Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing on The Harbinger #1

 

The Harbinger co-writer Collin Kelly

During last weekend's At Home Comic Con, Gregg Katzman from Valiant Comics sat down with Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing to discuss The Harbinger. After the pandemic-imposed delays, both writers were excited that their new series focusing on psiot Peter Stanchek would soon be released.

Although it seems a long time ago now, The Harbinger is set 6-8 months after the events in The Life and Death of Toyo Harada. The world is suffering the aftereffects of the devastation this powerful psiot brought about. Public opinion about psiots has understandably fallen to an all-time low.

Even though Peter Stanchek fought against Toyo Harada, people remember his unbalanced, destructive side. He awakens, scrubbed of his memories, to discover that he is America's Most Wanted.

 

Instead of showing Peter's telekinesis through levitation and destruction, penciler and inker Robbi Rodriguez invests in detailed design work. Colorist Rico Renzi then attempts to show the power of Peter's mind with his wild palette. According to co-writer Jackson Lanzing, this is a perfect example of the artists' efforts:

 

The Harbinger #1 Cover A by Robbi Rodriguez & Rico Renzi

Both writers stressed that The Harbinger would feature first appearances for many new characters. Chief among them is Cici, a young woman living in Psiot City. Despite her shock over meeting such a legendary figure, the writers describe her as level-headed. She will become one of Peter's closest friends.

They also mentioned a young disenfranchised man who they described as a human megaphone. (I believe they called him Ago). Apparently, when he speaks, you listen!

You'll also meet some powerful villains. Known as The Warning, they rule Psiot City through fear.

 

Until now, Peter Stanchek has lived his life in reaction to Toyo Harada. Now, according to co-writer Jackson Lanzing, Peter starts thinking about "what comes after all the smashing." Psiot City need a savior. He'll need to transition from an Anti-Authoritarian into a leader, and think about what he'll leave behind after he's gone.

 

The Harbinger co-writer Jackson Lanzing

Keep an eye out for the ever-popular Faith Herbert, Jackson warns. When Peter starts thinking about his legacy, and flying around town in a superhero suit, expect her to take note. She may love Peter, as he activated her superpowers in the first place. But all the suffering and deaths Peter caused will also be fresh in her mind.

Perhaps Jackson's comments about Peter dressing up in a superhero suit explain the following two covers.

 

The Harbinger #1 Cover B by Rod Reis

I wonder if Rod Reis or Damion Scott best captures Peter's new look?

 

The Harbinger #1 Pre-Order Cover by Damion Scott

 

I guess we'll have to wait and see how events play out in upcoming issues. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for the series to launch on October 27th.

Many thanks to co-writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, as well as Gregg Katzman, for this inside-the-writers-room look at the upcoming series. And a big shout out to At Home Comic Con for hosting this fun Valiant Comics panel!

Dragon Dave

Extended Preview: The Harbinger #1

 

The Harbinger #1 Cover A by Robbi Rodriguez

 

Can't wait for The Harbinger to arrive? Need to see more of the fantastic first issue? The good folks at Valiant Comics have you covered!

 

Peter Stanchek - one of the most powerful psiots on the planet, gifted with immense telepathic and telekinetic abilities - will journey from being the most feared man in the world to becoming one of its greatest protectors. In this extended preview readers will witness how the world views Peter, a display of his incredible powers, and be introduced to Psiot City.

 

 

Here's a larger, split-up version of that final two-page layout.

THE HARBINGER #1 is co-written by COLLIN KELLY and JACKSON LANZING (Kang The Conqueror, Batman: Urban Legends), features art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (Spider-Gwen, Batgirl), colors by RICO RENZI (Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), and letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU (X-O MANOWAR, The Blue Flame).

 

Here's another look at those cover options (all of them gorgeous).

 

The Harbinger #1 Cover B by Rod Reis

 

The Harbinger #1 Cover C by Cris Delara

 

 

The Harbinger #1 Pre-Order Cover by Damion Scott

And don't forget that specialty metal cover, limited to comic shops that order 250 copies of The Harbinger.

The Harbinger #1 Retailer Incentive by Robbi Rodriguez & Travis Escarfullery

Oh, and don't forget there's also a blank cover available for those budding artists out there, or those who want their favorite artist to give them a specially commissioned cover.

Pre-order THE HARBINGER #1 at your local comic store by October 4th. THE HARBINGER #1 goes on sale October 27th. Contact your local comic book store for more information about ordering.

 

I'm really looking forward to this new series. Please join me in welcoming in this bold new era of The Harbinger!

Dragon Dave

Meet Assistant Editor Audrey Meeker

 

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sequential Art and a minor in Creative Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design, Audrey learned a lot about the hard work that goes into creating comics during her education. “I gained a lot of invaluable knowledge on the comics-making process from both my professors and the industry professionals they brought in,” said Audrey. 

 

 

“While in school, my peers and I also started a micro-press called Level Ground Comics. This collaborative experience really set me on the path to wanting to work in comics publishing as an editor.”

 

After making an impact as an intern, Valiant was more than happy to offer Audrey the opportunity to join the team full-time as an Assistant Editor.  

 

 

Audrey’s responsibilities include communicating with comic book creators, reviewing pitches, managing and organizing files, and supporting Executive Editor Rob Levin and Senior Editor Lysa Hawkins. “I'm excited about working with the people in this company,” stated Audrey about returning to Valiant after her internship. “They made me feel very valued as an intern, and I'm now excited about working beside them to make great stories.”

 

 

Lysa is confident that Audrey’s creativity and drive will help Valiant reach new heights. “Audrey is a great addition to our editorial troop. She brought a fresh new vision as our intern, and we are so excited to see what she will bring to the table as our assistant. Huzzah, Audrey!”

 

Fun fact: Audrey’s favorite Valiant character is Punk Mambo. “I think her character design is super unique, and I especially love her take-no-prisoners attitude,” explained Audrey. “Plus, the complexity of her character makes me want to learn more and more about her, which I may get to do in the future…”

 

Punk Mambo #1 Cover B by Zu Orzu

 

Luckily for Audrey, Punk Mambo will return in the next arc of SHADOWMAN, which begins in issue #5 this January.

 

Welcome, Audrey. Congratulations on becoming Assistant Editor for Valiant Comics! 

Rai Book One: Preview Pages

 

Rai Book One: Cover by Juan Jose Ryp

 

Nearly a year has passed since Valiant Comics published Rai Book One, a trade paperback collecting the first five issues of the series. It's been a while since I've checked in with Rai, and his positronic brother Raijin. Frankly, I've been missing their trek across the Earth in 4002 A.D. 

If you'd like a refresher, or have yet to discover the greatness of Rai, here's another glimpse of the first five pages of Rai Book One. Enjoy!

 

As you can see, there's a lot going on in Rai. The series benefits from the intricate worldbuilding of veteran writer Dan Abnett, the detailed penciling of Juan Jose Ryp, the sumptuous coloring of Andrew Dalhouse, and the clear expressive lettering of Dave Sharpe. The series was overseen by Senior Editor Lysa Hawkins, and if it didn't earn any major awards, it certainly should have.

I can't say enough good things about Rai. I hope it will return, with the same creative team, someday soon.

Dragon Dave

Related Links:

Rai Book One Review

X-O Manowar #6: All The Covers & Why You Need Them

 

X-O Manowar #6 Cover A by Rahzzah

Last month, the artist known as Rahzzah presented Valiant fans with a truly bleak cover. His X-O Manowar #5 Cover A showed Aric overcome by the nanite swarm, and sinking into the dark depths of the sea. Not only was it hauntingly beautiful, but it also perfectly epitomized the story.

 

For X-O Manowar #6, Aric must once again confront this deadly threat. But after her failure last time, is his faltering alien armor up to the challenge? Once again, Rahzzah offers Valiant fans another cover that perfectly captures this crucial moment in the story.

X-O Manowar Cover B by Chris Johnson

The growing nanite swarms not only make their presence known on Earth. To combat them, Aric must also travel into space. Imagine his reluctance to head into orbit, when he's still unsure of Shanhara's capabilities.

 

 

Thankfully, Chris Johnson offers Valiant fans X-O Manowar #6 Cover B, which demonstrates Aric's determination to quell this rising threat, whatever the risk to himself.

X-O Manowar #6 Pre-Order Cover by Jeff Dekal

 

As this issue opens, Aric shares his thoughts with us. The way he describes Shanhara as a silver shell brings to mind a medieval knight clad in plate armor, riding into battle. Sadly, his description also sounds so lifeless.  

 

Last year, Jeff Dekal offered Valiant fans the inspiring X-O Manowar #1 Cover B, which currently adorns the banner of this blog. For this month's X-O Manowar #6 Pre-Order Cover, he offers us this close-up of Aric in space. Notice how his upgraded armor looks so sleek, the red is understated, and the blue portions resemble hammered and polished metal? 

Congratulations to Rahzzah, Chris Johnson, and Jeff Dekal for producing beautiful and evocative portraits of our hero Aric of Dacia for the three covers of X-O Manowar #6.

Dragon Dave

X-O Manowar #6 Review Part 2

X-O Manowar #6 Pre-Order Cover by Jeff Dekal

 

In X-O Manowar #6, writer Dennis Hopeless Hallum, penciler Emilio Laiso, inker Raffaele Forte, colorist Ruth Redmond, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou explore the relationship between Aric of Dacia, the sentient armor named Shanhara, and the other people who have become part of their extended family. This includes billionaire Troy Whitaker, Desmond and his mom, and a local homeless woman.

 

Interaction with the nanite swarms, as well as Whitaker's continual programming and upgrading attempts, have certainly changed Shanhara. Desmond adored the way Shanhara allowed him to play the latest video games. Still, he's always seen her as a person and a friend. 

Now, like Aric, he's not quite sure what to think of her.

 

 

We also get to see Desmond's mom again. She's mainly there as a support for Desmond in this issue. Given the way she decided to share her home with Aric in X-O Manowar #1, I had expected her to play a more active role in Aric's life. 

After living with Troy Whitaker while Shanhara healed and their building got rebuilt, she's starting to look real comfortable with Troy. 

 

We caught a brief glimpse of their homeless friend in the last issue. I get the sense Whitaker is supplying her with all the parts she needs to repair the family car. She's not present in X-O Manowar #6, so presumably, she's still working on that. 

Hopefully, she's now got a roof over her head, and eating three meals a day.

 

We also get another look at these blue balls in X-O Manowar #6. When Shanhara communicated with Troy on his yacht through one in an earlier issue, I wondered if the genius inventor had somehow extruded part of the X-O Manowar armor to make it, much as Aric broke off part of Shanhara in the previous series. 

Now, I'm thinking if Desmond has one, then these blue balls are probably just something Troy made. He did make his billions as a technological innovator, after all.

 

Ultimately, Shanhara dominates this issue. Despite Troy Whitaker's insistence to Aric that Shanhara is just a machine, he constantly interacts with her. He even refers to her as "the ol' girl" in this issue. After a glance into his past in the last issue, I wonder if, despite Troy's facade, he's always seen her as a real person. 

Could all these upgrades--supposedly for Aric's benefit--really be about his desire to control the living, growing, and sentient Shanhara?

I'll leave you to make your own decision on that, when you read X-O Manowar #6. 

Dragon Dave

 

 

X-O Manowar #6 Review Part 1

 

X-O Manowar #6 Cover B by Chris Johnson

In X-O Manowar #6, writer Dennis Hopeless Hallum, penciler Emilio Laiso, inker Raffaele Forte, colorist Ruth Redmond, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou continue to explore the relationship between 5th Century Visigoth warrior Aric of Dacia, and the sentient armor named Shanhara. After centuries of seeing herself as merely a suit of armor, she has even developed a new way of envisioning herself.  

But then, all of the characters in this series adapt to changing circumstances, and in relation to each other--especially Shanhara--as the self aware armor heals and adjusts to this next phase of her life.

Meanwhile, Troy Whitaker is using his billions to speedily rebuild all the damage Yakiov and his troops did to Desmond's neighborhood in Harlem, New York,

 

By now, Whitaker seems to have emerged as a real standup guy, helping Aric to develop Shanhara's abilities while defending Earth against any and all threats. He's certainly taken good care of all the people in Aric's life. 

 

 

So why do I still not trust him? 

As for our hero Aric, he's not sure he can rely on Shanhara anymore. His relationship with her has not come without cost, but after the traumatic events in the last series, he seemed to have finally made his peace with her. Now, with her changing so dramatically...

 

Normally, Aric doesn't believe in caution or retreat. He fights every battle as if it's his last.

 

But after the way Shanhara fell apart in X-O Manowar #5, and Shanhara has trouble getting back up to speed in this issue, Aric pulls back. Ironically, it is now Shanhara that pushes him on, and throws him into a situation that may be beyond him.

 

 

We haven't seen Whitaker's robots for awhile. In this issue, we spot one working in his laboratory. Later, we see what these growing nanite swarms have done to another of his creations.

Is the robot being controlled by the nanite swarms? Or, like Shanhara, has the nanite swarm helped it achieve sentience?

 

Troy Whitaker remarks early on in this issue that these nanite swarms will be the death of him. I wonder if his words will prove prophetic? 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see as this intriguing series continues.

Dragon Dave