Skybound Entertainment arrives at New York Comic Con with much to brag about. The company broke a Kickstarter comics funding record in April with The Transformers Compendium and plans to ship the project’s second volume in October. And following Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona’s Eisner-winning run on Transformers, Skybound founder (and the Walking Dead creator) Robert Kirkman will take over the series with artist Dan Mora in October’s Transformers #25. Kirkman spoke with PW about what’s keeping the flagship franchise of Skybound’s interconnected Hasbro setting, the Energon Universe, going strong.
You’ve hinted at some surprises in Transformers #25. Do you get anxious before reveals?
In the past I’ve done things that are risky, like, Ooh, is the audience going to like this? That can get a little nerve-wracking. With Transformers #25, we’re doing cool stuff, but not anything like killing a beloved character. I’ll spoil that—we’re not killing anybody in this issue. There are a few character introductions, and one I think people will be excited about.
Has Transformers’ place in the Energon line changed with its success?
We always knew Transformers was going to be the flagship. But the things Daniel was able to accomplish in his 24-issue run definitely took us by surprise and really energized what we’re doing. It’s allowed us to take more risks with the Hasbro properties, and expanded what we think we can do with the line. We’re going to be able to build around that in some interesting ways we hadn’t quite anticipated.
What do you think was key to your success with The Transformers Compendium?
The popularity of these characters is definitely a huge factor. But I think Skybound has really built a fan base in the Kickstarter community and established itself as reliable. That, coupled with the brand, is why you’ve seen the explosion with both the G.I. Joe and Transformers compendiums. We have a very robust team, led by Alex Antone, that does a tremendous amount of work behind the scenes. When we’re in the middle of a campaign, it’s one of the most hectic times at Skybound.
What’s in store for the Energon Universe next?
Going into NYCC, it’s all about Transformers #25. We love that the fan base is just as engaged three years in as they were when we started. IDW had these licenses for almost 20 years. We’re hopeful that the Energon universe will have a multidecade run, if not become a permanent fixture of the comic book industry at large.
