‘Energon Universe’ Is the Adult Animated Transformers and G.I. Joe Crossover Fans Have Been Waiting For

Two of the most iconic toy-driven franchises in pop culture history are finally colliding in a major way, and this time it’s not on store shelves or in comic panels. Robert Kirkman and Hasbro are bringing the ‘Energon Universe’ to television as a fully formed adult animated series, and the creative pedigree behind it suggests this could be something genuinely special.

Kirkman’s Skybound Entertainment, the company behind ‘The Walking Dead’ and ‘Invincible’, acquired the comic book publishing rights to both ‘Transformers‘ and ‘G.I. Joe’ in 2021, setting the stage for a shared universe that fans of both properties had barely dared to dream about. The Energon Universe comics launched in 2023 and currently encompass an ongoing ‘Transformers’ series, a line of ‘G.I. Joe’ comics, and the original series ‘Void Rivals’. The result was one of the most talked-about launches in recent comics history.

The first issue of ‘Void Rivals’ debuted in June 2023 and surprised readers with the appearance of Transformers character Jetfire on its final page, kicking off the connected universe and setting sales records alongside ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ #1. The ‘Transformers’ title also took home two Edgar Awards in 2024. Across all titles, the comic line has sold over seven million copies worldwide, a figure that makes the leap to animation feel less like a gamble and more like an inevitability.

According to Deadline, Skybound and Hasbro Entertainment have now officially teamed up to produce ‘Energon Universe’ as an adult animated series, with Joe Henderson of ‘Lucifer’ fame attached to write the adaptation and serve as showrunner. The series is described as an epic crossover of ‘G.I. Joe’, ‘Transformers’, and ‘Void Rivals’ mythology, and is expected to be taken out to buyers shortly. The show is being described as broad, with an adult sensibility in the same vein as Kirkman’s gritty Prime Video hit ‘Invincible’.

The tonal comparison to ‘Invincible‘ is a meaningful one, given that show’s very adult-oriented approach to superhero storytelling, particularly regarding violence. Kirkman has spoken publicly about growing up as a devoted fan of both ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’, so his investment in getting this adaptation right carries real personal weight. The series is currently being shopped around to potential streaming platforms, and given Kirkman’s existing relationship with Prime Video through ‘Invincible’, speculation about where it might land is already running hot among fans online.

When the comic series first launched, Kirkman said it was “a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner,” adding that he had loved these characters for most of his life and saw tremendous potential for crossovers that would enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts.

Both ‘Transformers: ONE’ and the most recent ‘G.I. Joe’ film ‘Snake Eyes’ struggled at the box office, leaving the future of these franchises in live-action somewhat uncertain. An adult animated series built on a comic line that has already proven its audience could be exactly the reset these beloved properties need.

Whether you grew up with the original cartoons or discovered Kirkman’s comics fresh, the question now is which streamer will be bold enough to pick this up first.