This week on Thursday’s Valiant Effort, two reviews and a preview of Rai #1. Fun stuff.
X-O Manowar #22 – After taking over Romania, sinking to the bottom of the ocean, having his armor taken by Livewire, and finally being imprisoned by the military, things looked pretty grim for Aric of Dacia the leader of the Visigoths. Luckily, Sargent Capshaw has other plans for Aric and, after a change of heart from Livewire and the rest of the Unity team, the X-O Manowar armor is once again with its rightful owner. The military places the Visigoths in Western Nebraska, gives them land, and helps to set up a home for these time-displaced people. However, there is a price for this new found freedom. The forces of M.E.R.O., Military Extraterrestrial Recon Outpost, want Aric to work for them keeping the world safe in order to pay for his people’s place in this world. His first mission is to destroy the alien ship before the Russians salvage any of the alien technology. Hope he gets it all. Find out this week. This issue ends with a great preview of Quantum and Woody: Goat #0.
Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps: H.A.R.D. Corps #0 – This is another of the great origin issues that Valiant is putting out over the next several weeks. Back in the 1970’s, Project Rising Spirit began to experiment on people to create a better soldier and to help mankind to usher in a new age of greatness. The H.A.R.D. Corp equipment was a clunky backpack wired directly into the soldiers neural pathways. This allowed the user to manipulate various energies. The first group of test subjects had some small success and were used in Vietnam to battle the enemy forces. Jump forward to 1985. Project Rising Spirit continues under a new guise. The Corp members, when they volunteer for this project, understand that the implants shorten their lifespan considerably. So, what happens when one wants to leave and is not allowed? Can you say rebellion? We see H.A.R.D. Corp team members downloading their powers and turning them on the very scientists charged with assisting them with missions. Now, 1993, a more current version of the H.A.R.D. Corps is readying for combat against a former member that has downloaded all the powers and, although has only hours to live, is making quite a mess. They are introduced to what Mr. Prescott calls their number one problem solver, Bloodshot. And in the end, the good guys, the ones behind the Corps, turn out to really not be that good after all. But, the beat goes on.
Good books this week, lots of stories that were shocking and amazing at the same time. Now, check out this cool new preview from a new series starting in May 2014, Rai #1.
That’s it for this week. Next week you can expect a review of Quantum and Woody: Goat #0 and Archer and Armstrong #18 and some information about other coming events this year from our friends at Valiant Comics. Remember, this year read Valiant First.
