# List of Energon Universe story arcs
The Energon Universe story arcs are the named multi-issue storylines published across the shared comic book universe that [Skybound Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/skybound-entertainment) and [Image Comics](https://www.edgepedia.org/image-comics) launched with Hasbro in June 2023, spanning the series Void Rivals, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and M.A.S.K. together with annual anthology specials. The universe began with a stealth launch: readers who bought Void Rivals #1 on June 14, 2023 discovered that the new science fiction series by writer [Robert Kirkman](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-kirkman) and artist Lorenzo De Felici was secretly the opening chapter of a shared universe, marked by the surprise first appearance of the Transformers character Jetfire.[1](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launch | Void Rivals #1, June 14, 2023, a stealth launch revealing the shared universe through Jetfire's first appearance[1](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today) |
| First Transformers arc | "Robots in Disguise", Transformers #1–6, launched October 2023 by Daniel Warren Johnson and colorist Mike Spicer[1](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today) |
| G.I. Joe lead-in | Four miniseries, Duke, Cobra Commander, Destro, and Scarlett, introduced key players before the G.I. Joe ongoing[2](https://www.comicbookherald.com/energon-universe-reading-order/) |
| Major later arcs | "Dreadnok War" (G.I. Joe), "The Quintesson War" (Void Rivals, ending at #30), and the Kirkman/Dan Mora era from Transformers #25[3](https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/energon-universe-image-skybound-hasbro) • [4](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/superstars-robert-kirkman-and-dan-mora-begin-a-new-transformers-era-with-issue-25) |
| Fourth series | M.A.S.K. #1 by Dan Watters and Pye Parr launched June 3, 2026[5](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/image-skybound-hasbro-celebrate-the-third-anniversary-of-the-energon-universe-with-all-new-commemorative-covers-by-tom-reilly-adriano-lucas) |
| Annual specials | One-shot Energon Universe Specials each May, released on Free Comic Book Day first and then as paid retail editions[6](https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/series/energon-universe/releases) |
## Launch and first arcs (2023)
The universe opened with Void Rivals, an original space opera in which the Agorrian pilot Darak and his Zertonian rival Solila crash on a desolate planet and must cooperate to survive. Its first story arc, "More than Meets the Eye", ran six issues.[1](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today) [Transformers](https://www.edgepedia.org/transformers) #1 followed in October 2023, written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson with colors by Mike Spicer, beginning the six-issue "Robots in Disguise" arc in which [Optimus Prime](https://www.edgepedia.org/optimus-prime) and the Autobots crash-land far from home alongside their enemies, the Decepticons, with the fate of Cybertron unknown.[1](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today)
**The G.I. Joe side arrived in stages.** Duke #1, a limited series by [Joshua Williamson](https://www.edgepedia.org/joshua-williamson), Tom Reilly, and Jordie Bellaire, launched in December 2023 and told the origins of [G.I. Joe](https://www.edgepedia.org/g-i-joe) and Cobra in a world grappling with the arrival of the Autobots and Decepticons.[1](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today) It was the first of four miniseries, followed by [Cobra Commander](https://www.edgepedia.org/cobra-commander), Destro, and Scarlett, which together introduced the key players before the G.I. Joe ongoing series began.[2](https://www.comicbookherald.com/energon-universe-reading-order/)
## Year two and the named arcs (2024–2025)
**Annual specials became a fixture.** Every May, Skybound releases a one-shot Energon Universe Special, first as a [Free Comic Book Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/free-comic-book-day) issue and then as a paid retail edition with the same story content. The 2024 Special (May 8, 2024) contains three short stories: a Transformers story by Daniel Warren Johnson and Ryan Ottley showing Megatron's side of the battle aboard the crashing Ark, a Void Rivals story following the Skuxxoid, and a G.I. Joe story.[6](https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/series/energon-universe/releases) • [7](https://www.comicsbeat.com/wednesday-comics-reviews-your-energon-universe-special-check-in/) The 2025 Special, released on May 3 as the FCBD edition and on May 14 at retail, added first appearances of the Autobot Wheelie and of Matt Trakker, the first time a character from the M.A.S.K. franchise appeared in the universe.[8](https://www.skybound.com/article/reveals-galore-skybound-image-and-hasbro-unveil-covers-and-first-appearances) • [6](https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/series/energon-universe/releases)
Named arcs in the second year include Void Rivals' third arc, "The Key to Vector Theta", and Transformers' sixth arc, "Decepticons Attack!".[3](https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/energon-universe-image-skybound-hasbro) In fall 2025 the line's marketing framed a coordinated escalation: a new era for Transformers, the "Dreadnok War" taking over G.I. Joe, and the Sacred Ring facing "The Quintesson War" in Void Rivals.[9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGhRPrbGWiQ) The Transformers changeover came with issue #25, in which Robert Kirkman took over writing with artist Dan Mora beginning October 2025; the series had already won two Eisner Awards, and its first issue was the bestselling comic of 2023.[4](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/superstars-robert-kirkman-and-dan-mora-begin-a-new-transformers-era-with-issue-25)
## Year three: crossovers and M.A.S.K. (2026)
**The first major crossover arrived in G.I. Joe #19 and #20.** The two-issue story, on sale February 18 and March 18, 2026, brings Optimus Prime and several Autobots face to face with Duke and the G.I. Joe soldiers, with a run-in with Matt Trakker, known in the universe as "America's most wanted man"; Skybound's description says the meeting involves Clutch, Autobot Hound, and Trakker.[10](https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/image-comics/three-classic-80s-cartoon-franchises-will-crossover-this-spring-as-transformers-gi-joe-and-mask-collide-in-the-energon-universe/)
**M.A.S.K. became the fourth ongoing series.** Announced at ComicsPro in February 2026 by writer Dan Watters, artist Pye Parr, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Rus Wooton, the series launched with M.A.S.K. #1 on June 3, 2026, with Matt Trakker enlisting a team that uses transforming vehicles and advanced technology against Miles Mayhem and V.E.N.O.M.[5](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/image-skybound-hasbro-celebrate-the-third-anniversary-of-the-energon-universe-with-all-new-commemorative-covers-by-tom-reilly-adriano-lucas) • [11](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/image-skybound-hasbro-announce-new-energon-universe-series-m-a-s-k-by-dan-watters-pye-parr) Its introductory chapter appeared in the Energon Universe Special 2026, released on Free Comic Book Day, May 2, 2026, with the retail one-shot on May 6.[11](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/image-skybound-hasbro-announce-new-energon-universe-series-m-a-s-k-by-dan-watters-pye-parr) • [6](https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/series/energon-universe/releases)
Other 2026 arcs include G.I. Joe #25, which begins a G.I. Joe versus Night Force storyline involving Zartan, and Void Rivals, where "The Quintesson War" concludes at issue #30 on May 20, 2026, before the December issue #37 kicks off the "Pit of Destruction" arc, sending Darak, Solila, and Pythona back to Cobra-La on Earth.[12](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/g-i-joe-vs-night-force-begins-in-g-i-joe-25-from-image-skybound-hasbro) • [3](https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/energon-universe-image-skybound-hasbro) • [13](https://comicon.com/2026/10/13/nycc-2026-more-robots-in-diguise-and-more-surprises-coming-to-the-skybound-energon-universe/)
## Reading the arcs
The series are intended to function as standalone runs, with shared plot threads rather than mandatory cross-reading; readers can follow each series in its own issue order, and the G.I. Joe miniseries (Duke, Cobra Commander, Destro, Scarlett) lead into the G.I. Joe ongoing.[14](https://tfwikicommunity.wordpress.com/reading-guides/energon-universe/) Collected editions group the arcs into six-issue volumes, with hardcover Deluxe Editions planned for each title.[2](https://www.comicbookherald.com/energon-universe-reading-order/)
## References
1. [SURPRISE! TRANSFORMERS & G.I. JOE LAUNCH A NEW SHARED COMIC BOOK UNIVERSE TODAY, Image Comics](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/surprise-transformers-g-i-joe-launch-a-new-shared-comic-book-universe-today)
2. [Energon Universe Reading Order (Transformers & G.I. Joe), Comic Book Herald](https://www.comicbookherald.com/energon-universe-reading-order/)
3. [Timeline: Energon Universe (Skybound Entertainment and Hasbro, 2023–present), Timetoast](https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/energon-universe-image-skybound-hasbro)
4. [SUPERSTARS ROBERT KIRKMAN AND DAN MORA BEGIN A NEW TRANSFORMERS ERA WITH ISSUE #25, Image Comics](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/superstars-robert-kirkman-and-dan-mora-begin-a-new-transformers-era-with-issue-25)
5. [IMAGE/SKYBOUND & HASBRO CELEBRATE THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENERGON UNIVERSE, Image Comics](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/image-skybound-hasbro-celebrate-the-third-anniversary-of-the-energon-universe-with-all-new-commemorative-covers-by-tom-reilly-adriano-lucas)
6. [Releases, Energon Universe, Image Comics](https://imagecomics.com/comics/list/series/energon-universe/releases)
7. [Wednesday Comics Reviews: Your ENERGON UNIVERSE SPECIAL check-in, Comics Beat](https://www.comicsbeat.com/wednesday-comics-reviews-your-energon-universe-special-check-in/)
8. [Reveals Galore! Skybound, Image & Hasbro Unveil Covers and First Appearances, Skybound](https://www.skybound.com/article/reveals-galore-skybound-image-and-hasbro-unveil-covers-and-first-appearances)
9. [Skybound Energon Universe trailer, YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGhRPrbGWiQ)
10. [Three classic '80s cartoon franchises will crossover this spring, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/comics/image-comics/three-classic-80s-cartoon-franchises-will-crossover-this-spring-as-transformers-gi-joe-and-mask-collide-in-the-energon-universe/)
11. [IMAGE/SKYBOUND & HASBRO ANNOUNCE NEW ENERGON UNIVERSE SERIES M.A.S.K., Image Comics](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/image-skybound-hasbro-announce-new-energon-universe-series-m-a-s-k-by-dan-watters-pye-parr)
12. [G.I. JOE VS. NIGHT FORCE BEGINS IN G.I. JOE #25, Image Comics](https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/g-i-joe-vs-night-force-begins-in-g-i-joe-25-from-image-skybound-hasbro)
13. [NYCC 2026: More Robots In Disguise And More Surprises Coming To The Skybound Energon Universe, Comicon](https://comicon.com/2026/10/13/nycc-2026-more-robots-in-diguise-and-more-surprises-coming-to-the-skybound-energon-universe/)
14. [Energon Universe Reading Guide, TFWiki Community](https://tfwikicommunity.wordpress.com/reading-guides/energon-universe/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Comics and sequential art › Comic-book series and issues › Independent American comics*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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