Got to say after both Venezuela and Iran this step taken today is pretty worrying. I mean I know Raul Castro isn’t even the current leader and I’m sure he’s got his faults like his brother but I’m genuinely always worried about conflict especially when it’s this close to the States.
https://www.npr.org/2026/05/20/g-s1-122383/us-cuba-raul-castro-indictment
May not be seen by everyone because it’s the anime movie Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe.
Set in the main timeline of the nearly 50 year old anime Gundam, the main focus is the struggle of Hathaway Noah who is heading up an organization that seeks to use violent methods to destroy the corrupt earth government so that humans will go out into living in space colonies. There’s a lot more to it then that but it’s the best I got in so many words.
Well a plot point that comes up, one the reasons people are behind Hathaway, is a police force nicknamed the Manhunters who end up working with the military to round up “illegal earthlings”, to the point it causes a riot, and then has them being walked in chains onto a ship to be deported back to space.
They never say it directly but I was sitting in theater going “Is Gundam actually calling out harmful use of military force against immigrants” all while being a big release in theaters. Wasn’t the main plot, that would be Hathaway coming to terms with his feelings for a girl and his past mental anguish as he tries to topple a government…also giant robots.
It’s not too important in comparison to other things going on but it was fascinating to see a big name franchise handle such a topic in 2026.
Sometimes I have random thoughts about things I’m interested in, and this is one of those moments.
With all the talk about Elita, her getting the matrix, and her use of it I got to thinking…do you think it’s possible that the Matrix of Oppression would work the same way?
What I mean is do you think it’s possible for another Decepticon to be able to take the Matrix of Oppression away from Megatron and become the leader of the Decepticons? Or at the very least Megatronus’ minion.
Or do you think it’s completely up to Megatronus and he decides who gets to wield the Matrix of Oppression?
Thoughts?
Not sure if that’s the best title for this but it’s what I got. So I’ve been noticing a talking point concerning issue 32 of Transformers that I’ve been thinking about and I’d like to address; Elita Prime’s use of the Matrix of Leadership.
Now I will stipulate that this is a monthly comic we are currently following and things can change that could alter my opinion. That being said I think we are looking at this wrong.
TLDR for those who won’t fully read what I write, it’s not Matrix corruption or Elita evil; she is just less then a day of having the matrix, she’s no idea how to use it yet, and she’s freaking out over the Autobots being under attack.
So in issue 32 we see Elita struggling with the Matrix and hit it until it works and becomes the Star Saber. For some it’s an indication she’s not fit to lead or her aggression is a negative to the Matrix, which is wholly possible. But I believe it’s because she’s inexperienced and under stress of battle.
Issue 32 is right after issue 30, and I do mean right after. Elita has only just gotten the matrix, went through the space bridge, and is back on cybertron. She’s had the matrix for maybe a few minutes maybe an hour or two depending on how long they were walking on Cybertron. You know what that means? She’s completely new to it and hasn’t used it.
She’s had the matrix not even a full day, how exactly is she supposed to know how it works and what it’s full capabilities are compared to Optimus who had it for years.
But what she does know is it’s important and it’s powerful so when they get surprised by Shockwave and his gang she pulls it out hoping it will do something. But again she’s new so she’s just hoping that this item of legend and power will do something to save the day when she calls on it. But being new it doesn’t work so she gets frustrated.
Her hitting the matrix is the frustration of trying to get something to work, something I’m sure we’ve all felt at one time, mixed with the knowledge that her people that she brought here are currently being beaten and possibly slaughtered and she needs to do something fast. So she smacks it trying to get it to work, which I think is completely understandable.
After a few seconds of hitting the all powerful artifact she’s had for less then a day she manages to hit the right button and summon the star saber through the matrix. Ie she manages to use the Matrix through her own abilities to summon a power that helps her save the autobots from shockwave.
So that’s my argument, I think she’s just in a moment of panic trying to get an artifact to work that she’s only had for not even a day and when it doesn’t just magically save them all when she pulls it out then by basically panicked button mashing she pulls out a sword.
Feel free to disagree in the comments, after all I could be completely wrong if I’m being honest.
After reading the Free Comic Book Day special I am like 95% sure we are getting an Energon universe event or big ol crossover. The 5% is the acknowledgment that this is all indie published so they can do whatever they want and I could be totally wrong.
So for those who don’t want to read a long post, TLDR, a lot of characters and stories from multiple books are intersecting and heading to earth. Transformers met the Joes, Cobra is an off shoot of Cobra-la and enemy to the joes, Cobra-la has run into both the Transformers and Void Rivals, Void Rivals are coming to Earth and their appearance on earth will likely cause the fight given their origins and Energon. Figure later this year or early next year it’ll happen.
Alright now onto to the big picture rundown.
FCBD establishes that with Pythona of Cobra-la our two main leads of Void Rivals are heading to earth with Proximus on their tails after a crash stop on Junkion. Why? We don’t know yet, probably have to read Void Rivals to find out why. But that means a handful of Void Rivals characters are on their way to earth with GI Joe related characters.
Why is that important and leading to a crossover?
Well for starters we know the Race of the Void Rivals characters descend from cybertronians and that they can be powered up on Energon. We also know they are connected to Zerta Trion and Goliant trapped beyond the ring. Odds are once they get to earth and they run into Optimus and the [redacted by Elita Prime] Bots they are going to be very interested to learn of the Ring and what it holds. I’m sure secret government organization Shadow Watch would also be very interested to learn about the Ring.
But slight problem that leads into a big deal: Cobra-la is with the void rivals. The secret serpent race who don’t like tech and have had bad run ins with Megatron and who just gave new Autobot Thundercracker some ptsd. Odds are it leads into some fighting and misunderstandings that these events/crossovers tend to have.
Also odds are we see Proximus fight another transformer, my money is on a sword duel with Shredhead. (*It would be so cool to see Shredhead use his shield to block Energon powered Proximus*)
I’m not done however, because with Cobra-la involved with Transformers and the reveal of an alien techno organic species who can be fed and powered by Energon guess who’s making their own run at grabbing some test subjects for world domination. The Cobra Commander whose fallen out with Cobra-la. And if Cobra shows up guess whose getting a call?
GI Joe, who have autobot Hound aboard and just met Optimus for the first time and were told that if they were needed they’d answer the call. They are definitely answering that call when Optimus asks for help against Cobra.
I’m sure “Hawk” wants to ask the void rival cast about biological Energon consumption, maybe some skin care questions.
Oh and the Decepticons get involved because they hate everybody else. Megatron hates Optimus, he hates Cobra Commander, and he hates Cobra-la. He hasn’t met the Void Rivals cast but I’m sure he’ll hate them too.
So that’s Void Rivals, Transformers, and the GI Joe all having a very good reason to crossover; a fight over the void rival characters origins that relate to cybertron, how they have Energon, how Energon powers them up, and cobra-la’s involvement.
Now I’m sure you’ve noticed I didn’t mention MASK. Well that’s because MASK is so new I kind of assumed it would be too soon for them to be a part of this. Plus are the Joes going to call Trakker? Not likely he’s hard to find and does his own thing. I guess Mayhem could be involved but aside from outdoing the Shadow Watch I can’t see what his motives would be. So in my mind MASK can come if it wants but it’s no big deal if they’re busy.
Let me know what you think, even if it’s to tell me you disagree or think that none of what I said made any sense.