At the dawn of the 41st century, the future of Earth will be decided in the stars. Next summer…the rebellion begins in 4001 A.D.!

2016 brings us Valiant‘s most ambitious crossover event yet: 4001 A.D.! Beginning with an all-new prologue in the pages of the Valiant: 4001 A.D. FCBD Special on Free Comic Book Day 2016, the forces of the future unite behind the fallen guardian of New Japan, Rai, in 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) – the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new, four-issue event series from writer Matt Kindt and artist Clayton Crain!

One hundred years from today, Father – the benevolent artificial intelligence that governs the island nation of Japan – will gain sentience. To defend its borders, Father will take drastic action by launching Japan into space…where its people can thrive in isolation, away from the overpopulated and resource-deprived planet below. Over the centuries, as New Japan orbits our increasingly unstable world, it will become a model society – one built on peace, prosperity…and Father’s control.

A thousand years from today, Father will create the first Rai, founding a lineage of technologically enhanced heroes engineered to defend New Japan and sworn to protect it from all enemies. For hundreds of years into the future, the Rai will single-handedly enforce New Japan’s justice well…and serve Father without question.

Now, at the dawn of 4001 A.D., the latest Rai is about to inherit the dark truth behind the origin of his kind…and discover the sinister secret at the heart of Father’s existence. For New Japan to live, Earth must die…and as Rai challenges his former master for the first time in more than a millennium, the lone guardian of New Japan will be cast out of his own Father’s kingdom…

Exiled from the only realm he’s ever known, Rai now walks the ravaged world of 4001 A.D. in search of forgotten heroes like himself…on a mission to collect the last surviving legends of a broken planet…and to forge a rebellion with the power to bring the most advanced civilization in history crashing back down to Earth.

Earth must rise. Father must fall. Rai! Eternal Warrior! X-O Manowar! Bloodshot! Geomancer! Armstrong! And more! The war for the ultimate fate of humanity begins in 4001 A.D.!

Next summer, the future of the Valiant Universe looms large!

VALIANT: 4001 A.D. FCBD SPECIAL
Written by MATT KINDT, RAFER ROBERTS, and MORE!
Art by CLAYTON CRAIN, TREVOR HAIRSINE, DAVID LAFUENTE, and MORE!
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
FREE | 32 pgs. | COMING IN MAY!

4001 A.D. #1 (of 4)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art & Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | COMING IN MAY!