BotTalk Reviews

Time to devastate and brutalize?? Uh, sure. With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own. In this sixteenth issue, the two Decepticon factions clash, Cliffjumper joins the Autobot resistance on Cybertron, a new Autobot joins the ranks on Earth, and Laserbeak discovers what Soundwave had sent him to look for! So Devastator and Bruticus go at it, right? Yes. For like… two panels and a splash. Their fight is a mere backdrop to the character dramas unfolding during the smaller Decepticon skirmish. It was honestly kind of disappointing considering how it was built up (and the covers dedicated to it.) Soundwave and Starscream fight some...

Void Rivals has The Touch! It does and it continues here with issue # 15! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’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 fifteenth issue, Hot Rod and Springer reunite for the first time! Darak runs interference for his new giant robot friends! Pythona and the Skuxxoid cross paths! Proximus recovers! And Solila reaches her destination! Sooo, another staggered advance of subplots? Yes! There’s a lot of different perspectives to focus on here, so Kirkman does...

Time to break out Starscream’s Brigade? You bet! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own and returns to them after a two-issue absence. In this fifteenth issue, Arcee and Beachcomber depart on a quest, Cliffjumper links up with the Autobot Resistance roaming the chunk of Cybertron he’s stranded on, and Soundwave and Starscream’s factions go to war! What kinda quest? What kinda war? A MAGNUS Quest, a CIVIL war! Arcee and Beachcomber are off with Spike and Carly to locate Ultra Magnus and bring him back. Meanwhile, the two Decepticon factions are about to clash head-to-head. Also, Optimus Prime tries to help humanity recover fr...

Void Rivals has The Touch! It does and it continues here with issue # 14! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’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 fourteenth issue, Darak and Solila continue their separate journeys and come closer to learning the secrets behind the conspiracy that keeps their peoples apart. Also, the Skuxxoid continues being depressed and Hot Rod shows up on the trail of his buddy Springer! Depressed Skuxxoid, eh? Yeah, what’s the deal with that? What is Kirkman doi...

Is it More Than Meets The Eye Time? You bet! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own. However, this fourteenth issue sees Jason Howard step in to pencil the second part of a Starscream-centric tale. More Starscream origin stuff? Yes! We see how Megatron molded Starscream into the cruel murderer he is today! And in the present, we see how the Starscream of today has been molded by his injuries and some nosy humans into… half the ‘bot he used to be! The M.A.R.S. salvage squad from last issue has fused Starscream’s upper half with a H.I.S.S. tank, resulting in a true Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover! Much of the issue is spent es...

Void Rivals has better things to do tonight than die! It does and it continues here with issue # 13! Void Rivals is Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’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. It’s the start of a new arc in this thirteenth issue, as our titular characters take separate paths again. Solila ventures deeper into the depths of Zertonia while Darak returns home to Agorria with Springer. Oh and Pythona and the Skuxxoid poke their heads into the plot. Pythona? So Cobra-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!!! is invol...

Is it More Than Meets The Eye Time? You bet! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own. However, this thirteenth issue sees Jason Howard step in to pencil a sort of one-off story. We last saw Starscream gravely wounded and thrown to his death by Soundwave. As he lies in disarray, here we get an origin tale for the treacherous Seeker that plays out in his memories. Starscream’s origin? That’s what I said. The being known as “Starscream” is born here, as we flashback to his more idealistic and youthful days on Cybertron. Then known as “Ulchtar” (a nice deep-cut reference to a pre-production name for the character), he pals around...