Valiant Goes To The Movies!

Well the word is out.


     Valiant is headed to the big screen with some of its characters in a really big way. Several sources have verified that Valiant is starting it's Marvel-like charge with films based on Bloodshot and Harbinger, slated to hit the theaters in 2017. If you're familiar with the Valiant Universe, you'll know why. Valiant is chock-full of great characters, like Rai, Magnus (Robot Fighter), Turok, and many, many more.

    In response to this news, interest in vintage, key-issue Valiant comics has rekindled, driving Valiant values up much more than I can recall in recent memory. If you're looking to get in on the action, The Valiant Database has a very complete list of Valiant first appearances and key issues - just what the discerning comics connoisseur needs to suit his or her  collecting needs.

     To celebrate this happy news, I figured I'd bring out my collection, and proudly put it on display for any fellow Valiant Vigilantes who might be so inclined to have a look-see, and enjoy these Valiant sounds that TEX is laying down.

     You dig? Let's go:

Bloodshot #7. This featured the first appearance of Colin King as Ninjak. King, however, first appeared in the previous issue, Bloodshot #6.

Quantum and Woody #1. This features the first appearances of Eric Henderson and Woodrow Van Chelton, two adoptive brothers - total opposites - bound together by their powers...And their need to clang their metal wristbands together every twenty-four hours. If they fail to do so, it's curtains for Quantum and Woody.

Archer & Armstrong #1. This features the first appearance Obadiah Archer, an unbeatable martial artist returned from the dead, and Aram Anni-Padda (Armstrong), a super-strong, ancient immortal. The best of friends, and crazy adventurers. 

This copy is signed by Jim Shooter, a gift from one of my awesome friends, Robbie. 

Eternal Warrior #4 - yep, two copies. This features the first appearance of Bloodshot; that's right, the one hitting the big screen in 2017. Just call me Two-Copy Tex. :)

Solar, Man of the Atom #3, This comic features the first appearance of Toyo Harada, the ultimate bad guy in the Valiant Universe. Harada first sought to protect makind by conquering it, but in his quest he fell down the slippery slope that many often do when seeking to create a utopia: he has lost his own humanity. 

Solar, Man of the Atom #10, 1st and 2nd printings, featuring the first appearance of Gilad Anni-Padda, the Eternal Warrior. Two-Copy TEX strikes again. Some have a problem telling the printings of this comic apart. Here you can see that it's fairly easy - the 2nd printing has a Roman numeral II on the cover. 

So don't let a seller catch you in a slumber, make sure you check for the freakin' number. 

Like that? I wrote it all by myself!

Harbinger #1, CGC graded 9.4. There is a plethora of important first appearances in this book, including that of Peter Stanchek, an Omega-powered psionic - the only man on Earth that can hope to rival the power of Toyo Harada, and Zephyr AKA Faith Herbert. 

Now, these are some Valiant treasures, that aren't Valiant comics. You see, Valiant used some characters from a now-defunct publisher by the name of Gold Key Comics to launch their universe in the 1990s. Here are my copies of the true first appearances of:

Doctor Solar Man of the Atom #1. This is the first appearance of Dr. Raymond Solar, AKA Solar, a physicist who absorbed immense amounts of radiation while trying to stop a nuclear meltdown, which ended up giving him the power to convert his body into any kind of nuclear energy. The Valiant version is named Phil Seleski, who gained the power to manipulate all forms of energy and matter while trying to shut down a breached fusion reactor. 

Magnus, Robot Fighter #1, PGX graded 4.0. This comic features the first appearance of Magnus, the robot-smashing martial arts master from the future. Drawn gorgeously by the late, great Russ Manning, this unsung gem is pretty dang awesome. 

Turok Son of Stone #1, also known as Four Color Comics #596, PGX graded 4.5. This features the first appearance of Turok, originally a pre-Columbian Native American trapped in a hidden valley populated by dinosaurs. Valiant revamped him considerably, making him into an 18th Century Native American trapped in the Lost Lands where dinosaurs, monsters, and aliens dwell.

    So that's all I have for today. Now, go and get you some Valiant back issues or TPBs, have some fun, and catch up on all the action before the movies come to a theater near you in 2017!!

    I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed posting!

    Happy trails,

-TEX