There are many alternative superhero universes to Marvel and DC. One of the most notable is the Modern Valiant Universe, which is brimming with cool concepts and unique takes on well-trodden ideas. Don’t believe me? Here are a few: a barbarian in a power suit, ninja spies, immortal warriors, rebellious psychic teens, and a soldier made from nanotechnology. Each of the comics that populate these ideas, and plenty others, are full of action and explore a number of themes through various genres. As a result, the Valiant comics have garnered a passionate cult-following among readers and critics.
But where do you begin? Alien Books has made it easy for readers new and old to jump into this comics universe with the Valiant Hero Universe Origins line of reprints.
This guide gives you all the details you need to begin reading the Valiant Hero Universe Origins line and potentially become a life-long fan.
Who is Valiant?
Valiant was founded by former Marvel editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and Steven Massarsky in 1989. Using veteran and new talent, Valiant built an alternative superhero to Marvel and DC with fresh ideas and new takes.
The company was then sold to Acclaim Entertainment in 1994, where the publisher continued to publish comics until they fizzled out with Acclaim’s financial issues at the turn of the century and then bankruptcy in 2004.
The Valiant properties were saved by entrepreneur/fan Dinesh Shamdasani and other investors, who launched Valiant Entertainment in 2012. Thus, the Modern Valiant Universe was born. This rebooted universe – recontextualising its characters and concepts for the 2010s – in ways that excited fans and critics.
DMG Entertainment bought Valiant Entertainment in 2018, resulting in several personnel changes. The comics continued to come out until the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed publishing to a trickle. It was then announced in 2023 that Valiant had signed a licensing partnership with Alien Books.
Who is Alien Books?
Alien Books is a New York-based comic book publisher that has published various comics from around the world. They’ve published books from veterans and new talent, sourcing comics and graphic novels from Europe and Japan to the English-language market.
At the time of writing, Alien Books has published a handful of Valiant comics. These have mostly been ones that appear to have been in the works before changes at Valiant Entertainment and completing stories that were left unresolved. However, the second half of 2024 sees them gearing up for a resurgence of the Valiant Universe, with a regular stream of comics and a new comic book event.
What is Valiant Heroes Universe Origins?
Along with publishing new comics starring Valiant’s heroes, Alien Books will also make the Valiant back catalogue available to readers. This is done through the Valiant Heroes Universe Origins line – collections reprinting the Modern Valiant Universe from 2012 and onwards.
Each book in the collection is a jumping-on point, perfect for new readers and existing fans, and ranges between 256-456 pages in length – making them awesome binge reads. You can pick up any title and discover a different entry point in the Valiant Universe. However, the more you read, the greater Valiant Universe comes to life with overlapping characters, themes, and stories.
Those looking to collect all the reprints will be rewarded with a sweet panoramic image on the spines. It’ll definitely look cool on your bookshelf.
Which comics are part of Valiant Heroes Universe Origins line?
The following collections have been announced as part of the Valiant Heroes Universe Origins line of collected reprints. Find out all about them, including the characters involved, the creative credits, and the issues collected.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: X-O Manowar
Written by Robert Venditti. Art by Cary Nord, Lee Garbett, and Trevor Hairsine.
Collects: X-O Manowar (2012 series) #1-18
Imagine if Conan the Barbarian wore Iron Man’s armour. Aric of Dacia was a Vigigoth warrior from the year 402 AD until he was abducted by aliens. In the process of escaping their grips, he returns to Earth in the year 2012 with a power suit of armour. Aric will have to juggle the culture shock of another time, the powerful suit in his possession, and stop those who want them for themselves.
X-O Manowar was the first comic of the modern Valiant Universe. It also happens to be the longest-running, spanning 50 issues.
Want to know more about X-O Manowar? We’ve previously covered the first and fourth arcs.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: X-O Manowar is published on 17th July.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Faith
Written by Jody Houser. Art by Francis Portela and Marguerite Sauvage.
Collects: Faith (2016A series) #1-4, Faith (2016B series) #1-8, Harbinger: Faith #0, Adventures of Archer & Armstrong #5
Spinning out of Harbinger (see further below) is Faith. The title character, Faith Herbert, is a psionically gifted individual who’s just trying to live a normal life. She juggles her secret identity with being a reporter – determined that no one gets in harm’s way.
This collection covers Faith’s early solo appearances, with a big theme of them being confidence, courage, and pursuing greatness in the face of overwhelming odds.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Faith is published on 31st July.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Bloodshot
Written by Duane Swierczynski. Art by Manuel Garcia, Barry Kitson, and Matthew Clark.
Collects: Bloodshot (2012 series) #1-13
Ray Garrison was a fallen soldier resurrected with nanotechnology by the secretive military contractor Project Rising Spirit. Now he’s Bloodshot, the organisation’s weapon, who does their black-ops dirty work. However, he eventually defies his orders and searches for the answers to his missing history.
A Bloodshot movie starring Vin Diesel was released in 2020. However, it did not do well at the box office due to being released in the early days of the pandemic.
Want to know more about Bloodshot? The first arc was previously covered on the site.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Bloodshot will be published on 7th August.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Rai
Written by Matt Kindt. Art by Clayton Crain and David Mack.
Collects: Rai (2014 series) #1-12, Valiant: 4001 A.D. Free Comic Book Day 2016 Special, and 4001 AD #1-4
Set in the technologically advanced 41st century, Rai protects New Japan. While these advancements offer plenty of wonders, there’s also plenty of danger. Check it out if you’re a fan of big science fiction action.
This collection covers the first year of Rai and the 4001 A.D. event.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Rai will be published on 21st August.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Shadowman
Written by Justin Jordan, Peter Milligan, Jim Zub, and Ales Kot. Art by Patrick Zircher, Roberto De La Torre, Miguel Sepulveda, and CAFU.
Collects: Shadowman (2012 series) #0-16, Shadowman #13X
Shadowman is a supernatural series steeped in mysticism and horror. The series stars Jack Boniface, a guy who has just inherited the mantle of Shadowman from his father. Now, he’s thrown into the crazy world of black magic and demons that haunt New Orleans.
Does Shadowman seem familiar to you? That’s because the character had his own video game for PC, Playstation, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast and remastered for modern consoles in 2021.
The first arc of Shadowman has been previously covered on this site.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Shadowman will be published on 4th September.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Unity
Written by Matt Kindt. Art by Doug Braithwaite, Cary Nord, and CAFU.
Collects: Unity #1-7, and X-O Manowar #20-22.
Unity is Valiant’s equivalent to The Avengers or Justice League, bringing characters from other titles together to take on the most formidable foes. The team comprises Ninjak, Eternal Warrior, Livewire, Toyo Harada, and X-O Manowar in this collection.
Find out more about Unity through How To Love Comics’ coverage of the opening story-arc.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Unity will be published on 18th September.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Harbinger
Written by Joshua Dysart. Art by Khari Evans, Barry Kitson, and Lee Garbett.
Collects: Harbinger (2012 series) #0-14 and Harbinger Wars #1-4
Harbinger is the Valiant Universe’s answer to the X-Men but with a more psychic bend. A group of teens with various psychic abilities rebel against the Harbinger Foundation, an organisation that appears to help them on the surface but is instead used for more nefarious purposes.
This collection includes the first 14 issues of a much larger saga and Harbinger Wars, the modern Valiant Universe’s first comic book event.
The first arc of Harbinger and Harbinger Wars have both been covered on the site before.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Harbinger will be published on 2nd October.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: The Valiant
Written by Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, Rafer Roberts. Art by Paolo Rivera, Francis Portela, Renato Guedes, Mico Suayan, and Jeff Lemire.
Collects: The Valiant #1-4, Rai: The History of the Valiant Universe, and Bloodshot Reborn #0-5.
Bloodshot, Eternal Warrior, and Ninjak collide in this big comic book event that sent ripples throughout the Modern Valiant Universe.
This collection also includes early issues of Bloodshot Reborn, the second modern Bloodshot series.
Check out a preview of The Valiant #1.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: The Valiant will be published on 16th October.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Ninjak
Written by Matt Kindt. Art by Clay Mann, Doug Braithwaite, and Butch Guice.
Collects: Ninjak (2015 series) #1-13
Ninjak has popped up in several Valiant series. However, it’s finally time for him to star in his own. Readers will see the MI6 ninja/spy/assassin take on the secretive Shadow Seven. At the same time, readers will dig deeper into his past as he learns the ropes of counterintelligence and spycraft.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Ninjak will be published on 6th November.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Archer & Armstrong
Written by Fred Van Lente. Art by Clayton Henry, Emanuela Lupacchino, and Pere Pérez.
Collects: Archer & Armstrong #0-17
Archer & Armstrong is one of the more odd-ball series in the Valiant backlist. It’s an odd-couple comedy starring the straight-laced Archer, who has grown up in a strict sect, and Armstrong, an immortal drunk. Together, they reluctantly take on cults, mythological creatures, and much more.
Find out more about Archer & Armstrong in our coverage of the first story-arc.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Archer & Armstrong will be published on 20th November.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Britannia
Written by Peter Milligan. Art by Juan José Ryp, Robert Gill, and Alvaro Papagiani.
Collects: Britannia #1-4, Britannia: We Who Are About to Die #1-4, Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #1-4, Britannia: The Great Fire of Rome #1
This series follows Antonius Axia, Rome’s first detective, as he investigates the supernatural happenings in the wilds of Britannia.
Britannia blurs history and mythology to create stories full of mystery, adventure, and action.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Britannia will be published on 11th December.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Eternal Warrior
Written by Greg Pak, Peter Milligan, and Robert Venditti. Art by Trevor Hairsine, Clayton Crain, Cary Nord, and Renato Guedes.
Collects: Eternal Warrior #1-8, Eternal Warrior: Days of Steel #1-3, Eternal Warrior: Awakening #1
The Eternal Warrior is an immortal who has sworn to protect the Earth for 6,000 years. He’s finally ready to call it quits due to the toll all that fighting has taken. However, just as he thinks he can have some solitude, he’s pulled back in from someone in his past.
The series digs into the title character’s past and present to help inform his future.
I have previously discussed the first issues of Eternal Warrior here.
Valiant Hero Universe Origins: Eternal Warrior will be published on 25th December.
Where to find Valiant Hero Universe Origins collections
The Valiant Hero Universe Origins line of collections can be found at all good comic book shops, online retailers, eBay, and Amazon.
RELATED: Where To Buy Comic Books, Graphic Novels, And Manga
Will there be more Valiant Hero Universe collections?
Alien Books has only announced collections for release until the end of 2024. However, there’s still plenty of material from the Modern Valiant Universe to be collected. Early series such as X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Archer & Armstrong ran for much longer than what has been collected. As a result, there could be additional volumes potentially collecting that material.
These collections could also dig deeper into the middle and latter part of Valiant Entertainment’s publishing history. Series such as Quantum & Woody, The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage, the Divinity trilogy, the Armor Hunters event, the Book of Death event, and many others could easily be next to be collected if Alien Books wishes to continue the collections.
It looks like Alien Books intends to continue publishing the Valiant Hero Universe Origins line further. The previously mentioned panorama on the spines of the collections looks incomplete, which suggests more books will be released in the future.
The guide will be updated if more information is made available.
Do you want to know more about the Valiant Universe?
Do you want to dive deeper into the Modern Valiant Universe? You’re in luck. How To Love Comics has covered a big chunk of the early period of the modern Valiant output through our A Valiant Read feature.
Each article covers a different jumping-on point, featuring a review of a specific story, further reading, and heaps more. It’s perfect for those looking to dive into the Valiant Universe.
The column is on hiatus at the moment but will return later in 2024.
Have your say
Will you be reading of the Valiant Hero Universe Origins collections? Share your thoughts in the comments below or via Facebook, X (formally Twitter), or Mastodon.
