Void Rivals Energon Universe Special story

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Looks like the Void Rivals are letting someone else hog the spotlight.
Publisher	Image Comics Skybound Entertainment
First published	May 4, 2024
Written by	Robert Kirkman
Art by	Lorenzo De Felici
Colors by	Matheus Lopes
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Continuity	Energon Universe

Two and a half aliens have a meet up.

Synopsis

After a galaxy-spanning adventure, Skuxxoid at long last makes his way to his companion Slizardo... only to find the alien leveling a blaster at him when he arrives! After a moment has passed to allow Slizardo to calm down and lower his weapon, Skuxxoid relays that the ship he had been tracking for its alloy was taken by the Quintessons after they discovered it was Zertonian. Hearing that name also captures Slizardo's intrigue, but before anything else can be said the meeting is interrupted by a third party... Hot Rod, who immediately demands to know about the ship.

The presence of a Cybertronian enrages Skuxxoid, rounding on Slizardo, who simply remarks that he works with anybody who pays, and the Autobot pays well. Hot Rod has been tracking a missing ally for some time and demands to know if Skuxxoid is going to be a help or hindrance on that quest. Skuxxoid quickly capitulates and hands over all the data he's gotten thus far, from where he found the ship to where its former owners flew off after giving it up. Hot Rod tells the duo to stay out of trouble before taking his leave, and the Skuxxoid decides he's had enough adventure for the time being and heads home. And unseen by all, a robotic looking figure reports the meeting to its master.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

Notes

Continuity notes

• This story follows up on the first arc of Void Rivals, with the Skuxxoid having taken the makeshift ship in question from Darak and Solila back in issue #3 and getting it taken from him by the Quintessons in issue #6.
• Once again the Zertonian aspect of Darak and Solila's ship is what draws the attention of Slizardo and Hot Rod, just as it did for the Quintessons back in issue #5.
• The ally Hot Rod mentions isn't named, but is almost definitely Springer, who is set to make an appearance in the upcoming issue #9. He could also be searching for Jetfire, who was dug up and reactivated by Darak and Solila all the way back in the first issue.

Transformers references

• Slizardo finally leaps from the original cartoon to join his partner, having first appeared in "The Gambler" before joining up with the Skuxxoid in the third season episode "Grimlock's New Brain".