Image Comics reviews 1/22/25 – Void Rivals #16, GI Joe #313

Void Rivals #16

Void Rivals #16 proved another reminder why it’s probably not a good idea to get too attached to any supporting character in the Energon Universe. Paying off the cover tease, Pythona and her Cobra-La entourage have been captured by Skuxxoid, who’s sizing up a particularly big payday from this organic ship he’s found. Pythona is hardly one to just be captured and dispatches her Royal Guard to take out their would-be jailor. Or not. Skuxxoid wasn’t aware there were living beings on the ship and hilariously states its infected when Cobra-La emerges.

Writer Robert Kirkman has devoted a decent amount of time over these 16 issues to Skuxxoid, who’s outnumbered against Pythona and crew. The payoff to the fight is a bit surprising, but it raises the question of why Kirkman — and other Energon Universe writers — develop characters for so long only to abruptly end their roles in the titles. True, it adds a certain level of unpredictability and a no one’s safe dynamic, but it seems more for shock value than a meaningful character exit. Especially in the manner of which some characters get written off.

Elsewhere in Void Rivals #16, Darak is learning how deep the conspiracy to keep the two races battling has gone and of a secret sect, The Unifiers, which aims to get the two on the same page. But not everyone is in favor of the two coming together and will do anything to keep the conflict going. Kirkman establishes some intriguing political drama in this subplot, which is a welcome contrast to the more adventure-oriented nature of Solila’s subplot.

Solila continues her quest (with Handroid providing not-so helpful commentary) for the whereabouts of Zerta Trion. She stumbles around for a while but eventually makes some major headway. The dynamic with Solila and Handroid is proving to be pretty entertaining and a fun unexpected character development.

It’s becoming more impressive that artist Lorenzo De Felici has been so consistent on the title. Void Rivals #16 is another strong showcase for De Felici’s art, which also benefits from the various scenarios Kirkman plays out. The battle on Skuxxoid’s ship has a very dramatic and immediate sense of fast-moving action. That’s contrasted nicely by the Darak sequences with dialogue-heavy sequences conversations and Solila’s where she’s in full-on exploration mode.

Colorist Patricio Delpeche does so much with an intentionally sparse color scheme. It allows certain colors to set the mood of specific characters and what they’re encountering. Letterer Rus Wooton creatively incorporates fonts and sound effect placements that it’s an essential part of the flow of the story for Void Rivals #16.

Besides the disappointment of losing an endearing character in the title, the intriguing developments involving both Darak and Solila make Void Rivals #16 another compelling issue for a series that is completely averse to letdown installments.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Photo Credit: Image Comics

Check out the latest Void Rivals collection Hunted Across the Wasteland now available at Amazon.

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