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Harbinger (2012) #1-3
Harbinger Deluxe Edition, Book 1
Super-powered teenager Peter Stanchek is on a dangerous path. Skipping across the country in a desperate attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities, Peter is quickly realizing that he's a psionically-charged "harbinger" with the potential to reshape the course of human history. But Peter's plight has not gone unnoticed. Respected philanthropist and fellow harbinger, Toyo Harada, is about to offer Peter the chance at the things for which the boy has always longed - family, inner peace, self-control - and induct him into the sprawling, secret network of conspiracy and subversion known as the Harbinger Foundation. Now, Peter begins his long road towards a destiny that will shake the very foundations of the Valiant Universe. His first lesson? All power comes with a price! Collecting the groundbreaking first year of Valiant Entertainment's Harbinger.
Collecting: Harbinger 1-12
Collecting: Harbinger 1-12
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 26, 2013
About the author
Joshua Dysart
387 books97 followersI write comic books, graphic novels and novels. I'm a three time Eisner nominee, two time Glyph award winner, New York Times bestseller, a recipient of The Dick Giordano Humanitarian of the Year award, and have been in competition twice at Angoulême.
I've worked on Hellboy, Swamp Thing, & Conan the Barbarian; I co-wrote a graphic novel with Neil Young; I helped restart Valiant Entertainment; and I've done on-the-ground research in Uganda (2007), Iraq (2014), & South Sudan (2016), writting graphic novels about war and famine in those regions.
Goodnight Paradise came out in 2018 with long time co-creator Alberto Ponticelli and is a murder mystery set in the houseless population of Venice Beach, Ca.
My first novel (novella - it's only 100 pages) has dropped. It combines my love of slasher horror, Agatha Christie fair-play mysteries, construction sites, and bugs. It's called BROOD X. Buy it wherever trash genre books are sold!
I've worked on Hellboy, Swamp Thing, & Conan the Barbarian; I co-wrote a graphic novel with Neil Young; I helped restart Valiant Entertainment; and I've done on-the-ground research in Uganda (2007), Iraq (2014), & South Sudan (2016), writting graphic novels about war and famine in those regions.
Goodnight Paradise came out in 2018 with long time co-creator Alberto Ponticelli and is a murder mystery set in the houseless population of Venice Beach, Ca.
My first novel (novella - it's only 100 pages) has dropped. It combines my love of slasher horror, Agatha Christie fair-play mysteries, construction sites, and bugs. It's called BROOD X. Buy it wherever trash genre books are sold!
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 4, 2021
After starting my jump into Valiant comics with X-O Manowar and loving it, next up was Harbinger! And what a ride this was! This story seems ripe to find success as a movie or tv series in this day and age, featuring super-powered teens on the run. The Valiant comic book universe really starts to expand by introducing psiots: humans born with latent psychic abilities that have to be "unlocked." Toyo Harada, one of the world's most successful businessmen and humanitarians, and an "Omega-level" psiot with immensely powerful telepathic and telekinetic abilities, recruits teenager Peter Stancheck (an equally powerful psiot that is the rare one to actually have been born activated), to join his Harbinger Foundation, a training ground for super-powered humans. But when Peter discovers Harada's brutal methods to achieving his goals, he escapes, with a mission to recruit other renegade psiots in an effort to stop Harada.
So imagine if Jean Grey enrolled in the School for Gifted Youngsters and then discovered she was not learning under Professor X, but instead under Magneto!
It's a book that's undeniably fun and exciting, but in doing so, doesn't sacrifice telling a well-drawn character-based story at the same time. I wasn't just entertained by Peter and his ragtag group of renegades and their cool powers, but Harada himself was particularly compelling: a man who, as a child, witnessed the horrors of war, corruption, and totalitarianism firsthand in the aftermath of WWII Hiroshima, and is now dedicated to doing anything in his power to preventing something like that from ever happening again. But he doesn't even notice that he's becoming the exact thing he hates.
Another truly standout character was Faith, the first young psiot that Peter activates, a positive, bright-eyed geek who is exactly the way I hope most people would be after discovering that they can fly. She is completely excited and deadset on being the best superhero possible. She is the heart of Peter's team and a total opposite to the brooding, vengeful heroes like Daredevil, or the head-case Batman. She sees the awesomeness and beauty in everything. And I love how she's so excited that she's constantly flying or floating. I feel you Faith, I would be too! Do you!
I wasn't a fan of the art in the beginning, Khari Evans drew everyone with these weird mumpy faces with pouty duck mouths. But the rest of the art is pretty good.
I read this book in tandem with Bloodshot: Deluxe Edition 1, both of which lead into Valiant's great first crossover Harbinger Wars, and this book is the best of the two supporting stories in regards to standing alone in that crossover. If you can, read the first two arcs of both this book and Bloodshot, and then switch to the Harbinger Wars: Deluxe Edition, which collects both final arcs and the full event in reading order.
Can't wait to see where the Renegades go from here.
April 14, 2017
Fantastic writing as Valiant continues to surprise me.
I'm very excited about reading into the Valiant universe, well worth the money and constant hunting for all these books.
I'm very excited about reading into the Valiant universe, well worth the money and constant hunting for all these books.
October 24, 2015
Omega Rising (1-5). A strong start to the new Valiant. I feel like Dysart really gives some strong character to Peter and also gives him a good reason fight against Harada -- much more so than in the original continuity. The strong scientific basis, the action-adventure, and the rest of the supporting cast are all fun as well.
On the other hand, I'm not thrilled with Peter's unforgivable act in the first couple of issues. I hope we get a different perspective on that in the future, else it makes Peter a horribly flawed hero (though not the only one of his kind). [8/10]
Renegades (6-10). A good continuation of the series, though not quite as strong as the first volume. Dysart does a good job of introducing us to the rest of Pete's crew, putting the band together, and we get a pretty epic confrontation in the last couple of issues.
He does kind of cop out on what went down between Pete and Kris, without an explanation for it. [7/10]
Zero (0). An interesting look at Harada’s past and his purpose in the modern world [7+/10].
Harbinger Wars (11-14). Two fascinating stories. The present-day story is a little bit fractured as we're seeing just one point of a view of a larger story … but in some ways that makes it more interesting. I find the past story the most interesting though, for its more SF basis and its background on Harada and PRS. [7+/10].
Overall, this a great new Harbinger.
On the other hand, I'm not thrilled with Peter's unforgivable act in the first couple of issues. I hope we get a different perspective on that in the future, else it makes Peter a horribly flawed hero (though not the only one of his kind). [8/10]
Renegades (6-10). A good continuation of the series, though not quite as strong as the first volume. Dysart does a good job of introducing us to the rest of Pete's crew, putting the band together, and we get a pretty epic confrontation in the last couple of issues.
He does kind of cop out on what went down between Pete and Kris, without an explanation for it. [7/10]
Zero (0). An interesting look at Harada’s past and his purpose in the modern world [7+/10].
Harbinger Wars (11-14). Two fascinating stories. The present-day story is a little bit fractured as we're seeing just one point of a view of a larger story … but in some ways that makes it more interesting. I find the past story the most interesting though, for its more SF basis and its background on Harada and PRS. [7+/10].
Overall, this a great new Harbinger.
January 4, 2021
Well whatdya know, I guess I'm a Harbinger fan now?
So many shades of grey and, as Faith's endearing internal (and frequently external) monologuing informs us, this story really doesn't conform to the costumed heroes norm.
Toyo Harada is a huge asshole, but at the same time...kind of sympathetic? Likewise our protagonist Peter Stanchek is always going to be the character we're meant to relate to best, but some of his choices are pretty enormously NOT OK.
So glad I was able to follow the story throughout this Deluxe Edition, I hope Hoopla the next three volumes compiled thus as well because this is one ride I don't want to get off.
So many shades of grey and, as Faith's endearing internal (and frequently external) monologuing informs us, this story really doesn't conform to the costumed heroes norm.
Toyo Harada is a huge asshole, but at the same time...kind of sympathetic? Likewise our protagonist Peter Stanchek is always going to be the character we're meant to relate to best, but some of his choices are pretty enormously NOT OK.
So glad I was able to follow the story throughout this Deluxe Edition, I hope Hoopla the next three volumes compiled thus as well because this is one ride I don't want to get off.
May 24, 2014
This very nice hardcover deluxe edition collects issues #0–14 of Valiant Entertainments rebooted Harbinger series (previously collected as three TPBs: Omega Rising (#1–5), Renegades (#5–8), and Harbinger Vol. 3: Harbinger Wars (#0 and 11–14)) and is written by Joshua Dysart, who is supported by an array of artists, including Khari Evans, Lee Garbett and Trevor Hairsine.
Harbinger is both the story of the psiot (Valiant's equivalent of Marvel's mutants) Peter Stanchek gathering a band of Renegades (fellow psiots), and of his older would-be mentor Toyo Harada and his Harbinger Foundation (dedicated to training psiots for a higher purpose). This duality in the narrative, along with a strong and expanding character gallery, makes this another strong entry in Valiant's rebooted universe (I started out by reading X-O Manowar Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 on the recommendation of a friend, and while a very different title in many ways, certainly matching this one in terms of quality).
The final part of this volume ties in with Valiant's first event/crossover, Harbinger Wars, which is not a straight on crossover so much as an extended narrative overlap (which might in fact be possible to read separately, even though I opted to read the whole thing, and in the chronology it was published). The other parts can be found in the Harbinger Wars TPB which collects the four-issue miniseries (there is a Deluxe Edition forthcoming, but seeing as how that only would have provided me with double issues of Harbinger #11–14, as well as of Bloodshot #10–13, I opted for the TPB in this case) and Bloodshot Deluxe Edition Vol. 1.
Highly recommended.
Harbinger is both the story of the psiot (Valiant's equivalent of Marvel's mutants) Peter Stanchek gathering a band of Renegades (fellow psiots), and of his older would-be mentor Toyo Harada and his Harbinger Foundation (dedicated to training psiots for a higher purpose). This duality in the narrative, along with a strong and expanding character gallery, makes this another strong entry in Valiant's rebooted universe (I started out by reading X-O Manowar Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 on the recommendation of a friend, and while a very different title in many ways, certainly matching this one in terms of quality).
The final part of this volume ties in with Valiant's first event/crossover, Harbinger Wars, which is not a straight on crossover so much as an extended narrative overlap (which might in fact be possible to read separately, even though I opted to read the whole thing, and in the chronology it was published). The other parts can be found in the Harbinger Wars TPB which collects the four-issue miniseries (there is a Deluxe Edition forthcoming, but seeing as how that only would have provided me with double issues of Harbinger #11–14, as well as of Bloodshot #10–13, I opted for the TPB in this case) and Bloodshot Deluxe Edition Vol. 1.
Highly recommended.
July 1, 2018
I'm a huge fan of the new Valiant Universe and have collected all of the HC Deluxe versions. I'll slowly be adding reviews of them all, but if you would also like a suggested reading order (although not perfect) you can find one I did here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
The fastest way to understand Harbinger is to say that it is the X-Men of the Valiant Universe. That is an extremely over simplified comparison, but in short, that's about it. The story focuses on Peter Stanchek who is one of the worlds strongest "Harbingers." The antagonist, Toyo Harada, is akin to a Magneto/Lex Luthor. The world believes Toyo Harada to be a great philanthropist, and Harada himself likely believes this to be true, but living as long as he has, believes that the only way he can truly make the world a better place is by controlling it all. Stanchek seeing the man behind the curtain, escapes and forms the renegades, a group of misfit harbingers that weren't aware they had potential to be harbingers in the first place.
The story itself is a bit beat for beat of other stories that have come before it, but some of the renegade characters themselves are true stand outs. The character Faith has her origins in this volume and it's quick to see why she has become a fan favorite.
For readers looking to dive into Valiant, this may not be the best place to start as other titles show off Valiants more unique side, such as XO Manowar or Archer & Armstrong, but for those that are trying to get the whole story, Toyo Harada plays a big part of the Valiant Universe and his story starts here.
The fastest way to understand Harbinger is to say that it is the X-Men of the Valiant Universe. That is an extremely over simplified comparison, but in short, that's about it. The story focuses on Peter Stanchek who is one of the worlds strongest "Harbingers." The antagonist, Toyo Harada, is akin to a Magneto/Lex Luthor. The world believes Toyo Harada to be a great philanthropist, and Harada himself likely believes this to be true, but living as long as he has, believes that the only way he can truly make the world a better place is by controlling it all. Stanchek seeing the man behind the curtain, escapes and forms the renegades, a group of misfit harbingers that weren't aware they had potential to be harbingers in the first place.
The story itself is a bit beat for beat of other stories that have come before it, but some of the renegade characters themselves are true stand outs. The character Faith has her origins in this volume and it's quick to see why she has become a fan favorite.
For readers looking to dive into Valiant, this may not be the best place to start as other titles show off Valiants more unique side, such as XO Manowar or Archer & Armstrong, but for those that are trying to get the whole story, Toyo Harada plays a big part of the Valiant Universe and his story starts here.
June 23, 2018
Більшість рекомендацій щодо всесвіту Веліент зводяться до того, що треба прочитати Harbinger, своєрідна версія людей Ікс, але в іншому форматі й ракурсі. Зрештою, я нарешті дістався до першого делюксу. Історія розпочинається з того, що головний герой, Пітер Станчек, не може витримати голоси у своїй голові, бо він може чути думки інших людей. Він може ще багато чого, бо він - псіонічно обраний (harbinger, тобто провісник), здатний змінювати курс історії. Ще важливо, що Пітер може активовувати інших псіотів, адже не просто достатньо мати певні здібності, а треба їх прокинути.
Виявляється, що таких пісіонічно "заряджених" людей багато, усі вони об'єднані в окремі корпорації. Однак питання в тім, щоб зуміти їх контролювати, адже такі люди, наприклад, з легкістю можуть керувати світом, а отже в один прекрасний момент привести його до катастрофи. З цього все й починається (чи продовжується): Пітер втікає від Harbinger Foundation, де тренують і активують веліентських людей Ікс; по дорозі він активовує Faith, повненьку й наївну дівчину, яка володіє левітацією; підхоплює свою подругу, що має на нього твердий зуб. Усе це призводить до колапсу й конфлікту, адже Пітер, один із найсильніших молодих псіотів і надія людства заодно, мимоволі бунтує проти Фундації, проти влади.
Можна спокійно рекомендувати цю серію абсолютно усім, зокрема й тим, хто далекий від всесвіту Веліент і коміксів загалом. Добре прописані персонажі (хоча не завжди глибоко й переконливо з точки зору їхніх мотивів), прекрасний сеттінг і чудовий ритм історії. Зі слабких сторін - достатньо стандартний сюжет, але однаково тут все гарно прописано й нема суттєвих провисань. Мені також бракувало хорошої графіки. Місцями обличчя були просто потворні, грубі й не достатньо реалістичні. Проблема з анатомією також додавалися неможливість передати динаміку й перехід окремих сцен, але далі наче все це вирівнюється. Словом, читати варто, але у Веліент є значно кращі історії, проте до цього треба логічно підійти.
Виявляється, що таких пісіонічно "заряджених" людей багато, усі вони об'єднані в окремі корпорації. Однак питання в тім, щоб зуміти їх контролювати, адже такі люди, наприклад, з легкістю можуть керувати світом, а отже в один прекрасний момент привести його до катастрофи. З цього все й починається (чи продовжується): Пітер втікає від Harbinger Foundation, де тренують і активують веліентських людей Ікс; по дорозі він активовує Faith, повненьку й наївну дівчину, яка володіє левітацією; підхоплює свою подругу, що має на нього твердий зуб. Усе це призводить до колапсу й конфлікту, адже Пітер, один із найсильніших молодих псіотів і надія людства заодно, мимоволі бунтує проти Фундації, проти влади.
Можна спокійно рекомендувати цю серію абсолютно усім, зокрема й тим, хто далекий від всесвіту Веліент і коміксів загалом. Добре прописані персонажі (хоча не завжди глибоко й переконливо з точки зору їхніх мотивів), прекрасний сеттінг і чудовий ритм історії. Зі слабких сторін - достатньо стандартний сюжет, але однаково тут все гарно прописано й нема суттєвих провисань. Мені також бракувало хорошої графіки. Місцями обличчя були просто потворні, грубі й не достатньо реалістичні. Проблема з анатомією також додавалися неможливість передати динаміку й перехід окремих сцен, але далі наче все це вирівнюється. Словом, читати варто, але у Веліент є значно кращі історії, проте до цього треба логічно підійти.
December 28, 2020
Entretenido y curioso, como la mayoría del Universo Valiant. Unos superhéroes que no tienen claro cómo hacer el bien y si están o no por encima del resto de la humanidad. Su mayor inconveniente es que la historia queda abierta se cierra en el tomo Harbinger Wars - Edición de lujo y creo que se repite también ese mismo final en Bloodshot: Edición de lujo 1.
Le doy 3 estrellas *** tirando a 4 porque la verdad se me ha hecho corto leerlo. Una pena que Medusa Cómics no vaya a seguir editando el Universo Valiant.
Le doy 3 estrellas *** tirando a 4 porque la verdad se me ha hecho corto leerlo. Una pena que Medusa Cómics no vaya a seguir editando el Universo Valiant.
August 18, 2018
Got this via the HumbleBundle “Valiant Universe”. Had never heard of this publisher or the “Harbinger” comic before.
The series is about people with special abilities called psiots. Their self-proclaimed leader, Toyo Harada, wants to make the world a better place. Well, at least according to his definition of better and in which the end justifies the means. Another psiot, Pete Stanchek, rebels and creates his own group of psiots called The Renegades. The comic is pretty dark, were it not for the psiot Faith Herbert aka Zephyr, a plus-sized, blonde wannabe superhero who is idealistic, loyal and a bit naive but who gives this comic a lighter note.
The series is about people with special abilities called psiots. Their self-proclaimed leader, Toyo Harada, wants to make the world a better place. Well, at least according to his definition of better and in which the end justifies the means. Another psiot, Pete Stanchek, rebels and creates his own group of psiots called The Renegades. The comic is pretty dark, were it not for the psiot Faith Herbert aka Zephyr, a plus-sized, blonde wannabe superhero who is idealistic, loyal and a bit naive but who gives this comic a lighter note.
October 4, 2021
Some of the best of the best from Valiant Comics before Dinesh left and DMG ruined the product. Dysart is absolutely brilliant in writing younger characters and I encourage anyone who is a fan of the angst type X-men stories and their offshoot super groups to please read Harbinger. It’s a more adult oriented book but, without gratuitous violence, it just has the right amount required for the Renegades situation. Again, some of the best comic book story telling in years.
May 23, 2026
It's too bad Valiant couldn't keep it going, because their 2010s stuff was excellent. Harbinger was my favorite.
It was good to revisit these after 14 years. However, the last third of this book was part of a crossover, and the other parts of the crossover are absent, so it makes the story incomplete.
Still quality work.
It was good to revisit these after 14 years. However, the last third of this book was part of a crossover, and the other parts of the crossover are absent, so it makes the story incomplete.
Still quality work.
June 19, 2019
Mostly mindless reading, which is ok with me. 2.5/5.
August 12, 2020
1-5, Omega Rising, ☆☆☆☆
6-10, Renegades, ☆☆☆☆
0, The Omega Age, ☆☆☆☆
11-14, Harbinger Wars, ☆☆☆☆
6-10, Renegades, ☆☆☆☆
0, The Omega Age, ☆☆☆☆
11-14, Harbinger Wars, ☆☆☆☆
August 12, 2024
A very exciting run of harbinger, there is a lot that is happening and the renegades coming together was probably my best part in the story.
September 16, 2025
I can almost see Valiant telling Joshua Dysart to do nothing like X-Men but at the same time the greatest X-Men story ever written.
April 9, 2022
Like X-Men and Runaways, crossed with an espionage film.
This is a kickass, emotionally grounded with good pacing and excellent art. Valient really knocked it out of the park with their 2012 relaunch and Harbinger is a perfect example of their quality.
4.5/5 stars.
This is a kickass, emotionally grounded with good pacing and excellent art. Valient really knocked it out of the park with their 2012 relaunch and Harbinger is a perfect example of their quality.
4.5/5 stars.
Read
April 2, 2015As a new comics reader, I found this series compelling with some nice twists on familiar tropes. At times it feels immature and shallow in character development, but what can you really expect from a freshly rebooted franchise? Now that I've finished the first volume, I'm dying to know what's next...
December 27, 2015
I would describe this series as a cross between X-Men and Scanners. I liked the dichotomy between the Harada corporation's overwhelming control of psychic powers and Peter's renegade approach of finding psychics. Bloodshot makes an appearance, but it is too brief in this collection to really warrant your attention.
October 8, 2014
Good story--unique perspective on the mutant superhero trope. Also I love that there is a fat girl superhero. I will continue to read this series.
February 17, 2015
Also really good. Generation Zero wasn't a personal favorite, but the Renegades and Harada are awesome. Great flow with BLOODSHOT series too
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews