by wadapan
Although Transformers and G.I. Joe have a closely-related history, with many crossovers between the two, it wasn’t until Skybound picked up the license for both franchises that they were featured in a brand-new shared universe intended from the outset to include both. Helmed by Robert Kirkman, a longtime fan of both franchises known for writing The Walking Dead and Invincible, the “Energon Universe” features multiple parallel series from several creative teams.
For the most part, the writers have free reign to take their individual comics in whichever direction they please—and each series is intended to function as a standalone series—but there are some shared plot threads between the comics, which leads many readers to ask about the intended reading order. As these tie-ins are fairly minimal, the publication order works totally fine for readers following along month-to-month. However, if you’re looking to approach the Energon Universe back-issues from the very beginning, and read them all in one go, you’ll probably have a better experience if you group together the individual story arcs, as released in the trade paperbacks, each spinning off from the one preceding.
These are all good comics, but Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers series is something very special—so if none of the other series take your fancy, let me reassure you that you can read the Transformers book totally on its own, and you won’t be missing out on any plot points. But, if you’re committed to reading everything, here’s how you should do it…
Void Rivals
Volume 1: More than Meets the Eye
(Issues #1-6)
The basic pitch of Void Rivals is that it’s the modern comic reboot of an ’80s boys-toys franchise that never existed. Darak and Solilia, soldiers from two warring races, are forced to work together after crash-landing on a barren world—where they encounter an unusual alien mechanoid… After its first six-issue story arc, Void Rivals went on hiatus to allow the other series to catch up.
Transformers
Volume 1: Robots in Disguise
(Issues #1-6)
Following on from the surprise cameo in Void Rivals #1, writer/artist superstar Daniel Warren Johnson takes the action to Earth, where the Autobots and Decepticons reawaken to resume their war.
Duke
Volume 1: Knowing is Half the Battle
(Issues #1-5)
Meanwhile, the formation of G.I. Joe and Cobra is explored across four separate miniseries by Joshua Williamson. The military-thriller Duke spins off from the titular character’s appearance in Transformers #2.
(Note that the actual G.I. Joe title being contemporaneously published by Skybound, written by Larry Hama, is not part of the Energon Universe, but is instead a direct continuation of the legendary run Hama has been writing since the ’80s, picking up with issue #301!)
Cobra Commander
Volume 1: Determined to Rule the World
(Issues #1-5)
Finally, Cobra Commander picks up on plot threads from both Transformers and Duke, skewing more towards a horror tone.
Upcoming issues include:
Void Rivals #7-8
Transformers #7
Energon Universe 2024 Special #1
Transformers #8
Void Rivals #9
The Energon Universe 2024 Special includes stories from Kirkman, DWJ, and Williamson; the Free Comic Book Day edition was shortly followed by a paid version which is identical, just printed on higher-quality paper stock. Time will tell how exactly the various series will intersect again, and I’ll be sure to update this reading order in due course.
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