Valiant Goes Retro With NES-Inspired Variant Covers And A Crossover Video Game

Comic books and video games have been the chocolate and peanut butter of my life for as far back as I can remember, so I always get a little excited when they come together. That being the case, you can imagine how thrilled I am that Valiant has decided to promote their upcoming Harbinger Wars crossover with a series of 8-Bit Variant Covers by artist Matthew Waite, mashing up Bloodshot, Archer & Armstrong and the rest with NES classics like Contra, Donkey Kong and Final Fantasy.

And not only that, but they're going a step further by releasing an actual video game that ties into the events of the comic as it comes out. Check out the covers below!

Archer & Armstrong x Donkey Kong:

X-O Manowar x Metroid:

Shadowman x Final Fantasy:

Bloodshot x Contra:

Harbinger x Double Dragon:

Under normal circumstances, the variant covers would just be a pretty nifty bonus (and a sad reminder that we live in a fallen world where the cast of Harbinger does not actually fight Abobo), but they're also tying in to an actual 8-bit side-scroller that's coming to iOS and Android next month:

Here's the info from Valiant:

Developed by Storm City Entertainment, Harbinger Wars: Battle for Las Vegas offers fans the chance to follow nanite-enhanced commando Bloodshot or teenage telekinetic Peter Stanchek as they fight their way out of a classified Project Rising Spirit compound and into a psiot-occupied casino on the Vegas strip. Following the release of each of Harbinger Wars' four issues, fans will be offered the opportunity to download new levels, each based around plot developments and settings presented in the Valiant mini-series by writers Joshua Dysart and Duane Swierczynski and artist Clayton Henry. In-app purchases will also allow users to acquire a variety of new weapons and characters as the game progresses, including Toyo Harada, newly introduced members of the H.A.R.D. Corps, and more.