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First Look: Harbinger Renegade #0 – Rafer Roberts and Juan Jose Ryp Decode the Secret of the Stormbringer in November!

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Valiant has revealed a first look inside Harbinger Renegade #0 – AN ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT and MUST-READ MILESTONE building a bridge between the bloodstained fallout of “MASSACRE” and HARBINGER WARS 2, Valiant’s seismic 2018 crossover event! On November 8th, multiple Harvey Award nominee Rafer Roberts and incendiary artist Juan José Ryp bring the Valiant Universe’s most powerful forces to bear before a dreaded and unrepentant foe that’s more ancient, more sinister, and more dangerous than anything they’ve faced before…

Beneath the wreckage of the Harbinger Foundation, there is a secret that even Toyo Harada grew to fear. A secret simply known as… the Stormbringer.

And Alexander Solomon is about to set it free.

This near-immortal telekinetic has troubled mankind for centuries… and left the ruins of civilizations it in its wake. Now, for the first-time, the modern-day Valiant Universe confronts the reality of its evil head on in an all-new, standalone battle royale revisiting Solomon’s decades-old gambit to unleash the Stormbringer’s wrath… and guest-starring H.A.R.D. Corps, the Bleeding Monk, and more of HARBINGER’s most important and influential characters across the ages!

Featuring covers by Clayton Henry, Roberto de la Torre, Juan José Ryp, Khari Evans, and Ben Tiesma!

Valiant Charges Into Baltimore Comic-Con 2017 With Exclusives, Panels, Signings, And More!

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Just a few short weeks remain until Baltimore Comic-Con 2017 and Valiant is bringing their A-game to Maryland’s biggest celebration of comics and pop culture!

From Friday, September 22nd through Sunday, September 24th, Valiant Entertainment will be charging headfirst into Baltimore Comic-Con 2017 with a plethora of convention-only exclusives, signings, panels, programming, and other can’t-miss surprises you’re going to want to see for yourself!

All weekend long, stop by the Baltimore Convention Center at Booth #2008 to discover why Valiant is the most celebrated publisher in the comic book industry with a complete selection of critically acclaimed Valiant trade paperbacks and deluxe hardcovers!

Also, be sure not to miss the Bloodshot Salvation #1 Baltimore Comic-Con Exclusive Variant, featuring the amazing work of legendary artist Barry Kitson! Witness a devastating new beginning for best-selling writer Jeff Lemire‘s superhero saga here as he follows the Eisner and Harvey-nominated success of Bloodshot Reborn with a staggering ongoing series, featuring art by Lewis LaRosa, and Mico Suayan.

Then: Join artist Barry Kitson for signings throughout the weekend, alongside other greats including including Joe Eisma, Matt Kindt, and Rafer Roberts!

Plus: Find out what awaits the Valiant Universe in the coming months with exclusive panels and presentations throughout Baltimore Comic-Con 2017! First, join us on Friday, September 22nd at2:00 pm ET for the Valiant Spotlight: Matt Kindt panel presentation – featuring a wide-ranging conversation with one of the most lauded creative minds in comics today! From his creator-owned series – like Mind MGMT, Dept. H, Grass Kings, Ether, and dozens more – to his work at the forefront of the Valiant comics line – including X-O Manowar, Divinity, Ninjak, and the upcoming Harbinger Wars 2 – join the New York Times best-selling and Eisner Award-nominated writer and artist for a wide-ranging discussion of his work, present and future.

The excitement continues on Saturday, September 23rd at 1:30 pm ET with the Valiant Presents ICONS: X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Faith, and Beyond panel presentation! With record-setting series like X-O Manowar, Faith, and Secret Weapons, Valiant is gearing up for its biggest year yet! Now, find out what’s coming next for Valiant’s next blockbuster series like Bloodshot Salvation, Eternity, Ninja-K,and Quantum and Woody! with an all-star cast of guests, including writers Matt Kindt (X-O Manowar, Eternity) and Rafer Roberts (Harbinger Renegade)! Valiant’s next major leap forward starts here with exclusive announcements and artwork, first at Baltimore Comic-Con 2017!

Finally: New to the Valiant Universe? Look no further than the Valiant 101: Jump On Board Here! panel presentation on Sunday, September 24th at 1:30 pm ET – a concise and fun-filled introduction to the origins and adventures of Valiant’s greatest and most iconic heroes, from Bloodshot and Divinity to Faith and Harbinger to Ninjak and X-O Manowar! From Buzzfeed and Entertainment Weekly to The Guardian and dozens more, Valiant has been hailed as the premier superhero publisher in comics today… Now, look no further than this panel of Valiant all-stars to find out where to start!

Review: Harbinger Renegade #7

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HR_007_COVER-B_PORTELAMASSACRE has claimed a life from the Renegades’ own ranks… and their new mission starts now: to rally as many psiots to their cause as possible. Now, this damaged team of telekinetic teenagers are off the grid and on the move, traveling America to recruit soldiers for the inevitable war they all see coming. But they are being watched…

You know those comics that sound really interesting from the previews and solicits, but then fail to live up to any of the promise shown in those texts? Yeah, that’s this one.

Harbinger Renegade #7 has the dubious task of following on from an interlude issue (albeit a pretty good one) which in turn followed the first part of the Massacre story line in which half a dozen or so semi prominent Valiant characters were killed – but none of those characters had previously appeared in this series, so it’s been quite awhile since we’ve seen the Renegades in any real form – and this is our first chance to see how they’ve reacted to the events in Rook. Unfortunately, the emotion shown from the team as they react to the news of their friends being nearly wiped out feels, with one exception, a little blasé (although one could make the argument that with all the death they’ve seen in their young lives, this is exactly the point).

That being said, the tone of this issue is one of grief and how people deal with it in different ways; unfortunately the execution isn’t as strong as one would hope, and while there were an occasional small hill, overall the issue felt a little flat – though a large part of that was likely due to the art.

To say that artistically, this really wasn’t my cup of tea would be bordering on an understatement. HR_007_005 While the pages did have some interesting layouts, the art is far from my favourite. Obviously this is personal opinion, and you may love the art – if that’s the case then I’m happy for you – but I just found it generally boring. I feel the need to reiterate that this is purely personal preference because the art is well done it just didn’t excite me; in fact I felt the exact same way reading this as I would when looking at an Archie Digest comic: the art is just there, but it’s nothing special.

Ultimately this isn’t a bad issue, and I’m hesitant to rag on it too much because I feel it’s just a weaker chapter in the overall direction of the comic, rather than the new quality level we’ll get going forward. I also think that the gap between issues isn’t helping the series, either and while part of that is down to the placement of the interlude issue (which I quite enjoyed) last month that directly  interrupted the flow of the Massacre story line, the multi-month gap since we last saw the Renegade team isn’t helping either.

If you’re reading this series, then it’s worth at least flicking through Harbinger Renegade #7, but if you want to start with Valiant’s comics, then you can do a lot better than starting here.

Story: Rafer Roberts Penciler: Darick Robertson
Inker: Walden Wong Colourist: Diego Rodriguez
Story: 6.5 Art: 6.0 Overall: 6.0 Recommendation: Read

Valiant Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Harbinger Renegade #7

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HARBINGER RENEGADE #7

Written by RAFER ROBERTS
Art by DARICK ROBERTSON
Cover A by DARICK ROBERTSON (JUN172070)
Cover B by FRANCIS PORTELA (JUN172071)
Cover C by RAUL ALLEN  (JUN172072)
Variant Cover by COLLEEN COOVER (JUN172074)
B&W Sketch Variant by DARICK ROBERTSON (JUN172075)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale SEPTEMBER 6th
Moving targets!

“MASSACRE” has claimed a life from the Renegades’ own ranks… and their new mission starts now: to rally as many psiots to their cause as possible. Now, this damaged team of telekinetic teenagers are off the grid and on the move, traveling America to recruit soldiers for the inevitable war they all see coming. But they are being watched…

“MASSACRE” seeks its next victim as multiple Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) and superstar artist Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) escalate THE ROAD TO HARBINGER WARS 2 to the point of no return…and lead the Renegades toward their most seismic confrontation yet!

Harbinger Renegade #0 – Roberts & Ryp Shock the Valiant Universe in November!

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Valiant has announced Harbinger Renegade #0 – AN ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT on the road to Harbinger Wars 2, Valiant’s seismic 2018 crossover event! On November 8th, multiple Harvey Award nominee Rafer Roberts and incendiary artist Juan Jose Ryp unearth a devastating revelation that will forever alter the course of what we thought we knew about the history of Toyo Harada’s Harbinger Foundation and the place of the telekinetically gifted individuals known as psiots in the Valiant Universe!

Beneath the wreckage of the Harbinger Foundation, there is a secret that even Toyo Harada grew to fear. A secret simply known as…the Stormbringer.

And Alexander Solomon is about to set it free.

Featuring covers by Clayton Henry, Roberto de la Torre, Juan Jose Ryp, Khari Evans, and Ben Tiesma!

Secret Weapons #1 and Harbinger #5 Get New Printings

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Valiant has announced that Harbinger Renegade #5 and Secret Weapons #1 (of 4) – two of the much-talked-about new releases setting the stage for 2018’s seismic crossover event, Harbinger Wars 2 – have once again sold out at the distributor level and will return to store shelves everywhere with new printings on August 30th!

Harbinger Renegade #5 is written by Rafer Roberts with art by Darick Robertson. Secret Weapons #1 is written by Eric Heisserer with art by Raul Allen. This is the second printing for Harbinger Renegade #5 and third for Secret Weapons #1.

Review: Harbinger Renegade #6

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Harbinger Renegade #6 Cover A LarosaIn Harbinger Renegade #6, at the height of the Dark Ages, one of the world’s first psiots has made a terrible discovery: he’s not alone. Lurking in the shadows, a mind as sadistic as it is powerful waits. A predator with a darkness so great, it will consume any rivals that dare reveal themselves. How will the secret of these legendary figures come to bear on the modern day? How will it shape the catastrophic Harbinger War that is to come?!”

After the chaotic battle that resulted in the death of major somewhat known Valiant characters last issue, Harbinger Renegade #6 provides an interlude. Also, it makes us wait another month before reading about the consequences of the death filled fifth issue. And it does so by whisking the audience back nearly a thousand years.

The advantage to this is that those unfamiliar with the series can read a standalone story set around the time of the Crusades. The cost is that this issue has nothing obvious to do with any previous issues of Harbinger Renegade. That may not be ideal for new readers carrying on with the series. If you’re already reading the series, then you’ll be pleased to hear that this seemingly standalone interlude story delivers. Juan Jose Ryp has a talent for depicting the savageness of war waged with bladed weapons. When the basic premise of this issue is an army besieging a castle, then you know you’re in for a visual treat.

Rafer Roberts handles the interlude issue well. It gives us an issue that tells a compelling one shot story that has little impact on previous events. But, it’s bound to set a lot up in the future, Roberts makes you forget about the fact that it’ll be another month before we see the aftermath of the events of Massacre. Sir Gerald Of Catalonia is the issue’s narrator and the commander of the force supplied by an ancient order dedicated to wiping out a demon, the Brotherhood Of Cuth. The story is well paced and feels neither padded nor rushed. We get what is an incredibly solid story that has minimal ties to the larger Harbinger story. At least until this issue’s story progesses over the coming months.

I enjoyed this issue far more than I expected. I suspect that those more invested in the Valiant universe will find a few nods to other mysterious factions. Some even from Roberts’ own stories. Whether those factions are one and the same with a thousand year gap…. I’ll leave that to you to decide.

My only complaint with Harbinger Renegade #6 is that because it’s an interlude story, we probably won’t revisit the time period again.

Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Juan Jose Ryp Colours: Andrew Dalhouse
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Preview: Harbinger Renegade #6

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HARBINGER RENEGADE #6

Written by RAFER ROBERTS
Art by JUAN JOSE RYP
Cover A by LEWIS LAROSA (JUN172070)
Cover B by DARICK ROBERTSON (JUN172071)
Cover C by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (JUN172072)
Character Design Variant by LEWIS LAROSA (JUN172073)
Variant Cover by JEFFREY VEREGGE (JUN172074)
B&W Sketch Variant by LEWIS LAROSA (JUN172075)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale AUGUST 9th (FOC – 7/17/17)

A HISTORIC HARBINGER MOMENT! After “MASSACRE”…witness the brutal beginning of the Renegades’ murderous new foe!

At the height of the Dark Ages, one of the world’s first psiots has made a terrible discovery: he is not alone. Lurking in the shadows, a mind as sadistic as it is powerful waits – a predator with a darkness so great, it will consume any rivals that dare reveal themselves. How will the secret of these legendary figures come to bear on the modern day… and how will it shape the catastrophic Harbinger War that is to come?!

“MASSACRE” enters an insidious interlude revealing the origin of the Valiant Universe’s greatest threat, as Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) and incendiary artist Juan Jose Ryp (BRITANNIA) plot the next step in the road to HARBINGER WARS 2!

Spoiler Free Review: Harbinger Renegade #5

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HR_005_COVER-A_ROBERTSON“Toyo Harada’s former protege – Alexander Solomon, a “psiot” with the ability to predict and analyze potential futures – has been waiting for this moment. With the Harbinger Renegades – Peter Stanchek, Faith, Kris Hathaway, and Torque – now reunited as a result of his covert manipulations, his ultimate gambit can now begin. But he’s not the only one who has been watching. Major Charlie Palmer has just re-assigned a new division of the militarized psiot hunters codenamed H.A.R.D. Corps to active duty…and they’re about to bring a torrent of blood and calamity roaring into the streets of a major American metropolis for an all-out firefight.

The Harbinger Renegades. Livewire. Alexander Solomon. Generation Zero. Toyo Harada. Secret Weapons. Imperium. None of them are safe…and, when the smoke clears, a pivotal Valiant hero will become the first sacrifice of the massive Harbinger War that is to come.”

I will tell you right now: I was really excited to read this issue – so much so that I literally dropped the other features (because I frequently have multiple balls in the air at once) to read the comic. Understandably, Valiant are extremely cautious about spoilers for this issue, so I won’t reveal anything about the story itself beyond the preview text above. However, it will certainly help your enjoyment of the comic if you’re familiar with some, or all, of the comics and characters mentioned above (The Harbinger Renegades. Livewire. Alexander Solomon. Generation Zero. Toyo Harada. Secret Weapons. Imperium.)

HR_005_COVER_ADVISORY-OVERLAP

The comic comes with this as a wrap around cover to warn the audience as to the content inside.

So what can I say about this comic? Well it was perfectly okay. Rafer Roberts has written a story doesn’t quite live up to the hype generated by the machine Valiant set in motion for Harbinger Renegade #5, although it’s pretty solid, and honestly I needed multiple readings to really get the most out of it. Obviously I can’t tell you why without risking the spoilers – nor can I tell you some of the reasons I felt the issue didn’t work. Instead, I’ll move on. Artistically, the comic isn’t anything spectacular, but nor is it unremarkable; it’s just about good enough to serve the story without any major hiccups (but again I can’t discuss those). Essentially, where as a good story can lift a comic where the art struggles and vice versa, both story and art are on the same level here; they’re both just hovering between okay and good.

Out of respect for Valiant and their wishes I’ve avoided spoilers, probably far more than I needed to, so what I can say is limited. At the end of the day, this is the weakest of the five Renegade books that have been released thus far, which is a shame given the amount of push that Valiant have out behind it. Though I do wonder if that is a result of Harbinger Renegade #5 simply being a book that didn’t deliver verses it being a comic that just wasn’t able to live up to the hype. I’m edging toward the latter.

If you’re a Valiant fan, whether of the publisher in general or of this property, then you’re going to want to read this. Be prepared for it to be a little disappointing given all the buzz, but I also expect this to fly off the shelves because of the warning on the cover.

Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Darick Robertson
Inks: Richard Clark Colours: Diego Rodriguez
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Preview: Harbinger Renegade #5

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HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 (“MASSACRE” – PART 1)

Written by RAFER ROBERTS
Art by DARICK ROBERTSON
Cover A by DARICK ROBERTSON* (MAY171957)
Cover B by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI (MAY171958)
Cover C by CLAYTON CRAIN (MAY171959)
Wraparound Variant Cover by MARC LAMING (MAY171960)
B&W Sketch Variant by DARICK ROBERTSON (MAY171961)
Gold Foil Linewide Variant by MONIKA PALOSZ (MAY171962)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 12th (FOC – 6/19/17)

Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) and superstar artist Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) begin THE ROAD TO HARBINGER WARS 2 – Valiant’s seismic 2018 event – right here with a bang that will reverberate throughout the entire Valiant Universe…and claim the life of a major hero!

Toyo Harada’s former protege – Alexander Solomon, a “psiot” with the ability to predict and analyze potential futures – has been waiting for this moment. With the Harbinger Renegades – Peter Stanchek, Faith, Kris Hathaway, and Torque – now reunited as a result of his covert manipulations, his ultimate gambit can now begin. But he’s not the only one who has been watching. Major Charlie Palmer has just re-assigned a new division of the militarized psiot hunters codenamed H.A.R.D. Corps to active duty…and they’re about to bring a torrent of blood and calamity roaring into the streets of a major American metropolis for an all-out firefight.

The Harbinger Renegades. Livewire. Alexander Solomon. Generation Zero. Toyo Harada. Secret Weapons. Imperium. None of them are safe…and, when the smoke clears, a pivotal Valiant hero will become the first sacrifice of the massive Harbinger War that is to come.

*All covers for HARBINGER RENEGADE #5 will ship with a special advisory overlay.

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