We’re now in the zone between New York Comic Con and next year’s annual meeting for the comics retail trade organization ComicsPRO, which means things are likely to be a bit more quiet for the next while, at least as far as announcements go. You know what that means, then. I get to cover all the weird stuff I want! Wooo! So, let’s kick off this week’s edition by covering an artist going next level on an anniversary cover that has to be seen to be believed.

Russell Dauterman, Drawing Every Avenger Ever

The upcoming Avengers #34 isn’t just #34. No, in classic single issue comic book fashion, it’s also #800, and you know what we love to do with big round numbers in comics: Make it a very big deal! Marvel is doing that in a number of ways. It will be a giant-sized issue! It’s going to have a big story in it from the book’s primary creative team in Jed MacKay and Farid Karami! Creators from the past from the series will return! That’s pretty typical stuff, though. What we don’t typically get is artist Russell Dauterman trying to nuke his wrist for the love of the game.

That’s what Dauterman did with the above image, as the artist has created connecting covers for issues #34 through #36 (#800 through #802) that showcase, well, every Avenger ever, as far as I can tell. It’s a monster piece, and the type of thing that is difficult to do while still bringing real personality to it. That’s why it’s good they hired the right person for the job. Dauterman can’t help but bring a character to life in the right way, even if it’s part of a process of drawing hundreds of characters at the same time. It’s a great piece, and the type of thing that I am sure will a) sell a lot of comics and b) have a lot of fans nitpicking the choices and placements and costumes. You know what I say to that? I don’t care! You killed it, Russell! Nice work!

Also, Dauterman is part of a four guest episode of Off Panel next week, and it actually includes a discussion about this piece. It’s fun, and digs into Dauterman’s influences when drawing these covers.

The Energon Universe, Expanding (But It’s Not Where You Thinnnk!)

It was only a matter of time: The Energon Universe is getting bigger. But it’s not in the form of another comic. What’s that??? The news is so light this week the top two points is being infiltrated by…

Adaptation news???

I’m afraid so, but this is a pretty big deal about a pretty big thing. Not satisfied in making just a new G.I. Joe series happen or just a Transformers show work, it seems Hasbro and Skybound are teaming up to take one of the biggest micro lines in comics to television, or whatever you’d call the streaming environment these days. That’s right: There’s going to be an Energon Universe show. Not only that, but this adaptation of the universe starring G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Void Rivals will be “an adult animated series” in the vein of the Invincible series, which makes sense given how successful that’s been and who the audience for these older properties likely is in reality (adults!).

It’s going to be showrun by Joe Henderson, a vet of comic adaptations with Lucifer, even if very few would describe that as an overly faithful take on the concept (it was fun, though!). Henderson’s a known commodity in the comic world as well, having written Skyward and Shadecraft over at Image Comics in the past. Where will this show actually air? No clue. It’s just being taken out into the “TV marketplace” at this point, looking for someone to give it a home. But this isn’t exactly a surprise. An adaptation was a lock from the day the line was announced, even if the flavor it’s resulting in — the aforementioned “adult animated series” — is a bit unexpected. But it’s worked in the past and it’s a good fit here, so why not?

There’s plenty more to come with this news, but hopefully this generates some eyes for these comics because the Energon Universe is actually quite fun. This sounds like it will be too.