Tag: Robert Kirkman

Surprise, it’s Rom! Skybound surprises ‘M.A.S.K.’ blind bag buyers with a new ‘Rom’ #1

Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici bring the space knight into the Energon Universe in a standalone issue available only through the blind bag program.

Today brought another signature Skybound surprise, kind of like that time they ended The Walking Dead without telling anyone it was ending, included a Spider-Man comic in their mix of Battle Beast #1 blind bags and stealth-launched the Energon Universe.

Today’s surprise, really shouldn’t be a surprise based on their track record, but it’s a fun one: some of the blind bags for M.A.S.K. #1 included completely different comics, with one of them being Rom #1, a standalone issue by Void Rivals co-creators Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici that introduces the space knight into the Energon Universe.

In a press release, Skybound said the character has been a fan request since Skybound launched the shared universe. Longtime Marvel fans know he previously published by them in the 1980s, following his introduction as toy by Parker Brothers. The toy was kind of a dud when it launched, but the comic proved popular, as he was integrated into the Marvel Universe and met everyone from the X-Men to Galactus. Later IDW Publishing reintroduced him to comics when they held the Hasbro license.

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Robert Kirkman + friends will launch ‘Terminal’ in July

An all-star line-up will helm the series, which was announced during Kirkman’s keynote address at this week’s ComicsPro meeting.

Skybound chief Robert Kirkman announced this week that he’s teaming with Joe Casey, Andy Kubert, David Finch and Arthur Adams on Terminal, a new superhero series that will launch in July.

The announcement came during Kirkman’s keynote address at the ComicsPro industry meeting in Glendale, Calif. The series features colors by Dave McCaig and letters by Rus Wooton.

“Listen, I’ve done my fair share of press release quotes but never for anything this cool,” Kirkman said (in a press release). “This will be the coolest comic on the market by the best creative team ever assembled. I dare you to find a book with a more stunning array of artistic talent. Go on, I’ll wait! You can’t! I’m co-creating another vast superhero universe and I’m getting to do it along with Joe Casey, Andy Kubert, David Finch and Arthur Adams! It’s going to be great!” 

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Robert Kirkman + Cory Walker reunite to introduce a new character in ‘Capes’ #7

The Invincible co-creators will introduce Ella Mental, a new character debuting in comics and the upcoming ‘Invincible VS’ video game, in a series of back-up stories.

Invincible co-creators Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker will reunite to introduce Ella Mental, a new Invincible Universe character, in a series of back-up stories running through Capes #7–12.

Ella Mental, who possesses the power to command earth, wind, fire and water, will also make her debut in Invincible VS, an upcoming 3-on-3 tag fighting game from Skybound and its in-house studio Quarter Up, launching April 30. The back-up stories in Capes will tell her origin.

“I’m so excited Capes is continuing to tell stories set in the Invincible Universe but why not also GROW the Invincible Universe at the same time?!” Kirkman said. “It’s great to be working with Cory Walker again, creating a new character, in Ella Mental. You’ll love her in Invincible VS when that game launches, and you’ll get to read her origin story in Capes. How cool is that? I plan to be creating characters with Cory Walker forever!”  

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Skybound celebrates Invincible Month with Spider-Man/Invincible team-up reprint, more Battle Beast

Get ready for the return of the ‘Invincible’ animated series with several comic projects.

Skybound has declared next March as Invincible Month, which will coincide with the fourth season of the Invincible animated series on Amazon Prime. So far the publisher has announced two projects to help celebrate: a reprinting of an intercompany crossover and the return of Battle Beast.

Let’s start with that crossover. Back in 2005, Robert Kirkman was writing Marvel Team-Up and having a pretty good time with the title — while at the same time writing Invincible. Issue #14 of MTU turned out to be a very special issue for Kirkman fans, as he and Cory Walker brought their creator-owned character to the Marvel universe, teaming him up with Spider-Man (and the Avengers). It came at a time when Marvel wasn’t doing a lot of intercompany crossovers, so it was unexpected and fun.

The comic hasn’t ever been reprinted and was never collected by either Marvel or Image, for obvious reasons, but that changed earlier this year when Skybound introduced their “blind bag” variant cover program for Battle Beast #1 — and boy, these blind bag variant things have really taken off, haven’t they? Seems like just about every comic publisher is doing them. Anyway, Battle Beast took an interesting approach, not only offering variant covers, but also mixing in a few original comics for a few lucky fans who happened to buy the right bag — including the second issue of Battle Beast and copies of Marvel Team-Up #14.

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SDCC | Robert Kirkman + Mark Englert return to ‘Capes’

Remastered issues of the 2003 series will arrive in November from Skybound, followed by new issues written by Benito Cereno.

Capes, an early superhero comic by Robert Kirkman and Mark Englert, will get a makeover by the creators as it returns in November.

The story revolves around a superhero business, Capes Inc., that’s set in the same universe as Invincible (and has been seen in the animated series). It employs characters like Kid Thor, Knockout, Captain Cosmic and more, who protect New York when they’re on the clock.

Capes originally debuted in 2003, a month before another Kirkman-written series, The Walking Dead, and many years before Kirkman would form Skybound and become an Image partner. At the time, the young up-and-coming writer had already kicked off Invincible and Tech Jacket at Image Comics, so he was turning into a force for the publisher.

Kirkman and Englert’s original Capes stories will be remastered with new art and dialogue by the original creative team and released as single issues. And then with issue #7, the title will continue with new stories drawn by Englert and written by Blood & Thunder writer Benito Cereno.

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Robert Kirkman + David Finch’s brutal fantasy epic ‘Skinbreaker’ arrives in September

An old chief and his reluctant heir try to keep their world from falling into ruins.

The Walking Dead co-creator and Skybound chief Robert Kirkman continues to fill up his dance card for the fall. In addition to taking over writing Transformers, Kirkman is also teaming with artist David Finch of Batman and New Avengers for Skinbreaker.

The fantasy epic is about a tribal chief who attempts to pass his mighty sword, Skinbreaker, down to his reluctant heir. Kirkman and Finch are joined by  colorist Annalisa Leoni and letterer Rus Wooton on the title.

“I have wanted to work with David Finch for the entirety of my career,” said Kirkman. “We’ve gotten close many times over the years, but we wanted our collaboration to be something truly special. Skinbreaker is that series. I feel like this book is a high-water mark for both our careers. An action epic that is unrelentingly brutal but also contains a ton of emotion and heart. It’ll shock you and make you cry.”  

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Robert Kirkman + Dan Mora take over ‘Transformers’ with #25

A new era for the Energon Universe title begins in October with an oversized issue.

Robert Kirkman, the founder of Skybound who briefly sat in the writer’s room for the Transformer films, is getting his chance to chronicle the adventures of the Autobots and Decepticons. After ushering in the Energon Universe era with Void Rivals, Kirkman and Superman artist Dan Mora will take over the ongoing Transformers title with issue #25 following Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona’s epic run.

Kirkman and Mora will join colorist Mike Spicer and letterer Rus Wooton in October with an oversized issue that celebrates the series’ second anniversary. The issue will also feature a second story written by Kirkman and drawn by Corona.

“Holy smokes, I’m writing a Transformers comic!” said Kirkman. “I’ve been so invested in this series since the beginning. I’ve marveled at what Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona have brought to some of my all-time favorite characters. When Daniel’s run came to an end, I could stand on the sidelines no more! I just had to get in the ring! It’s a tremendous honor to be a small part of the legacy of these amazing characters. This world has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I can’t wait for everyone to see what the legendary Dan Mora and I are cooking up!”

Here’s a look at issue #25’s main cover by David Nakayama:

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Robert Kirkman, Benito Cereno + E.J. Su will unleash ‘Blood & Thunder’

The new series from Skybound will arrive in May.

Skybound has announced Blood & Thunder, the story of a bounty hunter and her talking gun, will kick off in May at Image Comics.

The new title is written by Benito Cereno (Tales from the Bully Pulpit) with art by E.J. Su, who will be joined by colorist MSassyK and letterer Rus Wooton. It’s based on a concept created by Skybound founder Robert Kirkman, who will consult on the story.

“Blood & Thunder is a concept I’ve been dying to share with the world for quite some time. I’m so thrilled to be on the cusp of debuting what Benito Cereno, E.J. Su and I have cooked up,” Kirkman said. “Monsters! Aliens! Space! Talking Guns! I dare you to find a comic that’s more exciting! Blood & Thunder! Shut up!”  

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Robert Kirkman + Ryan Ottley return to the Invincible Universe for ‘Battle Beast’

The series, which kicks off in April, will fill in the gaps of Battle Beast’s story between ‘Invincible’ #19 and #55.

If you’ve been missing Skybound’s Invincible, never fear — Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley will reunite for a new Invincible Universe: Battle Beast series next April.

The series will follow the adventures of the popular character Thokk, a.k.a. Battle Beast, and show what he was up to when he wasn’t appearing on panel in the original Invincible series.

“What can I say? I just can’t get enough of the Invincible Universe!” said Robert Kirkman. “Moving from the comic series directly to the animated series, I haven’t really had a break. That said, while adapting the series to animation, I’ve been itching to do something new! Longtime fans will know there’s a massive gap in Battle Beast’s appearances in the series between Invincible issue 19 and issue 55. There’s a lot of story to tell and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Battle Beast co-creator Ryan Ottley on board to tell it with me!”  

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‘Fire Power’ will conclude with issue #30

Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee and company bring the story of Owen Johnson and his family to a close in December.

Fire Power, the Skybound title published by Image Comics and created by Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson and Rus Wooton, will end with issue #30 this December.

The 56-page oversized issue will wrap up the story of Owen Johnson and his fireball-wielding family, which began back in 2020.

“It’s all been building to this. From the humble beginnings of Owen’s journey for the truth about his parents, to a world-spanning battle with a gargantuan ancient evil that threatens to destroy the world,” Kirkman said. “It’s been a real thrill to work with Chris for these last few years, building this world and working toward this dramatic conclusion. I can’t believe we’re finally here! I can’t wait for people to see it!” 

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Larry Hama’s ‘G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero’ will continue at Skybound

Chris Mooneyham joins Hama on the series, which will pick up with issue #301 in November.

When Skybound announced they will work with Hasbro on a new universe featuring Transformers and G.I. Joe, many fans wondered what that meant for Larry Hama, whose name has been synonymous with the G.I. Joe comics since the 1980s. Today Skybound confirmed something Hama had already mentioned on social media — that they will continue to publish G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, and will even keep the legacy numbering.

“Several years ago, a fan at SDCC asked me how long Larry Hama would be writing G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comics,” said Michael Kelly, VP of Global Publishing at Hasbro. “My response was the only appropriate answer for someone in my position: ‘for as long as Larry wants to keep writing them.’ It’s exciting to be continuing this journey that started back in 1982, and I’m grateful to the great team at Skybound for helping me keep that promise.” 

Hama will be joined by artist Chris Mooneyham and colorist Francesco Segala, with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301 coming to shops in November. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was originally published by Marvel in 1982 and then revived by IDW in 2010.

“I am delighted to be continuing the saga of G.I. Joe with the good folks at Skybound and totally amped to be taking the G.I. Joe team to issue #301 and beyond,” said Hama. “Little did I know back in 1982 that I would be associated with the Real American Hero for over 40 years. My thanks to the whole crew at Skybound for allowing me to continue to chronicle the exploits of characters who have become like a family to me.” 

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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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