Here is some awesome Bloodshot Reborn variants and an interview with Dysart about Imperium
The first issue of Imperium from Valiant Comics debuts today, as part of the “Valiant Next” wave of six new titles for the publisher. Imperium features Toyo Harada, a character who Valiant says is the most dangerous mind in the publisher’s comic-book universe, and his powers have been exposed, causing him to be hunted by every government in the world.
Writer Joshua Dysart (Harbinger), who contributed to Valiant’s successful relaunch in 2012, says that starting a new phase of books is intimidating, but that much was learned during Valiant’s initial launch. As a result, he says, Imperium and Valiant’s other new titles will be better because of it.
“Now that we’ve been through a lot of that initial materialization, we can really reach for the next level,” Dysart told The Post’s Comic Riffs.
In Imperium, Dysart aims to craft a story that has no hero, but that isn’t necessarily a bad-guy book either.
“Harada is someone who has a real hard time relating to the empathic human experience in the moment, and this has allowed him to hurt people — kill people, even,” Dysart said. “We perceive that as villainy, but he is a big-picture kind of guy.”
“He’s heroic. The intellectual exercise I enjoy about writing him the most is to make sure that we’re true to both of those parts, and we can create something really contradictory,” he continued. “And I think that’s where truth in fiction lies is when you can contradict.”
Because Harada is a character of such immense power, creating worthy adversaries might seem an obstacle. But Dysart said that’s not the case with Imperium. He even hints that familiar faces from Valiant’s roster of characters could eventually show up in the title.
“The world is a consistent adversary,” Dysart said with a laugh. “The hope is that this book has a strong life, and that means different adversaries. I’d like to at some point have the entire Valiant universe aim their sights at [Harada]. The battle for Utopia pits you against everybody. Every race, every creed, every nation.”
And what of creating drama for a man who has superhuman abilities? When a man is powerful enough to take on the entire planet, can he really be placed in dramatic situations?
Dysart declares: Yes.
“There used to be the sentiment amongst those of us writing speculative fiction that if you create a God-like being, then there is no inherent drama. I completely disagree,” said Dysart, referring to Harada’s power. “I think it’s a harder creative exercise, but I think it can be just as rewarding.”
Every character has a weakness, Dysart said, and Harada is no different: Even a powerful mind is prone to occasional error.
“Harada has his weaknesses. They may not be weaknesses of the typical superhero nature — he has no Kryptonite — but he’s increibly hubristic, and he’s incapable of seeing the minutiae of the situation,” Dysart said. “He can make bad decisions, and a smart opponent can exploit that.
“It’s harder to write, but it’s ultimately more interesting to read, I hope.”
Log in to comment