Void Rivals #28: Tribunals of War

Void Rivals #28 continues to escalate the conflict of the Quintesson War, as newfound Energon abilities begin to reshape the battlefield for the citizens of the Sacred Ring. As the tide starts to shift, the Quintessons unveil their secret weapon: the Tribunal, a figure who appears to surpass the other judges for reasons that remain frustratingly vague. Just as momentum seems to favor the heroes, the Tribunal’s arrival abruptly turns the tide once again, leaving the outcome of the conflict as uncertain as it was at the start of this arc.

With each issue, it becomes increasingly clear that Robert Kirkman is writing with the trade in mind. As a result, individual installments rarely feel like complete stories, or even fully formed chapters within a larger narrative. This issue serves as a prime example. It opens by addressing the previous cliffhanger, in which Proximus, now infused with Energon, begins recalling key moments from his past. However, that thread is quickly sidelined in favor of a brief flashback depicting Solila and Proximus as children and the circumstances of their separation. The scene is intriguing, but fleeting. From there, the narrative shifts back to the Aggorians’ battle against the Quintessons and never revisits that earlier thread. While this plotline will likely resurface later, its placement here feels abrupt and disconnected, especially since it has little immediate impact on the issue’s central conflict.

The core Quintesson War storyline also suffers from uneven pacing, with certain beats either glossed over too quickly or left overly ambiguous. For instance, we’re told that the Energon-enhanced abilities granted to the Sacred Ring’s citizens are both powerful and short-lived. That raises an obvious question: why not simply replenish their Energon supply once it fades? Similarly, when the Tribunal enters the fray, the Aggorians concede defeat almost immediately, despite having the upper hand just moments earlier. A bit more context, such as limitations on Energon usage or a cooldown period, would go a long way toward making these developments feel more believable.

The Tribunal himself is another area where the issue falls short. The story establishes him as more powerful than the other Quintessons, but never clearly explains why or how that superiority translates into his dominance on the battlefield. At one point, he deploys “elite” Sharkticons, yet what distinguishes them from their standard counterparts is neither shown nor meaningfully described. In visual storytelling, especially in comics, the art should carry much of the narrative weight. Andrei Bressan delivers on that front, effectively illustrating the Tribunal and his forces overwhelming the Aggorians. However, it ultimately falls to the writing to provide clarity and context for these moments. Instead, readers are left to accept the Tribunal’s superiority at face value, without a sufficient understanding of what truly sets him apart.