Reveals Galore! Skybound, Image & Hasbro Unveil Covers and First Appearances Ahead of Energon Universe Second Anniversary
Featuring Fan-Favorites from the Worlds of G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS and VOID RIVALS!
Praise for the Energon Universe:
“Skybound has done remarkable work revitalizing Hasbro’s TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises over the past two years” - A.V. Club
“Skybound’s Energon Universe has raised the bar for licensed comics across the industry” - ComicsXF
“The Energon Universe has been a truly special thing to watch” - ComicBook.com
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LOS ANGELES 05/05/2025 — Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, revealed all-new spoiler variant covers from the Energon Universe Special 2025 and the June issues of G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS, and VOID RIVALS, which will celebrate the landmark second anniversary of the Energon Universe.
Featuring content first available as part of Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) this past weekend, the Energon Universe Special 2025 special serves as both a perfect jumping on point for new readers and a can’t miss for longtime fans, with huge revelations and epic first appearances.
Following the shocking first appearance of fan-favorite Autobot Hound in G.I. JOE #6 and his continued presence in the FCBD 2025 special, Skybound can now reveal that the epic first appearances in the FCBD 2025 Special include that of another popular Autobot, Wheelie, and fan favorite M.A.S.K. character Matt Trakker, the first time a character from the M.A.S.K. franchise has appeared in the Energon Universe.
These three new stories from the worlds of G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS, and VOID RIVALS come from the biggest names in comics. Energon Universe talent Joshua Williamson (Duke, Superman), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), and Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb) pen the stories, and Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander), Conor Hughes (White Ash) and Johnson provide art.
Energon Universe Special 2025 will be available for purchase in comic book shops on May 14, 2025, featuring the same story content as the FCBD 2025 special with all-new can’t miss covers for collectors.
In addition to the main cover by Andrea Milana, Energon Universe Special 2025 will feature an impressive slate of variant covers by Energon Universe and top comics talent Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon), Conor Hughes, E.J. Su (Blood & Thunder, Tech Jacket), and Tom Reilly (G.I. JOE, Duke).
"It’s a remarkable achievement to be celebrating the second anniversary of the Energon Universe, but with the introduction of Matt Trakker to the Energon Universe, it still feels like we’re just getting started,” noted Executive Editor, Ben Abernathy. “The three killer stories in this issue are just a taste of some amazing stories to come...you’d better buckle up!”
Then, in celebration of the second anniversary of the Energon Universe this June, fan-favorite Energon Universe cover artist Jason Howard (Super Dinosaur) and Annalisa Leoni (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast) will be drawing three mural anniversary covers that spotlight the beloved characters from G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS, and VOID RIVALS, including the recently revealed Hound, Wheelie, and Matt Trakker. These will be available as open-to-order variant covers for TRANSFORMERS #21, out June 11, 2025; G.I. JOE #8, out June 18, 2025; and Void Rivals #20, out June 25, 2025. Each connecting set features a full color and black-and-white variant cover.
The Energon Universe is the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Energon Universe ongoing series include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer/creator Robert Kirkman, artist Conor Hughes (White Ash, The Game), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country); the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson, artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer; and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson, artist Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander), and colorist Lee Loughridge (Universal Monsters: The Mummy). Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.
Energon Universe Special 2025 (Lunar Codes listed below | $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The full list of covers is below:
TRANSFORMERS #21 (Lunar Codes listed below | $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The anniversary variant covers are listed below:
G.I. JOE #8 (Lunar Codes listed below | $3.99, unless otherwise noted) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
The anniversary variant covers are listed below:
Void Rivals #2) (Lunar Codes listed below | $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The anniversary variant covers are listed below:
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Energon Universe Special 2025 Cover A by Andrea Milana
Energon Universe Special 2025 Cover B by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
Energon Universe Special 2025 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive) by Conor Hughes
Energon Universe Special 2025 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by E.J. Su
Energon Universe Special 2025 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Tom Reilly
Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variants (Connecting) by Jason Howard
Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variants (Black & White) (Connecting) by Jason Howard
TRANSFORMERS #21 Cover F Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variant (Connecting) by Jason Howard
TRANSFORMERS #21 Cover G Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variant (Black & White)(Connecting) by Jason Howard
G.I. JOE #8 Cover G Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variant (Connecting) by Jason Howard
G.I. JOE #8 Cover H Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variant (Black & White) (Connecting) by Jason Howard
Void Rivals #20 Cover F Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variant (Connecting) by Jason Howard
Void Rivals #20 Cover G Energon Universe Second Anniversary Variant (Black & White) (Connecting) by Jason Howard
ABOUT TRANSFORMERS The TRANSFORMERS brand is a global powerhouse franchise with millions of fans around the world. Since 1984, the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons has come to life in movies, TV shows, comic books, innovative toys, and digital media, bringing incredible "MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE" experiences to fans of all ages. The brand's enduring connection is made possible by its rich storytelling and characters: the heroic Autobots who seek to protect all life, and the evil Decepticons who seek to conquer the universe. The TRANSFORMERS brand is a Hasbro franchise.
ABOUT HASBRO Hasbro is a leading games, IP and toy company whose mission is to create joy and community through the magic of play. With over 164 years of expertise, Hasbro delivers groundbreaking play experiences and reaches over 500 million kids, families and fans around the world, through physical and digital games, video games, toys, licensed consumer products, location-based entertainment, film, TV and more.
Through its franchise-first approach, Hasbro unlocks value from both new and legacy IP, including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MONOPOLY, HASBRO GAMES, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Powered by its portfolio of thousands of iconic marks and a diversified network of partners and subsidiary studios, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen.
For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, a 2025 JUST Capital Industry Leader, one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50, and a Brand that Matters by Fast Company. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com or @Hasbro on LinkedIn.
ABOUT SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT We do things differently here. Skybound is the creator-driven, fan-focused company behind landmark global franchises like The Walking Dead, Invincible, Impact Winter and hundreds more IPs that are redefining entertainment through our Wheel of Awesome business model. Skybound unlocks the unique opportunity to cultivate all aspects of a franchise from development through distribution; our IP connects with audiences through groundbreaking stories told on a grand scale. We empower our creators to directly expand their IP and turn their ideas into movies, TV shows, tabletop games, comics, podcasts, collectibles, video games, or all of the above and then some.
Skybound publishes award-winning and bestselling comics series such as Invincible, The Walking Dead, Stillwater and Ultramega, among others. Skybound's commitment to partnering with top industry talent and giving an elevated platform to diverse and unique voices has resulted in a record-breaking run on Kickstarter, where we launched mega-successful campaigns for Ava’s Demon, Extra Fabulous, and G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero — the most funded comic book campaign in Kickstarter’s history. Skybound Comet, our young readers graphic novel imprint, released the Clementine (set in The Walking Dead universe) series to great critical and commercial success. Skybound is also a savvy and sought-after licensing partner, working with companies including LEGO, Universal Products & Experiences and Hasbro to publish comics for their most coveted properties. Skybound’s Energon Universe series is Hasbro’s biggest comics launch of all time, with TRANSFORMERS #1 becoming the bestselling comic of 2023.
Skybound doesn’t just make global franchises, we change the way that global franchises can be made.
Follow Skybound on X (@Skybound), YouTube (Skybound), Facebook (@SkyboundEntertainment), Instagram (@skyboundent), Discord (Skybound), Reddit (Skybound), and at www.skybound.com. |
