Void Rivals #17 The Circle of Life and Death

Zerta Trion’s connection to the great ring is revealed! Solila is entrusted with the task of saving her world, and probably the galaxy, from the dark, all consuming Goliant! It won’t get any easier though. The Agorrians and Zertonians still resist “The Unity” as time has buried the truth of their people. The Fate of so many rest in the hands of so few in Void Rivals #17!

• Written by Robert Kirkman
• Art by Lorenzo De Felici
• Colors by Patricio Delpeche
• Letters by Rus Wooton
• Created by Robert Kirkman & Lorenzo De Felici
• Editor Ben Abernathy
• Logo & Publication Design Andres Juarez
• Production Ashby Florence

Void Rivals and the Circle of Life or Death

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier in the Energon Universe, Void Rivals ups the game! The mystery of the Agorrians and Zertonians as well as their connection to Cybertron becomes so much clearer. Not to spoil to much, but The Sacred Ring in which the two races live was built, with a greater purpose in mind.

Catch up with Void Rivals #16 here!

Amid the fantastic lore revealed by Zerta Trion, Darak faces his fathers wrath. With the ultimate punishment on the table, Darak makes a move to convince his father to share the family secrets with him. The world of Void Rivals is on the brink of being changed forever, and no one really knows what danger is lurking from deep within The Sacred Ring!

Making History in Void Rivals

I really enjoyed Kirkman’s reveal of how these worlds intertwine. It’s been one heck of a journey, and now we finally know why these two races are so screwed up. Family trauma is the worst, right? His play on the way these feuds can start and snowball into something much more concerning is well executed. We’ve all played the “pass it on” game where the truth can become misconstrued over time and that’s exactly what’s happening here. The original purpose of their being, their separation has been twisted. Time has been an enemy to the people Agorria and Zertonia.

Void Rivals and the Art of Color

Lorenzo De Felici also takes his craft to a new level in my opinion. We get some beautiful wide shots, intense close-ups, and dynamic angles that invoke so many emotions. On top of that, his line work is impeccable. The details make for an even more immersive experience.

It’s the end of the Daniel Warren Johnson era of Transformers!

One of Void Rivals underrated strengths has been it’s colors. This world may be separated by history, but it’s also separated by color palettes! The extreme contrasts make for easy transitions. The way Delpeche plays with light in this issue is also phenomenal! Black holes, beam attacks, and shadows bring the images depth and acts as a playground for the eyes!

Overall Grade: 9.5/10

What a fantastic issue! More Transformers lore! A new threat to the galaxy! Character arcs all moving forward! There were so many things to like about this issue. Kirkman takes us on a wild ride in the past and takes things to a complicated place in the present! De Felici produces some of his best panels here. Pacing may have slightly suffered with world building and little action, but the intrigue and revelations were a lot of fun!