Harbinger: The Beginning ***SPOILERS Thread

[ManofTheAtom]

Look at the "new" logo straight on, and it would look the same as the old one.

Oh, definitely. All it seems to be missing is the V on the compass and the colors are different, but yeah, it is the same logo slightly altered to give it a more modern, 3-D look.

It's a cool-looking logo, not saying it's not... I just think the lower-case letters don't look as cool.

Edit

Yeah, I said it's "completely different" but I meant from the one that's on the tm site.

[thePike]

Any chance those of us that are eagerly waiting might have one of you lucky folks give us a readable close-up the text on the dust jacket (the back and inside flaps)?

[superman-prime]

That looks sweeter then i expected

[Dr. Solar]

OH *SQUEE* YES!

This looks awesome. I can't wait to get my hands on one of these (or three).

[schi0249]

I wanna know about the new story. How long is it? How does it compare to old school Harbinger? What do you think of the new character? Figured, since this is already labeled for spoilers, can we get some?

[muzzsucker]

THAT IS SWEET! is that bob hall?

[daydreamscomics]

i was fortunate enough to be able to have some of these for sale at ww chicago this past weekend. got to meet chip, valiant's marketing man, and he brought a box for me to put out. (btw, chip is an awesome guy with a lot of good ideas ) he said i was the second person to see the finished product, and i must say it looks great

i wasn't sure what kind of response it would receive, but i displayed it prominently on both sides of my booth, and between saturday and sunday i was able to move 29 copies of it! i even returned to the shop today to find someone had special ordered one while i was gone

based on this, i think the response to this book is going to greatly exceed all expectations.

[ManofTheAtom]

Does the hc come with an introduction, foreword, afterword, or anything like that? Or does it go directly into the story?

[1st Among Equals]

THAT IS SWEET! is that bob hall?

Wait is that the new character behind Harada. The older lady?

[dellamorte]

Bob Hall art on the right and yes the older lady is one of the new characters but I don't think she is the KEY new character.

[ManofTheAtom]

Bob Hall art on the right and yes the older lady is one of the new characters but I don't think she is the KEY new character.

Spoil it already, lol

[greg]

Does the hc come with an introduction, foreword, afterword, or anything like that? Or does it go directly into the story?

Apart from the 'inside flaps' of the dustcover, there is a title page (image from Harbinger #1),
then the credits page, and then page 1 of Harbinger #0.



To answer your earlier question about continuity.
The Origin of Harada story is set March 7, 1992.

Torque died in the evening of March 6, 1992, in Harbinger #6.

The Origin of Harada story fits into the same timeframe as Harbinger #7.

[ManofTheAtom]

Does the hc come with an introduction, foreword, afterword, or anything like that? Or does it go directly into the story?

Apart from the 'inside flaps' of the dustcover, there is a title page (image from Harbinger #1),
then the credits page, and then page 1 of Harbinger #0.



To answer your earlier question about continuity.
The Origin of Harada story is set March 7, 1992.

Torque died in the evening of March 6, 1992, in Harbinger #6.

The Origin of Harada story fits into the same timeframe as Harbinger #7.

[Sect]

THIS. IS. KILLING. ME.

someone please spoil it!

[greg]

THIS. IS. KILLING. ME.

someone please spoil it!

I have the book in hand... ask a question, I'll give you an answer.

[ManofTheAtom]

THIS. IS. KILLING. ME.

someone please spoil it!

I have the book in hand... ask a question, I'll give you an answer.

Who are the new characters?

How does this story affect, if at all, VALIANT's future?

Any hints of what's to come, or is the new story just to add to what's already been done?

Could you do a transcript of the information in the dustjacket?

[400yrs]

I have the book in hand... ask a question, I'll give you an answer.

How many pages is the origin story?

[greg]

I have the book in hand... ask a question, I'll give you an answer.

How many pages is the origin story?

This question is easier, so I'll answer it first.

Eight pages, one of them is the cover "Origin of Harada" seen in the photos of this thread. Seven story pages.

[greg]

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

Who are the new characters?

Noriko Harada, Toyo's wife
Madame Rowena, Noriko's fortune teller (a Harbinger)

How does this story affect, if at all, VALIANT's future?

There are many directions that the story could go...
If anything, this story opens up a lot of possibilities for VEI,
it does not immediately change anything in Valiant continuity.

Any hints of what's to come, or is the new story just to add to what's already been done?

This is an interpretation question, and you can interpret what's in the story
several ways... I believe this story answers the question,
what did Harada (and his wife) do the day after Torque died?

Could you do a transcript of the information in the dustjacket?

Inside front cover, dust jacket edge

HARBINGER
THE BEGINNING

In 1992, legendary writer Jim Shooter and newcomer
artist David Lapham teamed up to reinvent a staple of
comic book storytelling - the superhero team genre.
Their darker approach more realistically portrayed
superpowered teenagers. The characters behaved like real
people, blurring the line between good and evil. The heroes
were flawed and sometimes loathsome, while the
villains were often noble and frighteningly identifiable.

Harbinger became a critical and commercial smash
hit, sparking a national obsession with Valiant Comics.
Harbinger's first issue was named "Collectible of the
Decade" by Wizard Magazine, appeared on Wizard
Magazine's Top Ten list for a then-record eight consecutive
months, and in 2006 was named the 1990s "Comic Book
of the Decade" by Sequart. Harbinger also became one
of the most popular comic series of the 1990s, selling
over 5 million comic books. The story in this collection
started a revolution that continues to inspire creators and
fans alike to this day. This historic tale stands the test
of time.

Harbingers are human beings with extraordinary powers
of the mind. Throughout history, their dangerous abilities
tended to lie dormant, emerging in occasional bursts
that are brought on by stress. This changes when Japanese
tycoon Toyo Harada, the world's most powerful
Harbinger, established the Harbinger Foundation. The
organization's vast power and resources are dedicated to
train Harbingers and promote Harada's vision of world
betterment, no matter the cost. Soon after, the Foundation
discovers the existence of teenager Peter Stanchek,
the only Harbinger who can rival Harada's own Godlike
powers.


"The first storyline deserves to be uttered in the
same breath as the masterpieces of the art form:
Watchmen, Maus, Dark Knight Returns..."
- Sequart

[ManofTheAtom]

Noriko Harada, Toyo's wife

I called that one

So he was married all along, interesting.

Madame Rowena, Noriko's fortune teller (a Harbinger)

Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?

There are many directions that the story could go...
If anything, this story opens up a lot of possibilities for VEI,
it does not immediately change anything in Valiant continuity.

Ok, cool.

This is an interpretation question, and you can interpret what's in the story several ways... I believe this story answers the question,
what did Harada (and his wife) do the day after Torque died?

Cool.

Inside front cover, dust jacket edge

HARBINGER
THE BEGINNING

In 1992, legendary writer Jim Shooter and newcomer
artist David Lapham teamed up to reinvent a staple of
comic book storytelling - the superhero team genre.
Their darker approach more realistically portrayed
superpowered teenagers. The characters behaved like real
people, blurring the line between good and evil. The heroes
were flawed and sometimes loathsome, while the
villains were often noble and frighteningly identifiable.

Harbinger became a critical and commercial smash
hit, sparking a national obsession with Valiant Comics.
Harbinger's first issue was named "Collectible of the
Decade" by Wizard Magazine, appeared on Wizard
Magazine's Top Ten list for a then-record eight consecutive
months, and in 2006 was named the 1990s "Comic Book
of the Decade" by Sequart. Harbinger also became one
of the most popular comic series of the 1990s, selling
over 5 million comic books. The story in this collection
started a revolution that continues to inspire creators and
fans alike to this day. This historic tale stands the test
of time.

Harbingers are human beings with extraordinary powers
of the mind. Throughout history, their dangerous abilities
tended to lie dormant, emerging in occasional bursts
that are brought on by stress. This changes when Japanese
tycoon Toyo Harada, the world's most powerful
Harbinger, established the Harbinger Foundation. The
organization's vast power and resources are dedicated to
train Harbingers and promote Harada's vision of world
betterment, no matter the cost. Soon after, the Foundation
discovers the existence of teenager Peter Stanchek,
the only Harbinger who can rival Harada's own Godlike
powers.


"The first storyline deserves to be uttered in the
same breath as the masterpieces of the art form:
Watchmen, Maus, Dark Knight Returns..."
- Sequart

[greg]

Could you do a transcript of the information in the dustjacket?

Inside back cover, dust jacket edge

Jim Shooter is an industry legend. He began his
professional writing career at the age of 13, a world record,
crafting some of the seminal Legion of Super Heroes
stories for DC Comics. At the age of 27, he became
Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics. During his nine-year tenure,
he oversaw some of Marvel's most influential creations
and storylines, such as Spider-Man's black costume and
the creation of Venom, the X-Men's Dark Phoenix Saga,
and Frank Miller's run on Wolverine and Daredevil.
In 1990, Shooter co-founded Valiant Comics, where he
co-created some of the most popular and critically acclaimed
characters since Marvel's heyday in the 1960s, including
Harbinger, X-O Manowar, Shadowman, and Archer and
Armstrong, among others.

David Lapham is an Eisner Award-winning writer/artist
(Stray Bullets). In 1992, he began his career at Valiant
Comics and quickly became a star creator, co-writing
and illustrating Harbinger, Rai, H.A.R.D. Corps, and
Shadowman. Lapham has also taken on some of the
industry's best known characters at both Marvel Comics
(Daredevil Vs. Punisher: Means And Ends; Giant-sized
Wolverine), and DC Comics (Batman: City of Crime;
Tales of the Unexpected).

Bob Hall is a highly accomplished comic book creator.
He began his career at Marvel Comics, where he took on
such marquee characters as Spider-Man, The Fantastic
Four, Captain America, Thor and The Avengers. He then
joined Valiant Comics, where he became a fan favorite
writer and illustrator for the Shadowman series, defining
the character and making it one of Valiant's most popular
titles.

About Valiant Entertainment
Valiant Entertainment, Inc. is a character-based
entertainment company that owns and manages some of the
most popular comic characters ever created across all
media, including feature films, television, video games,
new media, publishing, and consumer products. Since its
creation in 1990, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic
books, 8 million video games, and became one of the
three leading comic character-based companies globally.
In addition, the "Valiant characters are often called the
most important characters created since the Marvel revolution
of the 1960s." (Sequart, 2006) VALIANT™ characters
include X-O MANOWAR®, BLOODSHOT®,
HARBINGER™, ETERNAL WARRIOR™, DOCTOR
MIRAGE™, NINJAK™, SHADOWMAN®, RAI™,
and QUANTUM & WOODY™, among many others.
Visit ValiantEntertainment.com for more information.

[dellamorte]

Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?

Her Key role is what she did in the past and it is a very important thing that she did.

I'll let Greg give all the real spoilers.

[ManofTheAtom]

Could you do a transcript of the information in the dustjacket?

Inside back cover, dust jacket edge

Jim Shooter is an industry legend. He began his
professional writing career at the age of 13, a world record,
crafting some of the seminal Legion of Super Heroes
stories for DC Comics. At the age of 27, he became
Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics. During his nine-year tenure,
he oversaw some of Marvel's most influential creations
and storylines, such as Spider-Man's black costume and
the creation of Venom, the X-Men's Dark Phoenix Saga,
and Frank Miller's run on Wolverine and Daredevil.
In 1990, Shooter co-founded Valiant Comics, where he
co-created some of the most popular and critically acclaimed
characters since Marvel's heyday in the 1960s, including
Harbinger, X-O Manowar, Shadowman, and Archer and
Armstrong, among others.

David Lapham is an Eisner Award-winning writer/artist
(Stray Bullets). In 1992, he began his career at Valiant
Comics and quickly became a star creator, co-writing
and illustrating Harbinger, Rai, H.A.R.D. Corps, and
Shadowman. Lapham has also taken on some of the
industry's best known characters at both Marvel Comics
(Daredevil Vs. Punisher: Means And Ends; Giant-sized
Wolverine), and DC Comics (Batman: City of Crime;
Tales of the Unexpected).

Bob Hall is a highly accomplished comic book creator.
He began his career at Marvel Comics, where he took on
such marquee characters as Spider-Man, The Fantastic
Four, Captain America, Thor and The Avengers. He then
joined Valiant Comics, where he became a fan favorite
writer and illustrator for the Shadowman series, defining
the character and making it one of Valiant's most popular
titles.

About Valiant Entertainment
Valiant Entertainment, Inc. is a character-based
entertainment company that owns and manages some of the
most popular comic characters ever created across all
media, including feature films, television, video games,
new media, publishing, and consumer products. Since its
creation in 1990, Valiant has sold over 80 million comic
books, 8 million video games, and became one of the
three leading comic character-based companies globally.
In addition, the "Valiant characters are often called the
most important characters created since the Marvel revolution
of the 1960s." (Sequart, 2006) VALIANT™ characters
include X-O MANOWAR®, BLOODSHOT®,
HARBINGER™, ETERNAL WARRIOR™, DOCTOR
MIRAGE™, NINJAK™, SHADOWMAN®, RAI™,
and QUANTUM & WOODY™, among many others.
Visit ValiantEntertainment.com for more information.

[greg]

Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?

Her Key role is what she did in the past and it is a very important thing that she did.

I'll let Greg give all the real spoilers.

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

Toyo's parents took him to many doctors to see if they could tell them what was wrong...
when that didn't work, they eventually took little Toyo to see Madame Rowena,
thinking that a fortune teller / psychic / seer / mystic might have answers.

That day she met little Toyo, Madame Rowena entered Toyo's mind and "popped" him,
the same way that Pete is able to "pop" other Harbingers into their full abilities.
Madame Rowena realized that Toyo was "like her, but far greater".

[ManofTheAtom]

Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?Whatdidshepredict?

Her Key role is what she did in the past and it is a very important thing that she did.

I'll let Greg give all the real spoilers.

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

**** REMINDER - THESE ARE SPOILERS *** DON'T KEEP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW YET ****

Toyo's parents took him to many doctors to see if they could tell them what was wrong...
when that didn't work, they eventually took little Toyo to see Madame Rowena,
thinking that a fortune teller / psychic / seer / mystic might have answers.

That day she met little Toyo, Madame Rowena entered Toyo's mind and "popped" him,
the same way that Pete is able to "pop" other Harbingers into their full abilities.
Madame Rowena realized that Toyo was "like her, but far greater".

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh