Tag: Valiant Comics

Valiant Comics to Launch the ‘Valiant Cinematic Universe’

by Eric Francisco

People say they’re sick of superhero movies. Let them die of the fever, because Valiant Comics is stepping up against Marvel and DC.

Vulture is reporting that indie comics publisher Valiant Entertainment have “secured an eight-figure investment” from China-based DMG Entertainment to launch feature film and television projects based on Valiant properties. They seek to capitalize on the somewhat underestimated Chinese market and release their projects simultaneously in the United States, China and abroad.

From Vulture:

“Audiences in China and the rest of the world are hungry for heroic stories that they can more easily relate to … and with the international box office accounting for the biggest piece of the total gross, the time is right for a truly international superhero franchise,” said DMG President Wu Bing in a press release. “DMG will bring its unique global perspective to the task of transforming the Valiant Universe into the first international comic-movie universe.”

There is a much larger discussion at play here, and that’s the foreign market beginning to influence Hollywood. It started when Iron Man 3 featured exclusive scenes for the Chinese release and Pacific Rim becoming a legitimate franchise when overseas tickets catapulted it from an otherwise lukewarm response domestically.

Just this morning I wrote about superheroes of color, and Valiant — who are from the get-go seeking an international audience — has a chance to build its characters for the 21st century audience. They’re a relatively young company, celebrating just their 25th anniversary this May. They may not have the legacy and cultural influence as Marvel or DC, but I imagine their youth and the lack of wider awareness by the public means they have more freedom to make their characters as interesting and diverse as possible.

I hope for all success in the industry, and this news makes me excited. I’m not a huge reader of their titles, but I will always root for new properties more than I do rebooting Batman all over again.

Geekscape Comics: ‘Harbinger #1’ Review

by Shawn Madden

Valiant comics is back and with them they brought the return of one of my favorite titles from the 90’s ‘Harbinger’. To say I was excited about this would be an understatement.

Read minds. Bend steel. Break all the rules. Teenager Pete Stanchek is out of work, on the skids, and – unbeknownst to him – a psionic-powered “harbinger” with the potential to reshape the course of human history. Toyo Harada is a wealthy business magnate, a respected philanthropist and the most powerful harbinger of all – or so he thought. As they forge an uneasy alliance, will Harada offer Pete a chance for redemption ­– or attempt to induct him into a secret network of conspiracy, subversion and control? Pete is about to discover that he’s not alone in the world and, soon, the generation who has nothing will take on the man who has everything.

If you know nothing about the return of Valiant comics… i’ll fill you in just a little. Valiant was one of the major comic companies of the 90’s and early 2000’s but disappeared and returned this year with a couple of titles. These titles are reboots and to be honest this is the only one I picked up or cared about.

I’m not going to go into plot details on this issue. I’m not going to spoil anything. I’m just going to tell you why you should be on your way to shop to pick this issue up after you’re done reading here.

I felt like a ten year old kid again reading this issue. The familiar faces I knew were back (well, not all being that it is the first issue) with an updated feel to them. And before anyone says it…yes I do realize that Peter is wearing an outfit similar to Cole MacGrath from the ‘Infamous’ games. Why? I have no idea. But that’s not important here.

Joshua Dysart’s writing here is great. It is no slow start and we get right into the story from the beginning with bits of back story being slowly introduced throughout the issue. Artist Khari Evans also does a great job of capturing the story that Dysart is telling. The only issue some people may have is if they read it too fast they may think they are missing something but trust me… if it is anything like the 90’s storyline… all will make sense soon enough. It’s a story that will slowly build from the past and the present into something great.

And i’m definitely not one of the “must buy every variant ever” people but the multiple covers for this issue had me walking back and forth decided between which ones I wanted. I was especially happy seeing this variant that was definitely a throwback to the original issue #1. Bravo Valiant on this one.

 

If you’re looking to pick up something new and different this week… I would definitely recommend the first issue of ‘Harbinger’ which is on stands now.

Sony Pictures to Develop Film Based on Valiant Comics’ Bloodshot!

by Steven Kunz

Sony Pictures has closed a deal to acquire the film rights to the Valiant Comics series, Bloodshot, a 1992 comic book series that continues to be one of the revamped publisher’s strongest properties.

The story is about a killer for the mafia who is framed for a murder he didn’t commit, thanks to his mob family betraying him.  When he goes into Witness protection, he is immediately kidnapped and his body goes through the experimental procedure, “Project Rising Spirit.” His body is injected with nanomachinery, also refered to as ‘nanites’, that gives him superhuman abilities at the cost of his memories. He eventually escapes his captors and goes on a journey to rediscover the person he once was.

The script is being written by Jeff Wadlow, whose previous credits include the drama/horror movie, Cry-Wolf, and the screenplay for the horror thriller, Prey. Reportedly, the deal came out of Wadlow’s love for the comic and agreed to write the script on spec, and when Sony saw the script, they bought the rights. The film is also being produced by Neal Moritz, producer of The Green Hornet and the Fast & Furious series.

The idea is to develop the property as something that X-Men First Class director Matthew Vaughn can direct. Hopefully, the movie doesn’t come in a foil edition.

Source: http://www.deadline.com/2012/03/sony-pictures-taps-valiant-comics-character-bloodshot-for-live-action-feature/