Harbinger #8: A Reason Not To Fight

Cover by Frank Miller

 

Continuing with my Unity event read-through...

The geomancer Geoff interrupts an important admission from Kris Hathaway to ask the team to accompany him to the Lost Land. Soon Peter, Kris, Faith, and Flamingo stand on a hill beside Solar and other Valiant heroes. Then Erica Pierce's forces attack.

Amid the fighting, Peter senses that Solar, Man of the Atom, is dead. The next day, he discovers that Kris is pregnant. But when he asks Geoff to send them back home, the geomancer says that he can't without Solar's help.

Magnus is keen to cut the kids some slack, but Gilad, the Eternal Warrior, sees Peter's request as a betrayal. The team then sit out the fighting for three months, living in seclusion while Kris' pregnancy grows increasingly visible.

As with other Valiant stories written by Jim Shooter, Harbinger #8 makes for a long, exciting, and compelling read. Under artist David Lapham's skilled hand, the bionosaurs have never looked more menacing. Ironically, it is Maria Beccari's coloring that stands out for me most though. The intense light and mix of colors she evokes bring to mind the way colorist Rico Renzi shows Peter and the psiots using their power in Valiant's recent series The Harbinger.

For the first time (for me) in this crossover event, the fight scenes evoke Shadowman's earlier description of the Lost Land as a merger of Star Wars and Jurassic Park. Faith's lighthearted comments--and commentary--keep this story from growing too dark. Still, given the intense nature of this issue, you may wish to take Armstrong's advice, and not drink a six-pack of your favorite beverage before reading Harbinger #8.

Dragon Dave

The Harbinger #8 Preview

 

The Harbinger #8 Cover A by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ

 

Who is Peter Stancheck? Find out as he faces off against THE RENEGADE one last time in the stunning and thoughtful series finale of THE HARBINGER.

Faith, Ago, and CiCi battle for the heart of Psiot City against the army of newly activated Psiots while Peter stares down his greatest fears and doubts. Only one Peter can remain when the dust settles -- but which one will it be? Find out in THE HARBINGER #8!

THE HARBINGER #8 is co-written by COLLIN KELLY and JACKSON LANZING (Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, Batman Beyond: Neo Year), features art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (Spider-Gwen, Batgirl), colors by RICO RENZI (Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom, The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU (X-O MANOWAR, The Blue Flame), and covers by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (Cover A), ZU ORZU (Cover B), and CASPAR WIJNGAARD (PreOrder Cover).

And now, six preview pages to enjoy from the good folks at Valiant HQ!

The Harbinger #8 Preview Page 1

The Harbinger #8 Preview Pages 2 & 3

The Harbinger #8 Preview Page 2

The Harbinger #8 Preview Page 3

The Harbinger #8 Preview Page 4

The Harbinger #8 Preview Page 5

The Harbinger #8 Preview Page 6

Details, details...

THE HARBINGER #8
Written by COLLIN KELLY, JACKSON LANZING
Art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
Colors by RICO RENZI
Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU
Cover A by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ
Cover B by ZU ORZU
Pre-order Cover by CASPAR WIJNGAARD

Psiot City is at war!

A version of Peter Stanchek stands on both sides of the battle. It’s Harbinger vs. Renegade in the grand finale of THE HARBINGER, and only one version of Peter can remain…

On sale MAY 25th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Meet Marketing Coordinator Nic Osborn

Marketing Coordinator Nic Osborn

  

He spent years promoting the Valiant Universe before it became his job.

Meet Nic Osborn, the new Marketing Coordinator at Valiant Entertainment. With a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Purdue Global University, over four years of freelance comics press experience as well as two years serving as the Editor in Chief at the comics press outlet Comic Watch and co-host of the Valiant Watch podcast, Nic has embraced the role of Marketing Coordinator at Valiant Entertainment to continue sharing his passion for the Valiant Universe.

 

Faith #1 Gold Edition

 

"I am incredibly hyped to join the Valiant team. I feel like I could take flight beside FAITH herself at any moment," said Nic. "Valiant boasts an undeniably impressive legacy and still has so much potential for the future in comics... and more. 

 

As a part of the fandom, I've seen the passion so many have for this universe and know firsthand how easy it is to love the characters that live in it. I'm truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this remarkable era for Valiant and after my short time with the team so far, there is already so much I can't wait to share with everyone. Longtime fans and newcomers alike, you are definitely going to want to stay tuned for what's to come!"

 

As the Marketing Coordinator, Nic is working closely with parent company DMG Entertainment on an array of new projects across various platforms including Kickstarter and so much more to continue growing the Valiant brand. He will also be utilizing his experience to focus on digital initiatives throughout social media and the fan-facing Valiant Voice newsletter, the expansion of press relationships and helping with internal Valiant marketing strategies.

 

 

Already a dedicated fan of the Valiant Universe before joining the team, Nic is eager to spread the word about the ambitious road ahead, including the first Valiant Kickstarter tabletop game Valiant: FIGHT for DEADSIDE and the return of his favorite character SHADOWMAN in January. "I'm a horror fan at heart, and because of that SHADOWMAN will always be a special character to me. 

 

Shadowman #1 Cover A by Jon Davis-Hunt

 

From the '90s introduction to this supernatural superhero to the current volume delving into his horrific roots, Jack Boniface is a force to be reckoned with for things that go bump in the night. His featured role in our first Kickstarter tabletop game Valiant: FIGHT for DEADSIDE as well as the upcoming return of SHADOWMAN from Cullen Bunn and Pedro Andreo is sure to further prove why he is such a timeless character, and one that any fan of the genre should check out." 

 

Shadowman #5 pencil & ink art from Pedro Andreo

 

Director of Marketing & Publicity Gregg Katzman is confident Nic's the right person to help the Valiant brand move forward and reach new heights. "We're lucky to have Nic at Valiant," said Gregg. "His ambition, creativity, and authentic love for Valiant's characters are exactly what we need as we head towards a sincerely exciting year of brand new launches for the Valiant Universe in 2022. You'll be hearing more about that very soon..."

 

Look for Valiant comics at a comic shop near you and more developments to be revealed soon about the Valiant Universe in 2022. As always, stay Valiant!

 

Please join me in saying a big "Welcome" to Nic Osborn. All the best in your exciting new role at Valiant Comics! 

Some Old & New Reader Favorites

As I've had trouble keeping my dedicated Pages up-to-date, I've decided to gradually take them down and rethink the Pages feature of this blog. Here's my former Top Ten Posts page, updated to reflect current statistics. To review any of these former posts, simply click on the link to that particular post.

I tend to regard my little Knitted Dialogues as fillers. Yet even after five years of posting to this blog, three of my most popular posts of all time contain my wife's fun little knitted Valiant heroes. They've even claimed the top spot!

Oh, and one more hint before you scroll through the list. Ninjak fans: you are in for a surprise! (Hope that's not too much of a spoiler).

Enjoy!

1.   The Magic of Wondercon 

 

2.   X-O Manowar #2 Review: Robots & the New Media

 

3.   The Search 

 

 4.   Ninjak #1 Review: The Prisoner in Istanbul

 

 5.   Ninjak #1 Preview Pages 

 

 6.   Happy Easter 

 

 7.   X-O Manowar Volume 5 Issue #1

 

 8.   Rai #7 Review: The Oncoming Storm

 

 9.   Shadowman #1 Review: Story

 

 10.   Alternate Scene from Quantum & Woody

 

If you followed any of the links to reread old favorites, I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. Thanks to all those who liked or retweeted my posts on Twitter, or otherwise shared these posts with your friends. 

I'll repost an updated Top Ten List periodically, to make sure you don't miss out on something other readers are really enjoying.

Dragon Dave

A Trinity of Angels

 

Bloodshot: Once upon a time there were three little girls.

Livewire: Oh no, not this story again.

Bloodshot: One was Faith Herbert, who developed her psychic abilities so she could fly.

Faith: That first flight was so scary!

Bloodshot: The second little girl was a paranormal expert and TV personality named Shan Fong. After--

Dr. Mirage: Don't say it!

Bloodshot: her...well, anyway, she developed the power to protect us from the dangers of the Deadside.

Dr. Mirage: In fairness, I do get help now and then.

Bloodshot: The third little girl--

Livewire: Young woman!

Bloodshot: Amanda McKee, discovered a unique ability to interface with and project electricity.

Dr. Mirage: I suppose that's better than working with natural gas.

Faith: Don't be mean!

Bloodshot: Together, they are--

Faith, Dr. Mirage & Livewire: Bosley's Angels!

Bloodshot: I am so not Bosley!

A Valiant Care Package

 

My wife and I have been having a bit of a hard time lately, so this care package from Valiant Entertainment really lifted our spirits.

It came with a cute card, and a message of encouragement.

It also reminded us of a program we've been streaming lately on Amazon Prime titled "Chi's Sweet Adventure." Like the picture on the card, it's fun and cute.

As Faith is one of our favorite characters, we will treasure this Gold Faith #1.

Even better, it was signed by one of the creators. 

I'm guessing it was signed by writer Jody Houser. 

(While she's taking a break from penning Faith, we're enjoying the Doctor Who adventures Jody writes for Titan Comics).

The good folks at Valiant know I like to color, so this was just perfect.

I didn't know this even existed!

I look forward to get stuck in coloring these images of Faith. 

 

 

Maybe I'll start with this panel. It's an iconic Faith image. It also reminds me of the cover for her recent Young Adult novels by writer Julie Murphy.

I don't know if Valiant Entertainment is currently producing more of these Faith #1: Coloring Book Editions. If you want one, I suggest you inquire at your local comic shop. That's always the best place to start.

Many thanks to all the great folks at Valiant for this unexpected and most welcome surprise.

Dragon Dave

Ninjak Goes Knowhere

 

 

Back in March, Ninjak wanted a road trip. So we took him to Knowhere. Or more precisely, we took him for a drive to his favorite Valiant-loving store, Knowhere Games & Comics in San Marcos, California.

He hadn't visited the store in a year, since the pandemic began. He was anxious to see all the Valiant Comics on display.

In addition to an ample selection of Valiant comics on the shelves, he also saw his buddy X-O standing guard. 

"Blimey," Ninjak said. "His sword reminds me of the flaming sword the angel used to protect the Garden of England."

"What?"

"Oops, sorry. I meant Eden."

He was mightily impressed by this X-O Manowar cover specially hand-colored by artist David Baron. But priced at seventy-five smackeroos, that would really put a crimp in his candy money. 

"Hey," he said, "I need my toffees and Jelly Babies!"

He also loved this Bloodshot display.

"Can we take it home to display our Bloodshot issues?" he asked.

"No, wait," he cried a moment later. "This one. This one!"

I explained the store needed it to display their Bloodshot issues and trades.

Did I mention Faith tagged along too? She's excited about the return of her buddy Peter Stanchek. 

Well, aren't we all?

 

 

But first, there will be Ninjak.

That's right, mate. Wednesday, 14 July is my day!

Dragon Dave

Coming Soon: Faith Greater Heights

If your reading tastes lean more toward prose than comics, you might find this selection palatable. Faith is a great character, filled with enthusiasm for life and a desire to help others.

FAITH SEQUEL NOVEL SOARS INTO BOOK STORES THIS NOVEMBER

March 3rd, 2021 (New York, NY) – Faith: Greater Heights, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the popular young adult novel Faith: Taking Flight, arrives this November!

New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy (Dumplin') returns to Faith Herbert's world for an inspiring and exciting tale as the fan-favorite superhero experiences the last few weeks of her senior year in High School. She would love to wrap up her last year of school like a normal student - enjoy prom, hang out with her friends - but that isn't so simple when you're a hero! Along with her friends, Faith will uncover some big mysteries. Featuring cover art by Kat Goodloe and design by Jenna Stempel-Lobell.

The conclusion to Faith's YA adventure goes on sale November 2nd, 2021, and is currently available for pre-order. Faith: Taking Flight is currently available for purchase wherever books are sold. A paperback version of Taking Flight will be available on May 25th.

Spinning out of the HARBINGER series, you can discover more stories featuring Faith and her teammates at a comic shop near you. A Harbinger feature film is currently in development at Paramount Pictures.

 

---

About Valiant Entertainment

Valiant Entertainment, a subsidiary of DMG Entertainment, founded by Dan Mintz, is a leading character-based entertainment company that owns and controls the third most extensive library of superheroes behind Marvel and DC. With more than 80 million issues sold and a library of over 2,000 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong, and many more, Valiant is one of the most successful publishers in the history of the comic book medium. For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and ValiantEntertainment.com. For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com. 
 
HarperCollins Children’s Books is one of the leading publishers of children’s and teen books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures and bestsellers such as Charlotte’s Web, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends, Where the Wild Things Are, and The Hate U Give; series including The Chronicles of Narnia, Ramona, Warriors, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, Divergent, and Red Queen; and graphic and illustrated novels such as Nimona, Invisible Emmie, and New Kid.  Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children’s Books delights readers through engaging storytelling across a variety of formats and platforms, including the largest young adult (YA) book community, Epic Reads.  HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, which is the second largest consumer book publisher in the world, has operations in 17 countries, and is a subsidiary of News Corp. You can visit HarperCollins Children’s Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and www.epicreads.com and HarperCollins Publishers at corporate.HC.com.

About DMG Entertainment

DMG Entertainment is a global media and entertainment company based in Beverly Hills, CA. Founded in 1994 by Dan Mintz, the company portfolio has grown to include diverse holdings across film, television, comic book publishing, gaming, and location-based entertainment. Operating as both a production and distribution entity, DMG Entertainment is best known for films such as Looper and Iron Man 3 and the #1 box-office release of Bloodshot feature starring Vin Diesel.

Faith's New Video Adventure

This year the government mandates, and the medical updates, have come thick and fast. Sometimes it's hard to know exactly what's safe and what isn't. One thing's for sure: the pandemic has made it more difficult for everyone. Still, even if the comics we love are in less abundant than in previous years, we can still celebrate the characters we love, and uphold the ideals they stand for.

 

Here's yet another example of how the wonderful folks at Valiant Entertainment are working hard--under extremely difficult conditions--to keep our spirits up.

 

VALIANT LAUNCHES MOTION COMICS WITH FAITH EPISODE #0 PART 1

 

December 9th, 2020 – Valiant Entertainment is proud to reveal brand-new Motion Comics, and the debut episode is an adventure with the publisher's most heroic and inspirational character: Faith! 

Discover the origin of Faith Herbert, aka Zephyr, and a tale with her first love and fellow Harbinger Renegade John Torkelson, aka Torque. The first episode is now live on Valiant Entertainment's YouTube channel and you can watch the nearly eight-minute-long story unfold, below.

This animated episode is taken straight from the pages of HARBINGER: FAITH #0, featuring a script by Joshua Dysart, artwork by Robert Gill and José Villarrubia, and letters by Dave Sharpe. Keep an eye on Valiant's YouTube channel for Part 2 of the story and more Motion Comics featuring other characters from the Valiant Universe.

Find more stories with Faith and her fellow Harbinger Renegades at a comic shop near you. Valiant's first young adult novel, Faith: Taking Flight, is now available wherever books are sold.

 

As always, many thanks to Valiant for sharing the good news to us.

Now relax, stay safe, and Stay Valiant by watching Faith's new video adventure. 

Dragon Dave

 

New Bloodshot and Faith Apparel

Looking for some new apparel options to show off your favorite characters? Once again, Valiant rides to the rescue! 

  

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH H3 SPORTGEAR FOR NEW FAITH AND BLOODSHOT COLLECTIONS

New York, NY (October 12th, 2020) – Valiant Entertainment is partnering with H3 Sportgear to deliver an amazing collection of apparel that features fan-favorite characters Bloodshot and Faith!

Treat yourself to some fabulous fashion as H3 Sportgear, via its Pop Cult online store, is proud to offer an exclusive collection based on Valiant Entertainment’s breakout characters. There's no better way to celebrate Valiant's characters than wearing this comfy casualwear.

 

“H3 Sportgear and our online store Pop Cult are extremely pleased to be a partner with Valiant Entertainment and with their dynamic title Faith,” says Jorge Verdin Director of Ecommerce at H3 Sportgear. “Pop Cult’s audience is inclusive and we want out products to reflect that. The Faith Herbert character is inspirational and empowering for all.”

 

 

Russ Brown, Valiant's President of Consumer Products, Promotions & Ad Sales, explains why he’s so excited for this partnership. “For over 25 years, H3 Sportgear has been a trendsetter in the apparel industry and we are excited to see the Valiant collections from them come to life at retail.”

 

 

Available right now are two collections available through the Pop Cult online store:

• FAITH Collection: Purchase HERE
• BLOODSHOT Collection: Purchase HERE

 

Be on the lookout for more items and more exciting collections available through H3 Sportgear via its Pop Cult online retailer and Valiant Entertainment.

 

Great job, Russ. Thanks for procuring these tasty apparel options, and thanks again to Valiant for sharing the good news with us.

 

Dragon Dave

 

About H3 Sportgear
 
H3 Sportgear is a global company and is trusted by the largest brand partners since 1994. H3 is the trusted partner for the highest quality licensed, private label and custom headwear, accessories and apparel throughout the world. H3 is driven by a passion for developing products that encompass our brand partners’ and customers’ vision. H3 possesses  expertise in fashion, trend, and design allows us to deliver our products to all levels of retail.  H3 is recognized as a global leader in providing the highest quality products to our customers with offices in the USA, China, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
 
About Valiant Entertainment
 
Valiant Entertainment, a subsidiary of DMG Entertainment, founded by Dan Mintz, is a leading character-based entertainment company that owns and controls the third most extensive library of superheroes behind Marvel and DC. With more than 80 million issues sold and a library of over 2,000 characters, including X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong, and many more, Valiant is one of the most successful publishers in the history of the comic book medium. For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and ValiantEntertainment.com. For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.
 
About DMG Entertainment

DMG Entertainment is a global media and entertainment company based in Beverly Hills, CA. Founded in 1994 by Dan Mintz, the company portfolio has grown to include diverse holdings across film, television, comic book publishing, gaming, and location-based entertainment. Operating as both a production and distribution entity, DMG Entertainment is best known for films such as Looper and Iron Man 3 and the #1 box-office release of Bloodshot feature starring Vin Diesel.