Void Rivals #1 Review: A Story of Hope With One of the Greatest Ghost Reveals in Comics

Void Rivals #1 Review: A Story of Hope With One of the Greatest Ghost Reveals in Comics

Void Rivals #1 Review
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Lorenzo De Felici
Colors by: Matheus Lopes
Letters by: Rus Wooten
Publisher: Skybound Entertainment

Skybound Entertainment has enlisted the talents of Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici to spin a tale of two survivors clinging to hope when it all appears lost as the sworn enemies must set aside differences and put survival above their beliefs. It’s no secret now that the ghost reveal of Transformers appearing in the issue has been the key talking point for many.

The reveal of JetFire and now it opens up into the Energon Universe that will bring The Transformers and G.I. Joe into a shared universe that collides the two pop culture juggernauts is quite possibly one of the biggest announcements in comics in recent memory.

Skybound’s description of Void Rivals #1 reads:

War rages around the Sacred Ring where the last remnants of two worlds have collapsed around a black hole in a never-ending war.

However when pilot Darak and his rival Solila both crash on a desolate planet these two enemies must find a way to escape together. But are they alone on this strange planet? And what dark forces await that threaten the entire universe?

Despite the excitement of what has blossomed from this debut issue. The creators behind Oblivion Song have crafted a survival series in the voids of space that slowly cranks up the tension with every single page. It takes hope and rips it right out from not only the two characters we follow but the reader as well as I found myself gasping after their failed attempts to escape the lifeless planet.

This is counterbalanced to perfection with a clever and humorous Handroid that accompanies Darak, one of our main characters. Handroid seems like a character cleverly pulled out of Portal 2 and gives the series life.

We have only scratched the surface of what’s to come and already Kirkman and De Felici have given us a rich story that could very well stand on its own even if we had not gotten the treat of JetFire’s reveal in the debut issue. As exciting as it is to see the Energon Universe grow, I am equally excited to see where Darak and Solila’s journey ends. Void Rivals #2 already got its first look from Skybound which takes us deeper into this journey.

De Felici has beautifully crafted a universe that is void of all life but he still finds a way to awe us with his talent on every single panel. Kirkman’s narrative lifts De Felici’s art of this desolate planet by giving these two characters determination and vigilance who have become devout to their survival. Whether you are a Transformers/G.I. Joe fan or just looking for an epic sci-fi story then you have many reasons to grab a copy of this instant sell-out.