This summer, Earth will be the greatest hunt of all when VALIANT FIRST unleashes the first issue of 2014’s must-read crossover event – ARMOR HUNTERS – from superstar creators Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, Green Lantern) and Doug Braithwaite (Unity)!
A relentless and surgical strike team from the farthest reaches of space – sworn to exterminate the X-O Manowar armor and all like it – have finally found their last target. They will hunt. They will trap. They will kill. And they will rid the universe of the X-O Manowar’s incalculable destructive power…even if it means taking the Earth with it.
In the tradition of the universe-shaking HARBINGER WARS, Valiant’s biggest heroes begin the summer’s blockbuster 18-issue crossover event right here in Armor Hunters #1 (of 4) – and then launch the resistance against the world’s first full-scale cosmic threat with new arcs beginning in Unity #8 and X-O Manowar #26 in June; and Armor Hunters: Bloodshot #1 (of 3) and Armor Hunters: Harbinger #1 (of 3) beginning in July!
Summary #1
In Russia two of the armor hunters break into a military complex kill all in sight before closing in on prototype X-O Manawar armors in development there. Elsewhere Malgam screams that the armor hunters are here to destroy him. In orbit the Armor hunters send down a probe to prove to humanity that they mean business and demand that Malgam and X-O Manawar hand themselves over.
SURRENDER THE ARMOR OR EARTH WILL DIE!
Following the shocking final moments of the previous issue, the Armor Hunters have made their intentions clear, and unless X-O Manowar is turned over to them immediately, thousands of innocents will become additional casualties of this already brutal war. Valiant’s most formidable heroes are about to go on the offensive, but the Armor Hunters have another trick up their sleeve, and this one will change the battle forever. Who will live? Who will die? The world will know what it feels like to be POWERLESS as Valiant’s massive summer crossover continues!
Summary #2
Aric/X-O and the American military prepare countermeasures as they try to work out Aric’s surrender to the Armor hunters. Elsewhere Livewire brings Bloodshot into the mix as countermeasure plans heat up. The hunters launch four animal squads against Earth forcing the Unity team to split up. Eternal warrior and Ninjak take London, Aric handles Nebraska etc.
ALL OUT WAR! Five alien Armor Hunters now control the planet, millions are dead – and that was only the beginning!
But if X-O Manowar surrenders now, will he spare the Earth…or spell its doom? And, as the world descends into pandemonium, can Bloodshot and the Unity team finally pinpoint a weakness in an enemy with more power, more endurance, and more technology? When you can’t find a way to win…you’d better find a way to cheat! Valiant’s summer crossover sensation rockets toward a climax so big it’s going to register on the Richter scale!
Summary #3
In Utah the US forces try to fend off a hunter with the aid of Bloodshot. Elsewhere Livewire uses her powers to command an awe inspiring ship. Faced with the consequences of owning the X-O Manowar Aric decides to hand it over to the hunters. After cleaning up Rome Ninjak and Eternal Warrior rendezvous with the others. In Earth’s Orbit the Manowar fly’s and docks n the hunters giant robot ship. When the armor is removed from it’s host the hunters are shocked it’s Livewire. She warns them to leave Earth but they prepare to kill her. She crashes them down to Earth and takes off in the armor. Despite this they are not defeated and they start destroying everything in sight. Livewire is shocked they survived re-entry and Aric decides it’s time to jump back into action.
That was just a battle… Now get ready for the war!
X-O Manowar has played the ultimate gambit, and finally leveled the playing field against the villainous Armor Hunters. But the galaxy’s deadliest killers haven’t come this far just to surrender! Their final charge is now upon us…and it will take the combined powers of X-O Manowar, Unity, Bloodshot and the rest of the Earth’s most formidable heroes to save our world from a full-scale cosmic reckoning. The summer’s biggest crossover event is going out with a BIG bang – and, when the smoke clears, everything you thought you knew about the Valiant U will be forever changed!
Summary #4
Gin-Gr cuts loose on the city and Livewire tries her best to take down the many machines. Aric gets back his armor. As Livewire takes down the thousands of drones guarding Gin-Gr Aric takes it down. The remaining hunters disembark to face Aric, Eternal Warrior and Ninjak. Despite best intentions though Aric is mortally wounded the arrival of Bloodshot helps take down two of the hunters. Aric then kills the one who mortally wounded him before collapsing. Twenty four hours later he is healed by Shanhara/X-O Manowar though the healed portions become techno organic.
What I thought
This is quite honestly the best event series of 2014, bar none! Forget the yawn inducing AXIS or what DC had going on. Armor hunters was an emotional and gripping tale as Aric’s need to protect his people and the friendships he has forged made earth the target of arguably the greatest threat yet. There was so much action in every issue and yet they all managed to add to the core tale and not detract. The art team was also consistent from start to finish making this a rare visual event laden treat. The Valiant universe has changed again and the key players in this bold new world are all on the Unity team. Livewire continues to be simply my most favorite female black superhero, sorry Storm and Misty Knight you’ve been knocked down a few notches. This was also the only event I indulged in during 2014 that successfully delivered on every conceivable level. If you missed it run your ass down to your local comic shop, hit amazon or comixology because you owe it to yourself to read Valiant’s Armor hunters! We give this series 5/5 stars
