In our recap of the past week’s news from Valiant comes a preview of a new variant cover for THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1, and news of an ongoing PSI-LORDS series.
As part of the lead-up to next month’s first issue of THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA comes a preview of a new variant cover for the issue.
The “Glass Variant” cover will look like an antique mirror and features a reflective surface just like their first glass variant cover BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #1 from last November.
Coming this June from writer Fred Van Lente and artist Renato Guedes will be a new PSI-LORDS ongoing series.
The sci-fi title is about four amnesiac spacefarers who wake up with no knowledge of how they got there and no clue where they are.
Look for the first issue on June 19th with multiple cover versions featuring art by Jonboy Meyers, Rod Reis (which you can see below), Alan Quah, and Marco Rudy.
All press releases are below. All images/artwork courtesy of Valiant.
First Look – THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 Glass Variant Cover to Resemble an Antique Mirror
The next in a line of extremely limited Valiant comic books with tempered glass covers features a refective surface
February 12, 2019 (New York, NY) – As first teased on its social media accounts on Twitter and Facebook, and announced on Previewsworld, Valiant Entertainment is thrilled to reveal a first look at THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 Glass Variant, which mimics an antique mirror and features a reflective surface! The dynamic image was illustrated by extraordinary artist Doug Braithwaite and crafted by Valiant Director of Design and Production, Travis Escarfullery.
“I thought, how could I translate the title of the book into an effect on glass? So I said, what if we gave the glass a patina texture on half the cover? That way you have the clean mirror as ‘Life’ and the decayed section as ‘Death,’” explained Escarfullery. “You can get real nerdy with the idea looking into the normal section that shows life and the textured section that shows decay on the person’s face – a sign of death or dying.”
Valiant broke new ground with last November’s BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #1 Glass Variant, becoming the first-ever publisher to print a comic book with a tempered glass cover. The initiative was a tremendous success, with BLOODSHOT RISING SPIRIT #1 being the highest-selling comic in 2018 by a non-premier publisher. Valiant followed that up one month later with the LIVEWIRE #1 Glass Variant, featuring a special UV ink printing process that allowed it to glow under a black light.
In THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA, Eisner Award-nominated writer Joshua Dysart (HARBINGER, HARBINGER WARS) returns to the Valiant Universe to continue crafting Harada’s controversial mission to save humanity from itself. Presented in an oversized format and featuring a lineup of all-star artists – including CAFU (RAI), Mico Suayan (BLOODSHOT SALVATION), Butch Guice (Captain America), Adam Pollina (SECRET WEAPONS), Diego Yapur (Priest: Purgatory),Kano (QUANTUM AND WOODY!), and Doug Braithwaite (INCURSION) – the first issue in the six-issue series is available to pre-order now at comic book stores everywhere in advance of its March 13, 2019 premiere date! Along with the Glass Variant Cover, THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #1 features covers by Mico Suayan, Ben Harvey, and David Mack. A Pre-order Edition cover by Suayan and a blank cover are also available. Final orders are due by February 25, 2019.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA will place the planet’s most powerful man in the spotlight as he strives to control the course of history. But with the menacing mastermind’s resources dwindling after the downfall of the Harbinger Foundation and a target on his head, will the formidable psiot re-emerge as humanity’s greatest hero…or its most dangerous villain?
Valiant Entertainment Announces Sweeping New Sci-Fi Series, PSI-LORDS
Fred Van Lente and Renato Guedes Launch Valiant’s Galactic Adventure in June
February 13, 2019 ( New York, NY) – “FINALLY, THE PSI-LORDS HAVE COME BACK TO THE VALIANT UNIVERSE!” exclaimed Senior Editorial Director Robert Meyers. “After years of teases, red herrings, and misdirects, we are so excited to announce one of the most requested books from Valiant: PSI-LORDS.”
That’s right! As first revealed by The Hollywood Reporter and teased on Valiant’s social media, Valiant Entertainment is excited to announce PSI-LORDS, a brand-new ongoing comic series debuting in June from The New York Times bestselling writer Fred Van Lente (IVAR, TIMEWALKER; GENERATION ZERO) and stunning artist Renato Guedes (SHADOWMAN). The announcement comes with a fantastic promo image created by Rod Reis ( Winter Soldier, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge).
“Fred Van Lente is doing what he does best: mind-bending sci-fi with heart and humor,” said Meyers. “Renato is the perfect artist to bring this story to life, blending intricate storytelling with cosmic craziness that is going to blow you away.”
In PSI-LORDS, four amnesiac spacefarers awake in an unfamiliar place, setting off a galaxy-bending adventure with extreme consequences.
“PSI-LORDS is a Lost-style adventure in that it involves a motley band of strangers trying to survive in the unknown, exotic Gyre – not just endure the physical hazards, but also the various factions on it warring for control,” said Van Lente. “So expect sci-fi action, expect Westoros-esque political jockeying, expect the relationship between the characters to grow and change as they try and navigate this bizarre environment – all at the same time trying to figure out what its true nature is, and, of course, how the hell they’re going to get back home.”
PSI-LORDS is a great series for new readers to jump on, but Van Lente hints that longtime Valiant fans will be rewarded.
“Many X-O Manowar readers have seen hints to what’s really going on already,” he teased. “The secret the Gyre holds, once uncovered, will jeopardize the entire Valiant Universe – and has the potential to suck every hero and villain in it into its orbit.
On June 19th, discover Valiant’s newest sci-fi thriller and latest launch of 2019 with the release of PSI-LORDS #1, featuring covers by Jonboy Meyers ( Superman), Rod Reis ( Winter Soldier), Alan Quah (Orphan Black), and Marco Rudy ( Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier).
To learn more about PSI-LORDS, be sure to follow Valiant Entertainment on all of its social media channels!
PSI-LORDS is the latest release from Valiant Entertainment, a wholly owned subsidiary of DMG Entertainment. Since acquiring the publisher in early 2018, DMG Entertainment has placed a premium on developing and expanding upon Valiant’s publishing arm, continuing to build out its vast universe of characters. DMG’s vision to take Valiant’s library of titles to new cinematic heights has only just begun, from publishing to feature films, television, gaming, theme parks, and beyond. Valiant’s first feature, “Bloodshot” (Sony Pictures), starring action superstar Vin Diesel, debuts early next year, with projects featuring Harbinger, Faith, and Quantum and Woody on the horizon.
