THE VALIANTS #1, by Valiant Entertainment on 5/8/24, gets the band back together when G.A.T.E. is called to investigate a giant sinkhole in the middle of Washington D.C., and Crenshaw needs super-help.
Credits:
- Writer: Ryan Cady
- Artist: Al Barrionuevo
- Colorist: Nobi, Ludwig Olimba
- Letterer: Ezequiel Inverni
- Cover Artist: Agustin Alessio (cover A)
- Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
- Release Date: May 8, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $4.99
- Page Count: 34
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of THE VALIANTS #1:
Plot Analysis:
Valiant fans, Rejoice! Your favorite heroes are back after a very long hiatus to deal with massive threats to the world. Ryan Cady pulls in (almost) every hero from the far corners of the Valiant Universe, so fans hankering to see their favorite characters back in action will be well pleased. Curious new readers, however, have a lot to take in.
Cady’s plot centers on Crenshaw as the head of G.A.T.E and her struggle to recruit new superheroes since the dissolution of Unity. The team members are either missing, presumed dead, or on a solo assignment. Crenshaw’s urgency to refill the ranks increases when a giant sinkhole forms in the heart of Washington D.C., with odd energy readings emanating from the bottom.
Of course, the Valiant heroes aren’t dead, and Crenshaw knows it. We first catch up with Ninjak infiltrating a secret research base with his sidekick, Myna. The duo is looking for Dr. Silk, but all they find is a dead clone, a robot butler, and little else. Crenshaw seizes the opportunity to enlist Ninjak’s help when she offers to fix up the base as a new HQ for Ninjak.
Later, Ninjak, Myna, and Crenshaw arrive at the sinkhole’s edge and find Gilad, the Eternal Warrior, and Tama, the Geomancer, waiting for them. Tama requests a meeting with Crenshaw after Gilad helps Crenshaw’s team deal with what’s waiting at the bottom of the sinkhole.
What follows is a long elevator ride to the bottom of a hole filled with jungle flora, giant insects, and a dimension-opening Boon from the Faraway. When the team fights for their lives against giant creepy crawlies, Crenshaw catches a strange light coming from an open portal near the Boon that prompts her to charge the monolith and push it through, ending the danger… for now.
Later, Crenshaw meets with Tama only to find she isn’t the only Geomancer around.
Character Development:
If you’re an existing Valiant fan and know all the characters, you’ll have no trouble jumping right in. However, the story begins and proceeds as if you already have some familiarity with the characters, who they are, what they do, and their connection to past developments. Cady does practically no character development in this issue because every square inch is needed to quickly establish each person’s status quo and draw them into the conflict.
Do the characters look and act like themselves? Through the very brief moments you get with them, yes. That said, no one character gets enough page space to tell either way.
Artwork and Presentation:
From front to back, Al Barrionuevo’s artwork is solid. The scenes range from small and closeup to large and grand, which showcases Barrionuevo’s talent for adapting to scale. That said, the minor down point of this issue is the lack of detail on the character costumes, particularly Ninjak.
Art Samples:
Pacing and Structure:
Cady’s pacing is super-brisk. Again, there’s a lot of ground to cover very quickly in introducing the conflict, the whereabouts of the characters, bringing the team together, and resolving the conflict before setting up the next adventure. In truth, it’s too much to cover in 34 pages, so there are a few spots where the story gets shortchanged.
The biggest gap comes through in the final resolution related to the Boon. It happens so fast that you almost don’t get what’s happening. The concept is there, but there are not enough pages to tell it fully.
Thematic Exploration:
The central theme of this issue is a call to action. Every team member has some problem they’re already working on when a bigger problem requiring teamwork presents itself. Granted, that theme lacks emotional weight, but it may be enough if you’re an action fan.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
As suggested above, this issue relies heavily on the recent adventures of the characters, regardless of the publishing entity. On the plus side, that reliance provides Valiant fans with the comfort of continuity. On the negative side, this issue has shockingly few editor’s notes to point to where some of the names, dates, and places occur for reference.
Final Thoughts:
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
THE VALIANTS #1 provides a modicum amount of comfort food for existing Valiant fans when parts of Unity are temporarily brought back together to fight a threat. If you’ve been following Valiant closely for the last few years, you’ll have no trouble jumping in. However, new readers may struggle with the lack of background and introductions, the lack of editor’s reference notes, and semi-rushed pacing.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.