Warning: contains spoilers forResurgence of the Valiant Universe#1!
After an epic buildup,Valiant Comics’Resurgence of the Valiant Universehas arrived–and it was worth the wait. One of the defining comic publishers of the early 1990s, Valiant returned to the scene in 2012 with a revitalized universe. Valiant, after a period of relative dormancy, has returned, entering into a new partnership with Alien Books. Thishas jump-started the line, andResurgence#1 charts a bold new path.
Resurgence of the Valiant Universe#1 is written by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, Fred Van Lente and AJ Ampadu, and drawn by Guillermo Fajardo and Julio Azamor. Doctor Silk has emerged as humanity’s champion amidst a time of great crisis. Silk offers Earth the promise of a better life, in exchange for loyalty to him. Silk is opposed by a team of Valiant heroes, including Ninjak, Faith, X-O and Ivar the Timewalker.
As Silk continues to consolidate his power, the desperate heroes chart a course through deep space to find Divinity, the only one powerful enough to stop Silk.
Valiant’s Comic Book History, Explained
There Have Been Multiple Versions of the Valiant Universe
Resurgence of the Valiant Universe, as the name implies, is a rebirth for the venerable comics' publisher.Former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter helped found the company in the late 1980s, and by 1992 had emerged as one of the most exciting comic book publishers in North America.Along with Image Comics, Valiant helped challenge the stranglehold Marvel and DC held on the American comic market. Thanks to a mid-decade market implosion as well as an ill-advised sale to video game manufacturer Acclaim, Valiant was gone by decade’s end.
The heroes of the Valiant Universe, including Archer and Armstrong and Shadwoman, were too good to stay gone for long.
The heroes of the Valiant Universe, including Archer and Armstrong and Shadwoman, were too good to stay gone for long. The rights to a majority of Valiant characters (excluding the Western Publishing heroes, like Solar or Magnus) were purchased and a new incarnation of the company was born. Debuting to critical acclaim in 2012, the new Valiant line brought their stable of heroes into the 21st century. The line’s output has dropped considerably in recent years, but last year, Valiant joined forces with Alien Books, setting the publisher down the road toResurgence.
Resurgence of the Valiant UniverseHas Been Building for Months
Doctor Silk Is Poised to Become a Major Villain
Like any good major crossover event,Resurgence of the Valiant Universehad a massive, epic buildup. This past Spring, Valiant launched a slew of new titles starring their biggest heroes, each one marked as part ofThe Road to Resurgence. Valiant, hyper aware that many ofResurgence’sreaders are either lapsed fans or completely new to the publisher, put “catch-up” pages in the front of every title. This brought fans up to speed on the state of the Valiant Universe heading intoResurgence.At the same time, these books laid the foundation forResurgence’sepic story.
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Central to theResurgence of the Valiant Universeis Doctor Silk. A new villain created for the latest incarnation of the Valiant Universe, Doctor Silk, has emerged as its primary antagonist. Previous Valiant villains,such as Master Darqueor Toyo Harada, all came close to their goals of domination, but Doctor Silk is preparing to do what those two failed at: putting heroes, such as Bloodshot and the Eternal Warrior, in their place. Silk, who is virtually immortal thanks to his ability to transfer his consciousness into clone bodies, is the biggest existential threat yet to the Valiant Universe.
Valiant Has a Good Track Record With Crossovers
Valiant Has Used Crossovers to Put Themselves on the Map Before–And They Will Again
Resurgence of the Valiant Universeis the biggest event in Valiant history since the company returned in 2012.Resurgenceis looking to put Valiant back into the hearts and minds of fans, and with its epic scope, it might do just that. In past incarnations, Valiant used major crossover events as a means to introduce their characters to new audiences. In 1992, Valiant releasedUnity. This event, which had been building since the dawn of the Valiant Universe, was a massive success, both sales-wise and with critics. AfterUnity, the buzz Valiant enjoyed among fans only grew.
After Valiant’s purchase by Acclaim, they unveiled another incarnation of the universe, sometimes referred to fans as “VH2.”
Valiant followed up onUnitytwo years later withThe Chaos Effect,which worked on an even wider canvas than its predecessor. Master Darque, who emerged afterUnityas Valiant’s primary antagonist, launched a campaign against its heroes.The Chaos Effectcrossed over into every Valiant title during the summer of 1994. Unfortunately, the downturn in sales had already begun, and Valiant, like many other new and smaller publishers, felt the strain. Despite these less than ideal circumstances,The Chaos Effectwas still a hit, with fans if not critics.
Resurgence of the Valiant Universeis the Publisher’s Biggest Event in Decades
ResurgenceMakes Good Use of Valiant’s Stable of Characters
Once again, Valiant is gearing up for a major crossover, the first in its new line to duplicate the grand scope ofUnityorThe Chaos Effect. Valiant has done smaller crossover events since their return, such asHarbinger Wars,but these were limited to just a few titles. The third volume ofDivinitysaw Valiant release a variety of one-shots featuring their heroes on a new world created by the mega-powerful Divinity. Yet these did not cross over into the main line, givingResurgence of the Valiant Universethe honor of being their biggest event to date.
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Just like its predecessors in Valiant’s previous incarnation,Resurgenceshowcases the company’s wide slew of characters.Resurgence’sfirst issue features Valiant’s biggest icons, such as the Geomancer and Ninjak, mixing them up with newer additions such as Savage. Divinity, a Russian cosmonaut who disappeared in the 1950s, only to return to the present day as a god, is conspicuously absent inResurgence#1, but the issue’s ending guarantees he will soon make his presence felt. A few other Valiant characters, such as Quantum and Woody, were also absent, but the event is still young.
Valiant employed “catch up” pages to wonderful effect duringResurgence’sbuildup, and they use them here again to introduce readers to the event’s three main factions.
What makesResurgence of the Valiant Universeso successful is how it effortlessly juggles these characters, ensuring each gets their time to shine. Some, such as Savage, are only inResurgence#1 for a brief period, but make the most of their time. In Savage’s case, this involves tearing his way out of a rampaging dinosaur. Valiant employed “catch up” pages to wonderful effect duringResurgence’sbuildup, and they use them here again to introduce readers to the event’s three main factions. Commitment to the readers was a hallmarkof the classic Valiant universe, and the new incarnation continues this trend.
Valiant stands at a crossroads once again,andResurgence of the Valiant Universerepresents the culmination of months of preparation and buildup.Resurgenceis Valiant’s biggest event in 12 years, and its first issue is worthy of the buildup and the hype.Resurgence of the Valiant Universeis not only an excellent introduction (or reintroduction) to these characters, but also sets the stage for their exciting futures.Valianthas remained mum about where their universe is heading afterResurgence, but with a high quality debut issue, it is certain to be bright.
Resurgence of the Valiant Universe#1 is on sale September 18 from Valiant Comics!
Resurgence of the Valiant Universe#1 (2024)
