The Living Fear the Dead in ‘4001 A.D.:Shadowman #1′ [Preview]

The Valiant Universe of 1,985 years in the future is an ever-more fascinating place. That's clearer than ever in 4001 A.D.: Shadowman #1, written by Jody Houser and Rafer Roberts, with art by Robert Gill and colors by Michael Spicer. It seems that there's a city on this future Earth occupied by the dead, a last outpost left behind from a war between the dead and the living. The city of the dead has been at peace with its human neighbors for centuries, but that piece is falling apart.

And that's where Shadowman comes in. A female Shadowman, interestingly enough. She appears to be the defender of the dead, and quickly wins over a living woman named Kaia, who isn't as quick to believe the worst about the otherwordly dead as the other humans seem to be. I'm not sure if Kaia is soon to merge with Shadowman, becoming someone who can truly mediate between the two worlds, or if they'll simply become allies, but either way it should be an interesting journey.

Here's the official word from Valiant:

A blood sacrifice is made, a war looms, and the Deadside…rises!
In the synapse-shattering world of the future, witness the dawn of the dead’s greatest hero and the fate of a young girl who may be humanity’s only hope! As Rai leads a revolutionary insurrection against the forces of New Japan, the legendary hero called Shadowman returns to fight another day in the year 4001 A.D.!
Valiant rising stars Jody Houser (FAITH), Rafer Roberts (A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG) and Robert Gill (BOOK OF DEATH) reveal the dark side behind the 41st century’s coming conflict…and bring you the future of the Deadside today!