Void Rivals issue 20

	; Looks like the Void Rivals are fighting. Again.
Publisher	Image Comics; Skybound Entertainment
First published	June 25, 2025
Cover date	June 2025
Written by	Robert Kirkman
Art by	Conor Hughes
Colors by	Patricio Delpeche
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editor	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

Darak and Solila have reunited! But knowing what they each know, will they be able to work together and save both the Sacred Ring and their people?

Synopsis

Though Minister Dulin has ordered Darak to kill Solila, Darak suggests simply talking things out. Dulin, obstinate as ever, orders his guards to do what his son will not. Solila, now empowered by Zerta Trion to control the Sacred Ring, makes short work of the guards with her new armor and abilities, though is careful not to kill any. Solila then faces Dulin and removes her helmet, telling him that her quarrel is not with the people of Agorria, only with those who seek to prevent unity, ordering him to yield or die. Dulin refuses to yield, but as Solila prepares to attack, she is blasted by Darak, who pleads with her to stop and talk. More guards enter the chamber and surround Solila as the door locks them all inside. However, once more they prove no match for Solila. The Zertonian asks Darak why he no longer believes in unity, and Darak reveals that Dulin told him about what was in the sacred texts.

Meanwhile, aboard the Skuxxoid Asteroid Base, Skuxxoid Alpha sends the two recently recovered Skuxxoids to “processing,” where his robots examine them. One of the robots is intrigued at the older Skuxxoid's scars, wonder how it hasn't healed by now. The younger Skuxxoid is ordered sent to “priority processing,” causing him to panic, not wanting to be separated from his older counterpart. When Scarred Skuxxoid tries to intervene, he is punished with electroshocks from the robots.

On Junkion, Akronus ponders what he will do with his Royal Guard armor now dead. Wreck-Gar says that his people would be happy to help him, but Akronus is offended at the idea of using mechanical tools.

Back on Agorria, Darak and Dulin reveal what the sacred texts say about the return of Goliant and the destruction of the Sacred Ring, prompting Solila to reveal what she's learned from Zerta firsthand. While Dulin is incredulous about the prospect of freeing the beast, Solila insists that it is necessary to destroy him. However, Darak points out that while freeing Goliant from the black hole might be necessary for Zerta's plan, that plan focuses more on Goliant's destruction than the survival of their people.

Elsewhere, Zalilak communes with Zerta, who tells him to assist Solila in her mission to bring about unity, sensing that she will need his strength to stay the course. He wakes up surrounded by Mistress Vill and the Keepers of the Light. The Keepers outfit Zalilak with new armor, as he is reborn for his new purpose.

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Cobra-La	Agorrians	Zertonians	Others
Akronus (10)	Darak (3) Dulin (4) Guards (5)	Solila (1) Zalilak (12) Vill (13) Keepers of the Light (14)	Red Handroid (2) Blue Handroid (4) Skuxxoid Alpha (6) Scarred Skuxxoid (7) New Skuxxoid (8) Mysterious robots (9) Wreck-Gar (11)

Quotes

"You were on my side-- as committed to unity as I was. What changed, Darak?"
"I TALKED TO HIM! Maybe you could try it?"

—Solila and Darak

Notes

Continuity notes

This issue resumes the main plot left off in issue #18.
Scarred Skuxxoid recounts his ordeal with Pythona from issue #16.
Solila learned the truth of Goliant and the Sacred Ring from Zerta Trion in issue #17, while Darak learned his version from Dulin in issue #18.
Solila references Darak hearing Zerta's voice, which we saw all the way back in issue #2.
Zalilak communes with Zerta the same way that Solila did in issue #10.

Other notes

Energon Experience:
- Character Spotlight: Hot Rod!
- Who's That Bot?: A highlight on the robot hunter that first started trailing the Skuxxoid back in the Void Rivals Energon Universe 2024 Special story.
- Creator Q&A: Which Void Rivals character would be Robert Kirkman's best friend and worst enemy?

Errors

In the Energon Experience section Skuxxoid, Lord Gyconi, Bosch, and Slizardo are referenced as season 3 characters. However, Skuxxoid is the only character who is from season 3. While Slizardo does appear in season 3, he along with the two others first appeared in season 2 episode 31 'The Gambler".

Covers (5)

Cover A: Solila attacking Darak, by Lorenzo De Felici.
Cover B: Skuxxoid, by Conor Hughes.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover, by Martín Morazzo and Patricio Delpeche.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Hot Rod and Darak do some blasting, by Mark Torres.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Darak, by Patricia Martín.
Cover F: Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by Jason Howard and Annalisa Leoni.
Cover G: Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.