Skybound has revealed a new connecting variant cover celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Energon Universe. The open-to-order variant covers connect across Destro #1, Scarlett #1, TRANSFORMERS #9, and Void Rivals #10 and is crafted by Jason Howard and Annalisa Leoni, the second a B&W version featuring Howard’s art.
“Thank you to all the retailers, readers, and collectors who have helped us make the Energon Universe into a truly special pop culture event,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP/Publisher, Skybound Entertainment. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the Transformers, G.I. Joe, and now Void Rivals worlds connect with a larger worldwide audience through our comics, and this is the first time you can see the entire roster of characters altogether, in one jaw-dropping piece. We’re thrilled to celebrate the first of what will be many exciting and surprising years of the Energon Universe!”
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“The cleverly concealed, mind-blowing reveal of the Energon Universe back in Void Rivals #1 deserves to go down in comics history as a masterwork of licensing subterfuge. Hiding the announcement of one of the preeminent nostalgia franchises within the pages of an unknown and untested property was not only a brilliant way to create buzz for a favorite property but to also wow readers hungry for something new.” – AIPT Comics
Check out the connecting cover below!
LOS ANGELES 05/08/2024 — Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, announced special commemorative variant covers in June 2024 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Energon Universe, the record-breaking comics line that began with Void Rivals #1 from writer Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici.
Since then, the Energon Universe has grown to include TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon) and series featuring iconic G.I JOE characters, including Duke, a limited series from writer Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride), artist Tom Reilly (The Thing) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33) and Cobra Commander from writer Joshua Williamson, artist Andrea Milana (Impact Winter: Rook) and colorist Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song).
To celebrate the chart-topping success of the Energon Universe, the below comics in June 2024 will feature two sets of open-to-order, connecting, full art variant covers – the first by superstars Jason Howard and Annalisa Leoni, the second a B&W version featuring Howard’s art.
- Destro #1
- Scarlett #1
- TRANSFORMERS #9
- Void Rivals #10
“Thank you to all the retailers, readers, and collectors who have helped us make the Energon Universe into a truly special pop culture event,” said Sean Mackiewicz, SVP/Publisher, Skybound Entertainment. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the Transformers, G.I. Joe, and now Void Rivals worlds connect with a larger worldwide audience through our comics, and this is the first time you can see the entire roster of characters altogether, in one jaw-dropping piece. We’re thrilled to celebrate the first of what will be many exciting and surprising years of the Energon Universe!”
DESTRO #1 (Lunar Codes Below | $4.99), SCARLETT #1 (Lunar Codes Below | $4.99), TRANSFORMERS #9 (Lunar Codes Below | $3.99), and VOID RIVALS #10 (Lunar Codes Below | $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play in June 2024.
The full list of variant covers is below:
- DESTRO #1 CVR I HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code 0424IM807)
- DESTRO #1 CVR J B&W HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard (Lunar Code 0424IM808)
- SCARLETT #1 CVR I HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code 0424IM809)
- SCARLETT #1 CVR J B&W HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard (Lunar Code 0424IM810)
- TRANSFORMERS #9 CVR F HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code 0424IM811)
- TRANSFORMERS #9 CVR G B&W HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard (Lunar Code 0424IM812)
- VOID RIVALS #10 CVR F HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code 0424IM813)
- VOID RIVALS #10 CVR G B&W HOWARD CONNECTING EU ANNIVERSARY VAR by Jason Howard (Lunar Code 0424IM814)
Praise for the Energon Universe:
“The cleverly concealed, mind-blowing reveal of the Energon Universe back in Void Rivals #1 deserves to go down in comics history as a masterwork of licensing subterfuge. Hiding the announcement of one of the preeminent nostalgia franchises within the pages of an unknown and untested property was not only a brilliant way to create buzz for a favorite property but to also wow readers hungry for something new.” – AIPT Comics
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