When Robert Kirkman launched Void Rivals No. 1 in 2023 as backdoor way to introduce a shared comic universe featuring Transformers and G.I. Joe, he wasn’t sure how it would be accepted. After all, the licensed comics featuring those two Hasbro properties had been published almost continuously for almost 30 years via companies such as Marvel, Devil’s Due and IDW. They were relatively sleepy but reliably steady sellers.
Kirkman, known for two of the indie comic world’s biggest hits, The Walking Dead and Invincible, wanted to shake it up by combining the two franchises not just for a rare occasion, like it had been done intermittently before, but to make it central to the story. He was worried the concept would crash and burn. Even Hasbro had concerns about the idea of a shared universe on which Kirkman’s company Skybound was betting.
Three years in, Kirkman is breathing easier. Skybound’s Energon Universe, which includes Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, and the recently launched M.A.S.K. as well as the occasional mini-series, is a massive publishing hit, with sales rivaling and even outpacing many initiatives and titles from DC and Marvel.
“Any time you try something that hasn’t been done before, you run the risk of not finding an audience,” Kirkman tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The fact that this has found a solid audience as it has, and that it’s on its 3rd year, and sales are not only holding but actually creeping up in some places, it’s something that we are very proud of.”
Since its launch, the Energon Universe has sold over 7.6 million units, according to Skybound, which is giving a rare peek into publishing sales figures, something companies tend to keep more secret than the location of Cobra Commander’s lair. The Transformers comic is the standout, having sold 3.5 million units and representing about 47 percent of that total.
Transformers No.1, the comic that really ushered in the Hasbro universe, has gone through an astonishing 14 printings since hitting shops in October 2023. The first printing sold 170,000 copies with another 180,000 sold subsequently, for a total of over 350,000 units. It is now prepping for a 15th printing.
“Three years in and that book is still being reprinted. It’s a testament to Daniel Warren Johnson, who wrote and drew that issue,” says Kirkman.
Overall, Skybound has done 67 reprints so far for the Transformers title. The editions collecting the story arcs, known as trade paperback or commonly referred to as graphic novels, is the company’s second top-selling series after Invincible, an original title that has gone on to become a top animated series on Prime Video.
Additionally, the Energon line as a whole has remained a top seller, showing a continued enthusiasm from readers.The most recent issue of Transformers, issue No. 36, sold 66,245 units, while the recent G.I. Joe, issue No. 25, sold 52,462 units.
“We are an upward trajectory, which as you know, is very rare in comics,” says Kirkman. “You usually get a big launch number and then sales slowly drift. That’s why you see so many relaunches in the comic book industry.”
(That doesn’t mean certain key issues don’t pop. When Kirkman took over writing Transformers with issue No. 25, that one sold 127, 811 units. And speaking of launches, M.A.S.K. No.1 came out of the gate with 206, 203 units this past June.)
GI Joe No. 25
Skybound
Acquiring the license to the Hasbro properties was special mission for Kirkman. While other comic book creators may love their Spider-Man or Batman, Transformers and G.I. Joe were his jam. He raced home from school to watch the cartoons whenever he could. When he heard the rights were becoming available and Hasbro was open to taking pitches, he scrambled his fighter jets.
“We rolled out the red carpet. We got every single artist we were working with to do original drawings for the proposal,” he recalls. “We got 10 to 15 comic book covers drawn to show we have access to these artists. And I pitched them the Void Rivals idea. I told them we are going to create a new IP for you and surprise people with a whole connected universe.”
Right now, Kirkman doesn’t want to rest on his laurels, he wants to make this universe last.
“I look at the Energon Universe as something that can grow into something like the Marvel Universe or like the DC Universe. It’s as robust,” he explains. “We are making plans for the long haul for this. The individual sales are great, but I want to make sure that we have something exciting to introduce in year five and year 10. We want to maintain that momentum.”
