Energon Universe Reading Order: Where To Start With Skybound’s Comic Universe

Have you ever imagined your favorite cartoons as a kid were part of the same universe? Now, after a few crossovers, that’s true for Transformers and G.I. Joe. Together with an original series, Void Rivals, they make up the Energon Universe, Skybound’s blockbuster comic franchise.

Two years after its creation, the Energon Universe is much bigger, bolder, and, honestly, better. The series can be read separately, but they influence each other more with time. This is a great time to start your journey with it, as there are many jumping-on points and epic events on the way. So, let’s embrace this incredible mix of nostalgia and originality and kick off our Energon Universe reading order.

Void Rivals Vol. 1: More Than Meets The Eye

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Lorenzo De Felici

Collects issues #1-6.

Kirkman starts his new shared universe with a similarly all-new series. Void Rivals sees two different pilots from collapsed worlds working together to survive. Their dynamic isn’t the most original, but it’s certainly fun and delivers a lot of great action scenes.

Transformers Vol. 1: Robots in Disguise

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson

Collects issues #1-6.

In this explosive soft reboot, Optimus Prime and the Autobots crash land on Earth and battle to protect it from the Decepticons, led by Starscream. Johnson also adds relatable, powerful emotional weight, mainly carried by the human characters, Spike and Carly.

Duke Vol. 1: Knowing is Half the Battle

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Tom Reilly

Collects issues #1-5.

The start of the G.I. Joe side of the universe. After Starscream almost kills him, the robot becomes Duke’s personal devil. Williamson’s story is amazing, and Reilly’s art is just as compelling.

Cobra Commander Vol. 1: Determined to Rule the World

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Andrea Milana

Collects issues #1-5.

What an incredible villain story! Williamson lets it rip with violence, charting Cobra Commander’s villainous, bloody, and menacing rise to power.

Void Rivals Vol. 2: Hunted Across the Wasteland

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Lorenzo De Felici

Collects issues #7-12.

Darak and Solila escape their previous situation, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. While they’re hunted by Proximus, they’ll learn more about the Energon Universe and even the Transformers side of things.

Transformers Vol. 2: Transport to Oblivion

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Jorge Corona

Collects issues #7-12.

The Decepticons fight over leadership while Optimus Prime tries to carry the fate of two worlds. As the heroes get new allies, they’ll also face devastating deaths.

Energon Universe 2024 Special #1

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson, Joshua Williamson, Robert Kirkman

Artist: Jason Howard, Lorenzo De Felici, Ryan Ottley

The first Energon special features three short stories from the Transformers, Void Rivals, and G.I. Joe franchises. Each one-shot is a good introduction to the series.

Scarlett Vol. 1: Special Mission

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist: Marco Ferrari

Collects issues #1-5.

Here we see Kelly Thompson at her best: writing fierce, badass female characters you never get tired of reading. The action and spy bits are amazing, but the character work is what steals the spotlight. Scarlett and Jinx have a great dynamic and are some of the most relatable characters in the G.I. Joe universe.

Destro Vol. 1: The Enemy

Writer: Dan Watters

Artist: Andrei Bressan

Collects issues #1-5.

The last mini before G.I. Joe Vol. 1 makes its entrance. Destro is still action-packed, but it feels different from the other series. It focuses on corporate espionage and monologue, depicting the arms race for Energon, the Cybertronians’ primary source of energy.

Transformers Vol. 3: Combiner Chaos

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Jorge Corona, Jason Howard

Collects issues #13-18.

Transformers is a series that’s constantly scaling new heights. With us finally seeing Cybertron and getting great Megatron moments, it’s the best the comic has ever been.

Void Rivals Vol. 3: The Key to Vector Theta

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Lorenzo De Felici

Collects issues #13-18.

Just like Transformers, Void Rivals also reaches its peak in the third volume. The connections with the other series make even more sense as we learn more about Agorria, Zirconia, and the rest of the universe.

G.I. Joe Vol. 1: The Cobra Strikes!

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Tom Reilly

Collects issues #1-6.

With the rise of Cobra to power and their use of Energon, Duke leads a special team to combat them. G.I. Joe has the best elements of the four one-shot stories, all while fleshing out the action and each individual character.

Transformers Vol. 4: Conquer and Control

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Jorge Corona, Ludo Lullabi

Collects issues #19-24.

Optimus Prime’s character exploration has been one of the best things about this comic, and it doesn’t disappoint. Johnson ends his Transformers run just like he started it, with a mix of badass action and powerful, heartfelt scenes.

Energon Universe 2025 Special #1

Writer: Joshua Williamson, Robert Kirkman, Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Andrea Milana, Conor Hughes, Daniel Warren Johnson

The Energon Universe drops its second special, and if you enjoyed the first one, this will be just as great. It answers a few important questions, and the Transformers section has a perfect and emotional story about Jazz.

G.I. Joe Vol. 2: Bludd’s Revenge

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Andrea Milana, Marco Foderà

Collects issues #7-12.

While the first arc focused on building the G.I. Joe team, this one expands their universe. New characters join the book, such as the fan-favorite Beach Head, and the Night Force is introduced. If you like them, you’re in for a treat, because they’re the best thing about the volume.

Void Rivals Vol. 4: First Chosen

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Conor Hughes

After being apart for so long, Darak and Solila have to find their way to each other again. And they aren’t the only pieces of this giant puzzle that are connecting. Skuxxoid, Pythona, Springer, and new Autobots are all making their moves.

Transformers #25

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Dan Mora, Jorge Corona

(Chapters from #25 and beyond haven’t been compiled into a TPB)

A new era starts with Robert Kirkman and Dan Mora at the wheel. It continues straight from where the last arc left off, so it might not be the best starting point. Still, it has a new style, both in art and story.

G.I. Joe Vol. 3: Dreadnok War

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artist: Tom Reilly

Collects Issues #13-18.

The Dreadnok War begins with the amazing Tom Reilly back on the art. After one of Cobra Commander’s greatest allies betrays him, he is forced to accept the help of none other than Duke. This is a great jumping-on point, so anyone can start reading this new epic, game-changing arc.

Transformers #26

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Dan Mora

A bunch of new characters joined the series, but will one of them betray Optimus Prime? Or is someone even closer to him stabbing him in the back?

Transformers #27

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Dan Mora

The Decepticons strike back and try to rescue a powerful ally from the Autobots’ hands. We might be seeing Megatron again sooner than expected.

Void Rivals #25

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Andrei Bressan

The Quintesson War begins. Darak and Solila find their deadliest challenge yet. And, when the dust settles, a new era will arrive for Void Rivals.

Energon Universe Reading Order: Issue-By-Issue In Chronological Release Order

If you prefer to read issue by issue, here’s the complete Energon Universe release order. As many of the series are being released at the same time, this “method” might make you feel more ingrained in the world.

Void Rivals #1

Void Rivals #2

Void Rivals #3

Void Rivals #4

Transformers #1

Void Rivals #5

Transformers #2

Void Rivals #6

Transformers #3

Duke #1

Transformers #4

Cobra Commander #1

Duke #2

Transformers #5

Cobra Commander #2

Duke #3

Void Rivals #7

Transformers #6

Cobra Commander #3

Duke #4

Void Rivals #8

Transformers #7

Cobra Commander #4

Duke #5

Energon Universe 2024 Special #1

Transformers #8

Cobra Commander #5

Void Rivals #9

Scarlett #1

Transformers #9

Destro #1

Void Rivals #10

Scarlett #2

Transformers #10

Destro #2

Void Rivals #11

Scarlett #3

Transformers #11

Destro #3

Void Rivals #12

Scarlett #4

Transformers #12

Destro #4

Scarlett #5

Transformers #13

Destro #5

Void Rivals #13

G.I. Joe #1

Transformers #14

Void Rivals #14

Transformers #15

G.I. Joe #2

Void Rivals #15

Transformers #16

G.I. Joe #3

Void Rivals #16

Transformers #17

G.I. Joe #4

Transformers #18

Void Rivals #17

G.I. Joe #5

Transformers #19

G.I. Joe #6

Void Rivals #18

Energon Universe 2025 Special #1

Transformers #20

G.I. Joe #7

Void Rivals #19

Transformers #21

G.I. Joe #8

Void Rivals #20

Transformers #22

G.I. Joe #9

Void Rivals #21

Transformers #23

G.I. Joe #10

Void Rivals #22

Transformers #24

G.I. Joe #11

Void Rivals #23

Transformers #25

G.I. Joe #12

G.I. Joe #13

Void Rivals #24

Transformers #26

G.I. Joe #14

G.I. Joe #15

Transformers #27

G.I. Joe #16

Void Rivals #25

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