Void Rivals issue 18
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 Looks like the Void Rivals are being transformed. | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Image Comics Skybound Entertainment | ||||||||||||
| First published | April 30, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | April 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Robert Kirkman | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Lorenzo De Felici | ||||||||||||
| Colors by | Patricio Delpeche | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Rus Wooton | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Ben Abernathy | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Energon Universe | ||||||||||||
Change is happening all over the Sacred Ring.
Synopsis
[edit]Zalilak kneels before Mistress Vill, withstanding an immense pain as he prepares to walk the Path of Light. His first task at the Caverns of Rall awaits him. As Zalilak affirms his readiness, Vill laments a sadness for all the years his potential was wasted. But now, he will be the ruler Zertonia needs.
In Zertonia, in Zalilak's absence, Proximus has taken over. He orders the Zertonian guard to leave him as he takes his throne. When Ultum asks what he will do now, he replies that he will finally rest.
In Agorria, Dulin has finished telling Darak of the history of their race and the coming of Goliant, as told in their sacred texts, and how only by keeping the Agorrians and Zertonians apart will the beast be kept at bay. Darak is hesitant given what he's seen, but ultimately accepts that the manipulation of each side might have been for the greater good, and father and son share a moment of peace in an otherwise fraught relationship. Dulin says that their next mission must be finding Solila and preventing her from spreading the knowledge she and Darak have acquired.
In the depths of the Sacred Ring, Zerta Trion reactivates Vector Theta. Once again, the supercomputer is irritated at being awoken by its master, but Zerta tells it that in her current state, she cannot complete her mission. She tells the computer to instead bestow upon Solila the power to command the Sacred Ring. The computer does so, transforming Solila into a new armored form. Zerta asks Solila where she will begin her mission, and Solila decides to find Darak. As she thinks of her rival, the floor below her opens up and pulls her inside.
Darak visits Elander in his cell. Darak asks if he knows about what is written in the sacred texts; he does, but dismisses the idea of Goliant as nothing but superstitious nonsense used to keep their people apart. Elander loves Agorria, but can't stand the idea of seeing the Zertonians suffer. He then lets Darak know that before his capture, he received a message from Kanela's Unifiers saying that the Zertonians have been able to construct an Energon well based on the same schematics that Darak brought to Agorria. Later, Darak and Dulin oversee the construction of Agorria's own Energon well. Though Dulin has reservations about the Energon, Darak confirms its benefits. Meanwhile, Hot Rod catches Springer up on what has been happening on Cybertron since he left.
Having not received any communique from Zalilak, Dulin grows concerned about what is happening in Zertonia and decides to send Darak on a recon mission to the other side of the Ring. However, before they can begin this mission, Solila appears, rising from the ground in the center of Dulin's chamber. Darak is relieved to see her, surprised at the transformation she's undergone. He then introduces her to his father. Solila tells Dulin it is an honor, but that they must work quickly to unify their people. Dulin is… less respectful, however, and angrily orders Darak to execute her.
Featured characters
[edit]Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Agorrians | Zertonians | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Quotes
[edit]"It is done. The power is granted. I return now, to the hollow comfort of oblivion."
- —Vector Theta
Notes
[edit]Continuity notes
[edit]- The opening pages flashback to before Zalilak's trial that we glimpsed last issue. Zalilak started down this road in issue #13.
- We first learned about the attempts to unify the Sacred Ring from Kanela way back in issue #5.
- Hot Rod tells Springer about the current state of things on Cybertron and Elita-1’s Energon rationing, which readers have seen in the pages of Transformers.
- Springer also asks if they’ve heard from Optimus Prime and the Ark crew. Hot Rod answers no, since he also left Cybertron before the events of Transformers #8 and isn’t aware of Elita's recent adventures on Earth.
Errors
[edit]- The second sentence of Springer's speech bubble on the last panel of page 16 is missing a period.
Trivia
[edit]- This issue is the last issue of series co-creator Lorenzo De Felici as regular penciler.
Covers (5)
[edit]- Cover A: Solila undergoes transformation, by Lorenzo De Felici.
- Cover B: Solila kneels within the depths of the Sacred Ring, by Michele Rubini & Giovanna Niro.
- Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover, by Conor Hughes.
- Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Skuxxoid, by Steve Beach.
- Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Solila unmasked, by Patricia Martín Samaniego.
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[edit]- Energon Universe hardcovers
- Explore the Energon Universe in the Energon Universe 2025 Special, Transformers #21 G.I. Joe #7 and Void Rivals #19.
- Blood & Thunder
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Silent Missions
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast
Reprints
[edit]- Void Rivals Volume 3: The Key to Vector Theta (June 11, 2025) ISBN 153432691X / ISBN 978-1534328242
- Collects issues #13–18.
- Trade paperback format.
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Volume 3: The Key to Vector Theta – cover art by Lorenzo De Felici
