VOID RIVALS #18 – Review

VOID RIVALS #18, by Image Comics & Skybound on 4/30/25, shifts the balance of power when Zertonia constructs an Energon well, their zealous leader is missing, and Solila gets a Cybertronian upgrade.

Credits:

• Writer: Robert Kirkman
• Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
• Colorist: Patricio Delpeche
• Letterer: Rus Wooton
• Cover Artist: Lorenzo De Felici (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: April 30, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of VOID RIVALS #18:

Recap:

When we last left the assortment of rebels in Void Rivals #17, Zerta gave Solila a mission to spread the word of Unification. Meanwhile, Darak was threatened with arrest and execution for siding with the Unification rebels. The issue ended with the Cobra-La ship following the Quintesson ship to its destination and Proximus running through soldiers to find Zalilak.

Plot Analysis:

In Void Rivals #18, things get a little weird. Zalilak subjugates himself to the Holy Mother for some divine purpose that we don’t understand just yet. Elsewhere, Proximus returns to the throne room with Ultum for a well-earned rest. Meanwhile, Darak learns the full extent of the sacred text from his father, and the knowledge that Unification could destroy everyone on the Sacred Ring is why the kingdoms were kept apart. Darak has doubts but goes along with his father.

In the depths of the Sacred Ring, Zerta activates the Vector Theta AI and tells it to bestow all of Zerta’s powers to Solila to finish what Zerta started eons ago. The process transforms Solila into an upgraded version of herself with complete mental control of the Sacred Ring.

The issue ends with Darak’s father ordering him to perform a flyby recon mission to find out what happened to Dalilak. Suddenly, Solila emerges from the depths of the Sacred Ring to rejoin their quest for Unification. Let’s just say Darak’s father isn’t too pleased.

First Impressions:

Generally speaking, Void Rivals #18 is solid but uneven. Writer Robert Kirkman’s approach to juggling multiple threads that all move in the same direction makes the story feel big, but the only looming target (Unification) feels too far off for all the threads to be meaningful.

Artwork and Presentation:

Lorenzo De Felici’s art style and execution get clearer and sharper with each issue. De Felici’s panel layouts are on point, the compositions present a fair amount of dramatic intensity, and the character designs are interesting especially Solila’s upgraded look. That said, the scenes with Zerta would work better if the camera wasn’t so close, giving readers a better sense of scale with Zerta next to Solila.

Art Samples:

Story Positives & Negatives:

The Positives:

The big developments in this issue, Zertonia’s newfound lease on power and Solila’s upgrade, are intriguing enough to get the imagination gears turning for what could happen next. Action should have consequences that move the characters toward some destination, and we certainly get that here.

The Negatives:

Some threads feel meaningful, but others do not, and the ones that don’t feel like distracting fluff. For example, Hotrod and Springer have a brief scene to catch up on the current state of Cybertron, and that scene doesn’t have an apparent purpose. Proximus’s return to the throne room to rest is completely uneventful. And Zalilak’s newfound faith is weird, possibly interesting, but there’s no information to tell what he’s meant to do.

In other words, you have two important developments surrounded by several unimportant scenes that read like filler, leaving you with an uneven or lopsided reading experience.

Big Picture:

Series Continuity:

Yes, you heard that right. Springer and Hotrod appear in this issue as temporary guests of Zertonia, which is the closest this series has gotten to integrating with the larger Transformers story. There’s no word what part the Sacred Ring will play in the future of the Transformers, but we’ll keep a lookout and let you know.

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

VOID RIVALS #18 delivers two hugely intriguing developments, surrounded by several subplots that are less so. Robert Kirkman’s script does a fine job juggling assorted plot threads to keep them present and moving in the same direction. However, several lesser threads feel unimportant and read like so much filler, resulting in an uneven issue.

---

---

---

As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.