Skybound ‘stealth launches’ a new Transformers/G.I. Joe universe

‘Void Rivals,’ which arrived in stores today, also kicked off the Energon Universe, which will feature both Hasbro properties.

If you’ve read the new Skybound title Void Rivals today, then you know it’s actually part of a bigger Energon Universe launch — a universe that includes both G.I. Joe and Transformers.

Last seen in comics in 2022 as IDW wrapped up their work on both properties, early rumors and speculation mentioned Skybound as a potential new home. Now, through a license with Hasbro, Skybound has launched them in a way that only the company who once put out fake solicitations to keep the ending of The Walking Dead a secret could — as a surprise. Surprise!

“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner,” said Kirkman. “I’ve loved these characters for most of my life and to have the opportunity to add to the already rich tapestry Hasbro has built with the all-new Void Rivals is an unbelievable opportunity. If you look at everything done with Transformers and G.I. Joe, you can see the inkling of a vast universe with tremendous potential for crossovers and interaction that will enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts. I look forward to exploring that potential for years to come.” 

In addition to Void Rivals, Skybound has plans for three additional titles, including a Transformers title written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson of Do A Powerbomb and Beta Ray Bill fame.

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Stegmen, Porter + Cannon present the body-swapping adventures of ‘The Schlub’

The new ongoing series will debut from Image Comics in August.

Writers Ryan Stegman and Kenny Porter will team up with artist Tyrell Cannon for the Freaky Friday-esque The Schlub, the story 0f a failing dentist who is body-swapped with the world’s greatest superhero.

They’re joined by colorist Mike Spicer and letterer/designer John J. Hill on the Image Comics series, which kicks off in August.

Stegman said the series is something he was thinking about even before his time on Venom.

“A few years back I pitched Image a comic that I would write and draw about a Michael Scott/Kenny Powers type character if they became a superhero that the entire world relied on. It was approved and I had started work on it when Marvel came along and asked me to do a little book called Venom,” said Stegman. “I couldn’t say no, but I couldn’t shake this idea of the superhero that just can’t do the right thing. So I asked my buddies Kenny, Tyrell and John to help me make this book a reality and here we are! The greatest superhero comic book on the planet.”

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Daniel Warren Johnson will write and draw a new ‘Beta Ray Bill’ miniseries

The new series spins out of ‘King in Black’ and ‘Thor,’ with Mike Spicer providing colors.

Beta Ray Bill will jump into the spotlight once again, courtesy of Wonder Woman: Dead Earth creator Daniel Warren Johnson. Johnson will write and draw a new limited series starring the worthy Korbinite, which spins out of recent events in both Thor and King in Black.

Colorist Mike Spicer joins Johnson on the title, which naturally will feature Fin Fang Foom.

“Beta Ray Bill is literally my favorite Marvel character, so it’s a dream come true, and there are images in this book I’ve been wanting to illustrate for years. It’s even more exciting that I get to write this series in the context of the current Thor universe,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot to unpack with Beta Ray and I can’t wait to share my story with you all.”

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Swamp Thing blossoms again in March

Ram V and Mike Perkins, who will work on the character during Future State, will re-team for the new series.

Just in time for Spring, Writer Ram V and artist Mike Perkins will harvest a new Swamp Thing title in March. They will be joined by colorist Mike Spicer and letterer Aditya Bidikar.

The seeds for the new title will be planted during DC’s Future State event, as V and Perkins will work on a story featuring the character’s future self during January-February.

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‘Dead Rabbit’ is dead; long live ‘Dead Eyes’

Gerry Duggan and John McCrea’s gritty series returns with a new title.

The Image Comics title formerly known as Dead Rabbit seems to have found new life as Dead Eyes.

At the Image Expo last year, Image Comics announced a comic titled Dead Rabbit by Gerry Duggan, John McCrea and Mike Spicer. Two issues were released last fall, which were followed by a mandatory recall of both of them to retailers from Diamond Comics Distributors.

A report on Bleeding Cool then stated the recall was due to a New York bar called “Dead Rabbit” that was suing Image Comics and retailer Forbidden Planet for violating the trademark the bar held on the name, which also covers “Comic books; Fiction books on a variety of topics; Non-fiction books on a variety of topics; Recipe books.” Y’see, the bar uses comic-themed menus and also published a recipe book in graphic novel format last year. You can read more about it over on the Comic Lawyer website, which has an interesting FAQ up about the case.

So it sounds like Duggan and McCrea’s comic is back on track, now with a new title. No word on what happened to the lawsuit itself.

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Shirtless Bear-Fighter loses his pants for ‘Nude Beariant’ cover

We already know from the title of Shirtless Bear Fighter that we’ll see the main character fight bears with his shirt off, but looking at the preview pages for the new Image title, it looks like he will be pants-less as well. That point is driven even further home with the release of a “Nude Beariant” cover for the first issue, which you can find after the jump — NSFW, obviously.

Hey, if you’re already fighting bears without a shirt, who needs pants slowing you down as well?

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Image announces everything and the kitchen sink at ECCC

New projects from Ales Kot, Joe Casey, Joe Keatinge, Declan Shalvey, Matt Wagner, Jeff Lemire, Phil Hester and more announced at Emerald City Comic Con.

For the past few years Image Comics has held an Image Expo, which is kind of their own mini-convention where they feature creators and make announcements. Since they ended up skipping it this year (it’ll be back in 2018) they used their Thursday panel at the Emerald City Comic Con to unleash a huge slew of comic book announcements.

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