Void Rivals issue 5

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Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment}}
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First published	October 25, 2023}}
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Cover date	October 2023}}
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Written by	Robert Kirkman}}
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Art by	Lorenzo De Felici}}
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Colors by	Patricio Delpeche}}
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Letters by	Rus Wooton}}
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Editors	Sean Mackiewicz & Jonathan Manning}}
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Imprisoned by the Zertonians, Darak and Solila each find themselves aided by some unexpected allies.

Synopsis

Having both been imprisoned by Premier Zalilak, Darak asks Solila what will happen to them next. The dejected Zertonian tells her rival that it's likely both will be killed, but because Darak has information about his people, he'll probably be tortured for said intel before then. As if on cue, three Zertonian guards enter. Darak tries to resist, but the guards simply sedate him and drag him away. Mistress Vill then enters, alongside two other Keepers of the Light, much to Solila's shock. Solila was once a member of the Keepers before turning her back on the order to become a warrior, but Vill assures her that she will always be a Keeper, for it is Zerta's will. Vill tells Solila that she is about to embark on a journey where no Zertonian has ventured and the Keepers are there to prepare her and provide her with a unique item of power that will be essential.

Meanwhile, unable to make a profit off the Quintesson Prosecutor, Skuxxoid has opted to sell him back to the Quintesson Judge on Quintessa. The Judge is less than happy to be extorted in such a manner and threatens to feed Skuxxoid to the Sharkticons, but Skuxxoid reassures them that he doesn't want to damage their existing financial relationship. The Judge then asks what happened to the Quintesson Scorpia the Prosecutor had been transporting, prompting the Prosecutor to reveal it was destroyed aboard the Rockeroid. The Judge orders the Prosecutor be taken away in disgrace and that Skuxxoid be prepared for trial. As a group of Allicons converge on him, Skuxxoid pleads with the Judge, offering to give them all his ships, including one made of rare Agorrian and Zertonian metals. The Judge orders the Allicons to stop, the mention of Zertonia getting their attention.

Three days later, Darak is still being tortured, but the only information he offers are his name, station, and a few glib remarks, earning him another electric shock from his interrogator. The interrogator leaves Darak to dwell on whether or not he'll survive the next round. Finally alone, Darak looks to Handroid for a way out, but finds that the gauntlet has been removed from his hand. As Darak starts to give in to despair, a figure with glowing red eyes emerges from the shadows: a young child, holding Darak's clothes, helmet, and Handroid. The child, Ultum, frees Darak and takes him to meet a group of Zertonian resistance fighters called the Unifiers. Their leader, Kanela, tells him that they are looking to end the conflict and reunite the two halves of the Sacred Ring. Darak tells them that he's not doing anything without Solila. Kanela questions his judgement, realizing that Darak has no idea who Solila really is.

Back in her cell, Solila stares at the object Mistress Vill gave her: a green key, decorated with the circular symbol of the Agorrians and the triangular symbol of the Zertonians.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
{{#if: ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}

{{#if:| {{#if:|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" | }}{{#if:|

Autobots }}{{#if:\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:\|	Humans }}{{#if:* Darak (2)\|	Agorrians }}{{#if:* Solila (1) Zertonian guards (4) Vill (5) Keepers of the Light (6) Zertonian interrogator (11) Ultum (12) Kanela (13) Unifiers (14)\|	Zertonians }}{{#if:* Handroid (3) Quintesson Judge (7) Skuxxoid (8) Quintesson Prosecutor (9) Allicons (10)\|	Others }}
}}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:* Darak (2)\|	Darak (2) }}{{#if:* Solila (1) Zertonian guards (4) Vill (5) Keepers of the Light (6) Zertonian interrogator (11) Ultum (12) Kanela (13) Unifiers (14)\|	Solila (1) Zertonian guards (4) Vill (5) Keepers of the Light (6) Zertonian interrogator (11) Ultum (12) Kanela (13) Unifiers (14) }}{{#if:* Handroid (3) Quintesson Judge (7) Skuxxoid (8) Quintesson Prosecutor (9) Allicons (10)\|	Handroid (3) Quintesson Judge (7) Skuxxoid (8) Quintesson Prosecutor (9) Allicons (10) }}

Quotes

"I am your child no longer, witch. I turned my back on you zealots long ago. I am a warrior. I am a pilot. I no longer belong to your order."
"You have become what we have allowed you to become. Your path has been ordained and you walk it as designed."

—Solila and Vill

"I don't mean to seem ungrateful, but... I don't suppose you could carry me, could you?"
"I'm afraid not, sir."
"Okay... I may not be able to manage more than a crawl."
"The way out of here is a tight squeeze. All you can do is crawl."

—Darak and Ultum

Notes

Continuity notes

Zerta was first mentioned by Solila back in issue #2. Solila believed it was the voice of Zerta Darak heard in his vision of the Sacred Ring's history.
The scorpion-like creature that Darak and Solila fought in issue #3 is here revealed to be a Quintesson Scorpia.
Before this issue, it was unclear if Handroid is an artificial replacement for Darak's hand or not. Now it's revealed to be a removable gauntlet.

Transformers references

Having already met the Quintesson Prosecutor and heard about them from Shockwave, this issue takes readers to the planet Quintessa and introduces the iconic Quintesson Judge and Allicons, all of which originate from The Transformers: The Movie.
The Quintesson Judge mentions the planet Dominus, Hasbro's English name for the planet Master from the Japanese sequel to the Generation 1 cartoon, The Headmasters.

Other trivia

This issue contains a three-page preview of Duke #1.

Covers (13)

Cover A: Darak in chains as Ultum looms in the shadows, by Lorenzo De Felici.
Cover B: Darak in chains, by Dike Ruan and Giovanna Niro.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Darak and Solila unmasked, by Mateus Manhanini.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): The Keepers of the Light and Zalilak, by Karen S. Darboe.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): The Quintesson Judge, by Jae Lee and June Chung.
Cover F (The Walking Dead Anniversary Team Up): Darak and Solila fight zombies with Rick Grimes and Michonne, by Conor Hughes.
Second Printing Variant Cover A: Wisdom, by Jason Howard.
Second Printing Variant Cover B: Death, by Jason Howard.
Second Printing Variant Cover C: War, by Jason Howard.
Second Printing Variant Cover D: Judgement, by Jason Howard.
Second Printing Variant Cover E: Wrath, by Jason Howard.
Third Printing Variant Cover: by Flaviano Armentaro.

Reprints

Void Rivals Volume 1: More Than Meets The Eye (February 21, 2024) ISBN 153439818X / ISBN 978-1534398184
- Collects issues #1–6.
- Trade paperback format.

Volume 1: More Than Meets The Eye – cover art by Lorenzo De Felici

External links

References

Void Rivals issue 5

Contents

Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes