Warning: contains preview images for Armorclads #1!
The Valiant Universe expands this March with the debut of Armorclads, a new series that will see oppressed workers in a distant solar system rise up and defy their masters. The series, part of the publisher’s Year of Valiant initiative, will be written by JJ O’Connor and Brian Buccellato, art by Manuel Garcia, colors by Rex Lokus and letters by Dave Sharpe. The first issue goes on sale in print and digital March 23.
One of the best-known and best-selling comic publishers of the 1990s, Valiant returned in grand form in 2012, retooling iconic characters such as Bloodshot, X-O Manowar and Shadowman for a new generation while emphasizing what made the characters great in the first place. The company began introducing new characters to the Valiant Universe as well, such as Punk Mambo and Divinity. Fans welcomed these new additions with open arms; Divinity was nominated for several Harvey Awards. The last two years have seen the publisher turn their attention back to the characters that put them on the map in the first place, such as Harbinger and Ninjak, but in 2022, the Year of Valiant, the company is introducing an all-new title, set in a brand-new corner of the Valiant Universe!
Valiant has offered fans tantalizing details on the title, as well as a look at preview pages, shared below. Billed as a “blockbuster series about the everyday champions,” Armorclads is set in an alien solar system, where genetically-engineered people, called Xeru toil in oppressive mines, extracting a mineral called the Pure. These Xeru use giant mech suits, the Armorclads of the title, to mine the substance, as well as fight in battles. The series kicks off when one of the Armorclads is killed, causing them to rise up against their masters. The press release hints at larger mysteries, including one that could rock the Valiant Universe to its core. The preview pages offer fans a glimpse of the Armorclads in action, as they provide escort for cargo, as well a look at their headquarters.
The preview offered here shows Valiant expanding their universe in new and innovative ways; armor-clad heroes have been a part of the Valiant Universe since its inception, but mechs have been non-existent. The mech genre enjoys a world-wide following, and Valiant is tapping into this vein with Armorclads. The series also interjects a healthy dose of social commentary, reflecting the surge in labor and social movements of the last five years, giving the book a sense of urgency. The publisher has not shied away from mixing real world concerns into their comics, as shown in this year's Ninjak relaunch.
2022 is the Year of Valiant, seeing the publisher up their game, breathing new life into their existing characters, while creating new ones, such as Armorclads. These new additions enrich the Valiant Universe in exciting ways, opening up new story possibilities.
Source: Valiant Comics