More than four decades after the Transformers first rolled onto comic book shelves, they're back with a vengeance—and this time, they're building an entire universe. Thanks to Robert Kirkman and his Skybound imprint, the Energon Universe has become a powerhouse, blending Hasbro's iconic properties into a cohesive, multi-media saga. At San Diego Comic-Con, Kirkman sat down with Collider to discuss the future of this expanding franchise, and his plans are nothing short of epic.
The Energon Universe: A Slow and Steady Approach
Kirkman, the mastermind behind The Walking Dead and Invincible, is taking a page from the classic playbook of Marvel and DC. He envisions the Energon Universe growing at a measured pace, much like the Marvel Universe did in the 1960s. "The Marvel Universe, back in the '60s, grew at a very slow and steady pace, with them adding a book or two every year or two," Kirkman explained. "I think that that's the way that you build a foundation that can last for a while. Because our goal with the universe is to build something that is just as sustainable as the core DC and core Marvel Universe."
This patient strategy is already paying off. The Energon Universe launched quietly with Void Rivals, a series that initially seemed like a standalone sci-fi story—until the final page of issue #1 revealed the iconic Transformer Jetfire. From there, a dedicated Transformers series took off, followed by G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K., and most recently, Rom, the armored space knight. Kirkman himself took over writing duties on Transformers with issue #25, and the line continues to dominate sales charts.
What's Next? Skuxxoid and Beyond
When asked about future projects, Kirkman didn't hold back. "Honestly, I want to do a Skuxxoid book," he said, referring to the porcine space pirate from Void Rivals. "I would love to do a book just devoted to that character. I have so many ideas for that character." However, fans shouldn't expect a Skuxxoid solo series anytime soon. Kirkman is keen on keeping the line streamlined to avoid the complexity of too many mini-series. "I feel like when you have a lot of different mini-series, and it's like, 'There's Skuxxoid 1–6, and that technically takes place with Void Rivals 32–35,' then it starts getting tedious. So I'm trying to avoid that for as long as I can."
For now, the Energon Universe consists of four ongoing series: Void Rivals, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and M.A.S.K.. The addition of Rom as a one-shot has fans wondering how it will shake up the lineup. But Kirkman is confident in the universe's longevity. "The line is still insanely successful. It's going way better than we thought it was going to go internally," he said. "There's just so many different things that we can do with these characters, and when you have them interacting the way that we have, there's just so many different things that come to you."
Terminal: Kirkman's Next Big Creator-Owned Project
While the Energon Universe keeps him busy, Kirkman isn't slowing down on creator-owned work. His next major comic, Terminal, co-written by Joe Casey and featuring art by legends Andy Kubert, David Finch, and Art Adams, centers on Marilyn Howe, a woman searching for her missing sister who gets caught in a secret war between superhuman factions. It's a project that promises to deliver the same gripping storytelling that made The Walking Dead and Invincible household names—both of which have already spawned successful TV adaptations.
Kirkman's ambition for the Energon Universe is clear: he wants it to become a staple of the comic book industry for decades to come. "I would be thrilled to, in 30 years, be still involved in Energon Universe books and see that it's become this staple of the comic book industry," he said. "So, that's our lofty goal. Whether we get there or not, who knows? But that's what we're shooting for."
For more on Kirkman's plans, check out our coverage of Robert Kirkman Wants a Clementine Spin-Off and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Review. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for the latest from San Diego Comic-Con.
