Skybound’s Energon Universe now has a hard number behind it. The shared Hasbro comics line (Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals and the newer M.A.S.K.) has sold more than 7.6 million units since it launched in 2023, according to figures Skybound gave The Hollywood Reporter in an exclusive published Friday, September 25. The book that started the Transformers side of the line, Daniel Warren Johnson’s Transformers #1, has now sold more than 350,000 copies over 14 printings, and a 15th printing is being prepared.
Publishers almost never share sales figures in this much detail. ICv2 picked up the numbers Sunday and called them “impressive, even among the high-flying comic sales of 2026.”
What the 7.6 million covers
THR describes the 7.6 million as everything the Energon Universe has sold since launch. The line began with Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals #1 in 2023, and it takes in Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, M.A.S.K. and the occasional spinoff miniseries. ICv2 reads the total as every Energon Universe issue and printing combined. For comparison, Skybound’s Arune Singh told retailers at ComicsPRO in February that the line had sold six million copies, Bleeding Cool reported at the time.
Transformers is the biggest piece. Skybound says the series alone has sold 3.5 million units, about 47 percent of the line’s total. ICv2 says that figure covers every issue of the series plus its 67 reprints. On the bookstore side, THR reports that the Transformers collected editions are now Skybound’s second best-selling series after Invincible.
Transformers #1 keeps going back to press
Transformers #1 hit shops in October 2023. Per Skybound’s numbers, the first printing sold 170,000 copies, and another 180,000 have sold across the 13 printings since then, for a total of more than 350,000. Neither THR nor ICv2 gives a release date or cover artist for the 15th printing.
The last trip back to press was recent. The 14th printing, published by Skybound and Image Comics, came out September 16 with a new cover by Jan Bazaldua and Fares Maese, according to Bleeding Cool.
“Three years in and that book is still being reprinted. It’s a testament to Daniel Warren Johnson, who wrote and drew that issue,” Kirkman told THR.
The monthly numbers
Skybound also gave THR sales for individual issues:
- Transformers #36, the latest issue, which Image lists as released September 9: 66,245 units
- G.I. Joe #25: 52,462 units
- Transformers #25, Kirkman’s first issue as the series’ writer: 127,811 units
- M.A.S.K. #1, released in June: 206,203 units
Kirkman says those numbers show the line bucking the usual sales pattern. “We are an upward trajectory, which as you know, is very rare in comics,” he told THR. “You usually get a big launch number and then sales slowly drift. That’s why you see so many relaunches in the comic book industry.”
He also said that “sales are not only holding but actually creeping up in some places” in the line’s third year. Both Kirkman and Hasbro had worried the shared-universe idea might not find an audience.
Built for the long haul
Kirkman told THR he sees room for much more. “I look at the Energon Universe as something that can grow into something like the Marvel Universe or like the DC Universe. It’s as robust,” he said. “We are making plans for the long haul for this. The individual sales are great, but I want to make sure that we have something exciting to introduce in year five and year 10.”
The next issue of the flagship, Transformers #37, is listed by Image for October 14.
