Void Rivals opening the gateway for the new partnership between Skybound and Hasbro to create a new era for the Transformers and G.I. Joe comic books. While that has obviously been a major selling point to this series Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici have done well to not make this series just about the two big licenses. Series leads Darak and Solila have been presented as characters that can drive the story. With the two frenemies still lost in space will they be able to make it back home? Find out with our advance review of Void Rivals #3.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Robert Kirman
Artist: Lorenzo De Felici
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer: Rus Wooton
SOLICITATION
“ROBERT KIRKMAN & LORENZO DE FELICI’s new shared universe debuts a monstrous new villain! Fighting for their lives to return to the Sacred Ring, Darak and Solila face a new threat—capture! And they’re not the only prisoners on this ship…” – Image Comics
REVIEW
When you have creative licenses such as Transformers and G.I. Joe at your disposal to use it would be very easy to go all in with making that making that the sales gimmick. To Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici’s credit they are not doing that. Their focus is on letting the story organically grow around Darak and Solila rather than the other way around. That is best seen with the way the story in Void Rivals #3 progresses.
Picking up where the previous issue Kirkman and Felici work their magic with utilizing Transformers villain Skuxxoid’s mercenary ship as a new setting to showcase Darak and Solila. The chemistry between the two frenemies is showcased in what they each bring to the table. Solila is the best fighter of the two and does not hesitate to fight. Even when there is a clear size discrepancy with the villains they meet in the middle of Void Rivals #3 Solila obviously has more of person of action mentality.
In comparison we see how Darak’s personality of using his ingenuity to team as equals with Solila. How he and Solila deal the latest Transformers’ villains they meet in Skuxxoid’s ship is yet another example of that. Darak and Solila need each other to survive their situation. Which makes the ending of Void Rivals #3 creates even more questions as to what exactly is going on behind the scenes.
On the greater Energon Universe side, as mentioned before, Kirkman is making sure to bring in characters that work within the scope of the story he is telling with Darak and Solila. There are obvious references that show Kirman knows the Transformers history that G1 fans in particular will like. By going with this creative direction Kirkman is making sure the Energon Universe grows organically.
Felici is also doing a great job in making everything in the Energon Universe look cohesive. Solila and Darak interact with Skuxxoid and others from the Transformers franchise it does not feel out of place. The art direction is all handled well to capture the scope of this sci-fi adventure story.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici deliver the best issue of this series to date with Void Rivals #3. Darak and Solila continue to stand out as strong leads. The integration of Transfomers is both handled to naturally be part of the development in the story and give fans of the franchise moments to get excited over. The ending of Void Rivals #3 is a strong hook to want to learn what is truly going on with Darak and Solila.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10