Valiant is proud to announce that the FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL – the publisher’s flagship release for Free Comic Book Day 2014 – is now being offered in a special, customizable edition for retailers worldwide! Before ARMOR HUNTERS #1 arrives this June, get an action-packed prelude to the Valiant event of 2014 right here on Free Comic Book Day in this special FCBD release, featuring surprise details on Valiant’s newest launches, anniversary milestones, and unexpected team-ups for 2014 and beyond!
For retailers that secure a minimum order of 500 copies by the title’s February 3rd, 2014 final order cut-off (FOC) date, Valiant will design a specially customized FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL cover featuring their store’s logo and contact information. The customizable area can also be modified to include a store promotion or coupon.
Setting the stage for Valiant’s blockbuster crossover event, the FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL is the perfect entry point into the ambitious storyline that will engulf X-O Manowar, Unity, and a star-studded cast of Valiant’s fearless heroes. Following the best-selling success of last year’s Harbinger Wars crossover, jump into the fight behind X-O Manowar’s first event mini-series right here on Free Comic Book Day with the FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL – featuring an all-star roster of superstar Valiant talents including CAFU, Joshua Dysart, Trevor Hairsine, Bryan Hitch, Matt Kindt, Peter Milligan, Cary Nord, Fred Van Lente, and many more!
When Aric of Dacia returned to Earth with the stolen X-O Manowar armor of an alien race, he thought he finally found a weapon to guard the peace and kingdom he’d struggled so long to secure. But now, a relentless and surgical strike team from the farthest reaches of space – sworn to exterminate the armor and all like it – have found their final target. The ARMOR HUNTERS are coming. They will hunt. They will trap. They will kill. And they will rid the universe of the X-O Manowar’s incalculably destructive power…even if it means taking the Earth with it.
Kicking off in June with ARMOR HUNTERS #1 by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar) and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite (Unity), Valiant’s 2014 crossover epic then continues with two brand new story arcs beginning in UNITY #8 by New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT, Justice League of America) and rising star Diego Bernard (Eternal Warrior), and continues in X-O MANOWAR #26 by Venditti and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (Conan). And look for even more Valiant heroes to join the fight against Valiant’s first full-scale alien incursion as the summer continues.
For more information on Valiant’s FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL retailer customized editions, contact Valiant Sales Manager Atom Freeman at (530) 830-2866 or at [email protected]
For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, and at ValiantUniverse.com.
For Valiant merchandise and more, visit Valiant.CinderBlock.com.
For more information on Free Comic Book Day, visit FreeComicBookDay.com.
VALIANT: ARMOR HUNTERS FCBD 2014 SPECIAL
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI, MATT KINDT, JOSHUA DYSART, FRED VAN LENTE, and PETER MILLIGAN
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE, BRYAN HITCH, CLAYTON CRAIN, CAFU, CLAYTON HENRY, DIEGO BERNARD, and MORE
Cover by J.G. JONES
T+/32 pgs.
IN STORES 5/3/14 (FOC – 2/3/14)
ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (OF 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
COMING IN JUNE!
UNITY #8 (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
COMING IN JUNE!
X-O MANOWAR #26 (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
COMING IN JUNE!
Valiant is proud to announce the X-O Manowar #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant by superstar artist Cary Nord — the first in a new program of exclusive covers designed to encourage fans to open pull lists at their local comic shop and reward long-term pull list subscribers who pre-order Valiant’s new number one issues. Featuring the only X-O Manowar cover by interior artist and Eisner Award-winner Cary Nord, the X-O Manowar #1 Pullbox Exclusive Variant is exclusively available only to comic book store pull list subscribers and box holders.
“We’re committed to getting as many fans of Valiant’s original incarnation as possible back into brick-and-mortar comic shops on May 2nd for X-O Manowar #1,” said Publisher Fred Pierce. “There are many lapsed readers out there who haven’t visited a store regularly for years, and this limited edition cover is a great way to incentivize the act of opening a pull list subscription with your local retailer. On top of that, it’s also a perfect opportunity to get a look at the stunning work Cary Nord is delivering with X-O Manowar.”
“One of the challenges that comics retailers face every month is how to order new titles,” added Sales Manager Atom! Freeman. “With the Pullbox Variant program, we’re encouraging fans to let their retailers know ahead of time that they plan on following X-O Manowar monthly and give retailers an extra-added reason to promote the launch of the Valiant line in their stores.”
Valiant will also be shipping in-store request forms for the Pullbox Variant program to retailers during their March ordering period. Register your store for access today at ValiantUniverse.com, or download your own Pullbox Variant request form below! Plus take a look at some never-before-seen interior pages from X-O Manowar #1!
X-O MANOWAR #1 - ON SALE MAY 2nd!
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by ESAD RIBIC (MAR121221)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CARY NORD (MAR121222)
Variant Cover by DAVID AJA (MAR121223)
QR Voice Variant by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (MAR121224)
Valiant Entertainment is proud to announce the appointment of Eisner Award-winning former comics retailer Atom! Freeman to the position of Sales Manager. As his first order of business, Freeman is contacting every comic retailer in North America to open an ongoing, direct line of communication between Valiant and the retail community in advance of the publisher’s 2012 relaunch. Valiant’s first release, X-O Manowar #1, arrives on shelves on May 2nd from the creative team of New York Times best-selling author Robert Venditti and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord.
“As a veteran of the comics shop trade, I can say that Valiant Entertainment is making an unparalleled effort to include the voice of the retailers in its decision making,” said Freeman. “Some of my favorite people are to be found among the group of passionate, fiercely independent, incredibly hardworking innovators that is the retail community. To be tasked with speaking to each of them directly is not only a worthy goal, but proof that Valiant remembers that small business owners are the backbone of the comics industry.”
Valiant’s campaign to contact the nearly 2,500 stores in operation across the United States and Canada today is one never before attempted by a major comics publisher. In addition to collecting comments from retailers, Freeman will also act as Valiant’s direct contact for comics retailers around the world, spearhead sales efforts and ensure maximum visibility for Valiant’s return on the retail level.
“With Valiant returning to monthly comics this summer, Atom!’s enthusiasm and knowledge of comics retail has been invaluable,” said Valiant Entertainment founders Jason Kothari, CEO, and Dinesh Shamdasani, Chief Creative Officer. “Our primary focus is on the direct market and its network of independent retailers. In dealing with the changing landscape of the comics market, having someone with Atom!’s background and experience will make Valiant’s return that much greater.”
Freeman managed and co-owned Brave New World Comics in Santa Clarita, California for a decade. In 2008, the store received the Will Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award, making Freeman one of only 27 store owners to ever receive the highest award in comics retail. Over the years, he has also managed the sales and marketing departments of several companies both in and out of the comics industry.
“I know firsthand the amount of effort that goes into keeping a comic shop open and accessible in this day and age. And I also know that many retailers – some with more than 20 years experience – have never received a phone call from a publisher,” said Freeman. “Fortunately, that’s about to change.”
Valiant’s retailer outreach campaign is just the first of several retailer-specific programs that the publisher will debut over the course of 2012. In the interim, shop owners and retail staff around the world are encouraged to register for Valiant’s new online retailer portal at http://ValiantUniverse.com. Retailers with suggestions, questions or comments can also contact Freeman directly at [email protected] or at (530) 830-2866.
Valiant is proud to announce that the FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL – the publisher’s flagship release for Free Comic Book Day 2014 – is now being offered in a special, customizable edition for retailers worldwide! Before ARMOR HUNTERS #1 arrives this June, get an action-packed prelude to the Valiant event of 2014 right here on Free Comic Book Day in this special FCBD release, featuring surprise details on Valiant’s newest launches, anniversary milestones, and unexpected team-ups for 2014 and beyond! 
