Energon Universe 2025 Special #1 review
The Energon Universe 2025 Special #1 sets the massive stage for what should be another thrilling year for the GI Joe, Transformers and Void Rivals titles.
Similar to last year’s Free Comic Book Day installment, the Energon Universe 2025 Special is not a rehash of what’s come before. This special lays out what’s to come for 2025 and beyond with some exciting developments for the Skybound series. As such, it’s key for readers to be caught up on the most recent issues of the respective series before picking up this special.
GI Joe #6 wrapped the first arc of the new series from writer Joshua Williamson, artist Tom Reilly, colorist Jordie Bellaire and letterer Rus Wooton. That issue concluded with the bombshell reveal that the Autobot Hound was at the Pitt and revealed himself to Joe driver Clutch.
The Energon Universe 2025 Special Joe story from Williamson with art by Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander) and colorist Lee Loughridge explores the immediate fallout from that encounter and how Hound came to get in Clutch’s possession. Understandably, Clutch is apprehensive after hearing reports from his close friend, Duke, about the terror he encountered in his first dealings with the Transformers. Fortunately for Clutch his first encounter is with an Autobot instead of a Decepticon.
Thanks to a weapon he stole from Destro, Clutch is able to incapacitate Hound to the point he needs help repairing his potential new ally. This is where Williamson works in the first bombshell of the Energon Universe 2025 Special as Clutch brings Hound to his pal, Matt Trakker. Unlike most people, Trakker isn’t shocked to see a Transformer, which opens up all kinds of fun possibilities. If Trakker exists in the Energon Universe this is the perfect way to combine the elements of The Transformers and GI Joe to introduce MASK. And a Skybound Energon Universe MASK title? Yes please!
Pairing Clutch with Hound makes so much sense in hindsight it feels like a no-brainer. Williamson’s decisions with the characters and plots continue to prove he was the ideal writer for this reimagining of GI Joe. Just in case that wasn’t enough, there’s a final sequence in Energon Universe 2025 Special suggesting the Dreadnoks who survived Nemesis Enforcer are ready for some payback against Cobra.
Milana did a fantastic job on Cobra Commander, so it was great to see him back drawing a GI Joe story. If Reilly ever needs a break, Milana absolutely should be the first call-up for a fill-in stint. Loughridge provides a soothing color palette with moments of intense lighting to best convey energy effects and explosions. Wooton, who letters all of the Energon Universe 2025 Special stories clearly has a good time crafting the sound effects for Hound and action sequences.
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Transformers writer Daniel Warren Johnson also returns to drawing the characters for this story spotlighting Jazz. The Autobots’ music lover recalls his Cybertronian days and excitement of playing and tinkering around with different sounds. Upon arriving on Earth and fighting for survival against Starscream and Soundwave’s forces, Jazz discovers a music style that almost perfectly suits his love of improvisation and rhythm.
While the Energon Universe 2025 Special Transformers’ chapter is a low-stakes story compared to a standard issue of Transformers, this allowed Johnson the rare moment to give an Autobot a peaceful, happy moment in the ongoing war with the Decepticons. Jazz has long been a fan favorite and has been a survivor through this early stage of the series along a dwindling number of Autobots.
Johnson’s decision to step away from handling the art on the series hasn’t been damaging since Jorge Corona has done an admirable job stepping in. Still, it was nice to see the full architect of the Skybound Transformers revisiting characters artistically he hasn’t drawn in over a year. Mike Spicer’s colors are always dynamic, and this more laid-back story benefitted from his brighter color choices.
For the final chapter in Energon Universe 2025 Special, Robert Kirkman writes the Void Rivals section with art from Connor Hughes and colorist Patricio Delpeche. This segment features the Quintessons as they learn of the return of Zeta Trion and brace for war. Meanwhile, Wheelie attempts to free some of the Quintessons’ latest batch of prisoners. This is essentially a primer for the upcoming Quintesson War, which starts in Void Rivals #25. Based on the subplots that have sparked from all three branches of the Energon Universe, that event should likely include representation from all three sectors.
Hughes’ art is solid and this was a smart way to showcase the new series’ artist. Delpeche’s color work compliments Hughes’ heavy line work masterfully making for a very good pairing.
The Energon Universe 2025 Special sets the stage for some major excitement in all three titles, all of whom have yet to suffer from underwhelming or disappointing story arcs. Marvel and DC have some solid titles, but few equal to the elite level of quality the Energon Universe delivers every month.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Photo Credit: Image Comics
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