Week 001: Magnus Robot Fighter #0 - #4

A week-to-week plan is available for re-reading VALIANT from the beginning...
start anytime, go at your own pace.

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Week 001: Magnus Robot Fighter #0 - #4

Post by greg »

ImageImageImageImageImage
Click on each individual cover for more information about each individual title.

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Post by greg »

[[Originally posted by ManOfTheAtom on the prior messageboards]]

MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #0 - 1992 - No Cover Price
Redeemed from coupons in Magnus #1-#8

Inside cover text from Jim Shooter states that this is the
"first VALIANT Universe story ever created", though it didn't
reach the hands of collectors until after at least the first eight issues
(with coupons for #0) and then a couple months later for shipping.

TIMEFRAME:
Story takes place on March 15, 4001AD

APPEARANCES:
In this issue, we see the story of T-1 (as a flashback).
Appearances by Magnus, 1-A, Leeja Clane, Senator Zeremiah Clane,
01-X, Major Timbuc, Dr. Teresa Giardino, and W23.

INTERESTING NOTES/TIDBITS:
"Holo Comic" being watched by child on page 1 shows Superman vs. Thing.
A building on page 1 is called "Manning Systems" (tribute to Russ Manning).
NorthAm's human population is stated as 139,513,641,171.
NorthAm's robot population is stated as 32,472,441,009.
The "Lost in Space" robot is seen on page 8,
"Warning! Warning! Danger Will Robinson!"
Magnus wears a red cape with his formal attire tuxedo.
Magnus' childhood room has a Mr. Potato Head.
Avis (Car) Rentals is mentioned.
"Emancipator" (story title) is term used to describe a small tech-rob that
is causing micro power surges...creating freewill robots throughout NorthAm.

TRADING CARD:
Magnus - by Barry Windsor-Smith - Card #1
(Not included in dealer "thank you" editions)

CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Jim Shooter - writer
Paris Cullins - penciller
Bob Layton - inker
Jade - letterer
Janet Jackson - colorist
Mike Cavallero, Paul Autio, Maurice Fontenot - assistant colorists

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Post by greg »

[[Originally posted by ManOfTheAtom on the prior messageboards]]

MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #1 - May 1991 - $1.75 Cover Price
"PROTECTOR" - STEEL NATION - PART 1

This is the first VALIANT Universe comic book.
Magnus Robot Fighter first appeared in Gold Key comics 1963-1977.

TIMEFRAME:
Story takes place March 16, 4001AD to March 18, 4001AD

APPEARANCES: (all of these are FIRST appearances)
Magnus Robot Fighter, 1-A (tells origin), Freewill Robots (also called Rogue),
Leeja Clane, Senator Zeremiah Clane, T-1 (flashback), W-23 (Waiter-Rob),
01-X, Major Timbuc, President Claiburne, Captain Greer (flashback, 1-A's captain)

INTERESTING NOTES/TIDBITS:
1-A was built in 3591AD.
Magnus is described by 1-A as a "foundling" 25 years ago (about 3976AD)
and was raised by 1-A to be able to destroy robots with his hands.
Magnus began work in NorthAm in August 4000AD.
A newspaper for March 16, 4001, 9:33am describes events of Magnus #0.
1-A tells Magnus that no robot is alive, "not even me".
President Claiburne suggests that freewills should be allowed to live,
Senator Clane disagrees.
An old McDonald's restaurant building can be seen on the Goph Lev.
01-X jumps through the window of a skyscraper office to escape gunfire,
very similar to a scene in The Matrix (1999) where Morpheus escapes.
Rogue (freewill) robots meet in an old power plant.

TRADING CARDS:
Coupon #1 - for redeeming Magnus #0 comic book
H-8 (Robot) - by Joe Kubert - Card #8
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #1)
Pert Doner and friends - by Terry Austin - Card #17
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #16)
Zypex and the Mini-Robs - by Paul Gulacy - Card #25
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #17)

CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Art Nichols & Bob Layton - cover artists
Jim Shooter - writer
Art Nichols - penciller
Bob Layton with Kathryn Bolinger - inker
Janet Jackson - colorist
Jade - letterer
Don Perlin - editor

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Post by greg »

[[Originally posted by ManOfTheAtom on the prior messageboards]]

MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #2 - July 1991 - $1.75 Cover Price
"SOLDIER" - STEEL NATION - PART 2

TIMEFRAME:
Story takes place March 20, 4001AD

APPEARANCES:
First appearance of Dr. Teresa Giardino.
Magnus Robot Fighter, Leeja Clane, Senator Zeremiah Clane,
W-23, 01-X, Major Timbuc

INTERESTING NOTES/TIDBITS:
Freewill robots attempt to repair a freewill robot, but he becomes
"normal" again...a "twitch" (small vibration) is discovered in freewills.
At a dinner, Magnus tells members of the President's council that he
does not like killing rogue robots (W-23 overhears).
Magnus wears a red cape with his tuxedo.
Magnus sees the freewill vibration in W-23.
W-23 sees Leeja. Magnus is charged with treason.

TRADING CARDS:
Coupon #2 - for redeeming Magnus #0 comic book
V'Ril Trent - by Stan Drake - Card #23
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #18)
Danae and her Neo-Animals - by Steve Leialoha - Card #4
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #11)
Xyrkol - by Andy Kubert - Card #24
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #3)

CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Jim Shooter - writer
Art Nichols - penciller
Bob Layton with Kathryn Bolinger - inker
Janet Jackson with Karen Merbaum - colorist
Jade - letterer
Don Perlin - editor

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Post by greg »

[[Originally posted by ManOfTheAtom on the prior messageboards]]

MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #3 - August 1991 - $1.75 Cover Price
"TRAITOR" - STEEL NATION - PART 3

TIMEFRAME:
Story takes place March 21, 4001AD to March 22, 4001AD

APPEARANCES:
First appearance of Tekla (formerly W-23).
First appearance of Elzy the Goph.
First appearance of Slagger (Tark Mulko) on trading card only.
Magnus Robot Fighter, Leeja Clane, Senator Zeremiah Clane,
W-23, 01-X, Timbuc, Dr. Teresa Giardino
Death of President Claiburne.

INTERESTING NOTES/TIDBITS:
A nuclear explosive is used against Central Rob defenses,
it was taken from an "ancient" submarine.
W-23 fights against other robots to help Magnus.
Dr. Giardino has goggles that allow her to see freewill vibrations.
Magnus goes to the Med Center and a Med-Rob mentions his
"amazing recovery rate". Timbuc finds out about Magnus' skull implant.
Elzy mentions "spideroaches" (?).
Tekla is revealed as the name of Elzy's mother.
O1-X describes T-1 as "the first of our kind".
O1-X has a "key lobe" from T-1 inserted into his body.
O1-X takes control of NorthAm's 32 billion "normal" robots by connecting
to the Mainbrain Central Chamber.

TRADING CARDS:
Coupon #3 - for redeeming Magnus #0 comic book
Giant-Rob from Planet X - by Rick Leonardi - Card #7
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #3)
Slagger - by Michael Golden - Card #19
(first appearance Magnus #5 (Valiant, yet to be published))
T-1 - by Dave Hoover - Card #20
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #4)

CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Art Nichols & Bob Layton - cover artists
Jim Shooter - writer
Art Nichols - penciller
Bob Layton with Kathryn Bolinger - inker
Janet Jackson - colorist
Jade - letterer
Don Perlin - editor

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Post by greg »

[[Originally posted by ManOfTheAtom on the prior messageboards]]

MAGNUS ROBOT FIGHTER #4 - September 1991 - $1.75 Cover Price
"SAVIOR" - STEEL NATION - PART 4

TIMEFRAME:
Story takes place March 22, 4001AD

APPEARANCES:
First appearance of Rai (trading card only).
Magnus Robot Fighter, Leeja Clane, President Zeremiah Clane,
Tekla, Elzy, Timbuc, Dr. Teresa Giardino, T-1 (flashback)
Death of O1-X.
Introduction and death of Hammerclaw, formerly D15 freewill robot
(the large gold robot on the cover).

INTERESTING NOTES/TIDBITS:
Timbuc tells Leeja he's always wanted her.
O1-X and Tekla address the freewill nation.
O1-X tells the new President, Zeremiah Clane, that he will kill
1,000 humans for every freewill robot that was killed, stating
that one billion humans will die unless Clane hands over Magnus.
Magnus meets Elzy the Goph. Tekla meets Leeja.
Magnus believes that Leeja is executed and then destroys the
Central Rob Mainbrain, killing O1-X and immobilizing 32 billion
"normal" robots formerly under O1-X's control.
Magnus tells President Clane that Leeja was executed.
Tekla meets up with Leeja and they agree to learn from each other.
Magnus removes the robot communication device implated in his head.
The first "reader mail" is published at the end of the issue,
one reply from Don Perlin states that VALIANT plans (planned) to
reprint the original Magnus series from Gold Key.


TRADING CARDS:
Coupon #4 - for redeeming Magnus #0 comic book
Rai - by Art Nichols - Card #18
(first appearance Magnus #5 (Valiant issue yet to be published))
Tekla - by Bob Layton - Card #22
(first appearance as W-23 in Magnus #0, considered to be prior to Magnus #1)
(first appearance as Tekla in Magnus #3 (Valiant))
Battle-Rob - by Marc Silvestri - Card #2
(first appearance Gold Key Magnus #8)

CONTRIBUTIONS BY:
Art Nichols & Bob Layton - cover artists
Jim Shooter - writer
Art Nichols - penciller
Bob Layton with Kathryn Bolinger - inker
Janet Jackson - colorist
Jade - letterer
Don Perlin - editor

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Post by myron »

bumpin it up...what a great story arc...has it all... :thumb:
Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?

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Post by depluto »

I'm reading these tonight!

:thumb:

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Post by myron »

not much to add from what MOTA wrote...although not as in depth as his Solar posts he still covers all the essentials.
Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous?

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Post by depluto »

Ach! I almost forgot about this.

Definitely an old school feel to these. They were enough to keep you hooked but I'm not sure if I would have stayed as interested in Valiant if they hadn't added their own new titles like X-O and Harbinger.

That scene in Magnus 0 where the robot becomes self-aware and checks out his reflection in the serving tray is a great one!

On to week 2.

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Grand Master
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Thank you for posting the re-read info!

Post by Grand Master »

greg:

Thanks for posting this re-read info. I was an avid monthly reader of Valiant Comics since Shadowman number one appeared. I recently went back and filled in some holes in my collection. I have not read Valiant comics in about six years, but have completed by collection and started from the beginning. Luckily I found your posts and have been placing the books in chronological order.

The reason this Universe stands at the top for me is that it was so consistent and cohesive. Each title and story flowed through the other with a continuity that was always in synch. I was fortunate enough to meet Jim Shooter at the Chicago Comicon when he was on the Broadway stint and thank him for that aspect of the Universe.

Anyway, I have only made it through the first few issues of Magnus so far, but I will catch up. Thanks.

Grand Master
----The Darque Man Cometh

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Post by ManofTheAtom »

Did I really post all of that info? Damn, lol.
:atomic: Comics are like a Rorschach test, everyone has a different opinion on what they are and can be... :atomic:

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Post by myron »

bumpski


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