Void Rivals #32 Review – Grief In The Jungle

Void Rivals #32 (Image Comics, 7/22/26): Writer Robert Kirkman and Artist Conor Hughes force the castaways to set up camp on a mysterious planet, where they encounter a familiar stranger. The issue tackles the grief and loss from multiple angles, and the last-page twist is a shocking surprise. Verdict: An intriguing issue.

• Writer: Robert Kirkman
• Artist: Conor Hughes
• Colorist: Patricio Delpeche
• Letterer: Rus Wooton
• Cover Artist: Lorenzo De Felici (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: July 22, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 32
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of Void Rivals #32:

First Impressions:

Not since Darak and Solila arrived back at the Sacred Ring has the series courted so much momentum and potential. Void Rivals is a relatively quiet issue, but the promise of where it’s going should get your anticipation meter turned way up.

Recap:

In Void Rivals #31, Robert Kirkman paused the chaos of the Quintesson invasion of the Sacred Ring. Skuxxoid led a revolt against Skuxxoid Prime that ended with all the clones choosing freedom and self-determination. The issue ended with all Skuxxoids parting ways, carrying the shared grief that their original family is long-since dead.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The issue begins with the Leviathan carrying Darak, Solila, Pythona, and her Cobra-La allies crashing on an alien world. The crash kills the Leviathan, sending Pythona into a tailspin of grief, spurred on by a poorly timed joke by Darak. The Handroids detect an abundance of life, including something large watching the group from the shadows.

Later, Darak makes peace with Pythona over her loss, but loss is tempered with hope when Pythona reveals Leviathan spawned a grub that would eventually take her place in years to come. Darak goes off on his own to grieve the death of his father, and Solila joins him to provide support.

After the shock of the crash and a time of reflection, everyone begins the work of building shelters for the long wait. Their work is interrupted by the large lifeform stepping forward to say hello – Rom the Space Knight.

How is the story in Void Rivals #32?

Robert Kirkman’s story is… well-balanced. That may sound like a backhanded compliment, but it’s not. You can have a comic where not much plot movement takes place, but the delta is more than made up for in character growth, planted seeds, and emotional drama. Kirkman takes an admittedly small issue and uses the space for maximum output.

You get loads of heart from both Darak and Pythona for similar reasons. The setting changes the direction of the story in intriguing ways, and the last-page reveal of Rom is a hum dinger.

How is the art in Void Rivals #32?

Conor Hughes delivers the goods with strong character acting and emotional expressions to project the drama in Kirkman’s script. Again, there isn’t much action or big things happening in this issue, so it’s up to the dramatic beats to hook the reader and keep them hooked. Sure, yes, Kirkman’s dialogue is one part, but you need to feel the words through Hughes’s art, and it works.

Characters

Pythona and Darak carry the issue in terms of growth and development. Both grapple with similar emotions, expressed in different ways. Pythona grieves the death of Leviathan as a “family member” who supported Cobra-La for generations. Through a poorly timed joke by Darak, she vents her grief in anger and outrage. Conversely, Darak keeps his grief over his father at bay until he has a quiet moment, but when he feels safe to let go, his tears are soulful and poignant.

Originality & Concept Execution

Forced allies stranded on a deserted (island) planet is nothing new, but the mix of shared trauma among completely different characters through different events is different enough to give the setup a fresh coat of paint. Plus, the surprise arrival of Rom (with a modified look) is a twist that nobody would have seen coming.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• Great mix of drama and change of scenery
• Excellent character acting
• Rom the Space Knight

Room for Improvement

• The Sacred Ring conflict has stalled
• Skuxxoid’s journey has stalled
• The Transformers’ involvement has stalled

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 3.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 3.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1.5/2

Final Thoughts:

(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)

Void Rivals #32 crashes on an alien world filled with strange lifeforms, plenty of drama, and a surprise cameo you won’t see coming. Robert Kirkman’s script works surprisingly well, despite the lack of plot movement, and the art team delivers their A-game to carry the emotional weight of the script.

---

---

---

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.