Rapture Brings Shadowman Back To Valiant To Save Heaven
By Matt Conner
Rapture, Valiant’s summer 2017 event, restores Shadowman to the spotlight by bringing the voodoo hero and Ninjak to fight in Heaven’s defense.
Rapture is coming to Valiant Entertainment this summer, and if Shadowman and Ninjak can’t work together, Heaven itself will fall.
As announced yesterday, writer Matt Kindt and artist CAFU bring the company’s event to life in a four-issue miniseries launching May 24. As a savage army “led by a primeval force named Babel” seeks to control a mysterious tower and breach Heaven, preteen Geomancer Tama will bring Shadowman, Ninjak, and Punk Mambo to join in its defense. Kindt has expressed a love for fantasy epics like Conan and Lord Of The Rings and promises to explore “heaven and hell, and gods and demons – but doing it in a way that humanizes all of the characters.” Rapture‘s covers will showcase star artists like Mico Suayan, J. G. Jones, Kano, and CAFU.
CEO and Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani compares the event to The Valiant as an accessible standalone story with emphasis on two Valiant heroes. Much as that award-winning event had transformative effects on Bloodshot and the Eternal Warrior, Rapture “is the just first step in a series of major developments that will be coming for Shadowman over the next year,” says Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons.
Here at Bam Smack Pow, we loved the last time Matt Kindt handled these characters (“Operation: Deadside is the best Shadowman story Valiant has published yet”). His work on Ninjak always entertains. True, we haven’t loved all of Shadowman’s early appearances. But his transformation to the villainous Magpie promises plenty of drama on his way back to the light. Last time, these two were at each other’s throats – that poor Geomancer has her work cut out for her this summer.
Rapture #1 cover by J. G. Jones
Valiant released the following solicitation info:
RAPTURE #1 (of 4)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CAFU
Cover A by MICO SUAYAN
Cover B by J.G. JONES
Character Design Variant by KANO
Variant Cover by CAFU
B&W Sketch Variant by MICO SUAYAN
Ninjak Vs. The Valiant Universe Variant Also Available
Blank Cover Also Available
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On Sale MAY 24th (FOC – 5/1/17)