VOID RIVALS #16, by Image Comics & Skybound on 1/22/25, presents a series of clashes when Skuxxoid faces Cobra-La scouts, Darak faces his father’s Security team, and Solila faces a big face.
Credits:
- Writer: Robert Kirkman
- Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
- Colorist: Patricio Delpeche
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: January 22, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of VOID RIVALS #16:
Recap:
When last we left Darak and Solila in Void Rivals #15, Darak interrupted an argument with his father to respond to an alert about a ship approaching the Sacred Ring. Darak flew off to investigate and returned to his people with Hot Rod, reuniting with Springer. Meanwhile, Solila drew closer to her quest to contact Zerta, and the Skuxxoid’s ship crossed paths with Pythona’s scout vessel.
Plot Analysis:
Void Rivals #16 continues the story on three fronts. First, Skuxxoid greedily examines the scout ship he encountered and dragged into his cargo hold. Suddenly, Cobra-La forces launch into an attack. At first, Skuxxoid is unconcerned with the smaller humanoids, mortally wounding one of them in the fight. However, he fails to notice Grakula sneaking up behind him and pays the price for his lack of awareness.
Elsewhere, Darak speaks with Elander privately about the Director’s allyship with the Unifier rebels. Elander explains he knows the truth, and he hopes Darak will be an important asset in bringing unification to pass. Their meeting is cut short when Darak’s father surprises them with his security guards.
Meanwhile, Solila and Handroid interface with the ancient supercomputer they encountered in the dark. The machine cryptically tells Solila that she’s on the right path and must continue in the dark. Eventually, Solila runs into a wall, climbs the surface to the plateau above, and comes face-to-face with a very large face.
The issue ends with the mortally wounded soldier showing signs of life and a voice in the darkness.
First Impressions:
Void Rivals #16 is a cleaner, tighter entry in the series than we’ve seen in the past year. Writer Robert Kirkman scales back the complexity to focus on moving the plot forward in the major threads that matter most. On the whole, you’ll get a renewed feeling that the series is building toward something big (literally and figuratively).
Artwork and Presentation:
Lorenzo De Felici’s style and line detail shows signs of marked improvement with each passing issue. Skuxxoid’s fight with Pythona and her Cobra-La fighters is a standout visual experience, so we’re pleased with the art.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Robert Kirkman’s progress-focused issue gives readers interested in the series plenty to chew on. Darak’s supposed betrayal results in heavy consequences. Skuxxoid’s fight with Pythona is standard fare but leads to a possibly intriguing outcome, and Solila’s spiritual quest bears fruit. Everything is moving forward together.
The Negatives:
The two stumbling blocks of this issue are lesser nut noticeable. First, there’s no follow-up here to the arrival of Hot Rod and Springer. You’d think the appearance of two Autobots would create a seismic ripple among the people of Agorria, but this issue acts as if nothing happened.
Second, all threads are moving forward together, but the goal is unclear. Is the series headed for a big crossover? Maybe. Is the big development Unification? Maybe. Given the conspiratorial pressures of their leaders, will Solila and Darak flee? To Earth? Maybe. The road is entertaining enough to hold interest, but it’s hard to get invested in the journey when you’re not sure of the destination.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Will Void Rivals be a part of the expected Energon crossover? Probably, but unconfirmed. Given the presence of Transformers and agents of Cobra-La, the probability that the Sacred Ring will play a large part in the interconnected Energon Universe is a solid bet, but the how, why, and when is completely unclear.
Final Thoughts:
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VOID RIVALS #16 is a tighter, cleaner issue that focuses on the major players as the series builds toward some major development, whatever it is. Robert Kirkman’s script creates drama, action, and cool developments, and Lorenzo De Felici’s artwork shows some impressive visuals in this issue.
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