The rumors were true. Robert Kirkman is bringing his Energon Universe comics to life as an adult animated series, and it’s officially in the works.
Skybound Entertainment, co-founded by Walking Dead and Invincible creator Kirkman, has partnered with Hasbro Entertainment to develop Energon Universe—an animated crossover series featuring Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals. Joe Henderson (Lucifer) is attached as writer and showrunner. The project will soon be taken to streaming and network buyers.
Adult Animation Like Invincible
Despite featuring traditionally family-friendly Hasbro characters, the Energon Universe series is being developed for adults, in the same vein as Invincible, Kirkman’s other animated hit. According to Deadline, the tone will reflect Kirkman’s gritty storytelling style rather than the Saturday morning cartoon vibe of the original 1980s series.
The decision signals Hasbro’s interest in aging up its properties for mature audiences, while still maintaining its younger-skewing film and toy lines.
A Comic Universe Built For TV
The Energon Universe comics launched in 2023 with Void Rivals, which surprised readers by featuring Jetfire from Transformers. That kicked off a fully connected universe bringing Transformers and G.I. Joe into a shared continuity, overseen by Kirkman through his Skybound imprint.
The line quickly became a hit. Over 7 million units have been sold globally, with Transformers #1, Void Rivals #1, and G.I. Joe #1 all setting sales records. The comics have also earned critical acclaim, with Transformers winning two Edgar Awards in 2024.
A mainline G.I. Joe series launches this November, following the earlier character-focused miniseries.
Joe Henderson Leading the Show
Showrunner Joe Henderson brings experience in adapting comics to screen. He previously led Lucifer to success on Netflix and has worked on White Collar and Almost Human. His involvement suggests the Energon Universe series will focus on tight character arcs and serialized storytelling, rather than just action spectacle.
What About the Live-Action Movies?
While Kirkman’s Energon Universe targets adult animation, Hasbro and Paramount continue to develop live-action projects.
As previously reported, a new Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover movie is supposed to be in the works, and rumors suggest Michael Bay may return in a producing or directing capacity on new projects.
