Palate Cleanser: Name 5 of the best starting points for new readers

[u/TheFerg714]

We're seeing a lot of non-Valiant fans swing by recently (for obvious reasons), so let's switch it up a little bit and inject a little positivity. Let's let people know that there are a ton of amazing stories that Valiant has published that shouldn't be ignored due to the current controversy.

1. Bloodshot (2012) Vol. 1 by Duane Swierczynski/Manuel Garcia
2. Archer & Armstrong (2012) Vol. 1 by Fred Van Lente/Clayton Henry
3. The Valiant, followed by Bloodshot Reborn Vol. 1 by Jeff Lemire/Kindt/Rivera/Suayan
4. Secret Weapons (2017) by Eric Heiserrer/Raul Allen
5. Bloodshot Unleashed by Deniz Camp/Jon Davis-Hunt

[u/DefinitionSuperb1110]

I'll just be broad and say any of the 2012 launch books. They were all great for new and old fans.

[u/vietbond]

Archer & Armstrong 1-12 (1992) by BWS are some of the best comics ever written.

[u/dude_valiant206 → u/vietbond]

this! is exactly what i was going to say!

[u/TheFerg714 → u/vietbond]

Seconded. This is seriously incredible.

[u/benmabenmabenma → u/vietbond]

Cosigned.

[u/boomboxwithturbobass]

The Valiant was my starting point. Couldn’t go wrong reading any character from that.

A good starting run is X-O Manowar by Robert Venditti.

[u/Soft-Climate-2366]

1. Solar, Man of the Atom 1-10 Jim Shooter, BWS, Ditko, Perlin, Various. Just a lesson in world building and universe expanding (or contracting, if you like 😉)

2. Quantum and Woody by Priest and Bright. Deconstructing through absolute skewering of the medium.

3. X-O Manowar 1-4 “Birth”. It’s a high concept, yet low-brow tour of the Valiant Universe with a Barbarian in a Venom/Iron Man suit that can and does blast through everything. (Truthfully, X-O to me is the best reading post Unity book. I love how the Armor evolves, shatters, dies, but Aric is always Aric)

4. Shadowman by Bob Hall. A Voodoo Vampire Jazz superhero who takes the title for the most unhinged superhero who fights Arcane Undead Mega Goth in New Orleans.

5. Rai #1-8 by David Michelinie and Joe St. Pierre. A Techno Spirit Samurai in the 41st century who deals with surprisingly contemporary issues; political division, drug / technology addiction, oh and Mothergod 🤦‍♂️.

Thank you, OP for taking the time to steer the conversation forward. 🍻

[u/Batwing_Beyond]

1. X-O Manowar (2012) Vol. 1 by Robert Venditti (Pretty much the best way to start off reading Valiant and to get readers curious about reading the old stories).

2. Unity (2013) Vol. 1 - To Kill A King by Matt Kindt (The first series where a few Valiant heroes from different books come together. This story is set after X-O Manowar Vol. 2, but when you're reading it, you get context clues on how they got to that point.)

3. Bloodshot (2012) Vol. 1 by Duane Swierczynski (The best jumping on point for Bloodshot before Jeff Lemire takes the reins in "Bloodshot Reborn.")

4. The Valiant (2014) by Jeff Lemire & Matt Kindt (The quintessential story showcasing the majority of characters from the Valiant Universe. This is definitely a must-read.)

5. Divinity (2015) by Matt Kindt (Valiant's first new creation since Quantum & Woody in 1997 and their answer to replacing Solar, Man of the Atom. The first of 3 series and probably the most impactful.)

[u/TheFerg714 → u/Batwing_Beyond]

So the second VH1 analog series would be Savage for Turok, right? What would be the third one?

[u/Batwing_Beyond → u/TheFerg714]

I felt like Antonius Axia from Britannia was their answer to Magnus, Robot Fighter, but instead of being in the far future, they're in the ancient past, and instead of tackling enemies with brute force (unless it's necessary), they analyze the situation and find a motive (and then use force).

[u/Obscure_Terror]

Yeah, these are objectively all fantastic. I think either one of Venditti or Kindt’s X-O runs are great for newcomers. Holy shit I love both of those books so much.

[u/patrickkingart]

X-O Manowar (2012) and Harbinger (2012) are THE definitive starting points in my opinion. Really those, Archer & Armstrong, and Bloodshot are the best places to start since it sets everything up and introduces/connects characters in an interesting and natural way.

[u/MrCh1valry]

You pretty much nailed it with these 5

For my personal tastes I'll throw in Rai 2014 since I love the 4001 stuff

And we should also say the 90s stuff, Magnus Robot Fighter #1 or the whole Unity Crossover event

[u/SynthErsatz → u/MrCh1valry]

The interior art on Rai 2014 is mindblowing. Everyone I've shown pages of that comic to have gone out to read the full series and loved it.

[u/VentDwellingCat → u/SynthErsatz]

I went and looked, and now I have to go buy a bunch of comics, damn you!

[u/CorrectDot4592]

Interesting list u/TheFerg714 , but given how these titles are long OOP, wouldn't it be useful to suggest to new readers the most recent Origins line? I didn't read a single one myself, but I believe they were intended as starting points, and they're still in print.

[u/striker_eureka_]

The 2012 run of Archer & Armstrong has my go-to recommendation for both Valiant and for anyone wanting to get into comics for the very first time. It's never disappointed so far! Such a fun a read.

The 2017 X-O run is also a really solid recommendation for sci-fi fans. It's a great X-O book, the art is gorgeous, and you don't need any prior Valiant knowledge.

[u/javalarc]

1. Harbinger Wars Compendium - guess it's OOP now but I can't think of a better start with both Harbinger and Bloodshot leading into their crossover. Man, those were some good times.

2. Ninjak (2012) - Such a fun one delving into his past. I think I read Divinity before this one and this made me understand how he broke it of the time disruption.

3. Wrath of Eternal Warrior - You wouldn't think so, but this actually is perfect. It gives a small wink of the larger universe in the beginning issues, then it's fully an Eternal Warrior story that doesn't miss.

4. The Valiant - the much cited perfect start

5. XO Manowar - now that origin paperbacks are out. Perfect place to start.

Doing a great job Ferg

[u/SuperMcSteel → u/javalarc]

I agree on Wrath. Was one of my picks too before seeing this comment

You wouldn’t think it’d work since it follows up an event & kinda “shelves” the main character for a while after it ends. So there’s no immediate fallow up

BUT I’ve tried to get several friends over the years into Valiant. Two of them I started with this book & they dived in. Another read other books first but this is one of the ones that really “sold” them

Despite no previous knowledge you don’t need it. It’s just a great read. & lets you know of the wider world with characters like Aric appearing in it. Peaking that interest

Only shame is in the modern 2012 forward books I don’t think there is an Eternal Warrior solo series anywhere close to the level of this one. Sadly I think Shadowman & Eternal Warrior are the most inconsistently written characters of VEI. Still love them both though

[u/BipolarPrime]

I was a big fan of the early 90’s. Man, I’m still bummed that Valiant doesn’t have Solar and Magnus anymore. Those books were amazing. I hung around for acclaim and got tired of the properties getting tossed around and restarting. If this new incarnation shows it has legs, I may jump back in.

[u/SynthErsatz]

X-O Manowar 2012 was a borderline religious experience for me when it comes to superhero comics, I was really blown away by that run and it's what made me pick up the other storylines and made me a fan. Truly nothing like it.

[u/The-lorebrarian]

Any starting points for the anna-petta siblings?

[u/TheFerg714 → u/The-lorebrarian]

A&A Vol. 1-2 and The Valiant are probably the best Anni-Padda starting points from the 2012 reboot.

[u/The-lorebrarian → u/TheFerg714]

Thanks. Fairly new fan since watching a vid on XO, Ivar, and faith a long time ago.

[u/crom_unchained]

I think the Valiant Origins trades are all greet places for new fans to start. I would also recommend Britannia. It’s so stinking good!

[u/TravestyBrimstone]

1. Malev War storyline (1993) in Rai and the Future Force #9-22 and Magnus Robot Fighter #25-37

2. Rai (2014) by Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain

3. Quantum and Woody (1997) by Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright

4. Shadowman Vol 2 (1997) by Garth Ennis and Ashley Wood

[u/ryandmc609]

Well - I would say:

1 and 2) The X-O Manowar and Harbinger 2012 reboot comics. Both hit it out of the ballpark. Easily accessible trades you can buy.

3) Priest and Doc’s Quantum and Woody. Not sure how to get this “cheap” but it was easily VH2’s best book and has an Omnibus. Worth that price.

4) Harbinger 1992. Might be a tad dated but still one hell of a book. Sure it was X-Menish but I love how they have teens with powers coming together to fight a fight they can’t win. Plus there’s collections of these books from new Valiant you can find. Score.

5 and 6) 1991 Magnus or Solar. You can find reprints of the early Valiant universe but you can find trades for a decent price out there. These early Valiant comics really showed the storytelling charm that Valiant would become known for.

[u/Lynch_dandy]

Anything between 2012-2014.

[u/SuperMcSteel]

Going with just VEI.

Pretty much any of the 2012 books

Outside of that though…

Unity vol. 1 introduced me to the universe

The Valiant is what got me to start collecting

So I go with those two.

Wrath of The Eternal Warrior got two of my buddies into Valiant. So that is up there.

Ninjak by Matt Kindt cause it’s great

Divinity based off what I’ve seen people outside my friend group jump into the universe from.

For those reasons I’d pick one of those

[u/SuperMcSteel → u/SuperMcSteel]

I am much more a modern Valiant fan. But I should add my 90s input

Solar, Magnus & Shadowman are currently my top 3. Read any of those to kick off the love of the 90s stuff imo. But I’d recommend Solar the most I think