Before THE VALIANT – Read Each VALIANT #1 Issue for FREE on comiXology!

Before THE VALIANT – Read Each VALIANT #1 Issue for FREE on comiXology!

In celebration of THE VALIANT – Valiant's upcoming prestige format mini-series from superstar creatorsJeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera – Valiant is proud to announce that the publisher is making nine of its biggest #1 issues available as FREE downloads on comiXology for the month of July!

From now through July 31st, jump on board each of Valiant's award-winning, fan favorite ongoing series with an all-access pass to some of the publisher's most acclaimed #1 debuts – completely FREE for a limited time and featuring contributions from some of the premier storytellers in comics today, includingJames Asmus (Gambit, Thief of Thieves), Doug Braithwaite (Justice, Journey into Mystery), Clayton Crain (X-Force, Carnage), Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier), Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis, Ultimate Nightmare), Matt Kindt (Justice League of America, Mind MGMT), Cary Nord(Conan), Greg Pak (Batman/Superman, Action Comics), Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Flash), and many, many more!

From Archer & Armstrong to X-O Manowar, now is your chance to discover each of Valiant's best-selling series with a complete array of FREE #1 milestones from across the Valiant library, including:

• ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #1 by Fred Van Lente & Clayton Henry

It's history in the breaking! Eighteen-year-old adventurer Obadiah Archer and the immortal miscreant currently called Armstrong will have to work together if modern civilization is to stand any chance of surviving a centuries-old conspiracy that stretches from the catacombs beneath Wall Street to the heights of the Himalayas!

• BLOODSHOT #1 by Duane Swierczynski & Manuel Garcia

Heroes aren't born…they're built. Brought back from the dead and infused with cutting-edge nanotechnology, the walking weapon of mass destruction now known as Bloodshot has escaped his handlers at Project Rising Spirit and vowed to bring war down up his masters…but first he'll have to figure out where the programming ends and the real "him" begins.

• ETERNAL WARRIOR #1 by Greg Pak & Trevor Hairsine

Soldier. Guardian. Warrior. Legend. Across ten millennia and a thousand battlefields, Gilad Anni-Padda has traversed the darkest, most mysterious corners of history. But the horror and bloodshed of constant warfare has finally taken its toll on the man who vowed to serve the Earth as its Eternal Warrior…and soon his oath will bring an ancient war roaring down on modern day.

• HARBINGER #1 by Joshua Dysart & Khari Evans

Read minds. Bend steel. Break all the rules. Runaway teenager Peter Stanchek is on a dangerous path. Skipping across the country in a desperate attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities, Peter is quickly realizing that he’s a telekinetically powered “harbinger” with the potential to reshape the course of human history. His first lesson? All power comes with a price.

• QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 by James Asmus & Tom Fowler

KLANG! Once upon a time, Eric and Woody Henderson were inseparable. Adopted brothers. Best friends. Brilliant minds. Years later, they are estranged siblings, petty rivals, and washed-up failures. But when their father’s murder leads them into the throes of a life-altering scientific accident, Eric and Woody will find themselves with a whole new purpose – and a perfectly legitimate reason to wear costumes and fight crime.

• RAI #1 by Matt Kindt & Clayton Crain

Japan in the 41st century! The year is 4001 A.D. – led by the artificial intelligence called “Father,” the island nation of Japan has expanded out of the Pacific and into geosynchronous orbit with the ravaged Earth below. With billions to feed and protect, it has fallen to one solitary guardian to enforce the law of Father’s empire – the mysterious folk hero known as Rai.

• SHADOWMAN #1 by Justin Jordan & Patrick Zircher

There are a million dreams in the Big Easy. But now its worst nightmare is about to come true. As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must accept the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night. 

• UNITY #1 by Matt Kindt & Doug Braithwaite

The world’s most dangerous man, Toyo Harada, has been struck by the one thing he never thought possible – fear. Halfway across the globe, a new power threatens to topple modern civilization and, to preempt the cataclysm that is to come, Harada will unite the most lethal, most volatile, most unforgiving team the world has ever known – UNITY. Their mission: defeat the warrior king armed with the universe’s most powerful weapon. Kill X-O Manowar!

• X-O MANOWAR #1 by Robert Venditti & Cary Nord

Born into battle, Aric of Dacia – heir to the throne of the Visigoth people – has never known peace. After a brutal encounter with a mysterious enemy known as The Vine leaves him a prisoner on an alien world, the only hope Aric has of returning to his family and saving them from slavery is to seize armored suit capable of incalculable destruction and become X-O Manowar! 

Start at the beginning with all nine of these best-selling #1 milestones today at comiXology, then get ready for THE VALIANT - an all-new prestige format mini-series coming in December from all-star creators Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera! An entirely self-contained comics event spotlighting Bloodshot, Eternal Warrior, Geomancer, and a cast of heroes and villains from across the Valiant Universe, THE VALIANT is a visionary new adventure from three of the greatest creative talents in comics today.

 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

HARBINGER # 25 Review !!!

HARBINGER # 25
Written by Joshua Dysart, Justin Jordon,  Vivek Twary,  Dan Goldman & Lucy Knisley
Art by Lewis Larosa, Khari Evans, Clayton Henry, Lucy Knisley, Romulo Fajardo, Brian Reber, Dave Lanpher, Rafer Roberts & allen Passalaqua
Valiant Comics



This will be a spoiler free review

                We look back several times this issue as to what happened before with the origin of the Renegades, the team a car talking about Fan Fictions, sharing personal moments with Peter and Kris and how one of Harada’s inner circle came to be part of his group.
                The main event story is, however, is a look at a new status quo for Harada and that one snippet from Harbinger #21 comes back to haunt us now as things have changed … for everyone.

ART:

                Since this issue had a diverse amount of art, I am just going to run by things quickly. Rafer Roberts was entertaining in his own right with his cartoony style. LaRosa does some really nice, detailed work that is clean with help from Fajardo, Reber and Lanphear. Knisley has a great moment as well with some okay art there for her tale. Yet, Henry and Evans clearly steal the issue with their powerful, detailed art.  Evans and Henry, who have drawn the majority of the Harbinger issues, give some of their best work this issue with great perspectives and detail. Overall, the art was from okay to excellent.




WRITING:

                This issue packed an emotional wallop that would not be denied. From the change status quos, to memories of characters long gone, to knowing that the group of people we have come to know will not be together again the same way  … ever. Jordon’s story brought much needed levity and a great sense of nostalgia of our heroes on the road. Knisley showed us the heart of our girl, Faith. Twary and Goldman gave us some powerful memories of a character who has been long dead but still in the minds of two of our main characters. Each of those stories were good, solid and ran their course.

                Yet, Dysart writes his masterpiece finale for this first chapter. Yep. It says in the end of the main story of the issue “End of Chapter 1.” If all of this was chapter one, all I can say is that I am looking forward to chapter 2 and onward. This issue gave a terrific climax to all that had occurred before as well as gave us new plots for things to come while sending off our original team. It is over. The Renegades as we knew them are done … gone possibly forever.  It was a send off that was heartfelt and Dysart grabbed every last one of our emotions this issue … both the characters and the readers. We got some significant development for our main cast as we say goodbye to the rest of our crew … leaving only two left.  And Harada and Stronghold both get significant characterizations as the status quo had changed. Dysart crafts these changes well, making them grandiose and impactful. The pacing was perfect and the overall weight of everything as palpable. Everything Dysart has written in Harbinger has worked up to this … and it was the end … the end of the beginning it seems. Like graduating college, it was time to move to the next phase and Dysart captures that feeling with this issue completely. The dialogue was rich and the overall construction of the story was perfect. THIS is comic book writing at its best and I will claim this as Dysart’s greatest work in comics ever … till he tops it.

FINAL VERDICT:

                This was a great celebration of what Harbinger was, is and will be. The stories were entertaining, powerful and full of a cascade of emotion. The art was good to excellent. This issue excelled at giving fans a great look into Harbinger and its evolution. Dysart continues his prolific work with a great end … to chapter one.  Yet, all Harbinger fans should buy and read this book. It really is comics at its best. Harbinger # 25 gets a 4.5 … out of 5.  

ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1 Strikes in October – Plus Sold-Out ARMOR HUNTERS #2, UNITY #8, and X-O MANOWAR #26 Recruit New Printings!

 

Just as ARMOR HUNTERS #2 (of 4) arrives in stores to a record-setting sell-out, Valiant is proud to announce a blockbuster new chapter for the summer's most acclaimed crossover event, ARMOR HUNTERS, and a fleet of brand new second printings to meet demand for X-O Manowar's epic confrontation with a squadron of alien hunter-killers tied to the very origin of his armor!

This October, the must-read crossover event of the year reaches its milestone conclusion in ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1 – an essential one-shot epilogue to the Armor Hunters' invasion of Earth by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, Green Lantern) and red-hot artist CAFU (Unity)! In the devastating wake of ARMOR HUNTERS #4 (of 4), our planet – and its heroes – will be forever changed. Start reading here to discover the new status quo for the world's most formidable heroes as X-O Manowar, Unity, Bloodshot, and the Harbinger Renegades forge a new frontline of defense for humanity!

"With rave reviews for each installment thus far and the fastest sell-outs we've ever seen occurring at a rapid clip across multiple issues, Armor Hunters is shaping up to be nothing short of a phenomenon. Robert Venditti, Doug Braithwaite, Matt Kindt and every other participating creator have outdone themselves at each turn, building a truly earth-shaking crossover event perfect for new fans and longtime readers alike," said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. "But the stakes are only getting bigger, and ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1 is where we'll finally see how the battle waged has not only affected X-O Manowar and Unity, but Bloodshot, Harbinger, and other titles from throughout the Valiant publishing line."

The fallout of the summer’s blistering crossover event starts here and no hero can escape what happens next – only in ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1, on sale in October!

Plus, arriving in stores alongside ARMOR HUNTERS #3 (of 4) on August 18th, look for all-new printings for three sold-out chapters of the ARMOR HUNTERS saga in the ARMOR HUNTERS #2 (of 4) SECOND PRINTING VARIANT, UNITY #8 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT, and X-O MANOWAR #26 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT! Don't miss a moment of Valiant's acclaimed crossover event with three all-new entry points into the high-stakes world of X-O Manowar's brutal clash with the alien Armor Hunters – a relentless battalion of soldiers dedicated to eradicating the X-O Manowar armor and all others like it…no matter what the cost.

Praise for ARMOR HUNTERS:

"✮✮✮✮✮…Venditti, Braithwaite, and Martin are putting together one exciting book." – Comic Vine
"✮✮✮✮✮…The stakes are high, the opponents look unbeatable, and [X-O Manowar] will not come out of this battle unchanged." – Comic Bastards
"✮✮✮✮½…If there’s one event to get in on from the beginning to the very end, [Armor Hunters] is it!" –Unleash the Fanboy
"✮✮✮✮...Immersive and well rendered… Armor Hunters is shaping up to be Valiant's next big thing." –IGN
"✮✮✮✮…It's an event story for readers who think they hate event stories." – Comic Book Resources
 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CAFU
Cover by DIEGO BERNARD
Variant Cover by BRENT PEEPLES
Variant Cover by MICO SUAYAN
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ONE-SHOT | COMING IN OCTOBER!

ARMOR HUNTERS #2 (of 4) SECOND PRINTING VARIANT
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 8/13/14 (FOC – 7/21/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS #3 (of 4) 
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
#ValiantCraft Cover by DONOVAN SANTIAGO
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Artist Variant by MICO SUAYAN
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 8/13/14 (FOC – 7/21/14)

UNITY #8 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Cover by MICO SUAYAN
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 8/13/14 (FOC – 7/21/14)

X-O MANOWAR #26 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 8/13/14 (FOC – 7/21/14)

 

Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera Join THE VALIANT – A New Prestige Format Limited Series Beginning in December!

A battle ten millennia in the making is about to begin...

Valiant Entertainment is proud to announce THE VALIANT – a new prestige format four-issue limited series beginning in December from New York Times best-selling writers Jeff Lemire (Green Arrow,Animal Man) and Matt Kindt (RAI, UNITY, Mind MGMT), and featuring interior artwork and covers by Eisner Award-winning artist Paolo Rivera (Daredevil)!

An entirely self-contained comics event spotlighting Bloodshot, Eternal Warrior, Geomancer, and a cast of heroes and villains from across the Valiant Universe, THE VALIANT is a visionary new adventure from three of the greatest creative talents in comics today.

The Eternal Warrior has protected the Earth for more than 10,000 years. A master of countless weapons and long forgotten martial arts, he is guided by the Geomancers – those who speak for the Earth. During his long watch, the Eternal Warrior has failed three times. Each time, the Geomancer was killed…and a new dark age for humanity began. Each time, he was unable to stop The Immortal Enemy – a monstrous force of nature. A civilization killer. A horror that appears differently each time it arrives…and whose seemingly only purpose is to bring disorder and darkness to the world. Now, the time has come for The Immortal Enemy to return once more. But, this time, the Eternal Warrior will be ready. This time, he has a force greater than any single warrior. This time, he has…THE VALIANT.

"I've been a huge fan of what Valiant Comics has been doing for the past two years, with a lot of my favorite creators, and favorite people, like Matt Kindt, Josh Dysart and Rob Venditti, doing incredible work for the publisher," said writer Jeff Lemire. "So, it's a huge thrill for me to now step into the Valiant Universe in a BIG way with the upcoming four-issue series, THE VALIANT, along with co-writer Matt Kindt, and one of the most incredible artists working in comics today, Paolo Rivera. THE VALIANT will not only serve as a great entry point for brand new readers to Valiant, but also enrich the existing universe and shake it up dramatically moving forward. Valiant has an incredible stable of characters to play with, and they will ALL play a role in THE VALIANT."

"Jeff and I have been threatening to work together for a long time," said writer Matt Kindt. "And we did a little bit on Sweet Tooth with the few issues I did, but this is the first time we've really created something from scratch and written a long piece of work together. Collaborating on writing isn't something I normally get excited about, but Jeff and I just got coffee after a con one night and started brainstorming different things we could do and, by the end of the night, the waitress got a big tip and we'd written an outline for this epic story. It was like being transported to your best friend's kitchen table when you're 11 and cooking up fantastic comic book ideas. But in this case, when we were done, we got Paolo to draw it. We couldn't be more excited. I was just a fan of his on his now classic run on Daredevil. He's just a great cartoonist, you know? He can tell a story so well – and I think we gave him plenty of story to draw."

"I've heard nothing but good things about Jeff and Matt, and their script does not disappoint," said artist Paolo Rivera. "One of the major things that brought me to this project was the epic scale. Most of the stories I've worked on, even when action-packed, have been on the level of individuals. While our main characters are still the heart, this story spans epochs and realms, with consequences that, quite literally, affect the entire Earth."

"I worked with [Valiant Editor-in-Chief] Warren [Simons] briefly at Marvel, but he's been doing his best to lure me (and my Dad) to Valiant since 2012," added Rivera. "We've been doing mostly covers since then, so it's awesome to be drawing comics again. That, and it's fun to draw Bloodshot getting blown to bits."

A New York Times best-selling writer and artist, Jeff Lemire is the award-winning author of some of the most acclaimed graphic novels and comic book series in recent memory, including the Essex Countytrilogy, Sweet Tooth, and The Underwater Welder. A recipient of the American Library Association's prestigious Alex Award and the Joe Shuster Award, Lemire's work has also been nominated for the Eisner, Harvey, and Ignatz Awards. Most recently, his work for DC Comics has included critically acclaimed runs on Animal Man, Green Arrow, and Justice League United, as well as the creator-owned series Trillium for Vertigo. THE VALIANT will be Lemire's first full-length work for Valiant Entertainment.

Matt Kindt is the New York Times best-selling writer and artist of many acclaimed graphic novels and comic book series, including Mind MGMT, 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man, Pistolwhip,Red-Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes, Revolver, and Super Spy. A Harvey Award winner and Eisner Award nominee, his other works include Justice League of America and Suicide Squad for DC Comics, and Marvel Knights: Spider-Man for Marvel Comics. In addition to THE VALIANT, Kindt currently writes two ongoing series, RAI and UNITY, for Valiant Entertainment.

Paolo Rivera quickly gained notoriety for his painted artwork on Marvel Comics' Mythos before moving on to provide distinctive and striking covers for nearly all of the publisher's top series. With his father Joe Rivera inking his work, Rivera penciled the best-selling relaunch of Marvel's Daredevil with writer Mark Waid – a run that won the father-son duo two Eisner Awards for their work. THE VALIANT will mark Rivera's first full-length comics' work since Daredevil in 2012. He can be found online atpaolorivera.blogspot.com and twitter.com/PaoloMRivera.

This December, the Geomancer's sacred mission begins anew as superstar creators Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera bring together THE VALIANT – a new comic book milestone, coming soon from Valiant Entertainment.
 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.
 

THE VALIANT #1 (of 4)
Written by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by PAOLO RIVERA
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs.
COMING IN DECEMBER!
 

THE VALIANT #1 – Cover by Paolo Rivera


THE VALIANT #1 – Interior Pencils by Paolo Rivera


THE VALIANT #1 – Interior Pencils by Paolo Rivera


BLOODSHOT – Character Study by Paolo Rivera


GEOMANCER – Character Study by Paolo Rivera


IMMORTAL ENEMY – Character Study by Paolo Rivera

Preview: HARBINGER # 25

HARBINGER #25 (ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR!)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART with VIVEK J. TIWARY, JUSTIN JORDAN, DAN GOLDMAN, and LUCY KNISLEY
Art by KHARI EVANS with LEWIS LAROSA, RAFER ROBERTS, CLAYTON HENRY, BARRY KITSON, and LUCY KNISLEY
Cover A by MICO SUAYAN (MAY141659)
Cover B by JENNY FRISON (MAY141660)
Variant Cover by LUCY KNISLEY (MAY141661)
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN (MAY141662)
Variant Cover by BARRY KITSON (MAY141663)

Toyo Harada’s last stand! The future of Harbinger starts here with a star-studded, 48-page anniversary milestone – packed with brand new contributions from an all-star cast of creators and shocking new revelations about the fate of Valiant’s teenage superteam!

A Renegade has fallen and, now, there is no turning back. Stripped of his allies and all sense of self-preservation, the world’s most powerful “harbinger,” super-powered billionaire Toyo Harada, is about to inflict a terrible reckoning on a world he thought he could control…and everything we thought we knew will be forever changed in its wake.

Original series creators Joshua Dysart and Khari Evans reunite to deliver a devastating climax to the second year of the series that The Onion/A.V. Club calls “the crown jewel of Valiant’s lineup” – and officiates the “Death of a Renegade” with all-new artwork and stories from an incredible roster of award-winning talents, including Vivek J. Tiwary (The Fifth Beatle), Lewis LaRosa (Punisher MAX), Dan Goldman (Red Light Properties), Clayton Henry (Archer & Armstrong), Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode), Rafer Roberts (Carpool Buddies of Doom), Lucy Knisley (Relish: My Life in the Kitchen), and Barry Kitson (Empire)!

$4.99 | T+ | 48 pgs. | ON SALE 7/16/14 (FOC – 6/23/14)

Brand New! RAI # 3 Review

RAI # 3
Written by Matt Kindt
Art by Clayton Crain

Valiant Comics

This will be a spoiler free review.

                Spylocke and Father keep some secrets. Rai is looking for answers. And a certain Doctor in the Valiant Universe decides it is time to spill. 

ART:

                The book is still one of the most gorgeous, detailed books that has ever graced the comic book market. The richness of Crain’s work just brings so much life and action into this wonderous work. There is such kinetic actions. The fluid look of the art is really grabs your eyes. Crain gives us some great expressions with our characters and Rai in particular. The near cinematic style of the book really allows you to immerse yourself in New Japan.  The colors, like I said in previous reviews, are toned extremely well. They are not as dark as they normally are and Crain does some great scenes with Lula.  From the first panel to the last panel, every last piece and line in this book creates a truly immersive and powerful tapestry that will make you want more.

WRITING:

                Kindt writes another solid issue. We got to learn something fairly big this issue as the murder mystery starts to open some interesting facts about Rai and Father. More importantly, we start looking at the fact that this future is considering Earth  Hell while New Japan encompasses so many different cities we used to know. Definitely some great world building. And I love the characterizations of Rai, Lula, Spylocke and …., who really develop and further as main characters in their own way. Kindt does a good job of answering some questions while only making you ask more afterward. My only gripe, and it is very little, is the introduction of the Positron. Maybe it is just me but I felt that it’s addition to the book is …placed in the wrong part of the story. It felt, to me, that is should have come up much sooner than it did. Yet, I am sure it fits into whatever Kindt has planned. Otherwise, this was a great read.

FINAL VERDICT:
                For every answer, we got more questions. The action was insane. The art is absolutely ridiculous. The writing is fairly solid with one minor hiccup. But still, I feel fully immersed into this future and more more.  Kindt and Crain are definitely shining with this work.  I give Rai # 3 a 4.5 … out of 5.

Armor Hunters # 2 Review

ARMOR HUNTERS # 2
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Doug Braithwraite & Laura Martin
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Valiant Comics

This is a Spoiler Free review!

                M.E.R.O., Aric and Livewire see the devastation of Mexico City from the Armor Hunters as Primary lays out his demands.  Bloodshot gets up to speed as The Armor Hunters break out the Hounds … attacking seven places at once.

ART:

                The art in this issue is some of Braithwraite’s best in his career. The smooth lines and the polished pencils and inks really stand out this issue. Every panel is full of great detail, expression and a vibrancy that goes beyond his normal work. Braithwraite goes through great perspectives with all the characters, give the panel just the right tone for every scene in the book. The battles are GLORIOUS. And there is one panel with Ninjak having a “holy Sh**” moment that was just captured so well.  Laura Martin’s colors really brings out the best of Braithwraite’s art, making it so dynamic that it will grab your face to the page from start to finish.  Gorgeous art indeed.

WRITING:

                Venditti makes this second issue build up the event to a great explosion. There are personal stakes for Aric and Livewire. Bloodshot gets inserted into the event well. We get some very personal moments with the Armor Hunters, particularly Primary that continue to let us know more of our “villains” of our event.  Venditti weaves the plots and characterizations so well that it only heightens the events in the issue. And man … the stakes are VERY high at this point. The danger is palapable. And we get some great revelations as Venditti sets up the next issue as well.

FINAL VERDICT:

                This issue was amazing from start to finish. The art was superb. The writing was exquisite. THIS is how event books should be written.  I am definitely all in on this event as it continues. I give Armor Hunters # 2 a solid 5 … out of 5!

 

Shadowman: End Times # 3 Review

SHADOWMAN: END TIMES # 3
Written by Peter Milligan
Art by Valentine De Landro, Livesay, David Baron & Allen Passalaque

Lettering by Dave Lanphear

This will be a spoiler free review.

                It is the final confrontation between father and son … and both seem crazed.  See how far Jack goes in this incarnation of Shadowman.

ART:

                De Landro does a good job here. Good atmosphere with his art. There is some nice detail but it is still very simple. Livesay’s inks help bring life to De Landro while Baron and Passalaque’s colors really give it texture and feel to the story. And while the battles are good in this, the emotion on panel was very striking. The last few pages were especially striking as we had the showdown between father and son.

                De Landro and crew give us some solid work. Yet, backgrounds were definitely lacking this issue, which kind of took away from the landscape of the Deadside and some of the story in general.   Still, it was a good effort by this team.

WRITING:

                The writing is very up and down this issue. There are some great things that Milligan accomplishes in this issue. The paranoia from Jack felt almost palpable. Milligan really does a great job of building up Jack and Josiah in their final confrontation. And while we have some Alyssa and Punk Mambo, Milligan never lets the focus stray from Jack and Josiah too long. The dialogue was very good and emotional and fit the story.

                Yet … the ending is by far one of the most frustrating I have read in some time. And while yes, I do see the story points that got Jack to the point he is at the end of the issue, I am not particular happy by it and the set up for him to cross this line just seems too … contrived. I am not saying that Milligan did not build it up with his arc in the ongoing and in these earlier issues .. but man … that still feel like quite a turn there.  Does the ending make sense in terms of the story Milligan is telling? Yes. Does it feel like Milligan took some interesting liberties with Jack to get there? YES. 

                Going back to what was done before and compared to what is done now … I freely admit that Shadowman had drastically changed. And while I have welcomed Milligan after his first arc, the end of this arc has made me want to bang my head against the wall. In all the time that Jack Boniface was Shadowman before this … THIS ENDING JUST FEELS WRONG. Again … it makes sense with what Milligan is doing with the over all persona of Jack since the story began. Hell … it kind of spits in the face of what Milligan himself did in his first arc.

                And while I can conceive how he got there, the events of the ending are just insane.  The Jack that started the series sure as hell wasn’t here at the end of it. And it just makes me said.

FINAL VERDICT:
                The story is decent. The art is good. But both can definitely have room for improvement. And while I applaud the overall emotion and tension of the issue, the ending just makes my blood boil.  Can I say this is a good book? Yes. Do I like the ending of it? NO! Am I glad there are still dangling plots to pick up? YES! Did this issue make me feel sorry for Jack? It did at first … then the ending took it away.  It ends the story but still leaves you with a HUGE cliffhanger.  Yet, while I am interesting in the dangling plots, my faith in Shadowman has plummeted.
                I give Shadowman: End Times # 3 a 3 out of 5.  Good story. Good art. Great Emotion. A WTF Ending. 

Priest & Bright Return with Q2: The RETURN OF QUANTUM AND WOODY and THE COMPLETE QUANTUM AND WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS – Coming in October from VALIANT!

 

The most demanded return in comics finally arrives this October!

Valiant is proud to announce the release of Q2: THE RETURN OF QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 (of 5)on October 15th – the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new new mini-series reuniting legendary creatorsChristopher Priest (Black Panther, Deadpool) and M.D. Bright (Green Lantern, Iron Man) with the world's worst superhero team!

Set in the original series continuity, 20 years on from Quantum and Woody's last adventure, Q2 marks the beginning of an all-new chapter for one of the most acclaimed series and creative teams of the last two decades.

"As a longtime Quantum and Woody fan, this project is a dream come true, as is diving into the material and working with these amazingly talented creators," said series editor Alejandro Arbona. "Getting in all-new scripts and all-new art of the new adventures of Eric Henderson and Woody Van Chelton is surreal. Quantum and Woody are back!"

Whatever happened to the world’s worst superhero team? Twenty years past their prime, the unlikely crime-fighting duo known as Quantum and Woody (not a couple) have long since parted ways…until a middle-aged Quantum suddenly reappears with a brand-new teenage partner. Now Woody is out to break up the all-new, all-different Quantum and Woody and put an end to Quantum’s recklessness…just as Quantum takes on a life-or-death personal mission for national security. Can these former friends set aside their differences…and their age…and their numerous health difficulties…to join forces one last time without driving each other crazy?

Find out when the world's worst superhero team strikes back on October 15th in Q2: THE RETURN OF QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 (of 5)!
 

Also hitting stores alongside Q2's first issue on October 15th, Priest and Bright's seminal run on Quantum and Woody's original series will be collected in its entirety for the first time anywhere in THE COMPLETE QUANTUM AND WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS!

The first in a new line of oversized hardcover omnibuses re-presenting the most demanded series and runs from the Valiant archives, THE COMPLETE QUANTUM AND WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUShardcover will collect QUANTUM AND WOODY (1997) #0–21 and #32, THE GOAT: H.A.E.D.U.S. #1, and X-O MANOWAR (1996) #16 (guest-starring Quantum and Woody), the original backup stories from the QUANTUM AND WOODY trade paperback collections, and the never-before-collected story "Thunk" – plus a wealth of rarely seen sketches, character design, process art and promotional materials!
 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

Q2: THE RETURN OF QUANTUM AND WOODY #1 (of 5)
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST
Art & Cover by M.D. BRIGHT
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 10/15/14

THE COMPLETE QUANTUM AND WOODY CLASSIC OMNIBUS HC
Written by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST with BRIAN AUGUSTYN
Art by M.D. BRIGHT with CHARLIE ADLARD, KEITH GIFFEN, OSCAR JIMENEZ, KEVIN KOBASICK, and BART SEARS
Cover by M.D. BRIGHT
$99.99 | T+ | 624 pgs. | ON SALE 10/15/14

Preview: X-O Manowar # 26 (Armor Hunters Tie-In)

X-O MANOWAR #26 (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Chromium & Standard Edition Covers by CLAYTON CRAIN* (APR141420/APR141419)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (APR141421)
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR141422)

ARMOR HUNTERS unleashes an all-new starting point for the world’s most wanted hero – X-O Manowar – right here with a brand new story arc by Robert Venditti (Armor Hunters, The Flash) and Diego Bernard (Red Lanterns)!

Abducted from his own time by a vicious alien race, the courageous Visigoth warrior known as Aric of Dacia spent years in slavery among the stars before escaping with his captors’ most feared weapon – the X-O Manowar armor. Now, stranded in the modern day, the world’s most primitive man also just happens to wield its most powerful weapon. But what is the X-O Manowar armor? And who before Aric of Dacia dared to wield its incalculable power? The ARMOR HUNTERS hold the key to the armor’s untold history and – one way or another – they’ll crush anything that dares threaten their secret.

CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99 | STANDARD EDITION: $3.99
T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 6/25/14 (FOC – 6/2/14)