Energon Universe Goes Manga With First-Ever Variant Cover Lineup

WEPA! The Energon Universe just found another gear. Skybound, Image Comics and Hasbro are bringing manga royalty into the mix this December with the first-ever manga variant covers across the Energon Universe, and the lineup touches everything from M.A.S.K. to Transformers, G.I. Joe and Void Rivals.

Acclaimed manga artists Satoshi Shiki and Manabu Yashiro are supplying four 1:50 incentive variants throughout December 2026. Shiki, known for work including Attack on Titan, tackles M.A.S.K. #7, Transformers #39 and Void Rivals #37, while Tank Chair creator Manabu Yashiro takes on G.I. Joe #29.

The covers arrive during a loaded month for Skybound’s shared Hasbro universe. M.A.S.K. #7 launches a new story arc with Scott Trakker in the middle of the action. Transformers #39 puts Optimus Prime against a surprising opponent. G.I. Joe #29 brings the Night Force fight to a major turning point, while Void Rivals #37 begins the new “Pit of Destruction” arc for Darak and Solila.

Executive Editor Ben Abernathy said the collaboration was especially exciting as a longtime manga reader, and it is easy to see why. The Energon Universe already has a strong visual identity, so inviting Japanese manga artists to reinterpret these characters creates something more interesting than a simple costume swap. This is a chance to see familiar icons filtered through completely different storytelling traditions.

The rollout starts with M.A.S.K. #7 on December 2, followed by Transformers #39 on December 9, G.I. Joe #29 on December 16 and Void Rivals #37 on December 23. Each manga cover appears in the Cover E slot as a 1:50 incentive variant.

The Energon Universe continues to connect Hasbro’s biggest franchises through a shared continuity, with ongoing creative teams including Robert Kirkman, Jason Howard and Mike Spicer on Transformers; Kirkman, Conor Hughes and Patricio Delpeche on Void Rivals; Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana and Lee Loughridge on G.I. Joe; and Dan Watters, Pye Parr and Pierluigi Casolino on M.A.S.K..

Collectors looking for the manga variants should talk to their local comic shop early, because all four are 1:50 incentives and will roll out weekly throughout December.