Script: Steve Orlando Art: Diego Giribaldi Main Cover: Colm Griffin (A – Reg) Variant Covers: Federico Mele (B – Icon), Colm Griffin (C – Full Art), Federico Mele (D – Icon Full Art) On Sale Date: 02/18/2026 Rated Mature 32-page, full color comic $4.99 U.S.
THE HUNT FOR SHANHARA’S HEAD BEGINS!
After the attack from the Earthborns, Aric has joined the PunX! For thousands of years, it had been just him and Shanhara but now the quest for honor has led him to a community. But with numbers comes needs, so Aric and Careless Whisper venture into the Steppe to hunt for food. The hunters become the hunted as Banelus End hunts Aric and Shanhara! Will they escape the god hunter or will Shanhara’s head end up on End’s wall with the others?
Steve Orlando continues Aric’s quest for glory, honor, and community with artist Diego Giribaldi.
Valiant Beyond: The X-O Manowar #5 – The God Hunt #1
Script: Steve Orlando Art: Diego Giribaldi, Tomas Aira, Lautaro Ftuli, Ludwig Olimba, Camila Jorge Main Cover: Francesco Tomaselli (A – Reg) Variant Covers: Nathan Birr (B), Francesco Tomaselli (C – Full Art), Nathan Birr (D – Full Art) Rated Mature 32-page, full color comic $4.99 U.S.
THE GOD HUNT STARTS HERE!
TRAVEL TO THE HEAVEN OF THE MIND!
Shanhara has been silent since Typhon’s horrific field vision attack. Aric is at a loss of how to help his queen, the woman who aided him millenia ago, the ethereal being residing within the stellar armor he wears in his quest for honor.
Aric is a warrior, and has been since his days with the Visigoths. But some battles can’t be won with energy-based weapons, sometimes all you have to do is look inside.
Artists Diego Giribaldi and Tomas Aira (RESURGENCE: FINALE) join writer Steve Orlando for this special chapter in THE X-O MANOWAR series, where nightmares and dreams come together.
Script: Steve Orlando Art: Guillermo Fajardo, Lautaro Ftuli, Ludwig Olimba, Camila Jorge Main Cover: Federico Sabbatini (A – Reg) Variant Covers: Andrea Broccardo (B), Federico Sabbatini (C – Full Art), Andrea Broccardo (D – Full Art)
THE DIVE IS UNDER ATTACK BY THE EARTHBORN, AND TYPHON IS DETERMINED TO END ARIC’S LIFE!
It’s hide or fight for the PunX of the Dive when the Earthborn attack, and the leader is set on killing Aric for daring to confront him. The cosmic being inside Aric’s armor, Shanhara, is paralyzed after Typhon’s horrific field vision, with the extent of the damage unknown!
For two thousand years, Aric has been a warrior. From righteous Visigoth to cosmic knight-errant, the ethereal being residing within Aric’s stellar armor inspired his quest for honor. Shanhara has aided Aric for millenia. But with the armor unresponsive, Aric might have to fend for himself once more.
Steel yourself for the climactic final chapter of Steve Orlando and Guillermo Fajardo’s opening arc on THE X-O MANOWAR!
Comic book fans who visit IDW Publishing’s booth (#2729) at this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego will be among the first to get a glimpse of the exciting future of Valiant Comics as publisher Alien Books has announced plans for a free giveaway of the Valiant Beyond Preview Edition Ashcan, while supplies last.
The Valiant Beyond Preview Edition Ashcan will feature select scenes from new series Bloodshot#1, Tales of the Shadowman, All-New Harbinger #1, and The X-O Manowar #1, the first titles to be released as part of the new publishing partnership between Alien Books and IDW Publishing.
It features writers Mauro Mantella, AJ Ampadu, Steve Orlando, and Fred Van Lente, and art by Fernando Heinz Furukawa, Sergio Monjes, Guillermo Fajardo, and Erik Tamayo.
All four series are designed to be new-reader friendly, offering exciting and fresh standalone stories that don’t require encyclopedic knowledge to enjoy while still providing hints of deeper connections and easter eggs to long-time Valiant fans.
Alien Books and Valiant Comics are set to begin a new era of dynamic and boundary-pushing superhero storytelling with the launch of the Valiant Beyond universe this March.
Spinning out of the Resurgence of the Valiant Universe crossover event, Alien Books is spearheading a new line of titles under the ‘Valiant Beyond’ banner that will feature new versions of iconic Valiant characters including Bloodshot, Shadowman, X-O Manowar, Harbinger, and more.
Designed to be new-reader friendly and ultra-accessible, each Valiant Beyond series will feature introductory-priced debut issues, extra story pages, and new logos and trade dress on the covers that help distinguish the line from what came before.
The first title to launch as part of Valiant Beyond will star the fan-favorite nanite-enhanced cyborg with a penchant for s something drastically different about this version of Bloodshot as he battles a Japanese underworld hooked on a new drug with vampiric side-effects. Written by rising star Mauro Mantella with stunning artwork from Fernando Heinz Furukawa, the initial three-issue arc for Bloodshot will blend crime-fighting, horror and ultra-violence into one unmissable mature readers story.
A powerful new drug is unleashed on Japan and has set the underworld ablaze! There’s only one force strong enough to stop the B-S… and he’s not looking for an invitation to start kicking butt!
The team behind the acclaimed Shadowman: Soul Eaters mini-series, writer AJ Ampadu and artist Sergio Monjes, will reunite to showcase a very different side of the fan-favorite anti-hero in Tales of the Shadowman. Set in a utopian version of New Orleans, the magic capital of the world, Tales of the Shadowman follows a detective trained in the art of voodoo who faces an unprecedented threat to her city. Out of options, she must summon the enigmatic force known as The Shadowman to help save New Orleans from the forces of the Deadside in this stunning new take on the character.
The city of New Orleans is home to a rich history of music, art, and culture that has achieved unparalleled progress and success. It’s the magic capital of the world and home to a hard-nosed detective trained in the ways of Voodoo who has dedicated her life to keeping New Orleans safe! When an ultra-dangerous monster invades her jurisdiction and threatens the peace they’ve fought so hard to protect, she must disobey her orders and summon the mysterious being known as “Shadowman” in order to save the city she loves!
The Valiant Beyond line will continue to expand in April with the launch of a new The X-O Manowar #1 and All-New Harbinger #1 with additional series and one-shots in the works. The new designs for the Valiant Beyond characters were crafted by artist Andres Ponce and Fernando Heinz Furukawa and drew inspiration from previous versions of the characters, medieval armor, anime, and sci-fi films.
Valiant Beyond: Bloodshot #1 releases March 5 in comic shops and will boast an assortment of covers by Rodolfo Migliari, Nahuel Grego, Dennis Calero, and Fernando Heinz Furukawa. Final orders are due at comic shops on February 3. Valiant Beyond: Tales of the Shadowman #1 launches on March 19 with covers by Damian Connelly, Bella Rachlin, Dennis Calero, and Andres Ponce. Final orders are due at comic shops on February 17. The X-O Manowar #1 and All-New Harbinger #1 will be released in April with full creative team details to be revealed in January.
