VALIANT and CINEFIX Deliver Animated 8-Bit Action to UNITY #1!

Oddly perfect choice for showing off Aric's journey to become Manowar.

                            

To celebrate the release of UNITY #1 –  Valiant's first fully returnable comic book event – this November, Valiant is proud to announce a new partnership with CineFix, the ultimate destination for true movie buffs & filmmakers on YouTube!

As revealed today at the Hollywood Reporter, Valiant and CineFix have come together to produce theUNITY #1 8-Bit Evolution Variant – Valiant's first fully animated 8-bit cover! Simply use any smartphone to read the QR code embedded in the cover to unlock an exclusive CineFix "8-Bit Cinema" animated short starring the team of heroes behind the year's biggest comic book event – X-O Manowar, Toyo Harada, Eternal Warrior, Ninjak and Livewire!

"We couldn't be more excited to work with Valiant on this unique opportunity," said Philip Byron of BermanBraun, the media company behind CineFix. "It's not everyday that you help launch a major comic book series through digital video. The collaboration between UNITY #1 and '8-Bit Cinema' is a prime example of transmedia storytelling." 

"This really is a dream project for Valiant," said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons. "We've been huge fans of CineFix's '8-Bit Cinema' since day one, and the CineFix team, along with our Assistant Editor Josh Johns, have managed to the capture the heart and soul of the characters behind UNITY."

Written by New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Justice League of America, Mind MGMT) and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite (Journey into Mystery), UNITY #1 is the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new ongoing series launching Valiant's first ever super-team into battle against X-O Manowar!

As announced previously, UNITY #1 will be 100% returnable for qualifying retailers and feature five limited Pullbox Exclusive Variants (available to fans who pre-order with their local retailer) from a “murderers’s row” of comics all-stars – Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates, Age of Ultron), J.G. Jones (Final Crisis, Wanted), Travel Foreman (Animal Man), Paolo Rivera (Daredevil) and Clayton Crain (Ghost Rider, Carnage). Artist Doug Braithwaite and colorist Brian Reber have also joined Valiant on an exclusive basis for the launch of UNITY #1.

    

To kill a king…he has created an army. 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 unforgiving team the world has ever known – UNITY. Their mission: defeat the threat responsible for the destruction of MI-6, the decimation of an alien world, and the occupation of Eastern Europe… Unseat the warrior king armed with the universe’s most powerful weapon… Kill X-O Manowar!

You’ve heard the buzz. You’ve seen the reviews. On November 13th, start reading here to discover the most acclaimed universe in comics. UNITY #1 is the perfect entry point for new readers!

UNITY #1

Written by MATT KINDT

Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE (SEP131344)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by BRYAN HITCH (SEP131346)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by J.G. JONES (SEP131345)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TRAVEL FOREMAN (SEP131349)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by PAOLO RIVERA (SEP131347)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (SEP131348)

Valiant 8-Bit Evolution Variant by DONOVAN SANTIAGO (SEP131350)

Valiant Signature Series Variant by BART SEARS (SEP131353)

Variant Cover by NEAL ADAMS (SEP131354)

B&W Sketch Variant by NEAL ADAMS (SEP131355)

Blank Variant also available (SEP131351)

Team USA Luge Variant also available (SEP131352)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 11/13/13 (FOC – 10/21/13)

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ABOUT VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT:

Valiant is a leading character-based entertainment company with a library of over 1,500 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and many more. Established in 1989, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic books, and today its characters continue to be forged in publishing, licensing, film, video games, and beyond. Since its summer 2012 relaunch, Valiant has returned to the fore as one of the most highly regarded publishers in comics, winning a 2012 Diamond Gem Award for Comic Book Publisher of the Year. For more information, visit ValiantUniverse.com.

ABOUT CINEFIX:

CineFix is the ultimate destination for true movie buffs & filmmakers on YouTube. We are filmmakers, writers, directors and animators with a goal of entertaining, informing and inspiring. We provide dynamic original programming, in-depth interviews and unique rants, raves and reviews about the world of filmed entertainment. Subscribe to CineFix on YouTube.

Straight Forward Reviews: X-O Manowar issue 17

X-O Manowar is back in the Straight Forward eye of scrutiny. Last issue saw some nice tension building and was a worthy buy. Is this issue worth looking at too or is it a skip?

Review by Jeremias de León

Publisher Valiant Comics

Writer Robert Venditti

Artist Lee Garbett

Story

This issue starts off at a slower pace than the last one with Aric and his people starting to live on Earth. There's a nice contrast being shown throughout the issue of what Aric is going through and what his subjects are going through. The dialog in this issue comes off as pretty natural for the people Aric rules over. You really do feel that they're from another time and place when they interact with normal society.

There's also the buildup to what Valiant has been promoting with Aric and pretty much the rest of the Valiant universe. We see what some of Aric's subjects do when they decide to act on their own and the tension between the world governments and Aric building.

Art

The art has this very nice style to it that makes it look like each panel caught a moment. The line art pulls of flowing hair and wrinkling clothes and curling facial expressions beautifully. Every panel really did look like a snapshot.

Verdict

Although the taking a break in action is a fine thing to do for character development and for plot details to pop up, I felt like it took a little too much time on Aric's random subordinates who think they shouldn't be farming. I know it was there for a very important reason, I just felt like it could have been about 2 or 3 pages less about them and that those 2 or 3 pages could have been used showing the tension growing with Aric and the world governments.

Other than that it's a fantastic issue, not everything can be just flat out action and they did the right thing slowing things down to develop things. I just felt somethings could have used more developing and other things didn't need as much. I give X-O Manowar an 8.5 out of 10. Still a very worthy buy.

Harbinger #7 Heats Up

Hey readers, I'm back with another review of Valiant Entertainment's Harbinger series, issue #7. For those who are unfamiliar, Harbinger follows the psionic phenom, Peter Stancheck as he's learned to master and come to terms with his  abilities. Issue #6 left off with Kris, tech genius, suggesting they form a team to combat the series antagonist and billionaire,  the all powerful Toyo Harada. So far they are three men/women strong; Peter, Kris and the high flying Faith aka Zephyr.

This issue introduces Charlene Dupree, Flamingo (as she goes by on stage). The team finds themselves recruiting their new member within a strip club. There's a quick, but well paced backstory on Charlene that gives us a crystal clear look at the broken path that led her to the here and now. She quickly becomes interesting and so does the story, when she is angered by Kris' 'bitchy' nature. The conflicts are what make this issue and Harbinger as a whole unique and entertaining. You are reading about real people, that have been caught up in this superhuman conspiracy. It's captivating.

Can this ragtag group hold together?

One thing I would like to note: in my look at issue #6, I said their was nothing interesting about Faith beyond her obesity. I recant that statement. Faith is awesome. She brings a lighter side to the story to help contrast the darkness. She may be one of the most relatable characters. I feel a lot of her personality resonates in the readers. Peter grew on me a bit more too. He seems more of the hesitant hero type. An archetype I'm particularly fond of. He knows what he's done, what he's capable of and wants to do better for it. The last review was nearly a salute to Kris, while I found myself hating her in issue #7 for the very same reasons I liked her (headstrong, assertive and witty).

Looking forward to the final showdown.

The art changed a bit, but Harbinger feels more at home with the new art direction.  And once again it leaves you wanting to know what comes next. I really take my hat off to writer, Joshua Dysart. He did an awe inspiring job of putting four totally different personalities in one issue, while masterfully showing their character and personal nuances.

Harbinger #7 gets a...

out of 10

CoW: Cover of the Week 12/14/12

Fanboys vs. Zombies

There are a few ways to win the Golden Udder. Two sure fire ways are; one, show me something fantastic and two, appeal to something I like. Fanboys vs. Zombies #5 did the latter.
There are a few different covers for FvsZ #5, but the one that is taking home the gold pays homage to one of the greatest movie franchises of all time, (Hehe... time.) Back to the Future.
It appears to be an amalgamation of the three original BttF posters. They tossed in the classic Marty attire from I, the futuristic shades from II with the western theme from III. Nice job guys.

UPDATE: The picture indicates issue #9. Though when researched it was listed as a #5 cover. The actual issue # is currently uncertain to us.

Archer and Armstrong issue 5 review

We're back with more Archer and Armstrong issue 5. The last four issues were great how does this stack up?

Review by Jeremias de Leon

STORY

With the geomancer dead, Armstrong's brother Gilad is out for blood, Archer's blood. As they attempt to run from him, the comic shows flashbacks that show the history of Gilad protecting the geomancer and how he gets when one should unfortunately die. More unfortunate for the killer one would say. We also see some great action scenes between Archer, Armstrong and Gilad through the book.

ART

There was action throughout this book and all of it was eye catching. Nothing, not a thing was dull or boring. The lengths Gilad will go to, to avenge the geomancer are spectacular and were shown very dynamically. The martial arts of Archer and strength and ingenuity Armstrong are also shown with great expressions and movement. Your eyes will never feel like it has to work reading this comic.

VERDICT

The writing in this comic is top notch, every character is treated and acts like a real person. Not only do they act real when alone but when interacting with other characters they actually have chemistry. The eponymous characters especially have great chemistry, like in the previous books, but it truly shines in this issue.

The action in this comic is amazing. Seeing Gilad kick so much butt in so many different ways is fantastic. The duo don't disappoint either.

The comedy, mainly stemming from the dialog between Archer and Armstrong is great and breaks up the action nicely when it needs to.

This is historical folks, with top notch action, comedy and pacing I have to do something I never done before I give this comic a perfect 10 out of 10.

X-O Manowar Issue 7 review

Well, it's time for another look into Valiant's X-O Manowar series. The past issues have been phenomenal, how about this issue? Well, let's find out.

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story 

Aric is talking with Alexander as he tries to convince Aric why he should listen to him and why trying to team up with Ninjak is a good thing. We get more exposition and in a very good way, which is straight to the point and doesn't bog down the action. The exposition itself is actually important as well, as you learn more about the Vine and why they're able to communicate with each other and why they have plantings in the first place. Just when you think it's a good time to stop the exposition and have something happen, something does happen and you see some really well drawn action scenes, especially between Ninjak and Aric. 

Speaking of Aric and Ninjak another major story point is their possibly awesome alliance, if they can stomach each other long enough. It's not clear whether Ninjak is willing to help for real or just playing along so he can strike Aric. Although considering the evidence Alexander gave Ninjak, it does seem like he is ready to help.

Art 

Lee Garbett is a great addition to the Manowar team, the way action scenes are drawn have such dynamism I can't help but be in awe and have to keep looking for a couple seconds longer. It's certainly need to see art. 

Verdict 

For this issue with the exposition on the Vine, the great action scenes and banter between Aric and Ninjak I have to give this issue a 9.5 out of 10. I was seriously prepared for a drop in quality, just because of mistakes or something but no, this series just keeps blowing me away, it can't stop being awesome.