Valiant is proud to present your first look inside RAI #14 – the next planet-shaking installment of “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” from New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (4001 A.D.) and Valiant-exclusive superstar CAFU (UNITY)! On June 22nd, the mantle of Rai passes on to New Japan’s latest champion! But in the formative years of Father’s dark utopia, will New Japan’s newly inaugurated guardian clash against her Father’s despotic doctrine…or endure the sacrifice required to forge a better future?
For the first time ever, witness the violent foundation of Father’s space-born utopia of New Japan…and, with it, the shocking genesis of the line of guardians that bear the name Rai! Born and bred by Father to enforce peace at any cost, follow the next Rai and their successors across two millennia as they chronicle the history of 4001 A.D. – from the launch of New Japan into orbit to the latest Rai’s crusade to bring it crashing back down to Earth!
On June 22nd, New Japan comes to life with blood and sacrifice as the origin of New Japan reaches a sinister new chapter that will reshape everything you thought you knew about the 41st century! Be here as Matt Kindt and CAFU reveal the forgotten history behind “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” with a stunning new entry point into 2016’s acclaimed crossover event, only in RAI #14 —featuring covers by David Mack (Fight Club 2), Andres Guinaldo (Nightwing), and Ryan Lee (Inhuman)!
Encompassing the core 4001 A.D. event series, the return of Valiant’s acclaimed RAI ongoing series, and four all-new one-shots revealing the future incarnations of the Valiant Universe’s most iconic heroes, “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” is the biggest and most visionary Valiant event to date – and a perfect introduction to the largest independent superhero universe in comics today.
It all starts here on May 4th in 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) – the FIRST ISSUE of the all-new, standalone event series following Rai and the 41st century’s most formidable heroes into the fight against New Japan from New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (DIVINITY II) and superstar artists Clayton Crain (Carnage) and David Mack (Daredevil)!
Then, “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” explodes with the return of Rai’s award-winning ongoing series in RAI #13 – the FIRST ISSUE of an ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT revealing the origin of New Japan and its very first guardian! Discover the essential history behind the dawn of 4001 A.D. here as New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (NINJAK) and acclaimed artist CAFU (UNITY) unearth the answers behind Father’s tyrannical rise to power. How did New Japan come to orbit Earth? Who created Father? And just what is Rai’s true nature…and what happened to his nine earlier predecessors that once patrolled New Japan in his stead? Discover the shocking answers as RAI #13 returns to set the events of 4001 A.D. in motion – and reveals the epic arc of the Valiant Universe’s future history!
Plus: “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” escalates even further as a staggering cast of superstar talents come aboard to reveal what the 41st century holds for Valiant’s most iconic heroes in a new series of four indispensable one-shots! Featuring X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Shadowman, and the debut of an all-new, top-secret character with a crucial tie to the present and future of the Valiant Universe, “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” erupts into full force here with four new chapters from Valiant’s most acclaimed creators, ripped directly from the pages of 4001 A.D.:
Written by Robert Venditti (BOOK OF DEATH); Art by Clayton Henry (HARBINGER WARS)
Coming in May
4001 A.D.: BLOODSHOT #1
Written by Jeff Lemire (BLOODSHOT REBORN); Art by Doug Braithwaite (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Coming in June
4001 A.D.: SHADOWMAN #1
Written by Jody Houser (FAITH) & Rafer Roberts (A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG); Art by Robert Gill (BOOK OF DEATH)
Coming in July
4001 A.D.: [CLASSIFIED] #1
Written by [CLASSIFIED]; Art by [CLASSIFIED]
Coming in August
One hundred years from today, Father – the benevolent artificial intelligence that governs the island nation of Japan – will gain sentience. To defend its borders, Father will take drastic action by launching Japan into space…where its people can thrive in isolation, away from the overpopulated and resource-deprived planet below. Over the centuries, as New Japan orbits our increasingly unstable world, it will become a model society – one built on peace, prosperity…and Father’s control.
A thousand years from today, Father will create the first Rai, founding a lineage of technologically enhanced heroes engineered to defend New Japan and sworn to protect it from all enemies. For hundreds of years into the future, the Rai will single-handedly enforce New Japan’s justice well…and serve Father without question.
Now, at the dawn of 4001 A.D., the latest Rai is about to inherit the dark truth behind the origin of his kind…and discover the sinister secret at the heart of Father’s existence. For New Japan to live, Earth must die…and as Rai challenges his former master for the first time in more than a millennium, the lone guardian of New Japan will be cast out of his own Father’s kingdom…
Exiled from the only realm he’s ever known, Rai now walks the ravaged world of 4001 A.D. in search of forgotten heroes like himself…on a mission to collect the last surviving legends of a broken planet…and to forge a rebellion with the power to bring the most advanced civilization in history crashing back down to Earth.
Earth must rise. Father must fall. Rai! Eternal Warrior! X-O Manowar! Bloodshot! Shadowman! Geomancer! And more! The war for the ultimate fate of humanity begins on May 4th in 4001 A.D. #1 (of 4) by superstar creators Matt Kindt, Clayton Crain, and David Mack – and continues all summer long as “THE SUMMER OF 4001 A.D.” rages on!
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Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CLAYTON CRAIN and DAVID MACK
Cover A by CLAYTON CRAIN (MAR161791)
Cover B by TULA LOTAY (MAR161792)
Cover C by RYAN BODENHEIM (MAR161793)
Valiant x CGC Replica Variant by CLAYTON HENRY (MAR161794)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (MAR161796)
Interlocking Mega-Cover Variant by RYAN LEE (MAR161797)
Interlocking Artist Variant by RYAN SOOK (MAR161798)
Interlocking B&W Sketch Artist Variant by RYAN SOOK (MAR161799)
Blank Cover also available (MAR161795)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale MAY 4 (FOC – 4/11/16)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover A by CAFU (MAR161805)
Cover B by PHIL JIMENEZ (MAR161806)
Character Design Variant by MATT KINDT (MAR161807)
Interlocking Mega-Cover Variant by RYAN LEE (MAR161808)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | ONE-SHOT | On sale MAY 11 (FOC – 4/18/16)
RAI #13 (NEW ARC! “4001 A.D.”)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CAFU
Cover A by DAVID MACK (MAR161800)
Cover B by ANDRES GUINALDO (MAR161801)
Valiant x CGC Replica Variant by CLAYTON HENRY (MAR161802)
Character Design Variant by CAFU (MAR161803)
Interlocking Mega-Cover Variant by RYAN LEE (MAR161804)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale MAY 18 (FOC – 4/25/16)
RAI #14 (“4001 A.D.”)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by CAFU
Cover A by DAVID MACK (APR162052)
Cover B by ANDRES GUINALDO (APR162053)
Character Design Variant by ANDRES GUINALDO (APR162054)
Interlocking Mega-Cover Variant by RYAN LEE (APR162055)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale JUNE 22 (FOC – 5/30/16)
