The Two ‘80s Sci-Fis Men Love Most Are Being Combined Into One Universe

Recently, Skybound Entertainment (which is headed by The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman) teamed with Hasbro to create an Energon Universe cartoon show featuring characters from both Transformers and G.I. Joe. Interestingly, this is being designed as a mature cartoon rather than something aimed at younger viewers.

As someone who loves both franchises and has been absolutely devouring the Energon Universe of comics, I’m here to tell you that this upcoming cartoon is likely to be the best thing to happen to either Transformers or G.I. Joe in years.

A New Take On an Old Idea

These two franchises have been interconnected since the ‘80s: they had multiple team-ups in Marvel Comics, for example, and Cobra Commander has a fun cameo in the original Transformers cartoon. But the more recent Energon Universe of comics joins these franchises (along with Kirkman’s Void Rivals) together more cohesively by explaining how Cobra utilizes Energon to create weapons more powerful than anything the Earth has ever seen. They do so with information and technology stolen from Megatron, putting these villains on a collision course with the Joes, who are formed to stop them, and the Decepticons, who are set on nothing less than world domination.

Now, we are set to get a proper Energon Universe TV show, one that is set to reinvigorate both franchises. This is especially important for G.I. Joe, a franchise that has never successfully reinvented itself for a new generation. Sure, we got a couple of passable ensemble movies and a by-the-numbers Snake Eyes spinoff, but these days, the only people reading Joe comics and collecting toys are middle-aged men like myself.

Transformers has fared better, of course, with a series of successful live-action films and several shows, including polished series like Transformers Prime and the War for Cybertron trilogy. But the live-action films have more misses than hits, and most of the modern shows (like Cyberverse and EarthSpark) are aimed at children. Making matters worse, the box office failure of Transformers One (the best Transformers film ever made) has caused Hasbro to pull funding for any future movies based on this franchise.

Nostalgia: Transform And Roll Out!

Call me Optimist Prime if you must, but this is why I’m so excited for the Energon Universe show: it has the potential to put both Transformers and GI. Joe back on the map in a big way. Their shared comic universe has been a big hit so far, and an animated team-up seems like it might resonate with an even larger audience. After all, this is an era where shared universes like the MCU now completely dominate the entertainment landscape, so putting two of the most recognizable brands in the world together in a slick new cartoon is a real no-brainer.

Additionally, it’s a wise call to aim this Energon Universe show at older fans: Robert Kirkman’s own Invincible series has proven there is a major market for adult animation, especially ones that adapt established genre properties. In this case, fans of both Transformers and especially G.I. Joe are mostly older, so it only makes sense to create a new show catering to more mature sensibilities. With any luck, it will be similar in tone to G.I. Joe: Resolute, the adult-oriented web series created by comics legend Warren Ellis.

The Energon Universe Has the Touch

Finally, I’m hyped for an Energon Universe series because the comics it adapts have taken some major creative risks, most of which have paid off. These are comics where Baroness joins the Joes, for example, and where Optimus Prime replaces a lost limb with Megatron’s cannon arm. Done well, the show could be the best of both worlds: an animated reunion of the hottest ‘80s properties and a revival that takes chances and breathes new life into each franchise.

Aside from the fact that Lucifer’s Joe Henderson will be the showrunner, we don’t know much about Energon Universe. Based on its comic pedigree (Robert Kirkman struck lightning twice with Invincible and The Walking Dead) and the quality of the issues it will be based on, I’m confident this upcoming series is going to be the best thing to ever happen to either franchise.

To this ’80s kid with shelves overflowing with both Joes and Transformers toys, Kirkman clearly knows what he’s doing with these characters. And knowing, well, that’s half the battle right there!