The Energon Universe Levels Up: Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals Get Adult Animated Series
Robert Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment is teaming with Hasbro to ignite the Energon Universe as an adult animated series, uniting Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals on screen.
If you liked the way Invincible blew the doors off what an animated comic adaptation can be, heads up: Robert Kirkman is aiming that energy at Transformers and G.I. Joe. Skybound Entertainment is teaming with Hasbro Entertainment to turn the Energon Universe — the crossover comic line that pulls together Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals — into an adult animated series. Yes, adult. Not your Saturday morning reruns.
So, what is this exactly?
Skybound and Hasbro are packaging an Energon Universe series right now and taking it out to buyers. Translation: it doesn’t have a home yet, but they’re shopping it to streamers and networks as we speak. Joe Henderson (Lucifer) is writing the adaptation and serving as showrunner, which is a strong get if you want character-forward pulp with momentum.
Expect the tone to be... not kid-safe
Transformers and G.I. Joe have a reputation for being all-ages, but the Energon Universe comics are not playing that game. They’re gnarly, dramatic, and people drop like flies. Think blood, profanity, and geopolitical scheming — much closer to Invincible’s level of intensity than anything you grew up with on basic cable.
How the comics set the stage
Skybound launched the Energon Universe in 2023 with Void Rivals, a sci-fi series that ended its very first issue with a deep-cut cameo from the Autobot Jetfire. That surprise was the fuse for a full line: new Transformers and G.I. Joe books followed fast. Daniel Warren Johnson (Murder Falcon, Do a Powerbomb) is writing Transformers, Joshua Williamson is handling G.I. Joe, and Kirkman himself writes Void Rivals.
The gamble paid off. Across all the titles, the Energon Universe has moved more than 7 million issues worldwide, making it one of Hasbro’s top-selling comic lines ever. No wonder they want the screen version.
Meanwhile, Hasbro’s screen slate is stacked
- Clue series with Sony
- Live-action Dungeons & Dragons series titled Forgotten Realms at Netflix
- Monopoly feature film with LuckyChap and Lionsgate
- Unscripted Monopoly series at Netflix
- Magic: The Gathering live-action film and TV universe with Legendary, plus an animated series at Netflix
- Live-action Power Rangers TV series with 20th Century TV for Disney+
- My Little Pony live-action film at Amazon MGM Studios
- Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble game shows renewed for Season 2 at The CW
The read
This is a smart swing. There’s room for the family-friendly versions and the grown-up remix, and the comics have already proven the appetite is there. The only real question is where it lands and how hard they push the rating once it does.
Are you into an R-leaning take on Transformers and G.I. Joe, or would you rather they keep the carnage out of Cybertron and Cobra? I’m curious where you land.