world never imagined.

Duke will be the first of four G.I. Joe limited series coming from Skybound, setting the stage for a fresh new take on G.I. Joe, Cobra and the iconic characters that you only think you know!

“Childhood dreams come true! Get hyped! Tom and I are bringing you a new take on Duke and the formation of G.I. Joe that honors all that we love about the characters but takes it into a new and exciting direction,” said Joshua Williamson. “It’s been awesome working with Skybound and Hasbro to bring this new take on the G.I. Joe franchise. For the last few years, I’ve been picking up all of the new G.I. Classified figures, so I am pumped to contribute to this new world of G.I. Joe and Transformers!”

“I’m super excited to be working with Josh and the team at Skybound to usher in a new beginning for these iconic characters,” said Tom Reilly. “The Joes have a rich history in comics, one that we look forward to adding something new and exciting to. It’s going to be a fun ride!”

This will be followed by the launch of Cobra Commander #1 in January 2024, from Joshua Williamson and Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook). In a world where Cobra doesn’t exist, one man’s sinister plans to utilize the mysterious alien substance known as Energon will send shockwaves across the globe.

“My first comic was G.I. JOE, and I couldn’t be more excited to unite the Transformers and G.I. Joe into one universe,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP, Publisher. “This line is being guided by the best comic creators in the world and features the same action-packed, surprise-filled, emotional storytelling you expect from all Skybound comics.”

Void Rivals #1 (JAN238443) is available today at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

Fans can pre-order their copies of Transformers #1, Duke #1, and Cobra Commander #1 right now at their local comic book shops.

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Comments...

Last 10 comments - ( Read All Posts )

Shrief - 2024-06-29 @ 8:31 pm

Yes please .. I want more .....

Jscott991 - 2024-06-29 @ 7:33 pm

So Classified Cobra Commander is dressed like a bellhop or doorman.

And Skybound Cobra Commander is dressed like Horatio Hornblower.

Thank God Classified is finally giving us a real CC. The state of design today suggests we would never get him.

Satam - 2024-06-29 @ 7:31 pm

I'm gonna need Mercer and the new Chameleon (blonde assassin in red and black) in Classified.

JayC - 2024-06-29 @ 12:25 pm

In celebration of Yo Joe June, today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, announced the debut of all-new ongoing series G.I. JOE #1 from the superstar creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), artist Tom Reilly (Duke) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33). The biggest comic book launch of the decade will introduce a bold new vision of G.I. JOE and Cobra to the Energon Universe on Wednesday, November 13.Conrad Hauser, Codename DUKE, has assembled a special force known as G.I. Joe to battle the rising power of the mysterious COBRA in the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons arrival on Earth. But the enigmatic Cobra Commander has unleashed the power of Energon like never before!

The all-new series will become another tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Energon Universe titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country) and TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). The Energon Universe also includes G.I. JOE miniseries Duke, from Joshua Williamson , Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire ; Cobra Commander from Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) and Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song); Scarlett, from writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Birds of Prey), artist Marco Ferrari (Frontiersman), and colorist Lee Loughridge (I Hate This Place, Killadelphia); and Destro, from writer Dan Watters (Loki, Universal Monsters: Creature from the Black Lagoon Lives!), artist Andrei Bressan (Dark Ride, Birthright), and colorist Adriano Lucas (Dark Ride, Birthright), which introduce the iconic characters of the G.I. JOE and Cobra factions to the Energon Universe. Fans should expect cant-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.

CR1 - 2023-10-20 @ 4:09 pm

CR - I am intrigued by the idea that there will be a "Hama-verse" apart from the Energon universe. Hama's characters and stories inspired the old cartoon series, but never crossed over. Maybe that's as it should be. Even as a 4th Grader, I understood the distinction between comic book and cartoon continuity, and it was just fine with me.

Brian Langlois - 2023-10-13 @ 1:48 pm

1 hour ago, JayC said:
So I am curious, how is Serpentor alive again since he was killed back during the original Marvel run?

Hey, JayC. In the last arc of the previous series, Mindbender cloned Ghengis Khan directly but gave him knowledge of modern millitary tactics. He is the new "Serpentor", but not actually the original. He is wearing the suit and all that.

JayC - 2023-10-13 @ 11:45 am

So I am curious, how is Serpentor alive again since he was killed back during the original Marvel run?

JayC - 2023-10-13 @ 11:44 am

Skybound, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, debuted an all-new first look at G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301. One of the longest running non-superhero comics of all time, G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero launches at Skybound with legendary series writer Larry Hama (Marvels Wolverine) continuing his record-breaking run on the series, joined by fan-favorite artist Chris Mooneyham (DCs Nightwing, Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier) and colorist Francesco Segala (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) breathing new life into the iconic characters, and with covers by the incomparable Andy Kubert (Marvels X-Men). G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 arrives in comic book shops on November 15, 2023.A new era for G.I. JOE begins in G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 with this jumping on point for new readers as your favorite characters Duke, Scarlett, Roadblock, Storm Shadow, Cobra Commander, Serpentor and more are back for new battles, new friends, new enemies andTHE RETURN OF THE ORIGINAL SNAKE-EYES!

In addition to the main cover, each issue of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero will also feature an open-to-order variant cover with a black and white version of Kuberts stunning main cover. Issue #301 also features a 1:10 incentive cover by Brad Walker (Detective Comics) and an open-to-order blank sketch cover.The return of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero continues the historic collaboration between Skybound and Hasbro, seeing the return of the G.I. JOE franchise to comics as overseen by visionary creator Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), alongside the all-new shared Energon Universe that features Void Rivals by Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici (Oblivion Song), TRANSFORMERS by writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson, Duke by writer Joshua Williamson (DCs Superman, Dark Ride) and artist Tom Reilly (The Thing), and Cobra Commander by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook).G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 (Lunar Codes below | SRP: $3.99) will be available on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.The full list of variant covers is below:I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 Cover A by Andy Kubert and Brad Anderson (Lunar Code 0923IM335)I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 Cover B by Andy Kubert (Lunar Code 0923IM336)I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 Cover C (1:10 incentive) by Brad Walker (Lunar Code 0923IM337)I. JOE: A Real American Hero #301 Cover D Blank Sketch Cover (Lunar Code 0923IM338)Fans can also discover the origins of G.I. JOE and Cobra in The Energon Universe by pre-ordering their copies of the upcoming limited series Duke #1 (Lunar Code 0623IM806) and Cobra Commander #1 (Lunar Code 0623IM807) right now at their local comic book shops.

Admiralty_Entertainment - 2023-06-16 @ 3:23 am

So glad to hear that RAH is continuing on in it's original continuity - that's *my* Joe verse!

Satam - 2023-06-15 @ 10:38 pm