Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay Points! It’s the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!

For this entry, the Energon Universe franchise lands back in comic shops with a brand new chapter. Carving its own space on the shared G.I. Joe/Transformers Universe for Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics is VOID RIVALS. The series that started the movement is in the midst of its’ new arc with a dangerous new player entering the game.

VOID RIVALS #8 BY Robert Kirkman, Lorenzo De Felici, Patricio Delpeche and Rus Wooton have Darak and Solila running in the Wastelands of Zertonia. Little do they know that’s the least of their problems.

Let’s take a closer look at how things play out.

***VOID RIVALS #8*** BY ***Robert Kirkman***, ***Lorenzo De Felici**, Patricio Delpeche and*** ***Rus Wooton*** ***(Skybound Entertainment/Image Comics)***

*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***

Zertonia has not been too kind to Darak and Solila. The unlikely pair are on the run. Premier Zalilak is willing to cross a line to stop them from uniting the colonies. Zalilak has unleashed Proximus to eliminate the pair.

This chapter begins with a flashback to a young Solila. She’s preparing her brother Polada for combat. With youthful emotions, Polada struggles with what’s coming. An impromptu fight breaks out between the both. Suddenly time jumps to the present.

Solila stands out in a gaze. Darak asks what’s going on. Solila brushes it off, claiming there’s no way Zalilak would dare send the person she was thinking of.

As the pair moves forward, Proximus speeds in pursuit. The duo stops to rest thinking that a possible destination could be in reach. This is until Proximus makes a bold entrance to detour their path.

With a fight to the death looming, has luck finally run out? Readers watch as the action picks up. Its resolution leaves a notable impact. None will be greater as the final page. The parting image indicates plans may have gravely changed from the original course.

Proximus makes a grand entrance for this chapter via Kirkman’s plot. The mysterious hunter comes across as a driven, merciless soul. This is in stark contrast to the more light-hearted Darak. Solila remains the standout character in this series with her insight and reactions to their threat.

The flashback sequences elude to more as the issue goes forward. It only amplifies the outcome of the encounter between the three. Kirkman lays into the battle in the latter portion of the chapter. This is an easy win with readers as the moment carries a certain feel to the fight. The fallout changes up the original path which is another bonus of an already engaging saga.

De Felici and company make a splash with introducing Proximus with a near full one-page panel. This is followed up by an excellent two-page spread of Proximus making the first strike. Wooden’s lettering amplifies the attack tenfold.

Once the dust settles there, De Felici and Delpeche give readers some great fighting panels. Even to the moments of a helmet slowly breaking, the art team leaves nothing to chance with this encounter. The final page is a full page vision that will be haunting some readers until the next chapter drops. It’s a perfect mic drop moment with big indications.

FINAL POINT: 8.8

Making an instant impact, Proximus enters the Void Rivals saga with an action packed debut. Kirkman sets the stage with thrilling writing. The art carries the heavyweight fight feel with every action image. With a show-stopping final page, this will be a book fans will be buzzing about.

Hit me up on ODPHpod social media and let me know your thoughts on Void Rivals #8. Thanks for reading.