Hey there folks, your Autobot loving boy Crooker back again to review the latest issue of Void Rivals from Skybound! This is issue #14, done by the usual talents of Robert Kirkman writing and Lorenzo De Felici with Patricio Delpeche handling pencils and colors, respectively. This is my second time reviewing this book, and considering the issue’s main Transformers connection, you can expect me to stick around for the foreseeable future! Let’s get into things.
This issues sees some strong characterization and growth for the leaders of our two factions in this book, Zalilak from Zerta and Dulin from Agorria. They’re characters that have been impeding our dynamic duo main cast (and Handroid) pretty much from the get go, but this issue sees them both starting to adopt a new perspective that allows us to see them from a new angle. While they’re certainly no saints, they both have a moment of self reflection on what their mistakes have been. And it’s not a cliche “we weren’t EVIL enough!” kind of conclusion one may expect from a series borrowing so heavily from the tropes of ’80s Saturday morning toy cartoons either; the growth feels reasonable and earned. Dulin having a genuine moment of recognition over the resentment he’s gained for his own flesh and blood son and apologizing for that, mirrored by Zalilak having to cast aside his own beliefs for another’s faith, shine a slightly brighter light on them both, even if they are still a giant scumbags repressing society and all that. That’s important to note, while Zalilak and Dulin both have some growth here, they’re still not “the good guys.”
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Meanwhile, our titular rivals of the void Darak and Solila share a brief psychic conversation that highlights why the pair are so fun: the bickering. They’re very Star Warsian in their interactions, the snippy back and forth being amusing but not hurtful. They pick at each other but like old friends or partners, so the dynamic doesn’t feel stained with awkward or bitter undertones.
On that note, we (and by we, I mean me) FINALLY get to see good ol’ HOT ROD interact with the main characters! Oh glory be thy name, Robert Kirkman. You do spoil me. Seriously though, as ol’ Rodimus’s #1 fan, I’m beyond pleased to see him crawl out of the B-plot and firmly into the A. It is kind of funny that his personality is pretty damn similar to Darak’s, both very clear examples of the age-old Luke Skywalker archetype. So for me, this is basically an early Christmas present. Any day I get some new Hot Rod content to munch on is a good day really, but considering I didn’t expect him to factor into this universe for MANY years when it started, his background plot in this book has been my constant source of joy.
Lorenzo De Felici and Patricio Delpeche are doing great work as always on this one (well Hot Rod looks kinda bald in one panel due to missing head details, but that’s fine I can forgive them for this slight against my special boy), rending the two warring societies in bright orange lights and deep blue shadows respectively. I really enjoy the visual aesthetics of this book, the alien clothing and technology design again feeling almost pulled from Star Wars, with a couple hints of fantasy elements added to the sci-fi like robes and cloaks. The dogfight in this issue is also pulling a lot from that Lucas starship battle playbook, which looks damn kinetic and fun.
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Another all around great issue of Void Rivals. As I said before, it’s one of those books that (much like Kirkman’s seminal Invincible) is better looked at in retrospect rather than piece by piece, where the parts of the whole haven’t fully clicked together yet. It’s a very “for the trade” kinda book, but that doesn’t mean this individual entries are lacking for anything. It’s well paced, well drawn, keeps you coming back for more. What more could you ask?
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