LET'S TALK: Valiant

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:44 am

I'm loving Valiant comics enough lately to give them their own "Let's Talk" thread......

Have at it, you know you love them too (or you should)

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:44 am

Press release on Harbinger Wars, it will be a Harbinger/Bloodshot crossover with an added mini-series:

HARBINGER WARS #1 – BLOODSHOT and HARBINGER Go Head-to-Head in VALIANT's First Family Crossover!

This April, the children are our future. HARBINGER WARS is coming!

Valiant is proud to announce HARBINGER WARS #1 (of 4) – the FIRST ISSUE of a four-issue limited series that will set off the first-ever family crossover for the all-new Valiant Universe! Then, the Harbinger Wars saga continues with new jumping-on points in BLOODSHOT #10 and HARBINGER #11 – the beginning of brand new, standalone story arcs that will cover the collateral damage of the Valiant Universe's first full-scale conflict.

For decades, Toyo Harada's Harbinger Foundation and the government's own Project Rising Spirit have been waging a secret war over the rarest resource known to man – the unwieldy superhuman telekinetics known as harbingers. Over the years, they've each collected a small army of these empowered children to inflict their agendas on the world. But now the reformed harbinger hunter known as Bloodshot needs to atone for his crimes – and he's going to start by releasing two dozen of the most volatile harbingers from their PRS prison and into the world.

Bloodshot wants to lead them. Toyo Harada wants to control them. And, Peter Stanchek, a teenage renegade with immense powers of his own, wants to give them free rein. But the runaway children of PRS have their own ideas for the future…and, as the body count rises, the Valiant Universe will realize that power this immense cannot be contained. It must be exercised. Who will survive the Harbinger Wars?

"HARBINGER WARS #1 will mark a pivotal moment for the Valiant Universe as three of our heaviest hitters go guns-blazing into a conflict unlike any they've ever faced before," said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons. "Joshua and Duane have crafted a character-driven story that will make the Valiant Universe a very dangerous place for a hero in 2013."

"The Harbinger and Bloodshot ongoing series will push full steam ahead, documenting the massive repercussions of the very first clash between Bloodshot and the Harbinger renegades," added Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. "We're designing each component to stand on its own, and we couldn't be prouder of the three creative teams that will be making Harbinger Wars a crossover unlike anything else on the stands."

Beginning in HARBINGER WARS #1 (of 4) by Joshua Dysart (Harbinger), Duane Swiercyznski (Bloodshot) and Clayton Henry (Archer & Armstrong), Harbinger Wars will encompass 12 issues of all-out action by some of comics' premier talents:

•HARBINGER WARS #1-4 by Joshua Dysart, Duane Swierczynski & Clayton Henry
•BLOODSHOT #10-13 by Duane Swierczynski & Barry Kitson
•HARBINGER #11-14 by Joshua Dysart & Khari Evans

This April, the entwined destinies of Bloodshot, Peter Stanchek and Toyo Harada will finally collide…and the most powerful forces in Valiant Universe will be drawn into a battle without sides, without rules and without mercy. Do not miss the first shot fired in HARBINGER WARS #1 (of 4) – coming this April from Valiant!

HARBINGER WARS #1 (of 4) – ON SALE IN APRIL!
Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA
Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

BLOODSHOT #10 – ON SALE IN APRIL!
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by MICO SUAYAN
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

HARBINGER #11 – ON SALE IN APRIL!
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art & Cover by KHARI EVANS
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

Paul Nolan · Post by **Paul Nolan** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 12:24 pm

X-O, Harbinger and Bloodshot have been a pleasure to read, and Shadowman has had a strong start (I need to catch up on A & A).

at the moment I think they're arguably the best 'hero' books on the market.

abysslord · Post by **abysslord** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 1:03 pm

I'm enjoying all of them, and really enjoyed Harbinger #6 ... that was a great issue.

I think X-O Manowar is doing a good job telling a story that isn't new. For example, BOOM's Soldier Zero was a little hit/miss and went out with a dud, but so far X-O is going strong with this type of story.

Shadowman we'll have to wait and see but #1 was good enough for me to continue. I guess my favorite right now would be Harbinger, with Bloodshot or A&A as 2nd, then X-O, then Shadowman.

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:03 pm

barry kitson joins the valiant family! that may get me on board bloodshot.

HipHopHead · Post by **HipHopHead** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 4:44 pm

Valiant Comics was created in the early 1990s by team led by Jim Shooter. They created a small cohesive comic universe based upon a few license properties (Solar, Turok and Magnus Robot Fighter), as well as slew of their own creaations (Archer & Armstrong, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman and X-O Manowar to name a few).

As much as I would have love to have seen the new Valiant Entertainment take those licenced comic characters, they have breathed new life into original Valiant characters since the relaunch.

Harbinger 1 - 5 provides all you need to understand the characters involved in this title for new readers, while old readers (such as I) read and enjoy a new take on Pete Stanchek, Kris, Zephyr, Eggbreakers etc.

X-O Manowar - if you love Gladiator, Spartcus (Starz version), 300...well give a warrior from that time alien weaponry (a living suit of armor) and desire for revenge. Aric of Dacia is the man.

Archer & Armstrong: a naive youth with a 5000 year old immortal. oh by the way, did I mention they only meet because the youth is sent to KILL the immortal. Let the action and adventure begin

Bloodshot: a man without memory of who he is, provided nanonite computers in his bloodstream which allows him to perform a peak human capacity in everything and allows him to control other computers.

Shadowman: Jack Boniface born to inherit the power of the Shadowman. Our fans down by the Bayou kno bout da ShadowMan.

We still have the Eternal Warrior, H.A.R.D. Corps (I hope), Geomancer to name a few coming, if not in their own titles, definitely in the books above.

The current Valiant Entertainment have assembled creative teams which are true to the original Valiant, great writing and very impressive art (imo). I am in for the long haul...again

the1captain · Post by **the1captain** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:54 pm

I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying the new Valiant. First time in a long time I'm interested in the whole shared universe. I bought a ton of Valiant dirt cheap shortly after the boom in the 90's.

But it's not nostalgia that brought me back to Valiant. They are telling interesting stories that involve a different mix of characters. There is a variety in these 5 books you don't see in the big 2 superhero universes.

These books might also be the first to break my strict "nothing over 1.99" buying off Comixology rule. Although I took advantage of their black friday sale and loaded up.

the1captain · Post by **the1captain** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 5:59 pm

http://onlythevaliant.com/

Good podcast about all things Valiant.

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:35 pm

the1captain wrote:http://onlythevaliant.com/

Good podcast about all things Valiant.

I join you in recommending OnlyTheValiant. Good stuff!

BobBretall · Post by **BobBretall** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:55 pm

Archer & Armstrong #1 is Free on Comixology today:
http://www.comixology.com/Archer-Armstr ... JUN121322/

Perry · Post by **Perry** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:23 pm

Not sure why, but ARCHER & ARMSTRONG is the only Valiant title that I didn't like enough to add to my pull. The writing was fine, the art was more than fine, everything about the book was fine (other than maybe the price, but I am more lenient on the smaller publishers), yet it just didn't resonate with me. Love every other title that company is putting out, however.

Saying that, I hope everyone gives that free issue a shot. You may really like it.

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 3:42 pm

Perry wrote:Not sure why, but ARCHER & ARMSTRONG is the only Valiant title that I didn't like enough to add to my pull. The writing was fine, the art was more than fine, everything about the book was fine (other than maybe the price, but I am more lenient on the smaller publishers), yet it just didn't resonate with me. Love every other title that company is putting out, however.

Saying that, I hope everyone gives that free issue a shot. You may really like it.

currently my favorite valiant book. first arc is great

the1captain · Post by **the1captain** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:18 pm

A & A is my favourite as well. Don't know why, but Archer interests me. He never did back in the 90's. I wait a month so I can get the dollar off at Comixology. But that is killing me because the newest issue features my favourite Valiant character from the 90's, Eternal Warrior and I want to read that now! lol

Perry · Post by **Perry** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 8:03 pm

Trev wrote:
Perry wrote:Not sure why, but ARCHER & ARMSTRONG is the only Valiant title that I didn't like enough to add to my pull. The writing was fine, the art was more than fine, everything about the book was fine (other than maybe the price, but I am more lenient on the smaller publishers), yet it just didn't resonate with me. Love every other title that company is putting out, however.

Saying that, I hope everyone gives that free issue a shot. You may really like it.

currently my favorite valiant book. first arc is great

Is a favorite for many. I am honestly confused as to why I don't like it.

boshuda · Post by **boshuda** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:46 am

the1captain wrote:A & A is my favourite as well. Don't know why, but Archer interests me. He never did back in the 90's. I wait a month so I can get the dollar off at Comixology. But that is killing me because the newest issue features my favourite Valiant character from the 90's, Eternal Warrior and I want to read that now! lol

Issue #1 is free for the 12 days of X-Mas sale on Comixology