Book Of Shadows Trailer

 

Face down an ancient threat with his hands on the Book of Shadows in this exclusive trailer reveal!

The epic Valiant blockbuster series BOOK OF SHADOWS featuring the first-ever team-up of the supernatural protectors of the Valiant Universe debuts on July 27th. SHADOWMAN. PUNK MAMBO. ETERNAL WARRIOR. DOCTOR MIRAGE. PERSEPHONE. But will they be enough to stand against the fearsome foe, Exarch Fane?

 

 

In a recent exclusive with CBR, series writer Cullen Bunn talked about the danger facing our heroes in their first team-up in BOOK OF SHADOWS #1, calling it a "...massive, cosmic, world-ending nightmare. Exarch Fane is a serious threat to the Valiant Universe—a threat with a charming, sharp-toothed smile."

 

BOOK OF SHADOWS #1 is on sale July 27th. Join the Valiant Community on Discord and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and as always, stay Valiant!

Farewell Pat McCallum

 

 

I was saddened to learn that Pat McCallum, former editor-in-chief of Wizard Magazine, had passed away. His magazine helped launch 1990s Valiant, and introduce characters like X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Solar, and Ninjak to comic readers.

 

Needless to say, Wizard Magazine also helped make many of Valiant's talented authors and artists household names. 

 

Thanks for all you did for Valiant and its creators through your work at Wizard Magazine, Pat. Rest in peace.

Dragon Dave

The Women of Shadowman

 

 

Does your smart phone need protection against Deadside infection? How about this sizzling wallpaper from the Book Of Shadows series, coming out later this month? 

Shadowman and fellow Voodoo practitioner Punk Mambo: is that team-up hot enough for you?

What? You need more, you say?

 

Okay, here you go. Here's another Book Of Shadows wallpaper. This one features more of Shadowman's occult fighters: Punk Mambo, Alyssa, and Persephone.* They're ready to battle any netherworldly dangers that threaten your link to the information nethersphere.

So there you have it: smart phone wallpaper featuring Shadowman and his spell-slinging women. That ought to offer you some protection against undead invaders and demon-hackers, at least until Valiant spirits Book Of Shadows #1 to your local comic shop later this month. 

Dragon Dave

*If you don't recognize Persephone, you really need to read (or reread) all eight issues of Valiant's recent Shadowman series. For the safety of your immortal soul, do so immediately!

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

Rai 6: Lives in the Balance

 

Rai #6 cover by Frank Miller

 

Continuing with my Unity read...

Future Gilad & the geomancer Rokkie work hard to convince Rai to leave his son behind, and travel to the Lost Land. Rai only relents when Gilad agrees to let Magnus accompany them. As in the previous Unity chapter, Shadowman #4, Magnus, Gilad & Rai enter the Lost Land through a cave. 

Our heroes battle robots, bionosaurs, and giant techno-samarai until Erica Pierce threatens to yank Japan out of orbit, and gives Rai a means to return to the world of 4001. Can Rai sacrifice Japan's millions, when the existence of everyone who has ever lived is in jeopardy?

Rai has a son? Gilad hates Magnus? What an involving issue!

Dragon Dave

Shadowman #4: The Red Man, the Pterodactyl Rider & the Magic Tree

 

Cover by Frank Miller

Continuing with my Unity reread...

 

This issue draws you in right away, with a beautiful one-page scene of Shadowman watching cops let an abusive spouse off with just a warning. After showing what motivates Jack to use his powers, a man trained by a geomancer leads him to a special tree, which opens a doorway to the world of Unity. There Shadowman feels strangely compelled to follow "the red guy" (Solar, Man of the Atom). Packed with art that compares favorably with anything published today & an action-packed, involving story, it's a standout issue with great characters and plot twists. It's definitely my new favorite Unity read so far!

 

Dragon Dave

Jungle Fever

 

 

Archer: So Punk Mambo hangs out in trees?

Armstrong: Yeah. She's a regular Tarzan of the Bayou. 

Archer: I wonder how she and Savage would get along.

Armstrong: They could definitely party together, but I wouldn't want to see the pub afterward.