Rai: The History of the Valiant Universe Vol 1 1

Solication[]

It is the year 4002 A.D….

Rai, the spirit guardian of Earth, has uncovered an ancient tome filled with history’s greatest tales and civilizations darkest moments. Charting the dawning days of ancient Mesopotamia, all the way to the rise of New Japan, the history of the Valiant Universe is laid bare in shocking and revelatory detail. From X-O Manowar to Bloodshot to Faith to Divinity…history will reveal untold revelations for Valiant’s greatest heroes and antagonists!

In the tradition of the original RAI #0, Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Harbinger Renegade) and acclaimed artist Francis Portela (Faith) unleash a celebration of Rai’s 25th anniversary with the third of four standalone specials honoring the most famed Valiant stories ever told!

The History of the Valiant Universe[]

Appearances[]

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

Lula Lee

Villains: (41st Century only)

Other Characters: (flashbacks only)

Anni
Archer & Armstrong
- Archer
- Armstrong
Armor Hunters
- GIN-GR
- Helix
- Lilt
- Primary Reebo
- Quartz
Bleeding Monk
Bloodshot
- Magic
- Jessie (Bloodshot's daughter)
- Bloodhound
Demitri
Dinosaurs
Divinity
Father (Mentioned only)
Generation Zero
H.A.R.D. Corps
- Gunslinger
- Hammerhead
- Maniac
- Shakespeare
Harbinger Foundation
Harbinger Renegades
- Faith
- Flamingo
- Kris Hathaway
- Peter Stanchek
- Torque
Immortal Enemy
Ivan the Talking Bear
Ivar Anni-Padda
Jack Boniface / Shadowman / Magpie
Kalfus Triplets
Kay McHenry
Li Hwen Mirage
Livewire
Livewire Clone
Lord Ivros
Mary-Maria Archer
Master Darque
Melissa
Mister Meat
Neela Sethi
Death Cult of Nergal
Ninjak
Punk Mambo
- Aye (Loa)
Psiots
Quantum and Woody
- Quantum
- Woody
- Vincent Van Goat
Roman Empire
- Antonius Axia
Sandria Darque
Shadow Seven
- Fakir
- Kannon
- La Barbe
- Sanguine
Shan Fong / Doctor Mirage
Soviet Army
Spider Men
Tama
Toyo Harada
Unnamed American astronaut
Unnamed Russian astronaut
Unity
The Vine
- Commander Trill
Visigoths
- Saana
- Volo
War-Monger
X-O Manowar

Locations:

41st Century
- Earth
  - Gethsemane
  - Gilad's secret hideout
  - The Breath of Jade
    - The Grove
- New Japan
- Earth's Orbit
Asia
- China
  - Tibet
- Japan
  - Hiroshima (Flashback only)
    - World War II
      - Atomic bombing of Hiroshima
- Mesopotamia
  - Ur
Crusades vs. Byzantine Empire
Deadside
Europe
- Russia
  - Moscow
    - Red Square
- Stalinverse (Behind the scenes)
North America
- Mexico
  - Mexico City
- United States of America
  - New York
    - New York City
      - Manhattan
        Sows and Cows (Melissa's bar)
  - Nevada
    - Las Vegas
      - Harbinger Wars
  - North Carolina
    - Darquewood
  - Ohio
    - Promised Land

Items:

Archer's Crossbow
Armstrong's Satchel
Book of the Geomancer
The Boon (Flashback only)
Divinity's space suit
Hwen's Staff (Flashback only)
Komodo Protocol
Magpie costume
Ninjak's suit
Shadow Scythe
Timearcs (Flashback only)
X-O Manowar Armor
- Shanhara

Vehicles:

Vine Colony Ship (Flashback only)
X-O Manowar Mech-Armor Class (Flashback only)
- X-O Manowar One
X-O Wolf Armor (Flashback only)

Credits[]

Writers: Rafer Roberts
Pencilers: Francis Portela
Inkers: Francis Portela
Colorists: Andrew Dalhouse
Letterers: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artists: Clayton Crain, Clayton Henry, Robert Gill, Jeffrey Veregge
Editors: Charlotte Greenbaum
Editor-in-Chief: Warren Simons

Solicitation[]

It is the year 4002 A.D….

Rai, the spirit guardian of Earth, has uncovered an ancient tome filled with history’s greatest tales and civilizations darkest moments. Charting the dawning days of ancient Mesopotamia, all the way to the rise of New Japan, the history of the Valiant Universe is laid bare in shocking and revelatory detail. From X-O Manowar to Bloodshot to Faith to Divinity…history will reveal untold revelations for Valiant’s greatest heroes and antagonists!

In the tradition of the original RAI #0, Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Harbinger Renegade) and acclaimed artist Francis Portela (Faith) unleash a celebration of Rai’s 25th anniversary with the third of four standalone specials honoring the most famed Valiant stories ever told!

Synopsis[]

In the aftermath of the 4001 A.D. event, Gilad leads Rai and Karana through the wastelands on Earth to finally arrive at his old place where he keeps his belongings as well as the Book of the Geomancer. Gilad tells Karana that only she can read it and that it is the most important weapon in the room. The book will show her what they will have to do and how they would meet the upcoming challenges. The three gather around a fireplace and Karana starts reading from the book that tells the history of the Valiant Universe from the Negral Horde in ancient Mesopotamia to 4001 A.D..

Notes[]

This issue is one of four one-shots that were published between April-July 2017 in homage to classic Valiant stories from the 1990s. This one is based on Bob Layton's Rai #0 - "The Blood of Heroes" (1992). The main difference is in "Blood of Heroes" the flashback scenes are also missing scenes whereas in "The History of the Valiant Universe" the entire story--narrated by the future Geomancer; Karana--unfolds in a series of flashback scenes, most of which are reinterpretations of important moments of the past five years.
The tome is not uncovered by Rai as suggested in the solicitation but one of Gilad's safe houses (or places) he keeps to store weapons and artifacts likes the Book of the Geomancer.

Quotes[]

Perhaps what the world needs now is not a leader, but a shepherd. Someone who can guide the people of this desolate world, not lord over them. Someone to remind the people what it means to be civil to one another. Someone who can unite humanity and to allow them to chart their own course.