San Diego Comic-Con 2026:
Skybound Brings Robert Kirkman, the Energon Universe, Invincible, and The Walking Dead to Comic-Con
There are few creators who have left a bigger mark on modern comics than Friend of the Show, Robert Kirkman.
ROBERT KIRKMAN Sparks the Energon Universe
Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals from San Diego Comic-Con 2025
From reinventing zombie fiction with The Walking Dead to redefining superhero storytelling with Invincible, Kirkman has spent more than two decades proving that creator-owned comics can become cultural phenomena. Now he’s returning to San Diego Comic-Con 2026, and Skybound is bringing an entire universe with him.
Whether you’re an Invincible fan, an Energon Universe devotee, or simply love seeing the biggest names in comics talk shop, Skybound has assembled one of the strongest publishing lineups of the convention.
Robert Kirkman LIVE at SDCC
Thursday, July 23
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Room 6BCF
If you only make one comics panel this Comic-Con, this is a strong contender.
Robert Kirkman takes the stage to discuss everything happening across his ever-expanding creative universe, including:
- Invincible
- Terminal
- Void Rivals
- Transformers
- The future of the Energon Universe
Expect behind the scenes stories, exclusive reveals, and the kind of surprises that have become a Kirkman trademark.
The Energon Universe Keeps Growing
One of the biggest success stories in comics over the past few years has been Skybound’s shared Energon Universe with Hasbro.
The ambitious crossover world connecting Transformers, G.I. JOE, Void Rivals, and now M.A.S.K. has become one of the hottest books in comic shops.
Fans can learn what’s next during:
Transformers & G.I. JOE: The Energon Universe Is Unstoppable
Saturday, July 25
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Room 5AB
Featuring:
- Robert Kirkman
- Joshua Williamson
- Conor Hughes
- Sean Mackiewicz
If you’ve been following the Energon Universe from issue #1, this sounds like a can’t miss panel.
Blind Bags, Chases, and the Psychology of Collecting
Thursday, July 23
3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Room 23ABC
As lifelong comic collectors ourselves, this discussion feels tailor made for Saturday Morning Cereal.
From mystery variants and blind bags to grading, scarcity, and the psychology behind the hunt, the panel explores why collectors chase certain books and how publishers are changing the hobby.
We’ll definitely have plenty to say after this one.
Skybound Brings the SDCC Exclusives and Where to Find Them
If you’re hunting for Invincible, The Walking Dead, or Energon Universe collectibles, here’s where you’ll want to make a stop on the convention floor.
📍 Booth #5341 – Funko
Funko is going all in on Invincible with a different SDCC exclusive variant released each day of the convention in limited quantities. Fans can also pick up the POP! Animation: Invincible – Invincible Mark, available throughout the weekend both at the booth and on Funko.com. Keep in mind that several of the daily variants will be Comic-Con exclusives and will not be available online, making the booth a must-visit for Funko collectors.
📍 Booth #4049 – Jada Toys
Jada Toys launches its SDCC Exclusive Battle Damaged Invincible 1:12 Scale Action Figure beginning on Preview Night. Fans attending the Jada Toys panel can also get an exclusive first look at upcoming Invincible figures before heading to the booth to see the prototypes on display. If you can’t make Comic-Con, remaining exclusives will be available through Jada Next Level beginning Thursday morning.
📍 Booth #2343 – Super7
Super7 continues its growing Invincible lineup with one of the show’s standout exclusives: the Battle Beast ULTIMATES! action figure. They’ll also have exclusive convention apparel, including a Battle Beast T-shirt, a Ryan Ottley sketch art T-shirt, and a Sequid snapback hat.
📍 Booth #4845 – Thrilljoy
Thrilljoy debuts an SDCC Exclusive Allen the Alien PIX! collectible, with lucky attendees having a chance to pull a hyper rare one-of-one chase variant. The booth will also feature Invincible giveaways, contests, and sweepstakes throughout the convention.
📍 Booth #4037 – Galaken
Looking for something different? Galaken introduces Invincible-inspired collectible cosplay eyewear, available in both standard and “bloody” variants, along with exclusive microfiber cleaning cloths featuring characters from the series.
📍 Booth #5613 – UCC / PhatMojo
PhatMojo will offer an SDCC Exclusive Blood Splatter Mini 4 Pack, giving Invincible collectors another limited edition item to track down during the weekend.
Keepsake
While a booth number hasn’t been announced, Keepsake will be offering a full lineup of SDCC exclusive trading cards, mystery boxes, daily exclusives, contests, and giveaways celebrating Invincible, Invincible VS, and The Walking Dead. Keep an eye on their social channels and the Comic-Con floor for availability during the show.
Skybound Heads into the Eisners with Major Nominations
Friday, July 24
San Diego Hilton Bayfront (Invite Only)
Comic-Con isn’t just about what’s coming next. It’s also a time to celebrate the very best comics published over the past year.
Each summer, the comic book industry gathers for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, widely regarded as the highest honor in comics. Often referred to as the Oscars of the comic book industry, the Eisners recognize outstanding achievement across writing, artwork, coloring, publishing, and graphic storytelling.
This year, Skybound heads into the ceremony with several well-deserved nominations spanning both original series and creator recognition.
Skybound Nominations
🏆 Best New Series
Ghost Pepper by Ludo Lullabi
🏆 Best Publication for Teens
Clementine: Book Three by Tillie Walden
The continued recognition of Tillie Walden’s Clementine series speaks to Skybound’s commitment to expanding The Walking Dead universe in thoughtful and emotionally resonant ways, while Ghost Pepper has quickly become one of the publisher’s breakout original titles.
Shared Creator Nominations
Skybound creators are also being recognized across some of the ceremony’s most competitive categories.
🏆 Best Writer
James Tynion IV
Recognized for an extraordinary body of work that includes Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man alongside acclaimed titles from BOOM!, Dark Horse, DSTLRY, and Image Comics.
🏆 Best Coloring
Jordie Bellaire
Receiving another Eisner nomination for work spanning multiple publishers, including Skybound’s G.I. JOE, further cementing Bellaire’s reputation as one of the premier colorists working in comics today.
Why It Matters
One of the things we appreciate most about Skybound is that while it continues to build blockbuster franchises like Invincible, Transformers, G.I. JOE, and The Walking Dead, it never loses sight of the creators who make those worlds possible.
Comic-Con is where fans celebrate what’s next.
The Eisner Awards celebrate the artists, writers, and creators whose work made this year worth celebrating in the first place.
We’ll be cheering Skybound on Friday night.
Why We’re Excited
At Saturday Morning Cereal, we’ve always believed that comics are at their best when great creators are given the freedom to build something extraordinary.
That’s exactly what’s happening at Skybound.
We are the G.I. Joe and Transformers generation. We were the kids who raced home from school every afternoon to catch that incredible one-two punch of giant robots, masked commandos, and Saturday afternoon adventure. Those stories weren’t just entertainment. They became part of our imagination.
To see those same franchises now in the hands of storytellers like Robert Kirkman, Joshua Williamson, and the incredible team at Skybound is something eight-year-old me could never have imagined.
The fact that Transformers, G.I. Joe, Void Rivals, and now M.A.S.K. all exist in one thoughtfully planned shared universe still feels a little surreal.
As Homer Simpson once said…
“It’s like the monkeys took over the lab!”
And somehow…they made it work.
Last year, we had the opportunity to sit down with Robert Kirkman during Comic-Con for a roundtable interview celebrating the expanding Energon Universe, discussing everything from Transformers and G.I. Joe to the future of Skybound’s ambitious shared universe. If you missed it, you can catch that conversation in our special episode:
Episode 146: Robert Kirkman Sparks the Energon Universe
https://mattypradio.com/episode-146-robert-kirkman-sparks-the-energon-universe/
Needless to say, we’ll have a seat for Kirkman’s panel this year.
And you can bet we’ll be keeping an eye on those convention exclusives, too.
We’ll be on the ground all week at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, bringing you the biggest news, exclusive interviews, panel coverage, and behind-the-scenes moments from the convention floor and inside the press rooms. Follow Saturday Morning Cereal and @StayClassySDCC for live updates throughout the show.
