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Unity
Unity, Vol. 6: The War-Monger
Out of the darkest recesses of the 20th century...the War-Monger rises to rage against the combined might of Valiant's most elite superteam!
For thousands of years, the Eternal Warrior has waged battle; and for thousands of years, one spirit has vexed him...the spirit of warfare itself. Today, Gilad Anni-Padda and his teammates in Unity must reckon with a long - thought-forgotten enemy-unseen since Unit-Y faced it in World War II - now returned to bring destruction and death to the heroes once and for all. Unity may not survive the coming of War-Monger!
From New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Divinity) and red-hot artists Jose Luis and Jefte Palo, the unstoppable War-Monger tears a swath through the ranks of Unity right here in the next volume of the chart-topping series IGN calls "a big superhero book done right."
Collecting: Unity 19-22
For thousands of years, the Eternal Warrior has waged battle; and for thousands of years, one spirit has vexed him...the spirit of warfare itself. Today, Gilad Anni-Padda and his teammates in Unity must reckon with a long - thought-forgotten enemy-unseen since Unit-Y faced it in World War II - now returned to bring destruction and death to the heroes once and for all. Unity may not survive the coming of War-Monger!
From New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Divinity) and red-hot artists Jose Luis and Jefte Palo, the unstoppable War-Monger tears a swath through the ranks of Unity right here in the next volume of the chart-topping series IGN calls "a big superhero book done right."
Collecting: Unity 19-22
112 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 24, 2018
★★1/2
This volume can be read very much as a standalone, as it details the actions of the new villain War-Monger throughout history and the efforts of various special Unity teams to stop her, ending with this era's super-team battle with her. She influences the powers of the world and has been the cause of most of the violent conflicts through history. It's an interesting villain concept, but damn if she wasn't annoying as hell. I guess it's by design but she bothered me all the way through. The art during the modern day sequences was atrocious too, so ugly it was distracting. And although I really liked the ending, due to sparse development of its characters, this volume falls a little flat.
This volume can be read very much as a standalone, as it details the actions of the new villain War-Monger throughout history and the efforts of various special Unity teams to stop her, ending with this era's super-team battle with her. She influences the powers of the world and has been the cause of most of the violent conflicts through history. It's an interesting villain concept, but damn if she wasn't annoying as hell. I guess it's by design but she bothered me all the way through. The art during the modern day sequences was atrocious too, so ugly it was distracting. And although I really liked the ending, due to sparse development of its characters, this volume falls a little flat.
February 23, 2018
A woman that has threatened Unity teams since the Dark Ages has resurfaced, and our current Unity team are going to need every trick in their arsenal to deal with her - the War-Monger is back!
The idea of the War-Monger is an interesting one, that I really don't think these four issues explored as much as it could have; she's a woman who can sow conflict and discontent everywhere she goes, but can't actually kill anyone herself. She spends most of these four issues gloating and recapping her previous attacks on the world which were inevitably foiled by some unified team of superheroes (including Unit-Y from previous Unity stories), and she feels very one-dimensional for a character that has so much potential. That, and every other word out of her mouth is censored as expletive, which gets a bit grating after one issue.
The rest of Unity don't get to do much except get their asses handed to them until the final issue when the true plan has been revealed - it's a good one, but after seeing all the ways that Unity teams throughout history have attempted to deal with the War-Monger, I thought our team might have come up with a more permanent solution. Plus deus ex machina sacrifice characters feel weak as a plot device.
The first three issues use Jose Luis and an army of inkers to depict the flashbacks, before Luis graduates to the main story for the final issue. His visuals are very Valiant, and in fact remind me a little of Brett Booth (but without the super-elongated legs that he's famous for). The modern day story (which amounts to about three or four pages per issue) for the first three is handled by Jefte Palo, whose angular style feels unpolished; you'd think having only a few pages per issue to draw would lead to more detail in his characters. I'm glad we got more of Luis and less of Palo rather than the other way around.
This is a fairly weak volume of Unity; it doesn't expand very much on its characters, it doesn't flesh out its villain, and it kind of just falls flat at the end, too. It's overall just a bit disappointing, when it had really been on a roll. Great art for the most part, though.
The idea of the War-Monger is an interesting one, that I really don't think these four issues explored as much as it could have; she's a woman who can sow conflict and discontent everywhere she goes, but can't actually kill anyone herself. She spends most of these four issues gloating and recapping her previous attacks on the world which were inevitably foiled by some unified team of superheroes (including Unit-Y from previous Unity stories), and she feels very one-dimensional for a character that has so much potential. That, and every other word out of her mouth is censored as expletive, which gets a bit grating after one issue.
The rest of Unity don't get to do much except get their asses handed to them until the final issue when the true plan has been revealed - it's a good one, but after seeing all the ways that Unity teams throughout history have attempted to deal with the War-Monger, I thought our team might have come up with a more permanent solution. Plus deus ex machina sacrifice characters feel weak as a plot device.
The first three issues use Jose Luis and an army of inkers to depict the flashbacks, before Luis graduates to the main story for the final issue. His visuals are very Valiant, and in fact remind me a little of Brett Booth (but without the super-elongated legs that he's famous for). The modern day story (which amounts to about three or four pages per issue) for the first three is handled by Jefte Palo, whose angular style feels unpolished; you'd think having only a few pages per issue to draw would lead to more detail in his characters. I'm glad we got more of Luis and less of Palo rather than the other way around.
This is a fairly weak volume of Unity; it doesn't expand very much on its characters, it doesn't flesh out its villain, and it kind of just falls flat at the end, too. It's overall just a bit disappointing, when it had really been on a roll. Great art for the most part, though.
November 16, 2020
Unity is always fucking great. This tpb is no different.
Once again, Matt Kindt treats us to a unique and compelling, one-of-a-kind story. A story I didn’t know I needed. Something with style, grace, and finesse. Fascinating new characters, old characters treated with the care and respect I’ve come to expect from this title, and truly visionary art from Jose Luis, Sandro Ribeiro, Alisson Rodrigues, Jefte Palo and more. It’s varied... but not inconsistent (as such a huge roster would imply.) No... these styles are interspersed with intent and purpose, always to move the story and convey the moments perfectly. The action flows.
This is Rolls Royce quality superhero comic book fiction. If Marvel and DC are McDonalds and Burger King, this is Ruth’s Chris. Handmade for the picky and discerning fan.
Keep up the good work, Matt. I’ll keep reading!
Once again, Matt Kindt treats us to a unique and compelling, one-of-a-kind story. A story I didn’t know I needed. Something with style, grace, and finesse. Fascinating new characters, old characters treated with the care and respect I’ve come to expect from this title, and truly visionary art from Jose Luis, Sandro Ribeiro, Alisson Rodrigues, Jefte Palo and more. It’s varied... but not inconsistent (as such a huge roster would imply.) No... these styles are interspersed with intent and purpose, always to move the story and convey the moments perfectly. The action flows.
This is Rolls Royce quality superhero comic book fiction. If Marvel and DC are McDonalds and Burger King, this is Ruth’s Chris. Handmade for the picky and discerning fan.
Keep up the good work, Matt. I’ll keep reading!
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July 10, 2023Sada već u svakom superjunačkom univerzumu obligatorna priča u kojoj se otkriva kako postoje Unity timovi kroz povijest, s obligatornim viktorijanskim klubom i srednjevjekovnim klubom i klubom koji je postojao u vrijeme Prvog svjetskog rata. Ali isto tako i o ženi koja je personifikacija rata, ili bolje rečeno sukoba. Kindt kao i uvijek uredno iznenadi suptilnošću i slojevitošću priče te likova, ali ovaj put je crtež toliko kriminalno loš da samo čitanje tj. probijanje kroz ogavno nacrtane kadrove stvarno nanosi duševnu bol. Staviti katastrofalnog wannabe klona (jer ovaj lik nije ni propisni klon) Davida Fincha (čije su crtačke sposobnosti ionako vrlo upitne) na serijal koji treba biti pun uvjerljivih prikaza prošlih doba, i to onih za koje ima dovoljno referenci na internetu, stvarno je novo dno za Warrena Simonsa i ekipu koja je već u startu bila zloglasna po izboru crtača na serijalima. Rado bih stavio pet zvjezdica na ovaj album jer je priča i dalje sjajna, kao i u prijašnjim Unityjima, ali zbog crteža bih odmah oduzeo 4 tako da ću ga radije ostaviti neocijenjenog.
December 27, 2018
This is one of the best books you can read about Unity. The War-Monger is a demon you are gonna hate. She appears always as a woman, and her intentions is to provoke war between villages, countries... maybe she's the origin of our World Wars. Nobody can kill her, but Unity has to stop her or we'll be in the gates of the WWIII.
Matt Kindt writes here an excellent story. We are lucky the editor decided to include here Jose Luis as one of the pencillers. When you're reading this story, there are scenes of the past and the present in a flashback-flashforward narrative resource.
When you are int he present time, Jette Palo is the "artist". It's not a newcomer. I know he draws some Deadpool and another Marvel series. And I can't understand how he did. He has a good narrative, but he draws so bad.
Well, anyway I can understand Jette Palo could work in a comic-book. But if you put some of his pages just beside Jose Luis pages, then the reader has no option to think just like me. Jose Luis draws really fine, and it's a shame he didn't did all the whole story.
I really want to thank the editor his choice to offer Jose Luis the last chapter, even when the action is all in the present time.
The final fight of Unity (with Anchor) against the War-Monger is just sublime. I really recommend this book, and this final fight is one of the main reasons.
************************
Este es uno de los mejores libros de Unity. The War-Monger (algo así como "El traficante de guerras") es un demonio al que vas a odiar de verdad.
Aparece con aspecto de mujer y sus intenciones son provocar la guerra entre poblados, países... quizá sea la causante de las guerras mundiales. Nadie la puede matar, pero Unity tiene que detenerla o nos encontraremos a las puertas de una tercera Guerra Mundial.
Matt Kindt ha escrito una historia excelente. Tenemos suerte de que el editor decidiera incluir aquí al dibujante José Luis. Cuando lees esta historia, hay escenas del pasado y del presente en un sistema de narrativa de flashback-flashforward.
Cuando estás en tiempo presente, el "dibujante" es Jette Palo, y su apellido te anticipa lo que van a sufrir tus pupilas (esto no lo he puesto en la versión en inglés porque dudo que entendieran el doble sentido, aunque sus pupilas sufrirán igual que las vuestras).
Sé que no es un recién llegado y que ha dibujado algunos episodios de Deadpool (Masacre) y otras series Marvel. Y no puedo entender cómo lo ha conseguido. Tiene buena narrativa, pero dibuja fatal. Bueno, de todas maneras puedo entender que Jette Palo pueda dibujar un cómic. Pero es que si pones sus páginas justo al lado de las de José Luis, entonces el lector no va a tener otra opción que pensar como yo. José Luis dibuja realmente bien, y es una lástima que no se encargara de dibujar toda la historia.
Tengo que agradecer de verdad al editor su elección de ofrecer a José Luis el último capítulo completo, incluso a pesar de que este transcurra en tiempo presente.
La lucha final de Unity (con Anchor) contra the War-Monger es sencillamente sublime.
De verdad que recomiendo este tomo, y su lucha final es una de las razones principales de mi consejo.
Matt Kindt writes here an excellent story. We are lucky the editor decided to include here Jose Luis as one of the pencillers. When you're reading this story, there are scenes of the past and the present in a flashback-flashforward narrative resource.
When you are int he present time, Jette Palo is the "artist". It's not a newcomer. I know he draws some Deadpool and another Marvel series. And I can't understand how he did. He has a good narrative, but he draws so bad.
Well, anyway I can understand Jette Palo could work in a comic-book. But if you put some of his pages just beside Jose Luis pages, then the reader has no option to think just like me. Jose Luis draws really fine, and it's a shame he didn't did all the whole story.
I really want to thank the editor his choice to offer Jose Luis the last chapter, even when the action is all in the present time.
The final fight of Unity (with Anchor) against the War-Monger is just sublime. I really recommend this book, and this final fight is one of the main reasons.
************************
Este es uno de los mejores libros de Unity. The War-Monger (algo así como "El traficante de guerras") es un demonio al que vas a odiar de verdad.
Aparece con aspecto de mujer y sus intenciones son provocar la guerra entre poblados, países... quizá sea la causante de las guerras mundiales. Nadie la puede matar, pero Unity tiene que detenerla o nos encontraremos a las puertas de una tercera Guerra Mundial.
Matt Kindt ha escrito una historia excelente. Tenemos suerte de que el editor decidiera incluir aquí al dibujante José Luis. Cuando lees esta historia, hay escenas del pasado y del presente en un sistema de narrativa de flashback-flashforward.
Cuando estás en tiempo presente, el "dibujante" es Jette Palo, y su apellido te anticipa lo que van a sufrir tus pupilas (esto no lo he puesto en la versión en inglés porque dudo que entendieran el doble sentido, aunque sus pupilas sufrirán igual que las vuestras).
Sé que no es un recién llegado y que ha dibujado algunos episodios de Deadpool (Masacre) y otras series Marvel. Y no puedo entender cómo lo ha conseguido. Tiene buena narrativa, pero dibuja fatal. Bueno, de todas maneras puedo entender que Jette Palo pueda dibujar un cómic. Pero es que si pones sus páginas justo al lado de las de José Luis, entonces el lector no va a tener otra opción que pensar como yo. José Luis dibuja realmente bien, y es una lástima que no se encargara de dibujar toda la historia.
Tengo que agradecer de verdad al editor su elección de ofrecer a José Luis el último capítulo completo, incluso a pesar de que este transcurra en tiempo presente.
La lucha final de Unity (con Anchor) contra the War-Monger es sencillamente sublime.
De verdad que recomiendo este tomo, y su lucha final es una de las razones principales de mi consejo.
September 26, 2019
Reprints Unity #19-22 (June 2015-September 2015). War-Monger has returned! A plague on humanity from the ancient past, War-Monger demonstrates an ability to cause fighting and wars…but her biggest target is Unity and other superhumans. War-Monger faces off against the new Unity team and finds that defeating them might be easier than she ever expected, but Unity might have a secret member that could spell her doom!
Written by Matt Kindt, Unity Volume 6: The War-Monger is a Valiant Comics superhero comic book. Following Unity Volume 5: Homefront, the collection features art by Jose Luis, Sandro Ribeiro, Alisson Rodrigues, Livesay, and Jeft Palo.
I found the last volume of Unity a bit ho-hum. It was a set-up for a final battle that was less than impressive. In the final issue, War-Monger was introduced as Unity’s next villain, and War-Monger turns out to be an interesting ride.
The character of War-Monger is kind of like the flip-side of Gilad. An eternal character, she has been a bane for centuries. Marvel has a similar named character in the Hate Monger, and it is a bit of a trope…but War-Monger is still effective. Unlike a lot of storylines which could have War-Monger using real pointed hatred/racism, but here, War-Monger’s actions aren’t the focus as much as the result (which is probably a good thing). It doesn’t become a political statement as much as a character bent on stirring chaos.
I have also felt that Unity is a bit too tight. It seems like the team needs to be more expansive. I like the addition of GIN-GR and it is good that X-O is back in this volume, but I feel the team needs more blood. Anchor was added for (literally) a brief hit, but it felt good to have more of team aspect for Unity…I don’t know that they need to play baseball like the X-Men, but it would be good to see more interaction between the members and one or two more members added.
The Valiant Universe needs Unity, but I also feel that Unity needs some more sculpting. I liked this volume because I liked the antagonist of War-Monger, but it feels like Unity is just close to getting over the hump and not quite there. With over twenty-issues, it feels like Unity should be a bit farther along, but hopefully the idea will continue. Unity 6: The War-Monger is followed by Unity 7: Revenge of the Armor Hunters.
Written by Matt Kindt, Unity Volume 6: The War-Monger is a Valiant Comics superhero comic book. Following Unity Volume 5: Homefront, the collection features art by Jose Luis, Sandro Ribeiro, Alisson Rodrigues, Livesay, and Jeft Palo.
I found the last volume of Unity a bit ho-hum. It was a set-up for a final battle that was less than impressive. In the final issue, War-Monger was introduced as Unity’s next villain, and War-Monger turns out to be an interesting ride.
The character of War-Monger is kind of like the flip-side of Gilad. An eternal character, she has been a bane for centuries. Marvel has a similar named character in the Hate Monger, and it is a bit of a trope…but War-Monger is still effective. Unlike a lot of storylines which could have War-Monger using real pointed hatred/racism, but here, War-Monger’s actions aren’t the focus as much as the result (which is probably a good thing). It doesn’t become a political statement as much as a character bent on stirring chaos.
I have also felt that Unity is a bit too tight. It seems like the team needs to be more expansive. I like the addition of GIN-GR and it is good that X-O is back in this volume, but I feel the team needs more blood. Anchor was added for (literally) a brief hit, but it felt good to have more of team aspect for Unity…I don’t know that they need to play baseball like the X-Men, but it would be good to see more interaction between the members and one or two more members added.
The Valiant Universe needs Unity, but I also feel that Unity needs some more sculpting. I liked this volume because I liked the antagonist of War-Monger, but it feels like Unity is just close to getting over the hump and not quite there. With over twenty-issues, it feels like Unity should be a bit farther along, but hopefully the idea will continue. Unity 6: The War-Monger is followed by Unity 7: Revenge of the Armor Hunters.
April 8, 2021
Matt Kindt is one of my favorite writers, and I've enjoyed most of his time playing in the sandbox of the Valiant Universe. But this book where a new nemesis shows up: a woman who causes chaos and incited war, and who swears at least once a sentence. It might be the most boring idea Kindt has come up with.
The first three issues are just War-Monger monologuing her history while taking down the individual members of Unity, who you can tell are holding back to regroup in the final issue.
There's even a .
The quality of the writing here is about on par with the absolute bottom of the barrel 1990s X-books (X-Men Blue, Vol. 0: Reunion) . You could see Fabien Nicieza writing this, looking it over, and thinking "I can do better." Coming from Kindt, this is a Massive Disappointment.
The first three issues are just War-Monger monologuing her history while taking down the individual members of Unity, who you can tell are holding back to regroup in the final issue.
There's even a .
The quality of the writing here is about on par with the absolute bottom of the barrel 1990s X-books (X-Men Blue, Vol. 0: Reunion) . You could see Fabien Nicieza writing this, looking it over, and thinking "I can do better." Coming from Kindt, this is a Massive Disappointment.
July 16, 2017
The War-Monger is a boring character with 'naught but filth' spewing from her mouth. She has been the spark in many conflicts throughout history and now her attack on an Iranian diplomat generates riots in the streets. She has faced other hero teams in the past and now it's Unity's turn. She visits each team member in turn and defeats them rather easily. It's all a ruse planned by MI-6, but the wounds look pretty painful. They team up on her in the end and use Anchor, a guy who can control his own mass, to pin her to the ocean floor.
The artwork for the current-day events is as crap as the story is, but the past is drawn as good as on previous arcs. War-Monger just keeps cursing for no reason, so there's plenty of '*@@*#!*' in her speech bubbles. Her super abilities are kicking people and immortality. Boring. The whole thing is one big 'meh' saved only by Unity's plan to basically imprison the immortal War-Monger.
The artwork for the current-day events is as crap as the story is, but the past is drawn as good as on previous arcs. War-Monger just keeps cursing for no reason, so there's plenty of '*@@*#!*' in her speech bubbles. Her super abilities are kicking people and immortality. Boring. The whole thing is one big 'meh' saved only by Unity's plan to basically imprison the immortal War-Monger.
September 25, 2017
The War Monger arc sees Valiant’s super-team take on an immortal foe who has a long and violent history of facing off against earlier iterations of Unity. While it was great to see the super team mythos expanded the overall feeling of the book was disappointing. War Monger is an interesting character but her dialogue left a lot to be desired; the abundance of profanity didn't jive with her battle hardened immortal characteristics. Additionally, going back for a reread, her character design bares a distinct likeness to the 4001 AD character War Mother – can’t help but wonder if War Monger was shelved in place of the newer character. The art depicting the earlier scenes was great but the present day art was just terrible and didn't jive with the tone of the book. On the plus side, War Monger is an arc that can be read as a standalone but is slightly improved by the reader being familiar with the earlier books in the series. My rating 2.5 stars.
July 8, 2018
The best way to describe the villain of this story is a female Vandal Savage. (DC fans will get that reference.) She's immortal and started out in the cavewoman days. However, she's a little different in that her entire reason of being is to start wars. Not really sure why, just because. She's also battled every Valiant superteam in history who always manage to beat her but because she's immortal she always pops up again.
This story intersperses her battle with the modern day Unity team with flashbacks of her battles with past teams. The art ranges from good to okay, and overall this isn't a bad arc. I will say a somewhat overlooked but known character from Unity plays a big part in the end of this storyline.
This story intersperses her battle with the modern day Unity team with flashbacks of her battles with past teams. The art ranges from good to okay, and overall this isn't a bad arc. I will say a somewhat overlooked but known character from Unity plays a big part in the end of this storyline.
November 8, 2024
Valiant is a weird universe for me as the quality of books, from top notch creators, is all over the place. Here, the Valiant version of the JLA or Avengers deals with an eternal enemy and its really interesting. The flashbacks were all fun, War-Monger was a thrill, and the outcome was nice. The overall story doesn't move forward, so to speak, but I enjoyed this thoroughly. I do wish we got more from the actual members of Unity as its 95% War-Monger dialogue. The art was mixed as the flashbacks were great but the present scenes not as much. Overall, a funny romp through unknown Valiant history that was a pleasure to read.
September 28, 2020
War-Monger is the most annoying villain since Superboy Prime. A lot of talk, a lot of (censored) cursing, no reason to sympathize with her. Yet her rambling takes up the vast majority of the text in the story since she's the narrator most of the time. I hope she doesn't come back.
If you like stories where one character tells a lot of stories that don't lead to anything, and where the art is better for the flashbacks than the modern parts, this is for you. (No offense to the artist who drew the modern parts, but I like the flashbacks' art better.)
If you like stories where one character tells a lot of stories that don't lead to anything, and where the art is better for the flashbacks than the modern parts, this is for you. (No offense to the artist who drew the modern parts, but I like the flashbacks' art better.)
May 9, 2018
Super cool villainess
I believe War Monger has just become my favorite villain of all time. So good at causing chaos, the major wars all lead to her. I wasn't even a little bit disappointed that she hijacked this volume and the Unity team played second fiddle. The art wishy washes from splendid to something that looks childish but the colors are spot on.
I believe War Monger has just become my favorite villain of all time. So good at causing chaos, the major wars all lead to her. I wasn't even a little bit disappointed that she hijacked this volume and the Unity team played second fiddle. The art wishy washes from splendid to something that looks childish but the colors are spot on.
June 3, 2017
While I pretty much love everything Valiant, and I really enjoyed this, there were two big problems. WM was pretty easily defeated each time and the final hero was brought in out of nowhere. Either way, still great.
August 17, 2024
I really dislike books like this. Set up this incredible “dangerous” foe that the team can’t handle individually, but why face her individually? Also, good thing we had SOME GUY waiting in the wings to nobly sacrifice himself. Never was a hero more aptly named.
July 8, 2020
The introduction of Warmonger has really made this series action packed! She is an immortal who not only cant be killed but she can sow the seeds of discontent to bring others to commit blodshed.
October 22, 2022
The art during the modern day scenes were bad up until issue #22. Other than that this volume was great.
November 19, 2015
This was dragging single issue story out at its finest. Just a complete waste of time. The absolute only enjoyable thing here came from reading War-Monger's dialogue in Lori Petty's voice because look at her, she's Tank Girl. The introduction of a new hero in the final issue was incredibly dumb. The fucking plan the heroes hatch is completely pointless, especially since X-O Manowar is around in this time. Even if you are going to waste the time of her running her mouth for X-O to show up, the new guy is still utterly pointless. X-O could have just thrown her into the fucking sun or anywhere in space for that matter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2016
Love how they expanded the history of the Valiant universe.
And how the original version of this Unity is given a tribute...I like this story a lot better than a lot of Justice League I have read, it just seems more real.
And how the original version of this Unity is given a tribute...I like this story a lot better than a lot of Justice League I have read, it just seems more real.
February 23, 2016
Disappointing in relation to previous volumes of Unity and other Valiant series, but worth reading if you're a fan of these characters.
March 8, 2016
Decent improvement over the previous volumes.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews