Both Toyo Harada‘s Harbinger Foundation and the US Government’s Project Rising Spirit (PRS) have been competing with each other to locate psiots – children with developing superhuman abilities – for decades. The fight to claim these kids is about to come to a head when Generation Zero break loose and take over Las Vegas. Both additional external threats could interfere with the plans of both organisations, with the unstoppable Bloodshot having turned against PRS and Peter Stanchek‘s Renegades opposing Harada’s Harbingers. It’s about to turn into a bloodbath in Sin City, especially when HARD Corps join the fray…
‘Harbinger Wars’ is the first crossover event set in the Valiant Universe!
Major Crossover: With a primary Harbinger Wars mini-series that ties into both Bloodshot and Harbinger, the 12-issue storyline is a major crossover; the three can largely be read on their own, but it all makes more sense when read together.
Breakdown: While the Full Reading Order breaks down how the entire storyline fits together page-by-page, I don’t recommend reading it that way! Better to stick to the Quick List.
Must-Reads: In the Fallout section, story arcs/issues marked with a ✔ are essential reading.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Bloodshot #10
- Harbinger Wars #1
- Harbinger #11
- Harbinger Wars #2
- Bloodshot #11
- Harbinger #12
- Bloodshot #12
- Harbinger Wars #3
- Harbinger #13
- Harbinger Wars #4
- Harbinger #14
- Bloodshot #13
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Harbinger #11 (pp.1-5) In 1969, Toyo Harada considers an alliance with Project Rising Spirit when his telepathic and precognitive asset, the Bleeding Monk, can’t see their future or even their present… 1st appearance: Leopold Carter, Griffon, Hunter |
| Harbinger Wars #1 (pp.1-15) In the present, the US Government question the directors of Project Rising Spirit over their Psiot team’s recent, questionable mission in China. In Nevada, the Renegades come under attack from Bloodshot (on his way to a mission of his own), while their leader, Peter Stanchek, confronts the Bleeding Monk who telepathically offers him guidance and tells him to seek out the Psiot Kids… 1st appearance: Morris Kozol, Rising Spirit Psiots (Animalia/Monica Jim, Astral, Atomus, Cronus/Christian, Hive/Pier, Howl, Little Castle/Isiah, Telic/Tara, Traveller/Wee Mad Mac) |
| Harbinger #11 (pp.5-6) The Bleeding Monk brings Toyo Harada into the ‘telepathic call’, angering him when he sees the Monk helping Stanchek… |
| Harbinger Wars #1 (p.16) Stanchek confronts Harada for the first time since he escaped the Harbinger Foundation… |
| Harbinger #11 (p.7-8) The Bleeding Monk encourages Peter to be more and returns him to his body… |
| Harbinger Wars #1 (pp.17) The Monk makes it clear to Toyo Harada that he was help Peter succeed where Harada failed… |
| Harbinger #11 (pp.9-20) The Renegades has a disastrous drunken night at a Nevada bar; the next morning, Faith Herbert convinces her fellow Renegades to find the Psiot Kids… |
| Harbinger Wars #1 (pp.20-26) Bloodshot frees a number of Psiot Kids from a PRS facility, while PRS’ own Rising Spirit Psiots – aka Generation Zero – make their own escape… 1st appearance: Animalia/Monica Jim, Astral, Atomus, Howl, Little Castle/Isiah |
| Bloodshot #10 (pp.1-20) Fighting through hired agents outside the Project Rising Spirit base in Nevada, Bloodshot and Kara Murphy lead the Psiot Kids they inadvertently liberated to an abandoned military compound. Some of the Psiots wanting to kill Bloodshot for capturing them in the first place. Bloodshot and Kara are ready to defend them… |
| Harbinger Wars #1 (pp.26-27) Dr Emmanuel Kuretich alerts Toyo Harada to Bloodshot’s whereabouts… |
| Bloodshot #10 (p.21-22) Harada, Ion, Saturn and Stronghold confront Bloodshot in the Nevada desert! 1st appearance: Saturn |
| Harbinger #11 (pp.21-22) In 1969, young Toyo Harada pushed the Bleeding Monk to see inside Project Rising Spirit. In the present, Charlene Dupre and Peter Stanchek continue their intimate relationship while he decides what to do next! |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Bloodshot #11 (pp.1-2) A month ago, Bloodshot dipped into his stash of armaments to prepare for the fight against PRS… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (pp.1-8) Generation Zero crash a PRS helicopter into the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas hotel and take control of a government strike team sent in to kill them. They know PRS implanted bombs in their brains and may not have long to live, but they’d prefer to die free; a jump back in time reveals where Harada and Bloodshot’s confrontation is taking place… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (p.9) Bloodshot #11 (p.3-4) The clash between Toya Harada and Bloodshot begins… |
| Bloodshot #11 (p.5) The proximity of Toyo Harada activates Bloodshot’s Harada Protocols, unlocking new abilities… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (pp.9-11) Bloodshot #11 (pp.6-11) The Harada Protocols force Bloodshot to try to kill Toyo Harada… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (p.12) Harada’s Eggbreakers sneak off to find the Psiot Kids… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (pp.13-14) Bloodshot #11 (pp.12-13) Harada’s attack breas the Protocols’ control over Bloodshot… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (p.14) Baxter of the Psiot Kids accidentally unleashes the darker side of himself… |
| Bloodshot #11 (pp.14-20) Bloodshot activates the traps he set for Harada, blowing up his own safehouse… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (p.15) Bloodshot #11 (p.21) Bloodshot’s plan succeeds, allowing Kara and the Psiot Kids to escape in his armoured vehicle while he heals from his injuries… |
| Bloodshot #11 (p.22) Harbinger Wars #2 (p.16) Kara and the Psiot Kids pick up Bloodshot before Harada can kill him as they escape the battlefield… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (pp.17-21) Baxter’s monstrous form attacks the Eggbreakers. Toyo Harada sacrifices Saturn to save his own life; the Zygot Twins plan to reunite’ Project Rising Spirit call on their former agent Charlie Palmer for urgent assistance… 1st appearance: Charlie Palmer, Harbinger Active Resistance Division/HARD Corps (mention) |
| Harbinger #12 (pp.1-7) The Zygot Twins plan to reunite… |
| Harbinger Wars #2 (pp.22) The Renegades arrive in Las Vegas… |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (pp.1-7) James Zygot gets a scrambled message from his twin sister and believes Bloodshot is coming to Vegas kill Generation Zero. Charlie Palmer is reunited with the broken members of HARD Corps… 1st appearance: Maniac |
| Bloodshot #12 Bloodshot stops off at a slaughterhouse to pick up enough protein to heal himself. Kuretich has laid a trap there for him, with troops hacking him apart when he ventures inside while others fill the humvee containing Kara and the psiots with gas. Baxter creates his giant monster to break out of the humvee, then Clem turns the troops on each other. Bloodshot sends out a psynaptic burst which takes down Kuretich and his troops. Bloodshot returns to Kara Murphy healed. |
| Harbinger #13 (pp.1-10) In 1969, Toyo Harada causes public unrest utilising his Eggbreakers; in the present, his modern-day Eggbreakers get ready to clash with Bloodshot and the Renegades… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (pp.8-10) Toyo Harada prepares for the next conflict; the Renegades do the same… |
| Bloodshot #13 (pp.1-7) Bloodshot recall his past, while preparing the Psiot Kids for the next stage of their escape from Project Rising Spirit… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (p.11) Bloodshot #13 (p.8) Bloodshot prepares to break through the blockades to Las Vegas… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (pp.12-16) HARD Corps descend on Las Vegas… 1st appearance: Hammerhead, Lifeline/Carol Jardine, Shakespeare |
| Harbinger #13 (pp.10-11) The Renegades spot Bloodshot as a threat… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (p.17) Bloodshot #13 (p.9) All three groups converge on Las Vegas… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (pp.18-21) HARD Corps face off against Generation Zero with deadly force…. |
| Harbinger #13 (pp.12-18) Bloodshot #13 (pp.10-12) Generation Zero repel the Renegades’ efforts to stop them from entering Las Vegas… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (p.22) Hammerhead of HARD Corps faces Generation Zero directly with deadly consequences… |
| Harbinger #13 (pp.17-20) The Renegades and Bloodshot clash all the way to the hotel… |
| Bloodshot #13 (p.12) Bloodshot directly enters the fray, immediately opposing Peter Stanchek… |
| Harbinger #13 (pp.21-24) Faith’s efforts to save Generation Zero is opposed by the Psiots, themselves! Bloodhost reloads as he prepares to face Stanchek; in 1969, Toyo Harada aggressively invaded Project Rising Spirit… |
| Harbinger Wars #3 (p.23) Toyo Harada powers up for the final confrontation! |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.1-2) HARD Corps prepare to use deadly force on the Psiots… |
| Harbinger #14 (pp.1-6) In 1969, Toyo Harada, Griffon and Hunter laid siege to the Rising Spirit Securities Research Base; Griffon and Hunter were killed when Leopold Carter‘s death sets off a Mind-Squall that Harada barely escapes from… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.3-6) The main players all converge on each other… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.7-8) Bloodshot #13 (pp.13-14) Bloodshot is almost taken out by Lifeline‘s clash with Maniac… |
| Harbinger #14 (p.7) The bombs in the Psiot kids’ brains are shut down… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.9-10) Harbinger #14 (pp.8-10) Charlene Dupre uses her flame powers to subdue Bloodshot; Clem takes control of Faith and uses her as a battering ram against the Renegades… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (p.11-13) Bloodshot #13 (pp.15-16) Bloodshot recovers enough to assault Peter Stancheck who uses water to hurl Bloodshot away… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.13-21) Harbinger #14 (p.11) Torque hurls Clem into Baxter’s monster form’s mouth, crushing him to death; Shakespeare shoots Astral, but her mind is absorbed by Hive; Manniac kills Atomus but falls to his death; Charlie Palmer accidentally shoots Shakespeare dead; Animalia takes a pteranodon form to see off the jets that are here to nuke Las Vegas… |
| Harbinger #14 (pp.12-16) Faith flies toward the jets, hoping to get their attention and lure them away. Harada approaches the battlefield… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.22-24) Toyo Harada sends a psychic message to all Psiots, having taken control of the bombs implanted in their brains. Cronus decides to accept Harada’s offer to the Harbinger Foundation… |
| Harbinger #14 (pp.16-17) Cronus meets Toyo Harada… |
| Bloodshot #13 (pp.17-20) Bloodshot’s hallucinations are interrupted by Toyo Harada who shreds Bloodshot for refusing to accept his offer to join him… |
| Harbinger Wars #4 (pp.25-28) Cronus immediately begins to regret his decision. The Renegades think Faith is dead. Maniac is revealed to have survived, somehow. Morris Kozol is given control of Project Rising Spirit. The Bleeding Monk tells Toyo Harada the war is far from over. |
| Harbinger #14 (pp.16-17) The Renegades find Faith… |
| Bloodshot #13 (pp.21-22) Kara Murphy and her brother get a second chance at life, thanks to a case of money left to her by Bloodshot! |
| Harbinger #14 (pp.16-22) In 1969, the war between the Harbinger Foundation and Project Rising Spirit truly began! |
See how this event fits into the wider Valiant Universe continuity:
- VALIANT UNIVERSE, 2012-2014 – Valiant Reborn
| Title & Synopsis | Event / Crossover |
| Bloodshot and HARD Corps #14-17 (2013) Bloodshot escapes the Harbinger Foundation and reluctantly returns to Project Rising Spirit in return for information about his past; Bloodshot leads the new HARD Corps against Toyo Harada. | |
| Harbinger #15-25 (2013-2014) Peter Stanchek leads the Renegades against the Harbinger Foundation. | |
| Bloodshot and HARD Corps #22-23 (2014) Bloodshot turns against Project Rising Spirit and finds himself up against HARD Corps. | |
| Imperium #1-16 (2015-2016) Toyo Harada’s Harbinger Foundation and Project Rising Spirit go up against each other in their ultimate showdown. | IMPERIUM |
| Generation Zero #1 (2016) The young psiots of Generation Zero continue to exercise their freedom. | |
| Bloodshot USA #1-4 (2016-2017) Morris Kozol is killed when Project Rising Spirit clash with Bloodshot. | BLOODSHOT U.S.A. |
| Harbinger: Renegade #5 (2017) Generation Zero are faced with the threat of HARD Corps once again. Harbinger Wars 2 #0-4 (2017-2018) Under orders from the US Government, Omen and HARD Corps hunt all Harbingers, looking to remove them with deadly force. | HARBINGER WARS II |
| Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #1-8 (2018-2019) Bloodshot’s definitive origins are finally revealed, including Project Rising Spirit’s involvement. | |
| The Harbinger #1-8 (2021-2022) Following the second ‘Harbinger Wars’, Peter Stanchek resurfaces operating without his fellow Renegades. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Harbinger Wars Compendium | Bloodshot #1-13 Harbinger #1-14 Harbinger Wars #1-4 |
| Harbinger Wars – Deluxe Edition | Bloodshot #10-13 Harbinger #11-14 Harbinger Wars #1-4 |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Bloodshot – Deluxe Edition vol.1 | Bloodshot #1-13 |
| Bloodshot vol.3: Harbinger Wars | Bloodshot #10-13 |
| Harbinger – Deluxe Edition vol.1 | Harbinger #0, 1-14 |
| Harbinger vol.3: Harbinger Wars | Harbinger #0, 11-14 |
| Harbinger Wars | Harbinger Wars #1-4 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2023
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