For those who lived through the comic book industry of the 1990s, the thought of chromium covers -- think "Ghost Rider 2099" #1 or "X-O Manowar" #0 -- brings about either fond feelings of nostalgia or a general sense of disdain.
Valiant Entertainment is banking on the former this summer, as CBR can exclusively announce the publisher has planned five chromium variant covers as part of its upcoming 18-chapter "Armor Hunters" event. The participating issues are June's "Armor Hunters" #1 (of 4) (cover by Jorge Molina), "Unity" #8 (cover by Mico Suayan), and "X-O Manowar" #26 (cover by Clayton Crain); and July's "Armor Hunters: Bloodshot" #1 (of 3) (cover by Philip Tan) and "Armor Hunters: Harbinger" #1 (of 3) (cover by Lewis LaRosa).
Valiant publisher Fred Pierece told CBR News that the chromium covers are a way of honoring the company's history, as the original "Bloodshot" #1 first introduced the concept in the early '90s. Yet he also stressed relevance to the crossover's storyline -- with chromium seen as a natural fit for a story involving intergalactic hunters seeking out the X-O Manowar armor.
"Since the day that we announced the new 'X-O Manowar' #1 almost two years ago, we've literally had hundreds of fans and retailers ask about chromium -- and when they do they always get a twinkle in their eye," Valiant publisher Fred Pierce told CBR News. This is process that will forever be associated with Valiant and it's always been our intention to embrace that fact wholeheartedly. But we strategically held back until now because we very much wanted it to be something that tied back to the content of the story we were seeking to tell."
Each cover will have a retail price of $5.99, and will be eligible to retailers based on their orders of the above issues. Standard covers will be available at $3.99. Valiant advises retailers that given the production time involved, print runs for the chromium covers have been set, and allocations -- as seen last year with DC's "Villains Month" lenticular 3D covers -- are a possibility.
"There's a large but finite number that will be in circulation, meaning that fans who definitely want to obtain Armor Hunters Chromium Editions from their local comic shop should try and pre-order next month before orders are placed," Pierce said.
The covers will debut at this week's ComicsPRO retailer conference in Atlanta, following what Pierce described as a long research and development process within Valiant.
"Between myself and the Valiant production team, we've spent dozens of hours making sure that we get every aspect of these five covers right -- from briefing the printer on the qualities that make chromium pop to isolating the line work in the cover art to locating the high-quality plastic we needed to manufacture them," Pierce said. "We also spent a great deal of time researching other past and present examples of chromium, and navigating potential production issues. When we set out on this project months ago, we said that if we're going to bring chromium back to Valiant, we're going to bring it back right."
Valiant has provided CBR with the first solicitation details of the five issues receiving the chromium treatment:
ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Standard & Chromium Edition Covers by JORGE MOLINA
Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Blank Cover also available
A relentless and surgical strike team from the farthest reaches of space - sworn to exterminate the X-O Manowar armor and all like it - have found finally their last target. They will hunt. They will trap. They will kill. And they will rid the universe of the X-O Manowar's incalculable destructive power...even if it means taking the Earth with it.
In the tradition of the universe-shaking HARBINGER WARS, Valiant's biggest heroes begin the fight for the summer's blockbuster 18-issue crossover event right here in Armor Hunters #1 (of 4) - and then launch the resistance against the world's first full-scale cosmic threat in Unity #8 and X-O Manowar #26 in June; and Armor Hunters: Bloodshot #1 (of 3) and Armor Hunters: Harbinger #1 (of 3) in July!
UNITY #8
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Standard & Chromium Edition Covers by MICO SUAYAN
Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
When an ultra-powerful threat from deep space begins brutalizing Earth, humanity's first response is - who else? - the fearless team of heroes, soldiers, and short fuses called Unity! Now it's down to Ninjak, Eternal Warrior and Livewire - plus some special surprise recruits - to lead the assault on the Armor Hunters' first wave...even if they die trying!
X-O MANOWAR #26
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Standard & Chromium Edition Covers by CLAYTON CRAIN
Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
What is the X-O Manowar armor? And who before Aric of Dacia dared to wield its incalculable power? The ARMOR HUNTERS hold the key to the armor's untold history and - one way or another - they crush anything that dares threaten their secret.
ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3)
Written by JOE HARRIS
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Standard & Chromium Edition Covers by PHILIP TAN
Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
The most dangerous weapon in the Valiant Universe has come in from the cold. With Earth under siege by the Armor Hunters, Bloodshot is the only thing standing between the destruction of the extraterrestrial intelligence agency known as MERO and the liberation of one of the Armor Hunters' own.
ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by ROBERT GILL
Standard & Chromium Edition Covers by LEWIS LAROSA
Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Because you demanded it! Out of the ashes of Harbinger Wars, the volatile psiot strike force known as Generation Zero step into their very first adventure - and right into the crosshairs of the Armor Hunters!
