Valiant Comics was founded in 1989 by former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter and former Marvel Comics writer/editor Bob Layton, and quickly grew to become the third largest publisher in the comic book industry at that time. Valiant was the first publisher to be a legitimate market challenge to both Marvel and DC in terms of both sales and reach.  | Sting |
Harbinger #1 was released in January of 1992 with a low (at the time) print run of 48,000 copies. The book (and series) quickly caught fire with readers and fans who saw it as a refreshing new take on the concept of a team of young superheroes. Wizard Magazine #10 listed Harbinger #1 at No. 9 on their monthly “Top 10” list for May of 1992. The following month in Wizard Magazine #11 (June 1992), Harbinger #1 moved up to the No. 8 spot on that same list, before spending the next four months in the No. 1 spot (Wizard Magazine #12, #13, #14, and #15). Harbinger #1 was listed on the top ten list of Wizard Magazine for at the time) a record eight consecutive months and was eventually named "Collectible of the Decade"
Harbinger #1 was listed numerous times in other "Top 10" lists as well, including The Ten Most Important Comic Books of the 1990s (source: 2006 The Sequart Organization) and "The Top 10 Comic Books of the 1990s" (source: 2014 The Top Lister). Most recently, it was discussed in-depth in my 2015 article A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: Investing in Harbinger (source: 2015 All-Comic.com).  | Sparrow |
In 2012 Valiant Entertainment was re-launched by Dinesh Shamdasani and Jason Kothari, and is today stronger than ever with a brighter future more promising than its founders might have ever imagined possible. In the Spring of 2015, Valiant partnered with DMG (a Chinese/US film production group / distributor with a hand in such movies as Transformers: Age of Extinction, Iron Man 3, and Looper) and together raised a nine-figure film fund to adapt the Valiant characters to film and TV. In the Summer of 2015, Valiant then announced a partnership with Sony Pictures to bring Bloodshot and Harbinger to the Big Screen in a five picture plan than culminates in a shared universe Harbinger Wars movie.Similar to the "good vs. evil" power struggles that we often see in comic books, in early 2018, Dinesh Shamdasani (who was at the time the Valiant Entertainment CEO and Chief Creative Officer) was contractualy forced out of Valiant when the publisher was purcheased due to a series of buisness manuevers by DMG Entertainment. Dinesh subsequently became the co-president of the “production entity” Hivemind, and was able to work with Sony Pitctures to produce the 2020 Bloodshot movie (staring actor Vin Diesel), and eventually what fans hope will be the Harbinger movie shortly thereafter. It is highly appropriate that Valiant would select Harbinger as one of the initial IPs (following Bloodshot) to launch their cinematic universe.
 Paraphrasing and addng to the information listed at Shooter's Work:
 | Kris |
The first 12 issues of Harbinger were published through 1992. The massive 18 chapter Unity crossover event encompassed Harbinger #8 and #9. Jim Shooter wrote Harbinger #1 through #10; as well as the Harbinger trade paperback titled "Children of the 8th Day" reprinted issues #1 through #4. This TPB also came bagged with a copy of Harbinger #0 (Blue Variant) which was both written and drawn by artist/writer David Lapham. Harbinger #0 (Blue Variant) was considered a second printing (135,000 copies printed) of the highly coveted Harbinger #0 (Pink Variant) (6,500 copies printed) which could only be obtained by removing the coupons that were included in Harbinger #1 through #6 and then mailing all six coupons directly to Valiant to redeem one copy of Harbinger #0 (Pink Variant). This is in large part why a.) Harbinger #0 (Pink Variant) is not very common, and b.) why Harbinger #1 through #6 are often found without coupons (and therefore seen as incomplete by most collectors). | Weasel & Rock |
In the original Valiant comics, Phil Seleski, who was better known as Solar: Man of the Atom, re-created the world that became Valiant Universe. In doing so, a number of super-powered beings evolved, came to be, or somehow emerged. The most notable of those were "Harbingers" (similar in many respects to Marvel Comic's Mutants), which were humans born with a wide-range of psionic powers.Throughout the earth's history (within the Valiant Universe), most Harbinger's powers typically were dormant, emerging in occasional bursts that were usually manifested or triggered by extreme stress. However, that changed when the greatest Harbinger, Toyo Harada, established the Harbinger Foundation (Solar, Man of the Atom #3 features the 1st appearance of both Harada and The Harbinger Foundation). Harada intended to study Harbingers, and learn the full extent of their potential and powers. In time, Harada discovered that he was (what he dubbed) an "Omega Harbinger" (a Harbinger who possessed a full range of Harbinger potential). Harada decided to use his knowledge, vision, resources, and powers to build a better world for humanity. Ethically, Harada subscribed to the core consequences of the philosophical stance known as Utilitarianism; a philosophy which holds that you judge the rightness or wrongness of one's actions by the principle of making the most people happy ("the greatest good for the greatest number of people"). In a quote, Harada's utilitarian belief might say "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one" (Note: This same logic was most famously used by Dr. Spock in Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan when he sacrificed himself for to save the crew of the USS ENTERPRISE). As the "Omega Harbinger" Harada decided that it was his personal responsibility to build this better world, at any cost. Harada possessed supreme imperium of the Harbingers; the power to command his army of super beings (The Harbinger Foundation) that would change the face of humanity. Harada began recruiting Harbingers from around the globe, creating programs and processes that could teach them how to effectively and efficiently use their powers. "On ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs..."
(French:"You've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelet..." )
The most skilled of these recruits became "Eggbreakers", Harada's elite enforcers charged with containing renegade Harbingers, among with other things. The term was based on the 18th century French quote, "on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs..." which is often attributed the French Royalist soldier and politician, François Athanase de Charette de la Contrie, and literally means "you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelet...". In practice, Harada (and his Eggbreakers) understand that there are many obstacles (and people) that might prevent a better world from being built, so regretfully, such things must be eliminated (for the greater good).  | Flamingo |
In the early 1990s, The Harbinger Foundation discovered the existence of Pete Stanchek, who was the only Omega Harbinger other than Harada that existed (at the time). Harada hoped that he would be able to personally guide and teach Pete; mentoring and developing him into his lieutenant or greatest ally for building a better world. However, this did not occur, as Pete discovered the size and scope of Harada's ultimate plan after his close friend Joe (who was outspoken against The Harbinger Foundation and their methods) was murdered by Harada's Eggbreakers; in addition to an attempt to kill Pete as well. Harada recognized that Pete was both immensely powerful and terribly dangerous, as he lacked the maturity and vision that (he believed) was required of an Omega Harbinger. As Pete's loyalty to Harada's plan for a better world was uncertain, Pete represented perhaps the greatest threat to that same plan.
Pete escaped the Foundation with his girlfriend, Kris Hathaway, and decided to that is would become their purpose and mission to stop Harbinger Foundation from reaching its goals. To this end, they found and recruited other Harbingers and made efforts to undermine Harada's plans in any way they could.
 | Faith & Flamingo |
I first discovered Harbinger in the early 1990s while flipping through an issue of Wizard Magazine at a local grocery store while my mother was shopping. Eventually, I was able to locate a local comic shop about 10 miles from my home, and would travel there with my younger brother as it was the only place (that we were aware of) that Valiant Comics were available for purchase.
At the time, the comic book market was slowly spiraling out of control for speculators and investors; however, for a young teenage boy like myself, such things did not concern me as I looked forward to reading and collecting the few books that I could. Harbinger #1 and Harbinger #0 (Pink) were two "Holy Grails" that were all but (financially) impossible to obtain for the average collector; as were most of the "Pre-Unity" issues that were in high demand. I was able to start collecting the "Post-Unity" issues, and caught-up (as best I could) with the story. The very first issue of Harbinger that I actually purchased was Harbinger #17, which was released "Post-Unity" in the Spring of 1993. Over the next 23 years I was able to collect each issue and complete the set which in itself was not difficult. However, obtaining each issue in CGC 9.8 condition was a bit more challenging.  | Tyger, Anvil, Sonix, & Faith |
I consider Harbinger as being among the most important titles of the 1990's, and was the beginning of what would eventually lead to the modern-day foundation of theValiant Universe:To be honest, Harbinger is the series that marvel's Uncanny X-Men was supposed to have been. The idea that 17 year old super-powered teenagers would somehow act responsibly and work together without inter-personal and/or ethical issue is highly unrealistic. Teenagers with little life experience may well hold strong ideals; however, they lack perspective and experience. They lack maturity and are prone to age-appropriate mistakes. "With great power come great responsibility..." is the quote from Spider-Man; however, that statement assumes that the one possessing such power is ready to responsibly wield such power. In Harbinger we see the realities of differences in personalities, ethics, and goals. We see betrayals and violations of personal human rights, and depending on the personal ethics of the reader, the "villains" might actually be more correct than the "heroes" of this story. Harbinger is thought-provoking, enguaging, and provides a down-to-earth and scientific base that makes every attempt to abide by the laws of physics throughout the series. Re-launched in 2012, we have since seen: • Harbinger #0-25
• Harbinger: Bleeding Monk #0
• Harbinger Wars #1-4
• Armor Hunters: Harbinger #1-3
• Harbinger: Faith #0
• Harbinger: Omegas #1-3
• Faith (Vol. #1) #1-4
• Faith (Vol. #2) #1-12
• Faith and the Future Force #1-4
• Faith: Dreamside #1-4
• Faith's Winter Wonderland Special #1
• Imperium #1-16
• Generation Zero #1-12
• Harbinger: Renegade #1-8
• Secret Weapons #0-4
• Harbinger Wars II Prelude, #1-4, and Aftermath
• Livewire #1 - (ongoing)
• The Life and Death of Toyo Harada #1-6
The Harbinger story is among the most progressive stories in modern comic book history. The quality has been so consistant and strong, that I found renewed motivation in completing this classic Harbinger registry set. It is my hope that more collectors attempt this same goal, as the title deserves as much. |