Peter Stanchek – the Harbinger – is arguably the flagship of Valiant and will return in 2021 for a new ongoing series by authors Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, artist Robbi Rodriguez and colorist Rico Renzi.
Just days after the series was announced, Valiant’s Senior Editor Heather Antos spoke to Newsarama about the book, the development process, and how the book reflects what’s going on at the publisher in the coming year (and what’s to come) .Newsarama: Was it always Valiant’s plan to release The Harbinger in 2021? Has COVID-19 changed Valiant’s plans for this book, and if so, how?
Heather Antos: As much as I would like to say that this was all part of a big plan … it wasn’t. The original goal was to get The Harbinger # 1 out for summer 2020 … but I think we all know how that went. * COVID-19 shakes his fist *
Nrama: So it was announced a few weeks ago and Valiant fans seem excited. How was the reception in your opinion?
Antos: Oh my god, I’m not going to lie – I was incredibly worried about the announcement! The Harbinger and Peter Stancheck are two of the most beloved characters and legacies in Valiant fandom – not to mention Joshua Dysart’s incredible Harbinger saga (seriously, if you haven’t read The Life and Death of Toyo Harada, stop reading this interview and pick it up now!). If the fact that Paramount announced the movie and the pressure from the fans isn’t enough … the pressure we put on ourselves, it sure is!
Still, I couldn’t ask for a better creative team. Jackson, Collin, Robbi and Rico are all classic hardcore Valiant fans – and the modern energy and voices they bring to Peter’s legacy are utterly exciting. Cant wait for you to see for yourself!
Nrama: In the announcement, The Harbinger co-writer Jackson Lanzing said it was “not apologetic in his politics.” what does he mean with that?
Antos: I don’t want to speak for Jackson or Collin and put words in their mouths, but the truth is that Harbinger has always been a political book. I mean, Peter and his Renegades are really a bit anarchist – the system doesn’t work for people and they fight it. The harbinger of 2021 is no different.
Whether it’s Peter fighting his own shortcomings from his past – both figuratively and literally – or against the broken system that made him malicious from the start, how can a book like The Harbinger fail in its politics be apologetic?
Nrama: The eponymous harbinger Peter Stanchek is a character with decades of comic history. Can you talk about what it takes as an editor to cover a story with so much heritage?
Antos: Well it starts with a lot of reading, I can guarantee that! I knew I would be overseeing the continuation of Harbinger and Peter Stanchek’s story in fall 2019, so I immediately pulled every single trade from the Valiant library based on its (and Toyo’s) story since 2012. Needless to say, I did has been busy for a good while.
It’s so important to me to fully understand the characters’ hearts, their story and their purpose in the Valiant Universe so that I can help the creative team figure out where they’re going next – and that’s key; it’s not about what I want for the characters but what the characters want themselves. You can call me a comic book medium I guess [laughs].
In all seriousness, however, understanding the core values and principles of these characters is critical to continuing a long legacy like Harbinger’s – and ensuring that everyone on board has the same respect.
Nrama: And on the other hand, how are you trying to get The Harbinger (or any future Valiant titles you are working on) to attract new readers? Maybe even readers who are new to comics?
Antos: That’s the big challenge, isn’t it? Finding the happy balance between continuing a character’s story and the legacy that long-time fans will love, but also bringing in something fresh and new that will attract someone who has never heard of Harbinger, let alone Peter Stanchek.
With The Harbinger, Valiant was really fortunate to bond with such outstanding talents as Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Robbi Rodriguez and Rico Renzi – all of whom have such a dedicated fan base. Jackson and Collins’ work really speaks to their own classic fandom, but their voices as writers are so bright and youthful and modern too. Mixing with Robbi & Ricos visuals … The Harbinger is about as modern as a Valiant comic can be!
Nrama: Speaking of the future, I’ve read that this book is a “harbinger” (heyo!) Of the things to be expected at Valiant. Is that true and if so what does it mean?
Antos: Well if I told you what that means now then you wouldn’t have any reason to read it if it came out, would you? [laughs]
In all honesty, I think 2021 is really going to bring a shift to the Valiant universe with the stories that come out. From XO Manowar to Shadowman, from Ninjak to The Harbinger, all characters step on and off to come together and face their own past and heritage in order to advance as true heroes of the brave universe. And I don’t know about you, but that sounds very exciting to me!
Nrama: In your role as managing editor, how do you influence this future the most? What are you looking forward to the most?
Antos: As a senior editor, it’s not just my job to make sure that daily editorial tasks are done – making sure pages are turned, authors are paid, and books are printed – but it’s also my job to literally brainstorm Valiant’s future and make it happen. It’s scary and exciting at the same time!
Literally anything is possible in comics – it’s about combing through those endless possibilities and figuring out what makes the most sense, when, with whom, etc., etc., etc. I think the most exciting part of the process is when something is still ahead Just a few months ago, literally a one-sentence email pitch to a creator was advertised as a series … and the reaction seen. There is nothing like it!
Nrama: DMG recently announced some structural changes at Valiant Entertainment;; How have these changes affected the production of this book? Also, how will they affect Valiant’s comics department in general?
Antos: 2020 and the associated pandemic brought many changes across the industry – from the way we connect with fans and creators without convention, to publishing books in a socially distant and roadside-only landscape. Because of this, we had to change our release strategy, not only to ensure that our release schedule made the most sense for the current comics environment, but still to give fans a consistent dose of the stories and characters they love. And so … The harbinger was hit by a release in the summer of 2020 to 2021!
Nrama: Has the fact that a Paramount Harbinger film is on its way affected the production of this book at all?
Antos: Not directly, no. But the mere thought that Peter Stanchek, Harbinger, Psiots and others will be brought to a screen and become a household name is incredibly exciting!
This book may be the first introduction to comics, Valiant, as well as the Harbinger family for new casual readers, and it’s important to us that we not only live up to the hype, but also live up to Peter’s legacy. Suffice it to say the pressure is on!
Nrama: And finally, while we get into the subject, can you tell us about the Harbinger film? Will it focus on Peter Stanchek or the OG Harbinger team?
Antos: Tell you what, if you have psiot skills, I’ll let you read my mind …;)
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