X-O Manowar creative team: Robert Vendetti and Cary Nord
X-O Manowar 1 cover by Esad Ribic.
Valiant Entertainment has announced the creative team for its first title, “X-O Manowar,” to be released on May 2. The writer will be Rob Venditti (“The Surrogates”), and the artist is Cary Nord (“Conan”).
This is a solid announcement: both of these are talented, Eisner-nominated creators. Comic Book Resources has an interview with Venditti and editor Warren Simons.
“X-O Manowar” will be a reboot, but follow the basic concept of the original series: a barbarian who receives a scientifically advanced suit of armor.
- Matt Price
Free Comic Book Day news: IGN shares first look at Valiant Comics’ new X-O Manowar
IGN has the first look at the new X-O Manowar from Valiant Comics. This Valiant 2012 issue is set to debut on Free Comic Book Day 2012. According to IGN, the publisher also has plans for Bloodshot and Harbinger. The cover for the FCBD issue is by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic. Free Comic Book Day is set for May 5, 2012.
Other comics already announced for Free Comic Book Day include the comics from the 10 Gold Sponsors: Avengers 12.1, Bongo Free For All, DC Comics – The New 52 FCBD Edition, Image 20, Mega Man: Let the Games Begin; Mouse Guard, Labyrinth and More HC Flipbook; Peanuts/Adventure Time Flip Book; Star Wars/Serenity Flip Book; Transformers 80.5; and Yo Gabba Gabba: Free Comic Book Time.
There will be 35 silver sponsors for Free Comic Book Day in 2012, so more announcements on coming books are no doubt on the way.
- Matt Price
“Archer and Armstrong” was buddy-adventure hit for Valiant Comics in 1990s
Valiant Comics were huge in the 1990s, and their focus on storytelling was a big part of that success. I recently re-read the first 15 issues of one of Valiant’s hits that also was very critically acclaimed: Archer & Armstrong.
Recapping Valiant’s Solar, Man of the Atom 4-7 from 1991-1992
I’m continuing to work in some Valiant Comics from the 1990s in my attempt to read 2,011 comic books in 2011.
Solar, Man of the Atom #4 (Valiant, 1991) wraps up the “Second Death” storyline that kicked off the Solar relaunch with Valiant. In the insert, it also continues the “Alpha and Omega” story that gives the backstory of the alternate-world Phil Seleski. (This story, which features the art of Barry Windsor-Smith, continues through issue No. 10 and is compelling throughout.) While there’s still quite a bit to be explained, the end of “Second Death” has this former Gold Key character modernized for the 1990s and ready for a long, successful run.
Solar, Man of the Atom #5 (Valiant, 1992) Alpha and Omega continues in the center section. In the lead story, Solar encounters the Spider Aliens that will be a big part of the overarching Valiant storyline. He’s still struggling to deal with his new self, with the assistance of his psychiatrist. He’s trying to avoid mistakes he made in his previous life. Love the cover to this issue.
Solar, Man of the Atom #6 (Valiant, 1992) Solar goes into space to battle the Spider-Aliens. While attempting to free the human hostages, he manages to further offend the Spider-Aliens. Deciding that there can be no peace with them, he declares war. I felt like I noticed the traditional Valiant grid more this issue than I had in previous.
Solar, Man of the Atom #7 (Valiant, 1992) Solar goes into all-out war with the Spider-Aliens, who send a champion against him with X-O armor that will continue to play a role in the Valiant Universe. Largely a big battle issue, but a cool one, with another great Barry Windsor-Smith cover.
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 841 Still to go: 1170
Full Q&A with Valiant Comics executive editor Warren Simons
Warren Simons
Warren Simons, the former Marvel Comics editor who is now the executive editor at Valiant Comics, took some time to answer some questions for Nerdage about the company’s upcoming plans. A version of this interview ran in Friday’s Weekend Look; the full Q&A is included here.
New Valiant Entertainment plans coherent, interconnected comics universe
In the heady comics boom days of the early 1990s, Valiant Comics were among the hottest properties, with titles including the mysterious Shadowman, the armored barbarian X-O Manowar and the superpowered teens of “Harbinger.”
The new Valiant Entertainment recently announced plans to return to comic book stores in 2012. Warren Simons, former editor of Marvel Comics titles including “Invincible Iron Man” and “Thor,” will bring his skills to the revamped Valiant. Last week, Simons was named executive editor of the company.
In an interview with The Oklahoman, Simons says the company’s focus will be on comic books, though a number of film properties are also in development.
“As a company, we’re about comic books first, and comic book stores are the best way to reach our readership,” Simons said. “Stores and retailers will be our most important fans and advocates. We plan to work with them through traditional channels but also to develop and maintain relationships through new vehicles like social media. There are many different ways we can communicate and stay in touch with our fans and retail partners, and we intend to make use of all of them.”
Valiant Comics announces publisher, executive editor
Valiant Comics, which recently announced plans to return to comic-book publishing in a major way in 2012, has announced the publisher and executive editor for their enterprise.
Valiant has named Fred Pierce, the former President and COO of Wizard Entertainment, as publisher. Pierce was part of the management team for the original Valiant.
Former Marvel editor Warren Simons has been named Executive Editor. He edited Marvel books including The Invincible Iron Man, Spider-Man, Thor, Daredevil, and The Immortal Iron Fist.
My immediate response to this is a good one; both men have been involved with successes in the past, and seem like positive selections for the new Valiant. Come back next week for an interview with Pierce and Simons about their Valiant plans.
Click past the cut for the full news release.
- Matt Price
Retailers react to planned Valiant Comics relaunch
Valiant Entertainment, publishers of characters including “Archer and Armstrong” and “X-O Manowar,” have announced plans to return with print and digital comics in 2012. Oklahoma comic-book retailers say it could be a tough road ahead for the publisher, which in its previous incarnation sold millions of comic books.
Thor: Tales of Asgard giveaway; DC Comics relaunch; death at Marvel; Valiant Comics to return
Kyle Roberts and Matt Price have a giveaway of “Thor: Tales of Asgard” with this week’s Planet 46 Comics podcast. Just leave a comment below with your favorite Thor character.
Also this week:
Matt and Kyle discuss the DC Comics relaunch (we say “reboot” a few times because we filmed this before
the “this is not a reboot” e-mail). We look at the Marvel Comics death in Fear Itself #3 and its possible impact. We discuss the planned 2012 return of Valiant Comics with former Marvel Comics CEO Peter Cuneo. And we discuss X-Men: First Class.
REVIEW FILE: Flashpoint #2, Amazing Spider-Man #663, Criminal: Last of the Innocent #1
Comics read in 2011: 741. Still to go: 1270
Bloodshot featured in promotional image from new Valiant Comics
In an interview with Comic Book Resources, this image of Bloodshot by David Aja is revealed as the first piece of promotional art from the company’s planned relaunch of its properties.
New Valiant Chairman Peter Cuneo shares some of his thoughts on the core beliefs of the new Valiant in the CBR interview:
Some of our central beliefs at Valiant are worth mentioning. We think the comic book industry is the best means to nurture and grow characters that can expand into other mass media channels. We recognize that comic book retailers are the key ingredient for success. They are the blood that runs through the veins of this industry. We believe that this can only be achieved if our content is highly imaginative and is unafraid to explore new creative approaches. We do think film is the best way to promote and create excitement for our characters with consumers worldwide. Most important, we will be focused on aligning Valiant with the best talent, old and new, to accomplish our goals.
Valiant CEO Jason Kothari gave a tease about what characters the planned 2012 launch might involve:
We are initially focusing on 9 or 10 of Valiant’s A-list characters, such as X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, and Harbinger, and the interactions between them.
Check out the full interview at Comic Book Resources.
- Matt Price
