Category Archives: Retailer

Valiant Unveils Details on All-New VALIANT PRESTIGE Format – Including Special Features for THE VALIANT #1 and DIVINITY #1

As VALIANT NEXT readies for the launch of six epic new ongoing series and prestige format projects beginning with the release of THE VALIANT #1 (of 4) on December 10th, Valiant is proud to reveal the first look inside the all-new VALIANT PRESTIGE format – a new form of deluxe packaging for Valiant’s most important standalone limited series and events!

Beginning with the release of THE VALIANT #1 (of 4) – the first issue of the four-issue epic from New York Times best-selling writers Jeff Lemire (Green Arrow, Animal Man) & Matt Kindt (RAI, Mind MGMT) and Eisner Award-winning artist Paolo Rivera (Daredevil) – next week, fans and retailers can look forward to a high-end presentation unlike anything else in comics today with each and every issue. Features for THE VALIANT #1 (of 4), the very first release to feature the VALIANT PRESTIGE format, will include:

• Deluxe matte laminate card stock covers
• Custom-designed heavyweight end sheets
• An oversized, 25-page first chapter
• An exclusive guide to THE VALIANT, detailing the backstory and origins of the series’ principal players
• Never-before-seen commentary and back matter, curated by Eisner Award winner Paolo Rivera
• All complete with no advertisements and a standard $3.99 cover price!

Each subsequent issue of THE VALIANT by Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera will feature the same deluxe presentation, as will DIVINITY #1 (of 4) – the VALIANT NEXT prestige format limited series debuting in February from New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (RAI, Mind MGMT) and blockbuster artist Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis). Featuring the landmark debut of Valiant’s first major new character, each issue of DIVINITY will feature covers by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic (Thor) and designer Tom Muller (Zero) in addition to an array specially crafted special features and behind-the-scenes insights into the development and design of Valiant’s next pivotal hero.

“The thinking behind the VALIANT PRESTIGE format is simple – match the scale, scope, and dynamism of our most unique, most epic stories with an equally compelling presentation that practically leaps off the shelf,” said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. “By design, the first two titles to receive this treatment – THE VALIANT and DIVINITY – are stories that couldn’t be told in an ongoing book, or even as standard limited series. They truly are can’t-miss excursions into the Valiant Universe, telling stories unlike anything Valiant has undertaken before. The presentation of our VALIANT PRESTIGE offerings – no ads, exclusive content, upgraded covers, end sheets, and more – designates these titles as special books within the Valiant line, and will give fans an extra-added layer of depth to the storytelling experience.”

“Over the past three years, Valiant has introduced several new innovations to great success – subscription-only Pullbox variants, expanded Plus Edition issues, QR code-enabled talking covers, and many more,” said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “VALIANT PRESTIGE is a central new addition that list. It’s both a tribute to the great standalone, prestige format tales that helped inform our love of the medium, like Kingdom Come and Marvels, while, at the same time, a chance to break new ground by revitalizing and refining the concept of what prestige format can be for a whole new generation of readers. We have some truly special stuff in the offing for these titles, and we can’t wait to see them on the shelf.”

Look for more developments soon on each VALIANT PRESTIGE release, and visit your local retailer today to pre-order each epic VALIANT NEXT series. Beginning with THE VALIANT #1 (of 4) on December 10th, VALIANT NEXT continues with five blockbuster new series in 2015, starring Valiant’s biggest, most-demanded heroes alongside all-new, never before seen characters:

• IVAR, TIMEWALKER #1 by Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry in January
• DIVINITY #1 (of 4) by Matt Kindt and Trevor Hairsine in February
• IMPERIUM #1 by Joshua Dysart and Doug Braithwaite in February
• NINJAK #1 by Matt Kindt and Clay Mann in March
• BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 by Jeff Lemire and Mico Suayan in April

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

THE VALIANT #1 (of 4) [VALIANT NEXT]
Written by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by PAOLO RIVERA (OCT141678)
Interlocking Variant Cover by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT (OCT141679)
Variant Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (OCT141680)
B&W Sketch Variant by PAOLO RIVERA (OCT141681)
Blank Cover also available (OCT141682)
$3.99 | 32 pages. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On sale DECEMBER 10 (FOC – 11/17/14)

THE VALIANT #2 (of 4) [VALIANT NEXT]
Written by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by PAOLO RIVERA (NOV141677)
Valiant Next Variant by PAOLO RIVERA & TOM MULLER
Interlocking Variant Cover by JEFF LEMIRE & MATT KINDT (NOV141678)
Variant Cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (NOV141679)
$3.99 | 32 pages. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On sale JANUARY 21 (FOC – 12/29/14)

DIVINITY #1 (of 4) [VALIANT NEXT]
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover A by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (DEC141707)
Cover B by TOM MULLER (DEC141708)
Valiant Next Variant by BUTCH GUICE & TOM MULLER (DEC141709)
Character Design Variant by LEWIS LAROSA (DEC141710)
Artist Variant by LEWIS LAROSA (DEC141711)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | VALIANT PRESTIGE | On sale FEBRUARY 11 (FOC – 1/19/15)

Retailer Advisory: “ENTER: ARMORINES” Gets Even Bigger with All-New Incentives for X-O MANOWAR #30!

On November 19th, Valiant’s armor-clad powerhouse is kicking off the all-new story arc “ENTER: ARMORINES” in X-O MANOWAR #30 – and now Valiant is giving fans and retailers an extra-added chance to get in on the action!

Valiant is proud to present the X-O MANOWAR #30 FOC INCENTIVE VARIANT – featuring an all-new cover of the Armorines in action by rising star and red-hot cover artist Raul Allen (RAI, UNITY) – plus the first look inside this milestone jumping-on point for the acclaimed sci-fi superhero series at the forefront of Valiant’s award-winning publishing line!

Retailers that increase their order of X-O MANOWAR #30 by 20% or more by the issue’s final order cut-off (FOC) date may order as many copies as they wish of the X-O MANOWAR #30 FOC INCENTIVE VARIANT shelf cover – leading directly into the must-read debut of Valiant’s deadliest armored adversary yet, the all-new ARMORINES!

Since Aric of Dacia returned from the stars, terror and destruction have followed in his wake – and the nations of Earth have had enough. As the world rushes into a new arms race, X-O Manowar will find himself confronted by a calculating paramilitary force designed to duplicate – and outmatch – the destructive potential of his own armor. But who is this bleeding-edge commando unit – and what plans does their fiendishly familiar leader have in store for the universe’s most powerful weapon?

He survived NINJAK… He survived UNITY… But can X-O Manowar survive his first encounter with the all-new ARMORINES? Find out as Valiant superstars Robert Venditti and Diego Bernard present a pivotal new chapter in the saga of X-O Manowar in “ENTER: ARMORINES” – beginning on November 19th in X-O MANOWAR #30!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

X-O MANOWAR #30 (ALL-NEW ARC! “ENTER: ARMORINES” – PART 1)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Interlocking A & B Covers by CLAYTON HENRY (SEP141684/SEP141685)
FOC Incentive Variant by RAUL ALLEN (SEP148143)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON HENRY (SEP141686)
Variant Cover by RAFA SANDOVAL (SEP141687)
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | On Sale NOVEMBER 19 (FOC – 10/27/14)

THE DELINQUENTS #1 is for Sellouts – Second Printing Coming in October!

Valiant is proud to announce that THE DELINQUENTS #1 – the FIRST ISSUE of the first disastrous team-up between Quantum and Woody and Archer & Armstrong – has sold out at the distributor level and will return with a brand-new second printing in stores October 1st!

You demanded it, so we delivered it! Archer & Armstrong finally meet Quantum and Woody! Written by multiple Harvey Award nominee James Asmus (Quantum and Woody) and New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente (Archer & Armstrong) with art by heat-seeking artist Kano (Gotham Central), start reading here as Valiant’s two most ill-suited and irresponsible pairs of “heroes” go head-to-head for a cross-country rat race…with only an ass-map to guide them!

For decades, the underground society of American hobos guarded one secret with their lives – the route to hobo paradise…aka Big Rock Candy Mountain, U.S.A. Only one map leading to its mythical location was ever made…and it was tattooed on the butt cheeks of one lone hobo guardian! In the years since, it has been flayed, dried, and split into two halves. Archer & Armstrong have the left cheek, Quantum and Woody hold the right. And, now, these two halves are about to set the competing duos off on a cross-country rat race where “O” marks the spot!

Quantum and Woody are the world’s worst superhero team… Archer & Armstrong are a mismatched pair of conspiracy-busting adventurers… Together…they make a really, really bad team! Stay out of the way because, on October 1st, they’re bringing the summer’s most out-of-control joyride back to comic book stores everywhere in THE DELINQUENTS #1 SECOND PRINTING!

Praise for THE DELINQUENTS #1:

“✮✮✮✮✮…Asmus, Van Lente, Kano and Sharpe provide a perfect example of how to blend humor and action, adventure and fun.” – Comic Book Resources
“✮✮✮✮✮…James Asmus and Fred Van Lente absolutely knock this one out of the park…” – Big Comic Page
“✮✮✮✮½…The art by Kano is gritty and dirty and hilarious…just like our heroes herein.” – Bloody Disgusting
“✮✮✮✮½…What Fred Van Lente and James Asmus have cooked up here is so good, I don’t know why any other comics bothered releasing themselves this week.” – Comics Bulletin
“✮✮✮✮…You won’t find a comic like this everyday. Don’t miss out on it. And again, it has an ass map in it!” – Comic Vine

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

THE DELINQUENTS #1 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (JUL148296)
Written by JAMES ASMUS & FRED VAN LENTE
Art by KANO
Cover by PAOLO RIVERA
$3.99 | T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 10/1/14 (FOC – 9/8/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS Rockets into Multiple Sell-Outs, Reloads with Four New Printings Coming in September!

Valiant is proud to announce that four installments of ARMOR HUNTERS – the summer’s globe-spanning, smash-hit crossover event starring X-O Manowar, Unity, Bloodshot, and more of Earth’s most formidable heroes as they defend the planet from the galaxy’s most feared, most relentless team of alien powerhouses – have sold out at the distributor level and will soon return to store shelves with new printings in September and October!

First up, on September 24th – arriving in stores alongside the action-packed final confrontation between X-O Manowar and the Armor Hunters in ARMOR HUNTERS #4 (of 4) – look for ARMOR HUNTERS #3 (of 4) SECOND PRINTING by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar) and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite (Unity); and the ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING and ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #2 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING by acclaimed writer Joe Harris (Great Pacific) and bone-breaking artist Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis)!

Then, on October 1st – hitting shelves alongside the storyline’s must-read one-shot epilogue in ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1 – pick up the ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING by New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart (Harbinger) and red-hot rising star Robert Gill (Eternal Warrior)!

Re-presenting four essential chapters of the armor-plated crossover that Comic Vine calls “an event that lives up to the hype,” it’s not too late to find out why ARMOR HUNTERS is the heat-seeking storyline that’s had fans and critics talking all summer.

“From start to finish, ARMOR HUNTERS has been nothing short of a resounding success with fans, and we’re continuing to see demand for each issue as the storyline rushes toward its must-be-seen-to-be-believed finale at the end of September,” said Publisher Fred Pierce. “The first two issues of ARMOR HUNTERS – along with UNITY #8 and X-O MANOWAR #26 – have already returned to press, and we couldn’t be more proud to now add another four titles to that list. With another month to go, ARMOR HUNTERS is already well on its way to becoming one of the most well-remembered and affecting crossovers in recent memory. This is precisely the kind of storytelling, scope, and scale that is setting Valiant apart in the industry.”

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 incalculable destructive power…even if it means taking the Earth with it.

Just as ARMOR HUNTERS # 4 (of 4) and ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1 hit stores, get a front row seat for the devastating consequences of the Armor Hunter’s attack in the ARMOR HUNTERS #3 (of 4) SECOND PRINTING, ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING, ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #2 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING, and ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING – on sale in September and October!

Praise for ARMOR HUNTERS:

“✮✮✮✮✮…This is how events should be done.” – Comic Vine
“✮✮✮✮✮…Awesome and gripping… This crossover yet again doesn’t disappoint.” – Herotaku
“✮✮✮✮½…[There's] a lot to enjoy…[and] Braithwaite’s line work is exquisite…” – Newsarama
“✮✮✮✮…Exciting and well-drawn… It’s an event story for readers who think they hate event stories.” – Comic Book Resources
“✮✮✮✮…Alive with tense drama and devastating action…Armor Hunters turns up the heat.” – IGN

Praise for ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT:

“✮✮✮✮✮…[A] great example of how things ought to be done in the comic industry.” – All-Comic
“✮✮✮✮½…This is the right way to do a crossover…and, quite honestly, this comic book just amplifies my appreciation for the entire event.” – Comic Book Resources
“✮✮✮✮…Action-packed goodness… This is definitely a solid place to start.” – Comic Vine
“✮✮✮✮…This title is a perfect pure action title that you can’t put down.” – Comic Bastards

Praise for ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER:

“✮✮✮✮½…Dysart has crafted a full story…[that] can stand on its own…” – Comic Spectrum
“✮✮✮✮…A haunting, emotional, and character-driven opening chapter.” – Comic Vine
“✮✮✮✮…The characters are fascinating and the artwork is extraordinary.” – Forces of Geek
“✮✮✮✮…[A] perfect meshing of Harbinger and Armor Hunters…” – Comic Bastards

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

ARMOR HUNTERS #4 (of 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE (JUL141482)
Qr Voice Variant by TOM FOWLER (JUL141483)
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (JUL141484)
Artist Variant by CLAYTON HENRY (JUL141485)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 9/24/14 (FOC – 9/1/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS #3 (of 4) SECOND PRINTING
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE (JUL148299)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 9/24/14 (FOC – 9/8/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING
Written by JOE HARRIS
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by PHILIP TAN (JUL148297)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 9/24/14 (FOC – 9/8/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #2 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING
Written by JOE HARRIS
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by PHILIP TAN (JUL148298)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 9/24/14 (FOC – 9/8/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH #1
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CAFU
Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (AUG141710)
Variant Cover by BRENT PEEPLES (AUG141711)
Variant Cover by MICO SUAYAN (AUG141712)
$3.99 | ONE-SHOT | 32 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 10/1/14 (FOC – 9/8/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) SECOND PRINTING
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by ROBERT GILL
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA ((JUL148300)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 10/1/14 (FOC – 9/8/14)

VALIANT New Printing Alert: RAI #1 THIRD PRINTING | X-O MANOWAR #25 SECOND PRINTING

Valiant is proud to announce that two of May’s most high-profile releases – RAI #1 and the oversized X-O MANOWAR #25 anniversary spectacular – have sold out at the distributor level and will soon return to store shelves with all-new printings in June and July!

First up, discover a daring new vision of what comics can be in the RAI #1 THIRD PRINTING VARIANT – your latest chance to enter the astonishing world of Japan in the 41st century as realized by superstar creators Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain! Returning to stands on July 9th alongside RAI #3, the red-hot launch book of the all-new VALIANT FIRST initiative continues to burn up the charts after a record-setting second print sell-out. Start reading here to jump on board the new ongoing series that has fans and critics heralding RAI as a comic book milestone for the modern age.

Praise for RAI #1:

“✮✮✮✮✮… [Rai] comes with the highest praise.” – PopMatters
“✮✮✮✮½… Rai is just plain amazing.” – IGN
“✮✮✮✮… An immersive experience…unlike anything else in comics.” – Comic Book Resources
“✮✮✮✮… This is a book you really need to check out.” – Comic Vine
“Maybe the best looking comic Valiant has produced yet, and a book that has nearly unlimited potential…” – Multiversity Comics

Plus, the sold-out, 48-page introduction to June’s much anticipated ARMOR HUNTERS crossover event returns to store shelves on June 25th with the X-O MANOWAR #25 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT! Featuring all-new stories from Robert Venditti, Bryan Hitch, J.G. Jones, Cary Nord and many more, find out everything you need to know about X-O Manowar – from his origin among the stars to his battle in the modern day – just in time for the beginning of ARMOR HUNTERS this June! Look for the X-O MANOWAR #25 SECOND PRINTING VARIANT in stores alongside X-O MANOWAR #26, the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new, standalone story arc detailing the untold history of the Armor Hunters – and the forbidden secret that put them on inescapable collision course with the planet Earth.

Praise for X-O MANOWAR #25:

“✮✮✮✮✮… A great jumping on point for any new fan…” – Comic Bastards
“✮✮✮✮½… If this doesn’t hook you nothing will. This is a perfect blend of history, action, anticipation wrapped in stunning and brilliant art.” – Unleash the Fanboy
“✮✮✮✮½… New or old to the series you’ll appreciate the work that was put into this issue and you’ll be yearning for more.” – Herotaku
“✮✮✮✮… This is how anniversary issues should be done… X-O Manowar #25 sets the bar high for the rest of the line.” – Comic Book Resources

For a complete calendar of Valiant’s upcoming releases, visit Valiant online here.

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

RAI #1 (THIRD PRINTING VARIANT)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 7/19/14 (FOC – 6/16/14)

X-O MANOWAR #25 (SECOND PRINTING VARIANT) (APR148227)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with TOM FOWLER and JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by DIEGO BERNARD, SEAN CHEN, TOM FOWLER, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, BARRY KITSON, CARY NORD, RAFER ROBERTS, and ANDY RUNTON
Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 6/25/14 (FOC – 6/2/14)

“DEATH OF A RENEGADE – PART ONE” Sells Out, Returns with HARBINGER #22 Second Printing!

Valiant is proud to announce that HARBINGER #22 – the FIRST ISSUE of “Death of a Renegade”, the devastating new story arc from New York Times best-selling creators Joshua Dysart and Clayton Henry – has sold out at the distributor level just one week after its initial release, and will return to stores with a red-hot second printing on May 28th!

United by their unique abilities, five teenage misfits have come together under the leadership of dysfunctional runaway Peter Stanchek – a psionically-powered “psiot” forced to self-medicate to keep his immense powers in check. Recruited into the Harbinger Foundation – a secret academy where others like him are trained for the betterment of the world – Peter studied to become the protege of Toyo Harada, a wealthy business magnate and the only other “psiot” capable of rivaling Peter’s incredible telekinetic capabilities. But teacher and pupil clashed when Peter discovered the true purpose of Harada’s secretive Harbinger empire – a better world…but one built by any means necessary, even subversion, conspiracy and control. Now, with only the rejected recruits of the Renegades to aid him, the one boy to ever challenge Harada’s vise-grip on the future of humanity has been left with no choice but to expose his former mentor to the world – then bring the fight to his front door.

Featuring a new cover by acclaimed artist Joe Eisma (Morning Glories), look for the HARBINGER #22 EISMA SECOND PRINTING VARIANT to arrive in finer comic shops everywhere alongside HARBINGER #23 – the next staggering issue of “Death of a Renegade”…and the dawn of a milestone moment that will change everything in its wake.

Beginning the storyline that will culminate in July’s extra-sized HARBINGER #25 and the launch of August’s HARBINGER: OMEGAS #1 (of 3), witness a pivotal turning point for the series The Onion/A.V. Club calls “one of the most binge-worthy superhero comics currently available” with an all-new beginning – and a sudden end – for Valiant’s premier team of teenage heroes on May 28th when HARBINGER #22 returns to the stands!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

HARBINGER #22 EISMA SECOND PRINTING VARIANT (“DEATH OF A RENEGADE” – PART 1)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by JOE EISMA (MAR148228)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 5/28/14 (FOC – 5/5/14)

HARBINGER #23 (“DEATH OF RENEGADE” – PART 2)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by MICO SUAYAN (MAR141414)
Variant Cover by ZACHARY MONTOYA (MAR141415)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (MAR141416)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 5/28/14 (FOC – 5/5/14)

HARBINGER #24 (“DEATH OF RENEGADE” – PART 3)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (APR141430)
Variant Cover by CLAYTON HENRY (APR141430)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 6/18/14 (FOC – 5/26/14)

VALIANT Reveals World’s Largest MEGA-COVER for ARMOR HUNTERS – Limited to Six Participating Retailers!

The summer’s biggest crossover event is about to get even bigger!

Valiant is proud to announce the ARMOR HUNTERS 18-PART MEGA-COVER – a limited edition, one-of-a-kind interlocking cover divided across all 18 issues of ARMOR HUNTERS, this summer’s hotly anticipated crossover event featuring X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, the Unity team, and many more of Valiant’s most formidable heroes.

Featuring a colossal, four foot tall by two-and-half foot wide cover image by heat-seeking rising star Diego Bernard (X-O Manowar, Red Lanterns), the ARMOR HUNTERS 18-PART MEGA-COVER is the biggest comic book cover ever attempted in the history of the medium, and will span all issues of the ARMOR HUNTERS crossover event beginning this June – ARMOR HUNTERS #1-4, UNITY #8-11, X-O MANOWAR #26-29, ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1-3, and ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1-3.

Spotlighting each of Valiant’s greatest heroes – and a few select classified recruits – as they combat the ARMOR HUNTERS‘ brutal invasion of Earth in search of the X-O Manowar armor, this is the only place to witness the true size and scale of the Hunters’ deadliest asset – the gigantic alien robot simply called GIN-GR.

“As soon as we saw Clayton Crain’s amazing character designs for GIN-GR, and the rest of the Armor Hunters, we knew that this was going to be an enemy and a crossover unlike anything else in comics. But we also wanted to present it in an equally bold manner on the shelf. When it comes to the biggest story that Valiant has attempted to date, what could be more appropriate than the world’s biggest cover?” said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce.

Available in limited quantities per issue, each component piece of the ARMOR HUNTERS 18-PART MEGA-COVER will be available exclusively from these six participating retailers nationwide:

DCBS
www.DCBService.com
customer.service@dcbservice.com
10202-C Coldwater Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46825

Graham Crackers Comics
GrahamCrackers.com
At all 9 locations in Illinois!

Laughing Ogre
www.laughingogrecomics.com/wordpress/
At all 3 three location in Virginia and Ohio!
(703) 437-9530
(703) 250-6479
(614) A-MR-OGRE

M & M Comic Service
www.mmcomics.com
830-438-6131
service@mmcomics.com
3128 Hidden Haven
San Antonio TX, 78261

Midtown Comics
www.midtowncomics.com
info@midtowncomics.com
212-302-8192
800-411-3341

Mile High Comics
www.milehighcomics.com
back_issue@milehighcomics.com
1-800-676-6423
(303) 455-2659
4600 Jason Street, Denver CO, 80211

In the tradition of the universe-shaking HARBINGER WARS, the year’s can’t-miss crossover event begins in ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4) – and then continues with new arcs beginning in UNITY #8 and X-O MANOWAR #26 in June; and ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3) and ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) in July – each featuring one of five wraparound Chromium shelf covers by some of the biggest talents in comics today!

To get in on all the action from start to finish – and to assemble your own ARMOR HUNTERS 18-PART MEGA-COVER – contact a participating retailer today to pre-order!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

VALIANT Unveils 45 Retailer Customized FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL Covers for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS Sells Out, Returns with Second Printings in April and May!

Valiant is proud to announce that both X-O MANOWAR #23 and X-O MANOWAR #24 – featuring the landmark PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS, Valiant’s summer 2014 crossover event – have both completely sold out at the distributor level and will soon return to store shelves with new covers featuring the stunning interior art of red-hot rising star Diego Bernard (Red Lanterns, Eternal Warrior)!

“Diego Bernard is a phenomenal new talent, and he’s delivering some truly mind-blowing work on PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS. He’s dedicated to X-O Manowar for the long haul and, with his first issues rocketing into a lightning-fast sell-out, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase his jaw-dropping interiors with new covers for X-O MANOWAR #23 and X-O MANOWAR #24,” said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons.

Written by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Flash) with art by Bernard, the road to the Valiant event of 2014 begins right here in PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS as X-O Manowar hurtles toward his first epic confrontation with the galaxy’s most feared team of hunter-killers. For eons, one threat above all others has brought pain and strife down upon civilizations across the universe – the X-O Manowar armor. And now X-O Manowar has come to Earth. What will follow in its wake? Only the creature called Malgam knows the truth…and, before the ARMOR HUNTERS strike this June, Aric of Dacia is about to be forced into a brutal confrontation with the deadly legacy behind the universe’s most powerful weapon.

“The fact that we’re seeing such high demand for ARMOR HUNTERS-related titles months before the event launches in full this June – and even before X-O MANOWAR #24 has arrived in stores – is an excellent indication that Valiant’s upcoming crossover will be the event to watch this summer. These two prelude issues are an indispensable introduction to the action-packed blockbuster of a story that Robert Venditti and Doug Braithwaite have in store,” said Hunter Gorinson, Valiant’s Director of Marketing, Communications, and Digital Media. “Combine those facts with Diego Bernard’s incredible artwork, and you can see why PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS is a pivotal turning point for one of Valiant’s flagship series.”

Picking up out of the pages of X-O MANOWAR #23 and X-O MANOWAR #24, New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite unleash the first issue of 2014’s must-read crossover event this June in ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4). Then, Valiant’s biggest heroes launch the resistance against the world’s first full-scale cosmic threat with new arcs beginning in UNITY #8 and X-O MANOWAR #26 in June; and ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3) and ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) beginning in July!

Don’t miss the opening salvo of the cataclysm that is to come right here with the X-O MANOWAR #23 SECOND PRINTING and X-O MANOWAR #24 SECOND PRINTING – featuring new covers from Valiant’s next heat-seeking superstar Diego Bernard! Start reading here to find out why PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS is a comic book milestone in the making:

“The fact that this is only the prelude to the Armor Hunters storyline is very good news. If things start off this awesome, they can only get better.” – IGN

“✮✮✮✮✮… X-O Manowar always pushes forward towards something greater and that’s what makes this just not a top book at Valiant, but also a top book in comics in general. This next arc kicks off with a bang…” – Comic Vine

“Armor Hunters is the next big thing at Valiant… I can dig that for sure.” – Multiversity Comics

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

X-O MANOWAR #23 SECOND PRINTING (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (FEB148213)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 4/16/14 (FOC –3/31/14)

X-O MANOWAR #24 SECOND PRINTING (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DIEGO BERNARD
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC –4/28/14)

X-O MANOWAR #25 (ARMOR HUNTERS PRELUDE)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with TOM FOWLER, JUSTIN JORDAN, and Many More!
Art by DIEGO BERNARD, SEAN CHEN, TOM FOWLER, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, BARRY KITSON, CARY NORD, RAFER ROBERTS, ANDY RUNTON, and Many More!
Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC and BRYAN HITCH (MAR141400/MAR141401)
Armors Variant by ARTURO LOZZI (MAR141402)
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN (MAR141403)
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON (MAR141404)
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC – 4/28/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Chromium & Standard Edition Covers by JORGE MOLINA*
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Artist Variant by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Blank Cover also available
CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99/STANDARD EDITION: $3.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 6/11/14 (FOC – 5/19/14)

*RETAILERS BE ADVISED: Due to the lead time needed to produce chromium, Armor Hunters Chromium Editions will be available in robust but limited quantities set prior to solicitation, and orders may be allocated.

RAI #1 Release Date Moves Up to April 30th, 2014 – Just in Time for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!

Valiant is proud to announce that RAI #1 – the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new ongoing series from superstar creators Matt Kindt (Unity, Justice League of America) and Clayton Crain (X-Force, Carnage), and the launch title of the VALIANT FIRST publishing initiative – will be hitting stores one week early on April 30th, just in time for Free Comic Book Day 2014!

“Free Comic Book Day has been a major component of Valiant’s success since our return, and we always like to make sure that our retail partners are adequately equipped for the single biggest day of foot traffic in stores across the world,” said Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. “Moving the release of Rai #1 up to April 30th is the perfect way to ensure that local comic shops shops can get the jump on the launch of the Valiant First initiative, and introduce as many fans as possible to the stunning world of 41st century Japan as realized by two of the most phenomenally talented creators working in comics today.”

This summer, Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain’s one-of-a-kind adventure proves that there is nothing else in comics like RAI! The year is 4001 A.D. – led by the artificial intelligence called “Father,” the island nation of Japan has expanded out of the Pacific and into geosynchronous orbit with the ravaged Earth below. With billions to feed and protect, it has fallen to one solitary guardian to enforce the law of Father’s empire – the mysterious folk hero known as Rai. They say he can appear out of nowhere. They say he is a spirit…the ghost of Japan. But when the first murder in a thousand years threatens to topple Father’s benevolent reign, Rai will be forced to confront the true face of a nation transformed…and his own long-lost humanity…

What do you read first? Throughout 2014, VALIANT FIRST will be rocketing to the top of your read pile with a major #1 issue debut monthly by some of the most talented creators in comics. Each month, Valiant is committed to delivering compelling and accessible new entry points to its award-winning publishing line – all while releasing no more than nine core titles per month by the end of the year. A combination of new ongoing titles, unprecedented crossover collisions, and high-profile mini-series, these are the titles that will have you reading Valiant FIRST when you head home from the comic shop –and it all begins on April 30th with RAI #1 by superstar creators Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain! Contact your local retailer to pre-order your copy today!

Also hitting on Free Comic Book Day, get a sneak inside the far-flung world of 4001 A.D. in the pages of Valiant’s ARMOR HUNTERS FCBD 2014 SPECIAL – also featuring an advance look inside the launch of VALIANT FIRST‘s colossal summer crossover event ARMOR HUNTERS!

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

For more information on Free Comic Book Day, visit FreeComicBookDay.com.

RAI #1 (VALIANT FIRST)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CLAYTON CRAIN
Cover A by CLAYTON CRAIN (MAR141386)
Cover B by BRYAN HITCH (MAR141387)
Cover C by STEPHEN SEGOVIA (MAR141388)
Cover D by RAUL ALLEN (MAR141389)
Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (MAR141392)
Variant Cover by TREVOR HAIRSINE (MAR141393)
Variant Cover by DAVID AJA & RAUL ALLEN (MAR141394)
Blank Cover also available (MAR141390)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 4/30/14 (FOC – 4/7/14)

RAI #1 PLUS EDITION* (VALIANT FIRST)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 4/30/14 (FOC – 4/7/14)

*For Valiant’s dedicated pullbox subscription customers, celebrate the launch of VALIANT FIRST with a special expanded edition of RAI #1, featuring 16 extra pages of in-story bonus features and dedicated looks inside the world of 4001 A.D. that won’t be collected for the trade paperback!