Unity #1
Written by Matt Kindt
Illustrated by Doug Braithwaite
Colored by Brian Reber
Covers by Doug Braithwaite, Bryan Hitch, J.G. Jones, Travel Foreman, Paolo Rivera, Clayton Crain, Neal Adams
Valiant Entertainment
Release Date: November 13, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The universe’s most powerful weapon must be brought down! But how can the devastating X-O Manowar be defeated? The time-displaced keeper of the X-O Manowar armor has declared Romania his kingdom, but the world isn’t going to let this invasion happen without a fight. As the Russians plan for a nuclear attack, the world’s most dangerous man, Toyo Harada puts together a ruthless team to take out the armor in Unity #1.

I am exhausted with massive crossover events in comics. Occasionally they deliver on their promises to be a game-changing event with spectacular storytelling, but most often they end up resetting the status quo of all the characters and telling a mediocre story.

After reading Unity #1, I’m happy to report this is not the case. Unity is both a major crossover event in the Valiant universe, but also a new ongoing series. It is not just a “crossover event,” it is a “conflict event.”

Writer Matt Kindt isn’t merely launching a team book here. He’s throwing this team against the much-beloved protagonist in X-O Manowar. This is, by no means, a conventional way to introduce a new team. Have the Unity team join forces with Aric. Have them save Aric from an unknown entity. But having them created to bring down the man and the armor? This is gutsy, high-conflict, page-turning storytelling!

And how does Matt Kindt start this major event? Explosions? Epic battles? No. The opening story is narrated by a food critic who finds herself trapped in Romania when the conflict erupts. This was a brilliant move, which injected a great deal of humanity into what could have easily become a mindless fight between super-powered titans.

Equal to the writing, Doug Braithwaite‘s art simultaneously communicates a surprisingly human story amidst the conflict which threatens to tear nations and peoples apart.

I’ve only recently begun reading books in the Valiant-verse. But this company knows how to tell good, high-stakes stories. Give one of their books a shot. If you want a great jumping on point, this is it.