Pacy But Still Not Punchy Enough: Reviewing ‘Void Rivals’ #3

Another issue of Void Rivals and another blast from the past as we met yet another kooky character from the Transformers cartoons of yesteryear. But along with this we have a chance in pace as we witness fremenies, Solilia and Darak, move closer and closer to returning home to their two separate warring societies. 

We are plunged immediately into action aboard the Skuxxoid mercenary’s ship as our two heroes race to escape only to be met with one obstacle after another, with help coming from the most unlikely source in the end. But, it can often feel stilted and in one or two cases, where the tension has been raised, the payoff doesn’t quite spark.

Clearly writer Robert Kirkman has done his homework, plunging the vast array of characters and alien species from the Transformers back catalogue to help build his Energon Universe alongside artist Lorenzo De Felici; taking kiddie cartoons and upscaling them to appeal to a more mature readership. But, the main focus is still on his two new characters. Two characters De Felici often keeps suited up and thereby aesthetically tying them into the more mechanically-driven designs of the aforementioned robots in disguise. This is, after all, a universe awash with mechanisation, and in the two protagonists designs this is embraced. And yet, what I love about De Felici’s art style is that is full of loose lines, rather than the more technical style often associated with this franchise in the past. It breathes life into the various characters of this emerging shared universe, making it more relatable to this jaded reader who always had a problem with the Deceptions and the Autobots because of their very nature. 

A better issue that last, but still lacking that one-two out-of-nowhere punches I would expect from Kirkman. Yes, there is excitement in recognising yet another obscure Transformers reference from the past, and yes there is the heightening of drama as the issue develops, but it still isn’t gripping me just yet. And, after three issues, I’m not sure how much more I could take before giving up on this title in a world where comics are becoming more and more expensive and, arguably, more and more a luxury purchase. 

Void Rivals #3 is out Wednesday 16th August from Skybound/Image Comics