After an exciting opening chapter, Void Rivals returns for a slightly slower follow-up issue. Still trapped on a desolate rock in the middle of nowhere, two pilots from two warring worlds, Darak and Solila, must find a way to work together or be doomed forever.
By now, it’s no surprise that Void Rivals is the opening of the new Energon Universe published by Skybound. Issue #1 featured a cameo from a familiar, massive, transforming robot, and issue #2 follows a similar path. However, what might surprise readers is that the most engaging parts of this story aren’t the transforming alien robots or the cameos from other related characters, but rather the new and exciting story of the Argorrians and Zertonians.
Image Comics
While issue doesn’t shy away from its relationship to the Energon Universe, issue #2 might subvert some expectations by keeping Darak and Solila as the main focus.
Our leads, who have recently discovered all they believe in might be a lie, must work together to escape certain doom. The story of an uneasy alliance is always enjoyable, and Kirkman pens some great back-and-forth between Darak and Solila, carving out each one’s unique voice and character. I’ve found myself hoping for a romance plot to develop even more than I want to see big robots punch each other. Void Rivals‘ choice to introduce mega franchise characters as supporting cameos in an original story is an ambitious choice to start a new universe, and it’s paying off.
The issue slows the pace down a fair amount, losing some of the tension that elevated issue #1, but it nonetheless stacks up as a strong follow-up. By the end of this issue, you feel like you’re reaching the end of the tutorial level of a video game. We now know what we need to know about our setting (war, rivalry, Transformers), understand our characters, and get a sense of where we are headed. But, with any good Kirkman story, there is sure to be more than meets the eye.
Image Comics
But for now, our eyes are at least in for a treat as they feast on Lorenzo De Felici’s gorgeous artwork. De Felici is perfectly muted in moments and bursting with life in others. He captures the beauty and darkness of deep space in a way that highlights the isolation of our lead characters. This is all perfectly accented by Mat Lopes’s terrific coloring, which brings the Argorrian and Zertonians civilizations to life.
Void Rivals is a solid follow-up to an exciting first issue. While it might have lost some of the plot momentum, the issue makes clear exactly who this story is about. Void Rivals #2 expands on its all-new world and story, combining it with larger-than-life robots and surprise appearances, creating a worthy follow-up to an exciting opening chapter.
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