Valiant Cinematic Universe: What to Expect

First off, if you haven’t watched the Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe, stop reading and go. Go watch it. Now. Go!

Welcome back. Ever since the announcement for this series, I was excited for anything Valiant. Of course, I knew of Valiant comics. I knew the characters, I knew the lore, but I hadn’t read anything.

Valiant Comics, for a long a long time, was, and is, the third biggest comic producer, trailing, of course, behind Marvel and DC. They have more than 2000 characters in their roster, and their new owner, Dan Mintz, is ready to bring you all of them on the big screen in the Valiant Cinematic Universe.

What’s Coming

Bloodshot

The first of the movies on Valiant’s list to build a cinematic universe is Bloodshot. Bloodshot will be played by Vin Diesel and is set to be released February of 2020.

Bloodshot first debuted in 1992. He was a former soldier with powers of regeneration and meta-morphing made possible through billions of nanocomputers injected into his blood. After having his memory wiped numerous times, Bloodshot seeks to discover who he really is and get vengeance on those who did this to him.

Not much is known about the direction the movie plans to take. A Bloodshot sequel is rumored.

Harbinger

Faith Herbert

The second movie we will be getting is the first plus-sized superhero movie. Faith Herbert will join the ranks of Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel. All we know is that Maria Melnik is writing the script.

Faith debuted in 1992 as part of the team, Harbinger. She is a loveable nerd who can fly and has telekinetic and psychokinetic powers.

Rebel Wilson has shown interest in this part. I think she would be absolutely perfect in this role.

Peter Stanchek

Here’s where it gets confusing. Originally, they planned to have a Harbinger movie featuring Peter Stanchek. This movie has been sent back to the drawing board under the direction of Justin Tipping. The original rumor included a sequel to the Harbinger movie. So both Faith and Peter will get their time to shine, we just don’t know which one will be first.

Debuting in the same issue as Faith in 1992, Stanchek is what is called an Omega Harbinger. Unlike the rest, he has full control of his powers. His powers include telepathy, telekinesis, mind-control, and he can activate latent Harbinger powers in others.

I think this character is seriously underrated and can’t wait to see him become a fan favourite.

Harbinger Wars

The original rumor is that the two Bloodshot movies and two Harbinger movies will come to a culmination in a fifth movie depicting the Harbinger Wars. Currently Valiant is in a five movie deal with Sony. Mintz expects success as he is already planning more movies.

The Harbinger Wars was a 14-issue crossover event in 2012.

Toyo Harada (an Omega Harbinger) was long at war with the government’s Project Rising Spirit. Both seek out superhuman telekinetics known as Harbingers.

Bloodshot, a reformed harbinger hunter, looks to atone for his crimes as releases two dozen of the most volatile harbingers from prison.

Bloodshot wants to lead them. Toyo Harada wants to control them. And Peter Stanchek wants them all to be free. The runaways, however, have their own ideas. As these four forces conflict with each other the world seems to come down with them.

Remember Infinity War? You won’t if this ever reaches the silver screen.

On TV

Quantum and Woody

While the Avengers make headlines, the Russo Brothers have been quietly working on a TV show. To be aired on TBS, Quantum and Woody is still in early development.

Debuting in 1997, Quantum and Woody are adoptive brothers in search for their fathers killer. The two share control of a energy matrix which gives them their powers. Quantum, the more serious of the two, is extremely smart and uses martial arts and gadgets. His powers manifest as energy blasts. Woody, the wisecracking and fun-loving brother, uses force beams stemming from the matrix.

Dr. Mirage

The newly announce CW show will bring Dr. Mirage to the living room of many. The original character debuted in 1993, however, the version we will most likely see on the screen is the rebooted 2012 version.

Able to communicate with the souls of the dead, Dr. Mirage will be a paranormal investigator in a supernatural sleuth show. Unfortunately, the one soul she can’t communicate with is her husband, whom she seeks to restore.

Laurie McCarthy is overseeing the script.

What’s Rumored

Archer & Armstrong

Back in 2017, Archer & Armstrong was set to be written by Terry Rossio and directed by Ruben Fleischer as an action comedy. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been spoken of since. It could still be in production, or as was the case with Dr. Mirage, it could pop up later with a completely different creative team.

Archer and Armstrong debuted in 1994 and underwent a reboot in 2012. Archer is an extremely skilled martial artist who is also an excellent marksman with a bow and arrow and crossbow. Armstrong is an immortal who posses superhuman strength, nigh-invulnerability, and an accelerated healing factor.

Eternal Warrior

Like the Russo Brothers, apparently Dave Bautista has been in talks with Valiant while amongst the Marvel movies. Though Valiant has not commented on it, Bautista, in a tweet, states that he is very excited about the role and that they are currently working to get a script fan-worthy.

Eternal Warrior, is just that. Being an immortal, he master every form of battle to become one of the greatest warriors in the world.

Other Projects

Dan Mintz also claims that, though not disclosed publicly, Shadowman and X-O Manowar will be joining the Valiant list of movies.

Shadowman

Shadowman is one of the most popular characters Valiant has. After only one year, over 100,000 Shadowman comics were being sold every month. In his second year, he was outselling Marvel and DC.

When filled with Darque Power, Shadowman has reduced fear, the ability to see in the dark, regeneration, the ability to glide, enhanced strength, endurance, and reflexes, and a slew of other voodoo-based powers.

X-O Manowar

Why Valiant is not starting with X-O Manowar is beyond me. He is the fisrt Valiant character and easily the most popular.

X-O Manowar is a Viking turned alien-fighting warrior. What can he do? Everything.

Enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, and healing process
Invulnerability
Flight
Scan Cloaking
Energy manipulation
Constructs
Blasts
Absorption
X-Ray vision
Halted aging
Technopathy
Sensory Arrays
Omnilinguism
Missiles
Teleportation
ESP

What’s Missing

I can’t wait for anything that Valiant puts out, still a few characters that missed the line-up sadden me.

Ninjak

Though Ninjak did just get a web series, I think he is definitely due for a TV series. Ninja assassin? Sounds cool to me.

Magnus, Robot Fighter

My first introduction to Valiant came through Magnus. A man that punches robots for a living. Maybe it is for the best not to include him in universe building, but I keep hope for a spectacular movie in the future.

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Valiant is planning something big. So as Marvel empties their pockets with huge budget films and DC creates excitement with ever-loved classics, don’t forget to check out some of those great Valiant comics, they’ll come in handy later.