Valiant's back, baby!

Magus · 05-10-2012, 09:30 PM

Valiant comics, that is! If you were unaware, the line is being rebooted, with new issues of X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, and Archer & Armstrong planned (and HUGE SPOILER, I can pretty much confirm there will be relaunch of Eternal Warrior after seeing a cameo in X-O Manowar...). Just read the new X-O Manowar #1 today. I liked it, loved it, want more of it. I'm glad to see there's a really well thought-out, planned-out schedule for future releases. There was nothing more annoying than waiting six months for the second issue of Turok: Son of Stone...and then seeing it cancelled.

Shouldn't have to worry about that with Manowar. 48,000 copies pre-ordered. Not too shabby.

Also this is a real live reboot. If you never read the old Valiant comics, you won't have to worry--the storyline is fresh and new (while still seeming pretty similar to the old one, but with some major differences).

You may have some questions, of course.

What is Valiant?

Valiant Entertainment was a short-lived but massively popular comic book company that existed in prime form in the early '90s. Known for particular realism, grittiness, and often bloody plots, it also had incredibly well-developed heroes. Valiant characters were famous for being racially, ethnically, and gender-diverse and often dealing with modern-day, current issues such as racism, urban decay, corporate corruption, marital problems, prejudice,the military-industrial complex, sexism, and various other topics.

Not that the comics weren't amazing sci-fi fun. No shortage of psychic powers, alien invasions, and robotic menaces. The comics were also well known for their incredibly detailed and in-depth universe, with all the comics having intricately intertwined plotlines that spanned centuries (all the way from Aric of Dacia, the Visigoth warrior who encounters the alien X-O Manowar armor in the 5th century A.D., to Magnus of North Am, freedom fighter against the robots who hold humans as slaves in the far future, and beyond).

Valiant Comics were part of the boom-and-bust comics bubble of the early '90s. They were the originators of the six variant covers, foil covers, supposed future collectibles, etc. They can be partly blamed for the great comics crash of the late '90s. Because they had so rapidly risen to be the third most popular comics company, selling the most comics except for the big two (DC and Marvel), when they were bought by Acclaim, the games company, had all their properties massively altered and rebooted, and had most of their emphasis placed upon being proper tie-ins for Acclaim games...shit went downhill fast. Acclaim crashed and burned as well, having basically ruined Valiant Comics in two years and apparently failing to move enough copies of the Shadowman N64 video game (the new Shadowman who is a New Orleans voodoo priest crossing over to Deadside to battle demons, I mean. If you knew anything about the original Shadowman you would grasp what a big change that is, btw, but trust me, it was a massive change). Of course, Valiant comics were also victims of their own hubris--such examples as printing 1,750,000 copies of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 and only selling a fraction of them (believe it or not, even though he's possibly the only one of the heroes you've heard of if you are just a video game fan, Turok was easily the least popular of the heroes and was brought into the Valiant universe fairly late [Turok was originally a Gold Key character from the '60s but was purchased by Valiant and reinvented]).

What is X-O Manowar?

Aric of Dacia is a Visigoth warrior, battling against the hordes of Rome in the 5th century A.D. During a night raid against what he thinks are Roman mercenaries, he realizes he is actually battling a strange race of spider beasts who possess highly advanced technology. He and his men are captured, transported to an alien planet, and enslaved, along with various other humans (a Mayan can be seen, as well as a Ghanan). But he eventually escapes and encounters an alien sphere known as Shanhara--a highly-advanced suit of power armor that the Vine have yet been unable to use. Every Vine warrior who attempts to use the armor is rejected by it and slain. You can probably figure out what happens--Aric is chosen by the armor, binds with it, and blasts his way out of alien captivity.

Unfortunately, when Aric returns to Earth...it's modern day. His people have been dead for centuries, and in the place of the Roman Empire exists a new empire known as the United States of America that makes the Romans look like cavemen. And thus begins the story of X-O Manowar.

What are some of those other comics you were talking about?

The best way to explain Harbinger is it's a lot like X-Men. A group of young people are found to possess various powers (energy transfer, cellular acceleration and vibration, psychic abilities, electromagnetism, energy absorption and growth, etc.). They Harbingers of the next stage of human evolution. Toyo Tarada, one of the most powerful Harbingers known, possessing the whole slew of Harbinger powers, is also an incredibly rich businessman. He recruits this group of young people into his army of "Eggbreakers"--with the goal of overthrowing the governments of the world and placing himself as the ruler of nations. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.

Bloodshot is a mercenary and soldier of fortune who becomes infected with nanites. He's similar to the Punisher, but the nanites allow him to interact with computer machines, and render him nearly immortal. He's almost impossible to kill. BUT he has no memory of his former life, and has to piece together his past as he infiltrates the deepest recesses of the government.

Archer & Armstrong are an odd pairing of a fat, loud-mouthed, slovenly immortal (Armstrong) who has lived for centuries, and his butler and chauffer, a cross-bow toting warrior monk named Archer who is the epitome of politeness. This is a lighter comic book, mostly involving the misadventures of the two as they run from cult assassins who want to capture or murder Armstrong.

What's the launch schedule?

X-O Manowar launched just this past week. Issue 2 hits next month, along with the first issue of Harbinger. The next month, the next issues in those series, and the first issue of Bloodshot, and so on, to the next month with Archer & Armstrong. After that--who knows series may return? Shadowman? Ninjak? Or something else?

How about something to whet my interest?

SPOILER IMAGES

SUPER SPOILER--LAST PANEL OF THE COMIC BOOK!

If I've made you even moderately excited or interested, I'm happy.

tacticslion · 05-13-2012, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magus

If I've made you ~~even moderately~~ excited or interested, I'm happy.

Then you may be happy.

Magus · 05-13-2012, 09:43 PM

Success!

I think a lack of hubris will go a long way towards these becoming long-lasting series. There was certainly something at the core of the originals that I think will be able to be made into something with a lot more permanence than the original runs.

05-13-2012, 09:43 PM	#3
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	Success! I think a lack of hubris will go a long way towards these becoming long-lasting series. There was certainly something at the core of the originals that I think will be able to be made into something with a lot more permanence than the original runs. __________________ The Valiant Review

05-10-2012, 09:30 PM	#1
Magus Archer and Armstrong vs. the World Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 7,164	Valiant's back, baby! Valiant comics, that is! If you were unaware, the line is being rebooted, with new issues of X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, and Archer & Armstrong planned (and HUGE SPOILER, I can pretty much confirm there will be relaunch of Eternal Warrior after seeing a cameo in X-O Manowar...). Just read the new X-O Manowar #1 today. I liked it, loved it, want more of it. I'm glad to see there's a really well thought-out, planned-out schedule for future releases. There was nothing more annoying than waiting six months for the second issue of Turok: Son of Stone...and then seeing it cancelled. Shouldn't have to worry about that with Manowar. 48,000 copies pre-ordered. Not too shabby. Also this is a real live reboot. If you never read the old Valiant comics, you won't have to worry--the storyline is fresh and new (while still seeming pretty similar to the old one, but with some major differences). You may have some questions, of course. What is Valiant? Valiant Entertainment was a short-lived but massively popular comic book company that existed in prime form in the early '90s. Known for particular realism, grittiness, and often bloody plots, it also had incredibly well-developed heroes. Valiant characters were famous for being racially, ethnically, and gender-diverse and often dealing with modern-day, current issues such as racism, urban decay, corporate corruption, marital problems, prejudice,the military-industrial complex, sexism, and various other topics. Not that the comics weren't amazing sci-fi fun. No shortage of psychic powers, alien invasions, and robotic menaces. The comics were also well known for their incredibly detailed and in-depth universe, with all the comics having intricately intertwined plotlines that spanned centuries (all the way from Aric of Dacia, the Visigoth warrior who encounters the alien X-O Manowar armor in the 5th century A.D., to Magnus of North Am, freedom fighter against the robots who hold humans as slaves in the far future, and beyond). Valiant Comics were part of the boom-and-bust comics bubble of the early '90s. They were the originators of the six variant covers, foil covers, supposed future collectibles, etc. They can be partly blamed for the great comics crash of the late '90s. Because they had so rapidly risen to be the third most popular comics company, selling the most comics except for the big two (DC and Marvel), when they were bought by Acclaim, the games company, had all their properties massively altered and rebooted, and had most of their emphasis placed upon being proper tie-ins for Acclaim games...shit went downhill fast. Acclaim crashed and burned as well, having basically ruined Valiant Comics in two years and apparently failing to move enough copies of the Shadowman N64 video game (the new Shadowman who is a New Orleans voodoo priest crossing over to Deadside to battle demons, I mean. If you knew anything about the original Shadowman you would grasp what a big change that is, btw, but trust me, it was a massive change). Of course, Valiant comics were also victims of their own hubris--such examples as printing 1,750,000 copies of Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 and only selling a fraction of them (believe it or not, even though he's possibly the only one of the heroes you've heard of if you are just a video game fan, Turok was easily the least popular of the heroes and was brought into the Valiant universe fairly late [Turok was originally a Gold Key character from the '60s but was purchased by Valiant and reinvented]). What is X-O Manowar? Aric of Dacia is a Visigoth warrior, battling against the hordes of Rome in the 5th century A.D. During a night raid against what he thinks are Roman mercenaries, he realizes he is actually battling a strange race of spider beasts who possess highly advanced technology. He and his men are captured, transported to an alien planet, and enslaved, along with various other humans (a Mayan can be seen, as well as a Ghanan). But he eventually escapes and encounters an alien sphere known as Shanhara--a highly-advanced suit of power armor that the Vine have yet been unable to use. Every Vine warrior who attempts to use the armor is rejected by it and slain. You can probably figure out what happens--Aric is chosen by the armor, binds with it, and blasts his way out of alien captivity. Unfortunately, when Aric returns to Earth...it's modern day. His people have been dead for centuries, and in the place of the Roman Empire exists a new empire known as the United States of America that makes the Romans look like cavemen. And thus begins the story of X-O Manowar. What are some of those other comics you were talking about? The best way to explain Harbinger is it's a lot like X-Men. A group of young people are found to possess various powers (energy transfer, cellular acceleration and vibration, psychic abilities, electromagnetism, energy absorption and growth, etc.). They Harbingers of the next stage of human evolution. Toyo Tarada, one of the most powerful Harbingers known, possessing the whole slew of Harbinger powers, is also an incredibly rich businessman. He recruits this group of young people into his army of "Eggbreakers"--with the goal of overthrowing the governments of the world and placing himself as the ruler of nations. You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Bloodshot is a mercenary and soldier of fortune who becomes infected with nanites. He's similar to the Punisher, but the nanites allow him to interact with computer machines, and render him nearly immortal. He's almost impossible to kill. BUT he has no memory of his former life, and has to piece together his past as he infiltrates the deepest recesses of the government. Archer & Armstrong are an odd pairing of a fat, loud-mouthed, slovenly immortal (Armstrong) who has lived for centuries, and his butler and chauffer, a cross-bow toting warrior monk named Archer who is the epitome of politeness. This is a lighter comic book, mostly involving the misadventures of the two as they run from cult assassins who want to capture or murder Armstrong. What's the launch schedule? X-O Manowar launched just this past week. Issue 2 hits next month, along with the first issue of Harbinger. The next month, the next issues in those series, and the first issue of Bloodshot, and so on, to the next month with Archer & Armstrong. After that--who knows series may return? Shadowman? Ninjak? Or something else? How about something to whet my interest? SPOILER IMAGES SUPER SPOILER--LAST PANEL OF THE COMIC BOOK! If I've made you even moderately excited or interested, I'm happy. __________________ The Valiant Review Last edited by Magus; 05-10-2012 at 09:38 PM.