Image Comics reviews 8/26/26 – Void Rivals 33, Terminal 2

Void Rivals 33

Void Rivals 33 was a lot of fun. All of the Energon Universe series are a blast, but Void Rivals might be the standout from an unpredictability factor. Void Rivals 33 features the main characters, Pythona and her crew of Royal Guard from GI Joe, Skuxxoid from the Transformers sector of the EU and the shocking arrival of Rom.

Writer Robert Kirkman seems to be enjoying himself as well with some moments in Void Rivals 33 that read like a kid coming up with all kinds of fun and wacky scenarios to place his toys. And yes, that is intended as a very high compliment. Rom encountered Darak and Solila last issue and introduces them to his sidekick, Carpet, just in time to brace from an attack by Pythona.

While that is playing out, Skuxxoid is on his way to Junkion to recover his ship. There’s something for every reader in this issue while Kirkman makes sure to not put Darak and Solila in a background, supporting role. They’re at the center of Void Rivals 33 whether as peacemakers or making sense of their current predicament stranded on an unfamiliar planet. Again, Kirkman’s stellar work establishing Darak and Solila early on has paid off to make them key figures in the Energon Universe even without decades of nostalgia backing them like the other EU main players.

Conor Hughes has settled in nicely as the series artist. Void Rivals 33 has a variety of unique characters and Hughes does all of them justice making them look larger than life. Not just Rom, Darak, Solila and Pythona, but also Pythona’s Royal Guard members who are being established as key supporting characters in their own right. Colorist Patricio Delpeche works in so many different colors that Void Rivals pops as a true visual spectacle. Add in the neatly arranged and creative lettering layout by Rus Wooton and this issue was one of the more aesthetically pleasing books of the month.

Void Rivals 33 was a tremendous showcase of everything that is possible with this series as the creative team keeps finding new ways to keep this title every bit as entertaining as its fellow bigger name Energon Universe pillars.

Rating: 10 out of 10

After checking out Void Rivals 33, pick up Void Rivals Volume 5: The Quintesson War on trade paperback at Amazon. 

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