Valiant Announce Six New Books: Rai, Armor Hunters, Dr Mirage, The Delinquents and Morehttp://ift.tt/1g3eA1X

Valiant have absolutely blitzed it today, announcing a new initiative which will see a new series launch every month right through until September. Amongst the announcements are a Quantum & Woody/Archer & Armstrong crossover, and new books by Jen Van Meter, Matt Kindt, Doug Braithwaite, Joe Harris, Roberto De La Torre and Clayton Crain.

This is an initiative called Valiant First, with the idea being that the company launch a series of issue #1 comics this year, which will also be the very first comic you read from your weekly pile. It’s a big initiative, and raises the number of ongoing Valiant series dramatically.

May’s new series will be Rai, by Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain

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As teased in his interview on The Beat last week, Matt Kindt will be launching the first ongoing series of Valiant First, Rai. Following the Japanese hero in the far-flung future, the series is painted by Clayton Crain, who has been working with Valiant for a number of years now. Valiant describe it thus:

In the far future of 4001 A.D., Japan is a single endless city-state, governed by a benevolent artificial intelligence and policed by an army of just one – the mysterious Rai, spirit guardian of the rising sun. But, soon, a single bullet will shatter the peace it has taken 2,000 years to secure…

June’s new series will be Armor Hunters by Robert Venditti and Doug Braithwaite

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An event miniseries which will cross over X-O Manowar with the rest of the Valiant Universe. An 18-part storyline, this will cross over into Unity and X-O Manowar as part of a big crossover, which will also feature a number of tie-ins showing how the other Valiant characters cope with the threat of an alien invasion.

A relentless and surgical strike team from the farthest reaches of space – sworn to exterminate the X-O Manowar armor and all like it – have found finally their last target. 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.

July will launch Armor Hunters: Bloodshot by Joe Harris and Trevor Hairsine

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as well as Armor Hunters: Harbinger by Joshua Dysart and Robert Gill

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Two one-shot issues which tie in to the main Armor Hunters storyline. In particular, the Harbinger issue will bring back the Generation Zero characters, see in the Harbinger War storyline.

August’s new series will be The Delinquents by Fred Van Lente, James Asmus and KANO

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A crossover storyline we’ve all been waiting to happen. Archer, Armstrong, Quantum and Woody – and a goat – getting drunk, switching partners, fighting off conspiracies and probably contributing what will be the World’s Worst Crossover Team of all time.

September’s new series will be The Death-Defying Dr Mirage, by Jen Van Meter and Roberto De La Torre

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The final of Valiant’s announcements, and their first story with a female lead. This will be a love story, according to Valiant, with a supernatural overtone. After a tragedy snatched Dr Mirage’s husband Hwen away from her, she journeys into Deadside in order to try and fight to get him back.

World-renowned parapsychologist Dr. Mirage and her husband Hwen were madly, deeply, stuff-of-legends in love – until the day a tragic accident stole Hwen away. Now, Dr, Mirage will have to use every ounce of her training and talents in the mystic arts to do the one thing Hwen taught her never to do – journey across the realms of Deadside and bring her love back to the land of the living.

This all marks the biggest Valiant announcement since the company first formed. It looks as though they have two new ongoing series here, being added to their slate, alongside a number of crossovers and tie-ins and events. Several of these look really interesting indeed

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