Valiant 2012 FCBD Reveals - Mobile Edition

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Valiant 2012 FCBD Reveals
By Andy Frisk
May 14, 2012 - 20:57

Forget The New 52 and Avengers vs. X-Men (but not Marvel's The Avengers-it rocked). Forget Earth 2, and the "Second Wave." The most important, unified, and imaginatively real superhero universe to be created since the Marvel Universe is returning with a bang this summer. X-O Manowar, #1 by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord, is already on the shelves. Harbinger #1, by Joshua Dysart and Khari Evans is coming very soon. Bloodshot and Archer and Armstrong will follow shortly after Bloodshot debuts. This cast of characters form the core of the Valiant U. Harbinger is the X-Men dark, inverted, and real and Bloodshot would kick The Punisher's (and for that matter Iron Man's) ass. As we found out on FCBD this year though, these wouldn't be the only returning Valiant alums that we long suffering Valiant fans have been dying to see in print again. No, there will be more. In fact, my favorite Valiant hero of all time is one of them!

The announced Valiant Comics line up to this point now includes, X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, Archer and Armstrong, and the two newly announced Rai and Eternal Warrior (!). Rai will debut in Spring 2013 and Eternal Warrior bows in Winter 2012. I can't tell you how exciting this news is. Valiant Entertainment wouldn't green light two more books if expectations weren't high, and rightly so. This might just turn out to be the best time to re-launch one of the most loved superhero universes with Marvel's The Avengers' popularity driving interest in superheros and comic books in general. Personally, Eternal Warrior is my all time favorite Valiant hero. I cannot wait for his return. He might have already shown up in the Valiant U though. Check this out.

As if the announcement of the return of Rai and Gilead Abrams wasn't enough, Valiant 2012 FCBD also treated its readers to interviews with Joshua Dysart, Duane Swierczynski, Fred Van Lente, and Robert Venditti as well as sneak previews of X-O Manowar #1 and Harbinger #1. Also included were a beautiful Valiant Universe Pin-Up, a Valiant 2012 Summer Checklist, preview images of The Eternal Warrior and Rai, and a sneak peak at Bloodshot #1's script.

So while I'll always proudly "Make Mine Marvel," I must now declare "Verily Valiant!" (Now if Valiant Entertainment would just adopt their biggest fan's triumphant battle cry-I'd be the happiest Valiant fan in the universe!)