Everything We Know About Robert Kirkman’s Energon Universe – Is It Connected to Invincible?

Robert Kirkman has been a celebrated name in the superhero space for quite some time. Be it Invincible, Ultimate X-Men, Marvel Zombies, or Irredeemable Ant-Man, Kirkman has become synonymous with some of the best-known comics in the superhero genre, and even outside of it with his massively successful Walking Dead franchise.

However, Invincible, with its various spin-offs, is not the only superhero franchise that Kirkman is in control of. The Energon Universe, which features legendary Hasbro properties like Transformers, G.I Joe, and the newly added M.A.S.K, has been prospering under the creative leadership of Robert Kirkman in a shared universe of its own. Distinct from other mainstream continuities that feature the characters, The Energon Universe is its own shared continuity with the mentioned Hasbro properties, along with an original IP that was created by Kirkman. However, it is not Invincible.

Void Rivals Is The Only Original Property In The Energon Universe

Void Rivals || Credit: Image Comics

Void Rivals is a Robert Kirkman property that was the first entity in what would become the Energon Universe. A wholly distinct setting from Invincible and all its spin-offs, Void Rivals revolves around two pilots who crash-land on the same planet, with both of them belonging to separate races, having to work together to figure out what exactly is going on with the conflict that is being brewed between their factions.

Cybertronians were introduced in this story from the get-go when it first entered publication in 2023. There wasn’t much in the marketing material about Void Rivals being part of a shared universe. All fans knew that it was a new comic that was being written by Robert Kirkman, with art from Lorenzo De Felici, who collaborated with Kirkman before on Oblivion Song.

Transformers, G.I.Joe, and M.A.S.K Are Eyeing Their First R-Rated Animated Run

The Energon Universe takes a lot of properties from Hasbro and thrusts them to make a universe that is very reminiscent of the Hasbro Comic Books Universe. Transformers and G.I. Joe have shared universes before, but this is a different take altogether. The Transformers title, originally launched by Daniel Warren Johnson and now expanded by Robert Kirkman and Dan Mora, has been receiving a lot of praise from readers. DC Studios and Skybound recently greenlit an adult-animated series showrun by Joe Henderson (via Deadline).

While G.I. Joe is well-established, M.A.S.K. makes its official debut in Energon Universe Special (May 2, 2026). Robert Kirkman has already said that they want to keep the workload of the universe manageable, so while there is always the possibility of more franchises being added into the mix, the current titles are all fans are going to get for a while.

Not All HCBU Properties Have Been Ported To The EU Just Yet

Megatron and Optimus Prime in the IDW-verse || Credit IDW

Multiple critics and fans alike have hailed the Energon Universe as a worthy successor to the Hasbro Comic Book Universe, which had a slew of Hasbro properties share a single universe. This included the likes of Transformers and G.I. Joe, but also other properties like Rom the Space Knight, Micronauts, Action Man, Visionaries, and M.A.S.K. Three of these franchises have already appeared in the Energon Universe. The HCBU was published under IDW.

Robert Kirkman has already stated that future installments of the shared universe could see other action franchises (via ScreenRant) make their way into the Universe. Now, it is unlikely that the IDW shared universe is going to be rebooted into the Energon Universe wholesale. There is a slew of other properties that can make their way into IP, given the breadth of properties that Hasbro has under its belt.

Properties like Battle Beasts, Inhumanoids, and perhaps even iterations of the Power Rangers might find their way into the shared continuity of the story. While not confirmed by Kirkman or the creative crew, there is also a possibility that the Energon Universe can spawn some more original titles like Void Rivals.

Is Terminal Set In The Energon Or Invincible Universe?

Terminal || Credit: Image Comics

Robert Kirkman has a lot of irons in the fire, and one of them is his return to the superhero genre with an all-star team, called Terminal, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The premise of the comic is very different from what fans have seen in Invincible, Tech Jacket, and The Astonishing Wolf-Man. However, while fans anticipate its release in July of 2026, little has been made clear about the property. However, the synopsis very strongly suggests that the story is not going to be part of the Invincible or Energon Universes, being its own thing, with its own history and mythology.

Kirkman returns to the writer’s seat with Joe Casey. Art on the comic will be helmed by Andy Kubert, David Finch, and Arthur Adams. The comic is being touted as the “Most Violent and Unpredictable Comic of the Year.” Kirkman expressed excitement about the team that has come together to put this project on the map.

Which other Hasbro property would you like to see join the Energon Universe? Let us know in the comments!