ROM Special #1 is open to order effective July 21 2026, with street date August 26 2026. The Spaceknight has officially entered the Skybound Energon Universe — and after weeks of blind bag controversy, his debut story is now accessible to anyone who wants it. Source: Skybound / Image Comics official press release (July 21 2026), Comics Beat (July 21 2026).
What happened
In June 2026, Skybound included a surprise ROM #1 comic inside M.A.S.K. #1 blind bags — an undisclosed inclusion that required collectors to purchase a $14.99 blind bag with no guarantee of receiving the ROM issue. The debut generated enormous excitement about ROM's entry into the Energon Universe but also significant frustration about the blind bag format. On July 21 2026, Skybound and Image Comics — in collaboration with Hasbro — announced that ROM Special #1 and M.A.S.K. Origins #1 would both be released as standard open-to-order comics on August 26. Source: Skybound / Image Comics official (July 21 2026), Comics Beat (July 21 2026).
The creative team
Written by Robert Kirkman. Art by Lorenzo De Felici. The same team behind Void Rivals — the series that launched the Energon Universe in 2023 and first brought together Transformers and G.I. Joe. ROM Special #1 reunites Kirkman and De Felici for the Space Knight's first canonical Energon Universe appearance. Source: Skybound official (July 21 2026), LOCG (ROM #1 issue page, June 10 2026).
ROM's history
ROM the Spaceknight was first published by Marvel Comics in December 1979, written by Bill Mantlo with art by Sal Buscema. The series ran for 75 issues until 1986. Now under Hasbro's ownership and Skybound's publishing banner, ROM has entered the most successful Hasbro comic book universe in history — the same universe as Transformers, G.I. Joe, and M.A.S.K. The G.I. Joe crossover with Tomb Raider — which spun out of Lara Croft's surprise appearance in G.I. Joe #330 — shows how aggressively Skybound is expanding this universe. Background: Lara Croft Surprises in G.I. Joe #330 →. Source: Skybound official, LOCG, Wikipedia (ROM the Space Knight).
The covers
ROM Special #1 ships with six covers: A by Lorenzo De Felici (main, $3.99) · B by Christian Ward · C by E.J. Su · D by Nick Bradshaw · E Blank Sketch Cover ($4.99) · F Foil Die-Cut Mask Cover by John Amor ($4.99). Source: Skybound official (July 21 2026), Comic Book Addicts (July 21 2026).
Pre-order now — FOC tonight
FOC for ROM Special #1 is tonight — Monday July 27 at 10:00 pm ET. Full FOC guide: Final Order Cutoff — July 27, 2026 →. Also pre-ordering tonight: G.I. Joe / Tomb Raider #1 (October 7) →. The issue ships August 26 2026. Pre-order all covers at superheroempire.com/collections/pre-orders. In store and shipping across Canada.
Sources: Skybound / Image Comics official press release (July 21 2026) · Comics Beat (July 21 2026) · Comic Book Addicts (July 21 2026) · LOCG (ROM #1 issue page, June 10 2026) · Image Comics official (imagecomics.com, June 10 2026)