Hot Rod and the Quintessons will change Void Rivals forever (Skybound Energon Universe | #14)

[@zoltanperei4789]

Here me out! What if a Cybertronian ship crashlands on Earth next to Cobra-la. Then Golobulus "brainwashes" the crew and covers them with organic matter and voilà, we got the Pretender monsters who are fighting for Cobra-la.

[@Moonbase3]

Oh man, I really love this idea!

[@isaiahkayode6526]

@@Moonbase3I wonder do you think will see Jem and the holograms & M.A.S.K appear in the Energon Universe.

[@DJ-vk4rp]

​@@isaiahkayode6526mask seems likely.

[@Cobra-Commander83]

There's actually a further Parallel when it comes to our 'Rivals' and the Autobot's present in the series so far. Darak and Hot Rod not only share similar colour pallets, they also share similar optimistic personalities. Solila and Springer also share the same colour scheme, while also being warriors from their respective races taking on a role that sees them helping their respective people (Solila asteroid gathering, and Springer studying the Energon production of the Sacred Ring).

[@Moonbase3]

Excellent observations! You've definitely given me some things to mull over!

[@Cirex9000]

You bringing up that Hot Rod's paint job would fit right in on Agorria just made me realize something; Both of the two main Autobots featuring in this series, Hot Rod and Springer, have paint jobs that fit in with the two sides of the Sacred Ring. There's Hot Rod in his bright red, orange, and yellow, and then Springer with his green.

[@Moonbase3]

Very true! Interesting choice on the part of the creative team....

[@TheGilesy31]

On this thread; I’d also like to point out that the jewels in the forehead of our protagonists also match the head crest designs of their respective auto bots - triangle on Springer is a little less prominent but the jewel shape on Darak is almost a direct match of Hot Rod’s head crest

[@Moonbase3]

Nice catch!!! I didn't notice that about the head crests...

[@darkroom0716]

The Cobra La exosuit description sounds an awful lot like a good candidate for Pretender Shells...

[@Moonbase3]

You're not wrong...!

[@bluesoystercultist7164]

We start with pretender Shells, soon enough we'll see the dawn of the Beast Wars once again

[@zetaTF]

Holy moly, that's genius!

[@SwizzPrime]

Darak and Hot Rod needs to be a buddy cop movie 100% Great video as always 🐐

[@Moonbase3]

Thanks, dude! And I agree, I need this Hot Rod / Darak team up!

[@mcpics4448]

So many moving part and who knows which dominoes will fall first

[@adriannamorton1984]

I personally think we should get Void Rivals Blokees. Since they do the whole mix and match thing you could give Darrak’s handroid to Solila! Great video as always!

[@Moonbase3]

Great idea! I still need to track down some regular Blokees, but Void Rivals Blokees would make getting them much more urgent. 😂

[@chukozkorrea714]

Thanks for another great video

[@CarlsCollection]

See, this is why your videos are a must watch after I read an issue. You really drive these subtleties home! I made the connection that his ship had Hot Rod’s color scheme, but didn’t take that thought a step further and think about how that might play into the story! Nothing is a coincidence and I simply took it as a coincidence. Doh. Also, with Skuxxoid, aren’t his eyes usually drawn as solid red? There are clear black circles in that close up panel…maybe signifying the cycle is beginning again. Definitely supports the outside interference theory. Man, I’m so glad I’m now caught up and can enjoy this on a month to month “what does it all mean” way!

[@Moonbase3]

Thanks, as always, for the kind words! And nice catch on Skuxxoid's eyes! I had to go flip through my tpbs to confirm, but you're right. The first page of the Energon Universe Special starts with a close-up where you could kind of argue that he has pupils, but they're very faint to the point of it being highly debatable. So yeah, solid red before... Hmm...!

[@mr.end-game711]

If the crystal that got lodged in the Cobra-La ship is a Death Crystal then maybe we could see the comic debut of Shard(the helicopter Armorizer), would be nice to see Skybound give characterization for the new figures that Hasbro has made in Legacy Evolution and United. Dulin is proving an interesting chess master, I want to see how he is going to handle the "new" Proximus. The idea Quintessons playing in the background fit their character, they will build their resources and stick at the moment of their choosing. I see the biggest threats in the Energon Universe being Goliant(especially if there are Unicron), The Quintessons, Cobra Commander and Megatron. The only saving grace being that non them like each other.

[@Moonbase3]

None of them like each other...for now! ;) It could be cool to see an alliance between some of these disparate groups.

[@fishpop]

7:05 Springer's face/head in general kinda looks like Megatron

[@Moonbase3]

They do share certain design similarities!

[@ComicsyCafe]

Return of the Rod Pod!!

[@Moonbase3]

😂 It's true!!!

[@wayigotitfigured9800]

Defintely a much welcomed action-packed issue. Still not sure what is going on with Skuxxoid, but that's not a bad thing. I wonder if tragedy is going to strike when Hot Rod goes to meet Springer.

[@Moonbase3]

Interesting thought - I assumed it would be a happy reunion, but something going amiss would be a nice curveball for my expectations!

[@IronGraham]

The last two Arcee now feel more like character set up and now we can play with them and see them really challenges.

[@IronGraham]

Repeating panels and pages is a Kirkland staple

[@Moonbase3]

Oh, that's cool. I didn't know that! I need to read more of his work and become more familiar with his style. I read two of the Walking Dead compendiums, but that was quite a while back.

[@TheBananaMan971]

I think Skuxxoid has been through a messy divorce, and the "wife and kids" just left unceremoniously, accidentally leaving behing poor Skuxxoid.

[@Raptermonster24]

Isn't wheelie even more on brand for the colour scheme so would that maybe imply wheelie may appear?

[@Moonbase3]

I dunno, you kinda have to go back to early art or obscure toys to find Wheelie with yellow in his color scheme. So he's missing some of the colors, whereas Hot Rod has them all, especially when comparing to Darak's ship. That being said, I actually wouldn't mind seeing Wheelie in the comic. :)

[@fishpop]

Ooh i didn't know the new issue was out

[@DanielGreen07]

Prime and co could really do with Hotrod and Springer right now

[@Moonbase3]

They really could

[@justinsullivan8250]

When are we gonna get a Decepticon as a major antagonist in Void Rivals?

[@Cirex9000]

We don't need a Decepticon; I think Void Rivals is pretty much covered in terms of antagonists between the Quintessons, Pythona and her crew, and, of course, the secret cabal determined to kee pthe Sacred Ring seperated and at each others' throats.

[@justinsullivan8250]

@ I just think having a Decepticon in Void Rivals would be interesting because we have had a lot of Autobots in the series so far.

[@Moonbase3]

It's a good point about there already being a lot of antagonists...but I still would like to see a Decepticon or three thrown into the mix at some point!

[@justinsullivan8250]

@@Moonbase3 I never said I hated the current rogues gallery. I just think that maybe a few Decepticons should be thrown into the mix. Like maybe Octane or Bludgeon.

[@Moonbase3]

For sure, that came across on your end, sorry if it didn't on mine. I agree with you. :) Octane or Bludgeon would be awesome!

[@MatthewLoh-ru1mw]

I'm leaning on that green crystal being Chaos Death crystals from the episode of the same name

[@NoahBridgesSonicLord]

Do you think Hot Rod can transform into an Agorrian transportation?

[@NoahBridgesSonicLord]

9:11 If Handroids exist, I want the blue one.

[@Moonbase3]

It's possible he could become an Agorrian vehicle, I think...although they do have a lot of flying vehicles, so... Blue Handroid is very stylish!

[@MatthewLoh-ru1mw]

Most likely. He even has the same color scheme as Darak's jump jet used here

[@lou626]

This Skybound universe is getting too complicated dude..

[@Moonbase3]

How so?

[@lou626]

@Moonbase3 i am a classic fan who doesnt read too often , and theres like...4 diferent franchises in one Big universe and it's too confusing to me. But i'm glad they're doing it , tbh

[@MatthewLoh-ru1mw]

No, it's not. It's THREE titles at the moment! Void rivals here, thr main Transformers book, and now the newly debited Energon Universe GI Joe book

[@MatthewLoh-ru1mw]

​@@lou626nope, there's only THREE. Transformers, GI Joe and Void rivals

[@lou626]

@@MatthewLoh-ru1mw oh , okay! Thank you