Void Rivals #35: A Connected Universe

Void Rivals #35 picks up with the arrival of Skuxxoid, who quickly comes to blows with Predacron. In the letters pages at the end of the issue, writer Robert Kirkman describes this chapter as an example of the ideal vision that served as the impetus behind the Energon Universe as a whole: a complete intersection of the various elements that make up this shared universe. Despite the ups and downs along the journey to get here, there is no doubt that Kirkman achieves this vision with this issue, delivering a chapter that makes the universe feel as interconnected as it was always intended to be.

While this issue is the penultimate chapter of the current story arc, it ultimately feels like a celebration of everything that has come before. Kirkman even makes several direct references to events unfolding elsewhere in the Energon Universe, weaving them into the story through the perspective of characters introduced in Void Rivals. As a fan of this shared universe and the series in particular, it feels incredibly rewarding to reach this point, understand the references, and watch everything come together in a way that fulfills the initial promise of this ambitious project. By the end of the issue, the story comes full circle, returning its focus to the series’ central characters and reminding readers who the real stars are. At the same time, Kirkman ensures that the broader universe’s influence remains meaningful rather than allowing these crossover elements to overshadow the story that Void Rivals has been telling from the beginning.

Skuxxoid is one character who has largely been relegated to the background, receiving his own issues as palate cleansers between major developments while remaining mostly removed from the central events affecting Darak and Solila. Seeing his return teased and then fulfilled in this issue brings everything full circle, making those earlier chapters feel all the more appropriate and worthwhile. Rather than serving as a character who exists solely for comic relief, Skuxxoid has become an essential part of the larger narrative. His significant inclusion in this arc feels like a celebration of the character’s journey and a reminder that even the seemingly smaller stories can have a meaningful role in the grander scheme of things. It is a satisfying payoff that rewards readers who have followed his adventures along the way.

One of the issue’s major reunions sees Arkonus return to his Cobra-La family after seemingly dying many issues ago. A significant element of this story arc has been its exploration of the cultural differences between the various characters, with particular attention paid to Cobra-La’s politics, traditions, and inner workings. Those elements are represented especially well here, revealing more about the aspects of Cobra-La’s culture that hold great significance for its inhabitants but remain unfamiliar to readers. These details help make the setting feel like a living, breathing society rather than simply another faction within the larger conflict. This is world-building at its best, particularly for a series like Void Rivals, which juggles so many characters, factions, and competing interests. By grounding these larger developments in personal relationships and cultural identity, Kirkman continues to give the Energon Universe a sense of depth that extends well beyond its most recognizable characters.

Ultimately, Void Rivals #35 feels like a culmination of the creative ambitions that have driven the Energon Universe from the beginning. By bringing seemingly disconnected threads together while still prioritizing the characters at the heart of the series, Kirkman delivers an issue that celebrates the larger universe without losing sight of what makes Void Rivals special. With the story arc approaching its conclusion, this chapter serves as a satisfying reminder of just how much these interconnected stories have grown and how rewarding that larger vision can be when all the pieces finally come together.