Valiant/Acclaim

This article is separated into 3 main sections highlighting the 3 incarnations of the Valiant Universe:

1. Valiant Universe: The Beginning (1989-1996)
   by Valiant Comics / Voyager Communications
2. Acclaim Universe: The Acclaim Years (1996-2002)
   by Acclaim Comics / Acclaim Entertainment
3. Valiant Universe: Reboot! (2012-present)
   by Valiant Entertainment / DMG

Note: Acclaim revamped all series and gave the characters new origins to make them more suitable for their video games. The 3rd incarnation by Valiant Entertainment (VEI) is based on the characters of the 1st incarnation - with a few exceptions such as Quantum & Woody - however, it is not a continuation of the original stories and volumes but a brand new beginning and continuity based on the original origins.

Valiant Universe: The Beginning (~1989-96)

This period and first incarnation of the Valiant Universe is also refered to as VH-1 (for "Valiant Heroes 1").

In Solar, Man of the Atom, it is revealed that Solar created the Valiant Universe when he was trying to recreate the one he destroyed. The Valiant Universe consisted of three groups of characters: Those who were active in the present day (then the 1990s), those who were active in the far future timeline (the 41st century), and characters who were able to move through time and space.

After several successful bi-monthly sales of titles such as X-O Manowar, Shadowman, and Harbinger, and a company wide crossover in which the two groups learned of each others existence, Valiant Comics was officially bought out by Acclaim Entertainment in 1994, and by 1996 all series had been discontinued.

List of the most important Valiant characters and heroes of the first incarnation of the Valiant Universe:

• 20th Century (present day):
  • Angelo Mortalli aka Bloodshot
  • Aric of Dacia aka X-O Manowar
  • Colin King aka Ninjak
  • H.A.R.D. Corps
  • Hwen Fong aka Doctor Mirage and his wife Carmen Ruiz
  • Jack Boniface aka Shadowman
  • Master Darque
  • Peter Stanchek aka Sting and the Harbinger Renegades
  • Phil Seleski aka Solar, Man of the Atom
  • Toyo Harada (Head of the Harbinger Foundation)
• Eternal & Time-Traveling Characters (past, present, future):
  • Aram Anni-Padda aka Armstrong
  • Gilad Anni-Padda aka Eternal Warrior
  • Ivar Anni-Padda aka Timewalker
  • Turok Dinosaur Hunter
• 41st Century:
  • Magnus Robot Fighter
  • Psi-Lords (aka Starwatchers; descendants of the H.A.R.D. Corps)
  • Rai and the Futureforce

Note: Turok was originally released in 1954 by Dell Comics. Solar and Magnus were originally released by Gold Key Comics in 1962 and 1963 respectively. Currently, Turok, Solar, Magnus, and Mighty Samson (another Gold Key character) belong to Dynamite Entertainment. All the other listed characters are original characters created by Valiant.

Acclaim Universe: The Acclaim Years (~1996-2002)

In 1996, many Valiant properties were revamped under the new Acclaim Comics imprint. Though originally there was no connection between the Valiant and the Acclaim universes, it was eventually revealed that the latter was created yet again by Solar, but this time he had created a "time paradox". By 1999, most of the line had been cancelled, and Acclaim released the event known as Unity 2000, which was an attempt to merge the two universes. In 2004 Acclaim filed for bankruptcy effectively ending all titles under the Valiant and Acclaim imprints.

In 2005 the rights to Solar, Magnus the Robot Fighter, and Turok were reverted back to their previous owners Gold Key Comics.

List of the most important characters published by Acclaim:

• New characters and teams:
  • Doctor Tomorrow
  • Eternal Warriors
  • N.I.O.
  • Quantum & Woody
    • Quantum
    • Woody
    • Vincent van Goat
  • Trinity Angels
  • Troublemakers
• Revamped Valiant characters and teams:
  
  • Armorines (Vol. 2)
  • Bloodshot (Vol. 2 - featuring Raymond Garrison as Bloodshot)
  • Harbinger (one-shot)
  • Magnus Robot Fighter (MRF) (Featuring Russ Magnus)
  • Master Darque (one-shot & "Darque Passages" mini-series)
  • Ninjak (Vol. 2 - featuring Denny Meechum as Ninjak)
  • Shadowman (Vol. 2 & 3 - featuring Michael Leroi as Shadowman + Shadowman Presents: Deadside mini-series)
  • Solar, Man of the Atom (one-shots & mini-series featuring the Seleski twins as Solar)
  • Turok (various mini-series & one-shots - featuring Joshua Fireseed as the new Turok)
  • Unity 2000
  • X-O Manowar (Vol. 2 - featuring Donovan Wylie as X-O Manowar)

Note: Magnus, Solar, and Turok had originally been properties of Gold Key Comics and Dell Comics respectively but are revamped from the 1st incarnation of the Valiant Universe; see note above.

For the second portion of history about Valiant, see: DMG/Valiant Entertainment