Potential spoilers for The Harbinger #1 ahead!
One of the foundations of the Valiant Universe, Harbinger, returns in a brand-new book jam-packed with action and mystery—and serves as the perfect jumping on point for new fans. The Harbinger #1, on sale in print and digital October 27, breathes new life into the world of Peter Stanchek by stripping away everything he knows.
Created by writer Jim Shooter and artist David Lapham, Harbinger became one of the founding titles of the Valiant Universe. Peter Stanchek has amazing psychic powers and may be one of the most powerful on the planet. Peter attracts the attention of corporate mogul Toyo Harada, who has similar powers. Harada recruits others like Peter, hoping to build an army of super-powered soldiers. He tries to recruit Peter, who soon learns of Harada’s evil and goes on the run. Peter begins recruiting others like him, preparing for a final showdown with Harada. The concept has endured through every incarnation of the Valiant Universe; in 2015, one of the team’s members, Faith, received her own solo title to great acclaim. Over the last year, Valiant has renewed its commitment to the characters that made it great, relaunching them in brand new titles written and drawn by some of the industry’s top talents. The Harbinger #1 is written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing with art by Robbi Rodriguez.
In the new series, Peter Stanchek is one of the most powerful people on Earth. He inspires hope in some but fear in many more. The powers that be fear him and wish to eliminate him—but Peter does not know this. Someone has stolen his memories and the life he had before. All he has to go on is vague impressions and a cryptic message telling him to “Be Better.” Peter sets off on an odyssey through the city, desperately trying to piece together the shards of his past life. Peter will meet others like him, and fight for his very existence against a mysterious force that wants him dead, but also may hold clues to his past.
Kelly and Lanzing have packed The Harbinger #1 with mysteries upon mysteries—who mindwiped Peter Stanchek? His arch-nemesis Toyo Harada is ruled out instantly—so who else has an ax to grind with Stanchek? What happened to Faith and the rest of his team? And what does “Be Better” mean? Not only have the creators seeded enough intriguing plots to form potentially years of stories, but they have taken care to make the book accessible to new readers. Despite Peter’s past being a blank slate (to him at least), The Harbinger #1 fills in new fans on everything they will need to know to enjoy the ride.
Harbinger helped lay the foundation for the Valiant Universe, it returns in grand form in The Harbinger #1, and is sure to please fans old and new.