Valiant Entertainment

In January 2015, Valiant plans to expand its line with a wave of new series, including an ongoing Ivar, Timewalker title from the acclaimed team behind the new Archer & Armstrong book, Fred Van Lente and Clayton Henry. Ivar was created by Barry Windsor-Smith as a supporting cast member in the 1990s Archer & Armstrong series, the third part of Valiant's "immortal trio" along with Armstrong and The Eternal Warrior. Ivar made his debut in the new Valiant Universe in the opening pages of Van Lente & Henry's Archer & Armstrong #1, as a schemer whose plans gave all three brothers the power of immortality -- and destroyed an entire world in the process. As the new series begins, Ivar has made his way to the present day, hoping to atone for his wrongs and keep the past, present, and future from colliding. We spoke to Fred Van Lente to learn more about his plans for the series.

Each weekday, ComicsAlliance brings you a carefully selected variety of links from around the web about comics and comics-related media, including movies, video games, toys, and whatever else might be worth noting. Quite frankly, these are items you may just need to know about to have a productive day. Take a look at today's hand-picked links after the jump.

Back in July, ComiXology addressed one of the biggest questions people had with its digital comics service: Do customers actually own the issues they buy? The company unviled a DRM-free backup feature, but only for a handful of publishers, including Image Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, and Top Shelf Productions, among others. This week, ComiXology announced a second wave of publishers that will offer DRM-free downloads -- and no, Marvel and DC still aren't part of the deal.

Delicious iced beverages and primitive warriors with advanced alien technology aren't two things that most people immediately associate with one another, so I must confess to a few moments of confusion on reading this morning's press release from Valiant Entertainment, which announces a three-way promotional partnership between Valiant, comic retail behemoth Midtown Comics, and New York City coffee shop chain Oren's Daily Roast, to give away free comic books and create an X-O Manowar signature frozen green tea beverage.

2012 may have seen the rebuilding of the Valiant Universe as the revived comic publisher relaunched books like X-O Manowar, Archer & Armstrong and Shadowman, but 2013 could be the year it all falls apart with the first crossover of the new era hits: Are you ready for Harbinger Wars? T...

Promos: Despite being infinitely (okay, I'll say it) toyetic, it looks like the Green Lantern movie's only fast food kids meal promo comes from Subway. It's, like, reusable bags with paper punch-outs and rubber bands. I guess the whole thing is kind of "green," which is nice in its way...

Industry: Valiant Entertainment is planning a 2012 comeback lead by former Marvel CEO and Vice Chairman Peter Cuneo has assumed the role of Chairman of Valiant. No word on which characters are included (aside from X-O Manowar, Bloodshot and Harbinger) or what creators are involved...