Fallen World’s Dan Abnett Transports Readers to Valiant’s Far-Off Future
Main Art by Jonboy Meyers
Valiant may not have decades of combined continuity to play off of in the same manner as Marvel or DC Comics, but it does have the benefit of characters who span centuries. From the Eternal Warrior (his shtick is in his name) to the nanite-fueled Bloodshot, many of Valiant’s best-known faces aren’t confined to one window of time. Fallen World, which launches this Wednesday, takes place in the far-off world of 4002, a time period first seen in Rai’s titular series, and that future cyborg samurai is back in the protagonist’s seat for this post-post-post apocalyptic title.
Writer Dan Abnett has spent a few years as a reliable DC Comics name, but is perhaps still best known for helping to rejuvenate Marvel’s cosmic characters a decade ago. Artist Adam Pollina, on the other hand, has been largely absent from mainstream comics for almost twice as long, after ruling the ‘90s shelves with books like X-Force. To help celebrate the new series, Valiant invited Paste to interview Abnett in the pages of the publisher’s Free Comic Book Day offering, available in participating stores this Saturday, May 4th. Paste readers can also find that interview below, along with an exclusive first look at Pollina’s interior art. For more on Fallen World and Valiant’s other upcoming series, grab Valiant’s FCBD issue this weekend and keep checking Paste.
Fallen World #1 Cover Art by Jonboy Meyers
Paste: Fallen World kicks off after a pretty dramatic status-quo change for the Valiant of the year 4002. What do new readers need to know about Rai and the world around him to jump in with Fallen World?
Dan Abnett:: Honestly? Not much! I’m trying to do my level best to introduce characters and concepts as we go along, so no reader gets lost (though the previous stories are great and I’d encourage anyone interested in Fallen World to pick up the trades and read back…just to enjoy some fantastic comics).
As far as this goes… it’s the future. Earth is a very alien place, slowly recovering after major disasters, remaking itself. A major chunk of the human population has been living in the orbital utopia of New Japan for centuries, looked after by the Artificial Intelligence, “Father.” But Father was a bit of a tyrant on the quiet, and Rai—New Japan’s champion—finally destroyed him and ended his reign for the good of all. As a result, New Japan fell, and the population is now trying to rebuild their culture on the “new Earth.” It’s a big, brave and slightly scary new world for people who have been looked after by high-tech systems all their lives…
Paste: Now that Father’s reign is over and the nation of New Japan has shattered, what other forces are vying for power in the vacuum? There’ve been hints of animal/human hybrids and dinosaurs roaming about…
Abnett: Lots, both big and small. There are minor threats and immediate hazards to contend with, but bigger and badder trouble is brewing: a major technological menace that is literally a blast from the past AND a very horrible surprise for Rai, plus a powerful and determined society that worships the old, high-tech Japan and wants to preserve it and use it to gain mastery.
Fallen World #1 Interior Art by Adam Pollina
Paste: You’ve worked on major properties for shared universes before. What’s different so far about your experience with Valiant? How much freedom are you getting to chart the world of 4002 as you see fit? And what sort of influences are making their way into your worldbuilding?
