The Valiants #1

[Dallow Spicer1]

This is the prelude to the resurgence of the Valiant Universe (we hope).

Kind of a set up issue. A sink hole appears and Capshaw calls on Ninjak and his new sidekick to investigate. Gilad and Tama are already at the hole when they get there and they all go down to investigate (would Capshaw, now a General, really be the one to risk danger?).

Down the sink hole they encounter some lame cockroach type beasts and some generic, dull fight scenes ensue. There’s a pyramid type building there which they climb up, at the top is a Boon (remember that!), which for some reason Capshaw knocks over?

The book finishes with Capshaw meeting Tama, then out of the blue Deathmate appears and is hostile!

I don’t find Ryan Cady’s writing very sophisticated, too many convenient things happen to move the story along. As with recent books there’s strong ties to continuity that we haven’t seen for a few years but it needs to be logical and explained well. Hopefully issue #2 gives us more information and Cady gives us a well thought out story and doesn’t pack it with unrealistic convenient plot twists.

The art by Al Barrionuevo was decent, bit stiff in some panels but definitely acceptable.

3/5 - ok start, hopefully it improves

[BugsySig]

The first half (the pages that were in the FCBD book) was decent. The second half…not so much. Honestly would have been fine with the discovery of this new Boon as the cliffhanger ending and adding some more exposition in the next issue.

I’m glad they’re trying to wrap up storylines and continue the continuity before what I assume will be a relaunch/soft reboot of the Valiant Universe, but this felt very rushed.

[etos45]

I've got to ask, it's been awhile. Did the entire Deathmate series show up or is there a character named Deathmate?

[Dallow Spicer1]

I've got to ask, it's been awhile. Did the entire Deathmate series show up or is there a character named Deathmate?

A character named Deathmate

[BugsySig]

I've got to ask, it's been awhile. Did the entire Deathmate series show up or is there a character named Deathmate?

Deathmate was used as the name for the post-death incarnation of Kay McHenry, the Geomancer killed in The Valiant.

[Bl00dsh0t]

As has been mentioned, a solid re-introduction to the universe as a foundational piece for later storytelling.

I'm not a fan of the 'Valiants' as a title but this reads very much as reformation of Unity, a semi-origin take on the newer team iteration. The story did more than enough to convey this and I thought the art (much like all the 'Road to/Prelude to Resurgence' issues I've read so far) was very solid.

Side note; it was great to see so many characters either directly involved or mentioned in this issue; Secret Weapons, Savage etc (passing reference), and then Ninjak and Eternal Warrior (the fist and steel) taking more prominent roles and Deathmate showing up in the last panel was a nice touch. R-1 was fun addition to the mix at what looks to be a new Unity HQ.

Like the direction Valiant is heading with these recent issues.