Unity Chapter One: Ends of the Earth
The Year was 1992 and Valiant was fast becoming a hot name in Comics. All of the Valiant Stories up until this point had been slowly building to this epic tale, Valiant's first and Greatest Crossover .. " Unity". It all begins here in the 16 page opening chapter which was free to fans who purchased the monthly titles.
The Story:
As the story opens we find Erica Pierce the sole survivor of the Reality Dr. Solar Destroyed in his Origin Story Floating through Space. Erica unconsciously uses her powers to bring herself to the new reality Dr.Solar has created. This is a flashback and she is still unaware of her new Abilities so she makes a rough landing in Chicago.
Present at the event that gave Phil Seleski his powers, Erica has the same powers as Dr.Solar does. She soon realizes it, and this instantly puts all reality in jeopardy. Geoff a Geomancer who can commune with any object including the Earth itself soon becomes aware of her presence and alerts Dr.solar..
Erica finds and kills the Erica Pierce doppelganger from this new reality and kidnaps her son as well. Unable to locate Erica and the boy anywhere on earth Dr.Solar knows there is only one place where Erica might be....A place outside of time Turok Son of Stone's Lost Land.
Almost Immediately Solar and Geoff notice a massive complex in the center of the Lost Land they move in to investigate and soon come under attack from the Lost Land's resident Cave-men riding Cybernetic-ally enhanced Dinosaurs. After sending Geoff to get the help of the Eternal Warrior, Dr. Solar decides to confront Erica right away before she can set her plans into motion..
Instead of just recruiting the Eternal Warrior, Geoff also gathers the Harbinger kids, X-O Manowar, and Archer and Armstrong.
Meanwhile back in the Lost Land several future heroes have also arrived to help Dr. Solar, they are the Mind-wiped Eternal Warrior of the future, Magnus Robot Fighter, and Rai.
The Combined Group of heroes from 1992 and 4000AD are determined to stop Erica at any cost, It has become clear her intention is to destroy all of time outside the Lost Land. However Erica and her now teenaged "Son" are aware of their presence..
The Stage is Set and the Players in Place this first Chapter draws to a close as the Battle Begins!!!
The Good:
Sweet Art, fantastic writing, and air-tight continuity. Jim Shooter's time as Head of Valiant reads like a how to guide for comics publishers. I still buy these issues anytime I see one. And the cover price: Free? Talk about Customer appreciation!!
The Bad:
Nothing. This is my favorite single comics storyline.
The Verdict: 5/5:
Any real fan of comics needs to read this. Shooter created a realistic universe with characters who lived and breathed, and where events in one series really did effect events in others. I give this issue my highest possible recommendation! Don't miss it!
