Press Release
On the heels of BOOK OF DEATH – Valiant’s epic, four-part event revealing the future fates of X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Ninjak and more in July – Valiant is proud to announce an all-new, first-of-its kind, retailer-incentive companion series, BOOK OF DEATH: LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER, from New York Times best-selling writer Fred Van Lente (IVAR, TIMEWALKER, ARCHER & ARMSTRONG) and fan-favorite artist Juan Jose Ryp (Clone, Ghosted)! As the secrets within the Book of the Geomancer wreak havoc on the present and future of the Valiant Universe, discover the true history and lineage of the very first speaker for the Earth with an all-new series of never-before-seen stories that won’t be collected in trade paperback!
Created specifically to promote Valiant’s upcoming BOOK OF DEATH event, BOOK OF DEATH: LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER will expand the mythology of BOOK OF DEATH’s central character – a newly appointed Geomancer, the latest in a long line of mystics that speak for the Earth and shape the course of history – and chronicle the first appearance of the founder of her kind…Anni, the very first Geomancer!
Out of the pages of BOOK OF DEATH, the origin of the first Geomancer and the sacred pact that swore her to the service of the Earth can finally be told…but, with it too, the source of the divine mysteries that have haunted her line for centuries. Has Anni’s mission redeemed or corrupted the world that followed in their wake…and will the ultimate secrets of the Geomancers’ book doom us all in the end?
“With LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER, Fred and Juan are crafting a dazzlingly beautiful, action-packed corollary to BOOK OF THE DEATH. This is the story of a character that is not only new to the Valiant Universe, but is also vitally important to its history – Anni, the very first Geomancer,” said Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons.
“LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER is designed to be something special and something distinct from your typical ‘event’ tie-in story,” added Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce. “This is a little known story, the history of which is only known to a select few of the most important players in the Valiant Universe, and it’s telling will mirror its method of distribution. This will be a rare series that we hope fans will seek, much as they did decades ago for tales like the original HARBINGER #0.”
A special, retailer-incentive limited series, all four issues of BOOK OF DEATH: LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER will be printed in limited quantities and will only be made available to retailers who qualify based on their orders of BOOK OF DEATH #1-4. Fans interested in obtaining this special incentive limited series should contact their local comics retailer to pre-order their copy before the May 28th initial order date for BOOK OF DEATH #1 (of 4).
Spanning eight issues total, the BOOK OF DEATH event begins in July with BOOK OF DEATH #1 (of 4) – the FIRST ISSUE of Valiant’s blockbuster comics event from New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (X-O MANOWAR, Green Lantern), superstar-in-the-making Robert Gill (ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER, Batgirl) and visionary artist Doug Braithwaite (ARMOR HUNTERS, Justice)! Colliding the next two thousand years of history against the most powerful heroes of today, the summer’s must-read comics event starts here as a new Geomancer emerges to build a bridge to the future of the Valiant Universe!
Then, the story continues throughout the summer with four standalone one-shots from an all-star cast of Valiant’s top talents – Jeff Lemire & Doug Braithwaite in BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF BLOODSHOT #1; Matt Kindt & Trevor Hairsine in BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF NINJAK #1; Joshua Dysart & Kano in BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF HARBINGER #1; and Robert Venditti & Clayton Henry in BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF X-O MANOWAR #1!
The Valiant heroes. X-O Manowar. Bloodshot. Ninjak. The Harbinger Renegades. Unity. This is how they lived. This is how they died.
Now we know. The Book of the Geomancer has recorded it all. But only a young girl – the last in a line of the enigmatic mystics who protect the Earth known as Geomancers – has seen this future come to pass, from the coming cataclysm to the dawn of the 41st century. Alone with her sworn protector, the Eternal Warrior – a soldier battle-forged across five thousand years of combat – the duo must defy their allies to stop the Dark Age that now threatens to eclipse our world.
Together, they are the number one target of every hero and villain on Earth. Either the Eternal Warrior hands her over…or they take him down. But can even he single-handedly protect one child when the entire Valiant Universe wages war against him?
This July, join Valiant superstars Robert Venditti, Robert Gill, and Doug Braithwaite as they begin a thousand-year journey into the future of the Valiant Universe…and rain, fire, blood and war on the heroes of today in BOOK OF DEATH #1 (of 4)!
Then, Fred Van Lente and Juan Jose Ryp journey into the annals of prehistory to reveal the untold story of the Earth’s sacred guardians in BOOK OF DEATH: LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER #1 (of 4) – in stores the same day as BOOK OF DEATH #1 (of 4)! Contact your local comics retailer today to find out how to reserve your copy!
For more information, visit online at Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and ValiantUniverse.com.
For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.
BOOK OF DEATH #1 (of 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by ROBERT GILL & DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Cover A by ROBERT GILL
Cover B by CARY NORD
Cover C by CLAYTON CRAIN
Cover D by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC
Character Design Variant by PAOLO RIVERA
Valiant Icons Variant by PERE PEREZ
Artist Variant by PAOLO RIVERA
Blank Cover also available
$3.99 | 40 pgs. | T+ | On sale JULY 15 (FOC – 6/22/15)
BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF BLOODSHOT #1 (ONE-SHOT)
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Cover A by RAFA SANDOVAL
Cover B by JEFTE PALO
Variant Cover by DAVID YARDIN
Variant Cover by TOM FOWLER
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale JULY 22 (FOC – 6/29/15)
BOOK OF DEATH: LEGENDS OF THE GEOMANCER #1 (of 4)*
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by JUAN JOSE RYP
Cover by MARGUERITE SAUVAGE
INCENTIVE | 24 pages | T+ | On sale JULY 15 (FOC – 6/22/15)
*ATTENTION RETAILERS: PLEASE SEE THE DIAMOND DAILY OR VALIANT RETAILER EMAIL TO FIND OUT HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THIS LIMITED RATIO INCENTIVE. QUANTITIES WILL BE BASED ON ORDERS OF BOOK OF DEATH #1.
