LOS ANGELES 10/13/2025 — At the official Energon Universe panel at New York Comic Con (NYCC) this weekend, Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, revealed all-new covers, interior pages, and character designs from the shared universe in a panel featuring superstars Robert Kirkman (Void Rivals, TRANSFORMERS), Joshua Williamson (G.I. JOE), Dan Mora (TRANSFORMERS), Jorge Corona (TRANSFORMERS), Tom Reilly (G.I. JOE), Conor Hughes (Void Rivals) and Ben Abernathy (Executive Editor for the Energon Universe at Skybound).
Fittingly titled TRANSFORMERS & G.I. JOE: A New Era for the Energon Universe, the panel was the first public appearance following last week’s debut of TRANSFORMERS #25 by new creative team Kirkman and Mora, and also the perfect tease for the upcoming new story arcs with G.I. JOE’s Dreadnok War kicking off with issue #13 this November and Void Rival’s Quintesson War beginning with issue #25 in December.
Celebrating the second anniversary of the two-time Eisner Award winning series TRANSFORMERS, Kirkman and Mora were joined by longtime series artist Jorge Corona to recap the first appearances in TRANSFORMERS #25, including Miles Mayhem, who fans know as the primary antagonist of Hasbro’s M.A.S.K. franchise. Then, it was time to look toward the future as they showed off covers and interior pages from TRANSFORMERS #26 and announced the return of Autobot Brawn, coming in TRANSFORMERS #27 this December. Finally, Kirkman revealed the newest 7.25-inch Leader Scale Optimus Prime action figure, honoring the epic scene where in a chaotic battle with Skywarp and the Decepticons, Optimus Prime’s right arm is badly damaged. When Optimus uses the Matrix to power a hospital and save the patients instead of fixing himself, Ratchet comes to his leader’s aid and grafts Megatron’s arm, cannon and all, onto Optimus’s shoulder. This iconic figure, complete with Megatron’s fusion cannon, is available for pre-order now on Hasbro Pulse and will be available later this Fall.
The reunited original G.I. JOE creative team of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly treated NYCC to sneak peeks at the Dreadnok War story arc, revealing character designs for the Dreadnoks Ripper, Zarana, Zandar and Torch, unveiling pages from that arc’s debut issue G.I. JOE #13, as well as covers across the entire arc, which will run through issue #17. They also announced the debut of fan-favorite Dreadnok character Road Pig, which will come in G.I. JOE #14. But they didn’t stop there, also announcing that G.I. JOE #18 will be a standalone Night Force issue, featuring the first appearance of fan-favorite Roadblock. Character designs were revealed for the Night Force team of Lady Jaye, Flint, Beach Head and Shooter. And in a look forward, the return of M.A.S.K. leader Matt Trakker in G.I. JOE #19 was also announced.
The current Void Rivals creative team of Kirkman and Conor Hughes discussed major moments from Hughes’s current arc with crowd pleasing characters Skuxxoid, Wheelie and Pythona at the forefront. Kirkman also speculated on the horrors and surprises awaiting the Sacred Ring in the Quintesson War arc, which will see Andrei Bressan (Destro) join as series artist for Void Rivals‘s biggest story yet. As new cover reveals for Void Rivals #25-#26 teased, this Energon Universe epic is like nothing fans have yet experienced…and the Sacred Ring will never be the same.
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 titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals, TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE. 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.
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 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 SKYBOUND ENTERTAINMENT
Skybound is the leading entertainment company built to create, produce, scale, and sustain world-class IP across comics, television, film, video games, audio, merchandise and collectibles. Co-founded by visionary creator Robert Kirkman and CEO David Alpert, Skybound owns and controls a portfolio of globally recognized franchises and cultural hits including The Walking Dead, Invincible, Impact Winter, Stillwater and others. Through a creator-first model, Skybound has become the go-to launchpad for original stories across all forms of entertainment.
Skybound publishes bestselling comics with top industry talent across its originals, licensed slates, and young readers imprint Skybound Comet. As a licensing partner, Skybound collaborates with Hasbro, LEGO® Books, and Universal Products & Experiences on their most coveted properties. Skybound’s groundbreaking reimagination of TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE in the Energon Universe is Hasbro’s most successful comic book line ever, headlined by the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS. Additionally, Skybound ran the two most funded comic campaigns ever on Kickstarter.
