ENERGON UNIVERSE SPECIAL 2026 #1

by Dan Watters, Pye Parr (Artist), Robert Kirkman

The biggest year in Energon Universe history is here, with all new stories from the worlds of?TRANSFORMERS,?G.I. JOE, VOID RIVALS?and beyond in this new printing of the FCBD 2026 specialFCBD issue. Join the biggest names in comics for both a perfect jumping on point into the Energon Universe and a can't miss experience for long-time fans.

Genres: Comics

Kindle Edition

Published May 6, 2026

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Neil Pearson · Rating 2 out of 5]

EDIT: Apparently this was a free comic book day in stores, just not online. Add a star if you have a free copy but my point holds for anyone paying for this.

I was expecting a lot more from this issue in terms of surprise and content. I finished the book thinking this should have been a "free comic book day" title as it's essentially promotional material. All of them feel as though they should have been bonus strips in Skybound books for advertising.

Story wise everything is brief. M.A.S.K. has the longest story and perhaps most fun. I still find the artwork tricky in that it's very "chunky" and cartoony as if someone tried to do a Lego MASK book with added detail. Others seem to like the art so I may just need time to adapt to it - at the moment I can at least agree that it's distinct.

The transformers tease was the most curious and had a planet of the apes vibe but if it wasn't for the last page and statement that it would be continued in "transformers" I wouldn't have known it. The art was good though and it bodes well for the main series.

Void Rivals tease works if you are a fan of all things "transformers the movie" although it essentially walks back the initial reveal into a different reveal connecting it to the G.I.joe franchise. I had no idea who the protagonists were and found the sidekick annoying. The art remains very much in the style of the 80s Cybertron set books.

The G.I. Joe segment seems to miss the point entirely and instead fills in a gap regarding a recent revelation in the main series. It doesn't tease anything for the main book that hasn't already been established though. The art is good.

So, I don't really feel any more interested in any of the books than I already had, so I feel it was a missed opportunity.

For anyone considering sampling the Energon books I'd suggest buying one of the regular issues as they are generally all very entertaining. This special may give you the wrong impression and I wouldn't want people to miss out on good comics because of this. For the same price as this, just try one of the books that interests you.

Overall impression = 2/5
Writing = 2/5
Art = 3/5

Will I read the next issue? Yes and no. It hasn't stopped me from reading the books I was already reading, but it also failed to persuade me to read the ones I'm not. M.A.S.K. is new but I have enjoyed their build up and their story here was fun.

Wait for the trade collection? N.A. if these are collected, I suspect they'll be divided into their respective main titles.

Did I need to read previous issues/series? outside of the M.A.S.K. story the G.I.Joe and Void Rivals required knowledge of the series so far.

Will I read previous issues I'm not sure that's the point of the book as it's geared towards you reading the next issues of various books.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the FCBD issue I've looked forward to the most the last 3 years and it didn't fail to deliver this year either. I've been dying to read a MASK comic since last year when they snuck MASK into the last Energon comic. I've been following their appearances in Transformers and GI Joe and I'm all in. It looks like this is going to do justice to the original as well. If you read, Transformers, Void Rivals or GI Joe, you should be happy with those teasers as well.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I am only a Void Rivals and Transformers monthly reader I found this read pretty decent with the inclusion of M.A.S.K. ( which I know or care zero about) and GI Joe (which I tried but wasn’t for me ).
The Transformers section was only four pages. The Void Rivals section featured Proximus landing on Junkion in pursuit of his sister and that will set up an interesting journey in that series. Overall a pretty good FCBD read.

[Xander Haan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Energon Universe 2026 Special (Free Comic Book Day) - 5 / 5 Stars

Now THIS is a free comic book!! I love the energon universe although I’ve read very little of it. I very much intend to continue on it though. Robert Kirkman on Transformers and Void Rivals?? Peak! Joshua Williamson and Dan Watters?! Peak and peak! This universe has a lot going for it.

Onto the next book!

[Craig Schorling · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing for me. This was all material designed to promote the titles in the Energon Universe. When I placed this on my pull list I was thinking it would be line an annual. That might be on me for not reading the finer print. The preview for M.A.S.K. was cool but I was picking that up regardless. This was not worth $3.99.

[Thom Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just HAD to go for the race change, didn't you?!?

So you black washed Matt Trakkar?!? Seriously?!? You can't leave well enough alone. Just HAVE to destroy everything with your forced agenda.

[Joseph Crook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mask story was the only one that did anything for me in this. The others were just fine.

[Andy Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok fire. jason howard on transformers?? we are SO back

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mayhem's made his move. Now I'm making mine. I'm bringing us online."