Unity (comics)

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"Unity" was a company-wide "crossover" story published by Valiant Comics in the summer of 1992.

Overview

"Unity" was a story that would eventually unfold over 18 issues and in 8 different books published by Valiant over the summer months. The dates on the book covers are for August and September 1992. It tells of the insanely powerful Mothergod (Erica Pierce) trying to rewrite reality and restore her original universe, and features a great deal of time travel and alternate timelines.

The story began with "Unity" #0, a comic book that was given to fans absolutely free to kickoff the entire event.

The story ended with "Unity" #1, the 18th chapter of the Unity saga.

Unity was set in the Lost Land (from Turok), a land in the middle of the time stream where time moved very slowly. As a result that land was still in the dinosaur age. When Mothergod moved there she began constructing the Unity tower, by which she intended to destroy the universe. As a result, parts of the lost land began to look futuristic.

Reading order

Here is the reading order of the Unity chapters:

*Chapter 1: Unity #0
*Chapter 2: Eternal Warrior #1
*Chapter 3: Archer & Armstrong #1
*Chapter 4: Magnus, Robot Fighter #15
*Chapter 5: X-O Manowar #7
*Chapter 6: Shadowman #4
*Chapter 7: Rai #6
*Chapter 8: Harbinger #8
*Chapter 9: Solar (comics) #12
*Chapter 10: Eternal Warrior #2
*Chapter 11: Archer & Armstrong #2
*Chapter 12: Magnus #16
*Chapter 13: X-O Manowar #8
*Chapter 14: Shadowman #5
*Chapter 15: Rai #7
*Chapter 16: Harbinger #9
*Chapter 17: Solar #13
*Chapter 18: Unity #1

Unity covers

The first month of Unity books, the eight books that followed Unity #0 which featured a cover by Barry Windsor-Smith, all featured cover art by Frank Miller. When the eight covers are combined, they form one larger image.

The second month of Unity books featured cover art by Walt Simonson. When these eight covers are combined, they too formed one large image.

Pre-Unity

Unity officially began with Chapter 1, Unity issue #0.Unity #0 was given away in stores, with a cover date of August 1992.

Therefore, any Valiant comic with a cover date before August 1992is considered "Pre-Unity".

The Unity storyline was very successful and many people becameinterested in Valiant comics. Not surprisingly in 1992 and 1993,Valiant comics that were Pre-Unity became harder to findas people began searching for the issues they'd missed.

The demand drove the prices of these comics skyward with some issuesof Pre-Unity comics commanding $100 or more in the marketplace.

Unity 2000

Not to be confused with the original Unity crossover from 1992,Unity 2000 is the name of a mini-series originally slated to run six issues by Acclaim,written by Jim Shooter, and pencilled by Jim Starlin starting in 1999.

Mr. Shooter was hired by Acclaim to write this 6-issue series only,his first story with Valiant characters since 1992.The purpose of Unity 2000 was to tie together the storylines and characters fromthe original Valiant Universe (VH1, 1991 - 1996) to the characters and storylines fromthe Acclaim Comics Valiant Heroes characters (VH2, 1997 - 2000).Future Acclaim comics would continue where Unity 2000 ends,explaining the relationship between VH1, VH2, and future stories.

In Unity 2000, Jim Shooter introduced yet another alternate universe, called VH-0 by fans. In essence, it was his vision of what the Valiant Universe would have been like if he had been allowed to stay with the company. According to Jim Shooter's plot, at the end of the crossover, VH-0 was destroyed and most of its characters were killed. VH-1 and VH-2 fused together into a new universe. However, Acclaim continued to suffer losses on their video games while the series suffered a number of administrative problems (art return and payment issues) and were forced to cancel the series after only the third issue.

The Importance of Unity to Valiant Comics

"The VALIANT Universe was in full swing and gaining popularity just as the UNITY crossover began. All the VALIANT titles converged, and two new ones were added, in an epic crossover that is a seminal work for the comic book crossover. Unity #0 is the first of 18 chapters and is given out free to readers (a first in the comics industry). The crossover spans all the titles, but it's not necessary for readers to read anything more than the title they are already reading to understand UNITY. Reading all 18 chapters gives even the newest reader a great foothold on the ideas, characters and titles in the VALIANT Universe, and it provides one of the greatest stories told in comics. UNITY has serious and long-lasting effects on the rest of the VALIANT Universe and resulted in a number of big name casualties. Because of the immense preparation undertaken, none of the existing titles storylines are 'put on hold' while the crossover takes place. All the storylines flow seamlessly in and out of UNITY. Doesn't this sound like what you always wanted out of a Marvel or DC crossover? That's what comic fans of the world thought when UNITY was released. The crossover took VALIANT from popular independent to the third major publisher and remains a pinnacle of comic book storytelling." [Smith, Andy (Jul. 10, 2006). [http://www.sequart.com/articles/index.php?article=1294 The VALIANT Comics F.A.Q.] . "Sequart".]

Unity Timeline

"PRELUDE TO UNITY"

3988 A.D. - Erica Pierce discovers the Lost Land, a perfect base from which to launch Unity.

April 2, 3988 - Ana Kawainui, a geomancer, seeks out Roland Tate, her chosen successor.

3988-4001 - Erica establishes the foundation and power sources for her San Gabriel Citadel.

3997 - Erica's men in the Lost Land build a speakeasy to help ease the stress of their work. Smuggling to and from the complex begins.

4000 - Erica's son, Prince Albert, discovers the speakeasy during a routine inspection and decides to take advantage of its services.

August 5, 4001 - Erica transports her San Gabriel Citadel to the Lost land.

"THE CALL TO ARMS"

April 4, 1992 - Solar and Geoff McHenry, a young geomancer, find Erica Pierce's remains. Geoff learns of the existence of the "other" Erica and they leave for the Lost Land.

August 5, 4001 - Rookie Tate finds Gilad, the Eternal Warrior. Gil has been psycho-probed, but with Rookie's help manages to remember who he is. However, his memories of certain events remain sketchy. Rookie and Gil seek out Rai and convince him to accompany them.

They decide to seek out Magnus. After lending a well timed hand, they explain the situation and together race to the doorway to the Lost Land that Magnus used several months earlier.

April 4, 1992 - Shadowman is contacted by a former pupil of the last geomancer. He has discerned that a huge conflict is brewing and Shadowman is asked to help. Shadowman agrees and enters the Lost Land through a doorway under a tree in the Louisiana bayou.

Geoff and Solar decide to separate. Geoff reappears in the real world with a portion of Solar's power. Using this power he travels to find people who can help in the coming battle. He finds the Harbinger kids and quickly recruits them. Together they locate Aric, X-O Manowar. Aric, sensing a good fight, agrees to come along. Geoff contacts the Gilad of 1992 and uses Solar's power to teleport him to them. Gilad in turn uses the power to locate his brother Aram (Armstrong) and recruits him and his new partner, Archer.

Geoff creates a portal to the Lost Land.

"UNITY"

Day 1

Magnus, Rai and Gilad 4001 arrive. Erica, fearing Rai's power, attempts to force his retreat, threatening Japan if he does not withdraw. He refuses and in 4001 Japan crashes from orbit into the Indian Ocean.

Seeing them, Solar joins the 4001 team. Magnus and Rai recognize Solar, but this Solar (from 1992) does not know them. Rai sights the 1992 team and they meet up.

Erica spots the teams and mounts an attack. The teams split up.

While battling pteradons, X-O is attacked from behind and falls into a cell with slaves who are to be fed to the bionisaurs. Aric rescues them and proclaims himself their leader. They escape and head for the mountains.

Shadowman arrives in the Lost land and incorrectly assumes that Solar is the threat. He meets and quickly befriends Elya, who takes him to the Central Tower.

Archer, Armstrong and Gilad 1992 break off from the main group and begin attacking robots. Gilad and Archer and Armstrong are separated.

Solar Blasts his way through the Central Tower and confronts Erica one-on-one. Seeing the attack, Shadowman leaps to Erica's aid, nearly killing himself in the process. Erica uses the diversion to trap Solar in a wormhole.

Sting can no longer sense Solar and assumes him dead. Erica's counterattack drives back and scatters her enemies.

Archer and Armstrong are captured by Section Prelate Rejj.

Gilad 1992 and Geoff meet up with Gilad 4001. They set off to find their allies.

Day 2

Kris informs Sting that she is pregnant. Sting decides to sit out the war for Kris' safety.

Archer is questioned by Rejj, who is a devotee of Archer's philosophies. Meanwhile Armstrong succeeds at a daring escape that involves natural camouflage.

Geoff, Rai, Magnus and the two Gilads meet and regroup.

Day 3

X-O and his new followers arrive in the mountains and set up camp in a series of caves."'Day 6"'

An infatuated Elya searches the history archives for information on Shadowman.

Day 12

Rai and Magnus attack the robot commlink sector of Erica's fortress. The attack fails, and they are forced to withdraw.

Albert visits Bunsie in the infirmary and kills her.

Day 15

Armstrong discovers the Speakeasy begins drinking heavily. Armstrong meets Prince Albert in the Speakeasy.

Day 16

Rai goes on a solo mission to the fortress. Gilad 4001 and Magnus must race to save him.

Albert prevents Archer's execution and returns his crossbow. He provides Archer and Armstrong an opportunity to kill Erica, which fails.

X-O attacks the complex and accidentally gives Archer and Armstrong their chance to escape.

Day 17

Erica dispatches Turok to kill Archer and Armstrong. However, Turok decides their cause is just and quits Erica's service.

Day 31

Elya visits Shadowman in the medicenter.

Day 36

Rai attempts a third solo attack on Erica's complex. This time he is severely injured and is saved only by the intervention of the resistance.

Day 40

Rai awakens in the hastily constructed med-center at the resistance headquarters. He immediately attempts to leave for another attack, but Magnus convinces Rai to fight alongside the resistance.

Day 45

The Harbinger team discovers an abandoned building. Sting decides it will suffice as a hideout where they can wait out the end of the war in safety.

Day 60

Shadowman is removed from the reconstruction vessel. Elya visits him again.

Day 91

Magnus, Rai and Gilad 4001 stage an assault on Erica's complex. Shortly afterwards, Magnus comes to the Harbinger team and asks for Sting's help in an attack the next morning. Sting agrees, reluctanly.

Sting discovers that Kris' baby is not his, but Torque's.

Day 92

Enraged, Sting attacks the complex alone. Erica and Sting battle, and only a last minute appearance of X-O and the others saves his life. Erica withdraws.

Day 101

Shadowman is discharged from the medi-center, into Elya's custody.

Day 105

Sting and Rai mount an attack on Erica's complex, but are forced to retreat when Sting is injured.

Day 150

X-O and his men attack Erica's complex and capture a power comverter. He plans to ransom it back, but Magnus and Rai convince him to destroy it.

Day 153

Eriet off to the rescue Geoff [sic] , leaving behind Armstrong to deliver Kris' baby. The two Gilads break into the control center to save Geoff. Erica unlashes an energy bolt, seemingly killing him.

Back at the resistance headquarters Kris has gone into labor, and the Gilads, assuming their mission has failed, are forced to retreat.

Magnus is caught under a collapsing support column and presumed killed, but he survives and manages to make his way through the citadel without a fight. Along the way he finds Geoff, who escaped Erica's blast through a secret door. Geoff has learned that Solar is not dead, seeing Albert murder a bum in the Speakeasy, Shadowman learns the truth about Unity and drags Albert with him to confront Erica. Ely prison bunker, leaving Rai to defend the entrance from reinforcements. When Erica appears, Rai fights a desperate last battle and dies.

Solar defeats Erica and traps her in the wormhole as Geoff convinces Kris to give him the baby. As the universe collapses around them, Erica's men try to flee, but the robots continue to fight.

Shadowman finds Elya and together they try to return to 1992 via the portal through which he entered. Solar returns most of the people and creatures of the Lost Land to their respective times. Albert is killed by Speakeasy bums.

Shadowman escapes, but Elya is torn from his grasp by Solar's power. The rector becomes a black hole, which Solar is barely able to destroy.

3975 A.D. - Solar meets Kris' baby at the moment in time to which he sent him from the Lost Land and takes him to 1-A's secret base where he will grow up to become Magnus.

Notes

References

*comicbookdb|type=storyarc|id=120|title=Unity