This year’s New York Comic Con is the first since Alien Books’ relaunch of the Valiant Universe, and they’re looking to make a big splash. The publisher has unveiled it’s bringing an all-new variant cover of its flagship Valiant Beyond title — The X-O Manowar — to share with congoers.
Not only does the piece feature an incredible painting by Ariel Olivetti, but it’ll be available as a foil cover limited to 500 copies. Alien and Valiant won’t have a presence at the con themselves but rather, they’ll be appearing at the IDW booth to distribute copies of this. Shortly after the Diamond news first broke earlier this year, Alien announced a distribution deal through IDW, which allows the publisher to sell books to retailers through Penguin Random House.
“We’re excited to be partnering with IDW Publishing to debut this amazing foil edition of THE X-O MANOWAR #1 at New York Comic Con this year,” Alien Books boss Matias Timarchi said in a press release. “We can’t wait to connect with fans and retailers at the show and talk about Valiant Comics, Zorro, and everything else we have planned for 2026!”
Valiant Beyond is the publisher’s answer to Marvel’s Ultimate Universe and DC’s Absolute Universe. With Beyond, however, it’s the lone Valiant publishing line Alien is producing for the foreseeable future. Although some of the titles feature big names like Olivetti and Steve Orlando, the launch of the line was embroiled in controversy after transphobic dialogue appeared in Valiant Beyond: Bloodshot #1. Alien has since issued an apology for printing it.
“Alien Books and writer Mauro Mantella sincerely apologize for the harm caused by the phrasing in Bloodshot #1,” Timarchi offered in a statement at the time. “While the story takes place in a fictional world of vampires and cults, we understand that a specific line of dialogue has been read as alluding to real-world issues, specifically, the discrimination faced by trans people.”
Valiant Beyond: The X-O Manowar #1 is now in shops while the second issue is set for release next month.
