Since its re-launch in 2009, writer Fred Van Lente has helped define the Valiant universe through his work on such comics as Archer & Armstrong, Generation Zero, Ivar, Timewalker and several other key books. He's now going to help revive one of Valiant's classic teams: The Psi-Lords.
Making their first full appearance in 1994's Rai and the Future Force #21, the Psi-Lords were introduced as a superhero team from the 41st century empowered by nanites, much like the publisher's flagship hero Bloodshot. However, don't expect Van Lente's new series to just rehash the '90s incarnation of the team. Instead, he's working with artist Renato Guedes to reinvent the Psi-Lords as they bring them into contact with the rest of the Valiant Universe. The team's first issue mixes sci-fi with elements of both superhero and horror stories, and features covers from Rod Reis, Jonboy Meyers, Alan Quah, Marco Rudy and Paulina Ganucheau.
CBR caught up with Van Lente to talk about how he is and isn't drawing from the past to bring a diverse incarnation of the team to the Valiant universe.
CBR: You’ve shown a penchant in the past for taking older properties, like Archer & Armstrong, and reinventing them. How are you innovating on the old Valiant Comics-Era Psi-Lords this time around?
Fred Van Lente: Not to get too down in the weeds in the history of it all, but the original Psi-Lords was set in Valiant's 4001 A.D. world, and were the future version of H.A.R.D. Corps, in that these are incredibly powerful people with a vast array of powers from nanites who go out into space to become the universe's self-appointed guardians.
Valiant approached me about rebooting the series, which was a real honor since it's one of the only original books they haven't rebooted yet, so it showed a lot of trust in me. I took the responsibility seriously. They asked me to set it in present day, so the characters could interact with the rest of the VEI universe.
So I pretty much threw out everything except "incredibly powerful" and "space." [Laughs]
The cast for this series is definitely a racially and culturally diverse group, which is something we see a lot of in your work. At this point in your career, is this still a conscious decision, or is it just second nature to ensure your characters represent a wide range of people?
Yeah, the cast in this book isn't anything different than I would've done in the past 15 years or so of my career. But all of a sudden I've been getting some hate on Twitter for it, while the exact same book would have come out not even three years ago and no one would have batted an eyelash. It's just a sad commentary on the historical moment we're currently in, that these people are so insecure and pathetic that an announcement of a book with a diverse cast makes them start jumping up and down and flinging poo at their cages.
I just think it's more interesting to have different types of characters in a book, it makes a better story, it makes for a wider potential audience. And if that pisses off terrible people in the process, well, that's just an added bonus.
What can you tell us about the dynamics between the team?
Our heroes have all had their memories wiped, and they're trapped in a hostile facility being held by people they don't know, for reasons they don't remember, with strange new powers they don't understand. So it's not an exaggeration to say they're the only three people they know in the world, and so they form a bond very quickly. Each person has their individual quirks--Hazard is a hothead, Artisan is cocky, Beacon is the intellectual type, Tank has very big emotional responses. Like any family their relationship has its ups and downs--that's where the drama comes from. I'm really looking to watch readers' reactions once the emotional roller coaster begins.
Renato Guedes provides the art for this project. What about his art style, in particular, do you think fits the book?
He is...I mean, words fail me. There is so much out-there stuff in this book, otherworldly beings, and technology, and monsters, and Renato is bringing such a beautiful, distinct look to it all. Psi-Lords literally looks like nothing else on the stands in the best possible way. I couldn't imagine this book without him.
You’ve definitely hidden Easter eggs and references in your past work, and that seems to be happening in Psi-Lords, too. What is it you like about including these hidden gems?
I don't know, I've always liked continuity. It's fun to create stories with it, not using it is like cheating the rules, somehow. Setting aside my response to the first question, if you are an OG fan of '90s Valiant and Psi-Lords, you'll see a lot of familiar names, costumes and even spaceships, but rearranged to serve this new story. I really enjoy respecting the legacy of the past while moving forward into the future.
Which other Valiant characters do you most want to see the astronauts you’ve introduced and/or your Psi-Lords interact with?
All of them! I mean, technically, Psi-Lords has been hinted at in a previous Valiant book, and we see previously created Valiant characters in #1. We don't meet our first named preexisting Valiant character until...#4, I believe. But saying anything more would be telling.
Psi-Lords #1, by Fred Van Lente, Renato Guedes and Rod Reis, hits shelves June 19.
