Compiled by Barry Reese
Version 2.1
Note : Some of this information is taken word-for-word from The Valiant Era special published by Wizard Press.
What the heck is this fanfiction stuff?
Fanfiction is, simply, fiction written by fans. I've always really liked Magnus as a character and I wanted to write some stories that might show what happened after his series was cancelled, so that's what I'm doing. It's that simple.
Who is Magnus?
Magnus is the son of Kris Hathaway and the super-strong Harbinger Torque. As a second-generation Harbinger, great strength and physical toughness are his birthright. He was born during the Unity War, and sent to the future by Solar under the direction of Geoff the Geomancer, who sensed from the Earth that Magnus was desperately needed in the future. Magnus was raised by the freewill robot 1-A as a Robot Fighter, designed to fight those freewills who sought to overturn mankind's dominance. Magnus later joined a group called the Future Force and battled the Malev Invasion. In the following years, Magnus became a father (naming his son Torque), spent several years in the 20th Century following the Chaos Effect and eventually became President. During the awful return of the Malevs, Magnus' wife Leeja was killed and his son Torque became a Psi-Lord to save his own life. Magnus himself disappeared after Solar the Destroyer annihilated the Malevs, reappearing in Magnus # 65 (my first fanfic issue).
What are Gophs?
Gophs are humans who live in the lower levels of North Am. They tend to be hairy and a little less civilized. They also speak in an interesting dialect.
What are freewills?
Robots who, for one reason or another, have become independant thinkers. They are 'freewill' and express emotions and desires, just like humans. Some freewills are dangerous and desire the overthrow of humanity. Others are quite nice.
What is North Am?
The continent-sized city of North Am is home to Magnus and is the premier city on Earth.
Wait, I thought Magnus was some guy named Russ Magnus?
Nope, that's the other Magnus. You see, the original Magnus series ran from 1991-1997 when it, and the rest of the Valiant line of comics, was 'rebooted' by Fabian Nicieza. The Magnus of this new universe was a bit different -- he still hailed from the future and he still smashed robots, but his 1-A was evil and the series as a whole was set in the 20th Century to which Magnus had returned. This series lasted for almost two years.
Did Any 'Big-Names' work on Magnus during his Valiant run?
You betcha! Jim Shooter, Keith Giffen, John Ostrander, Paul Smith, and Mike Baron were just some of the talented creators who helped bring Magnus to life. Prior to the character becoming part of the Valiant Universe, he was brought to life by the legendary Russ Manning.
What was 'Birthquake'?
This was an attempt by Acclaim to boost interest in its Valiant heroes titles. It basically consisted of bringing in 'big name' writers and artists to overhaul the Valiant line. The effects on Magnus were relatively minimal, aside from a renewed focus on Magnus himself (as opposed to his son, Torque) and the eventual arrival of Keith Giffen. Giffen took the series into a mature sci-fi direction that was a delight to read.
What was 'Unity'?
Unity was Valiant's first major crossover, uniting all of its characters into one huge story. The action took place in the Lost Land, a region outside time and space. The main villain was Erica Pierce, aka Mothergod, who had similar powers to another of Valiant's main heroes, Solar. Magnus took part in the storyline, alongside other heroes from his era -- including Rai and the Eternal Warrior. During Unity, Kris Hathaway gave birth to a baby boy -- who would eventually grow up to be Magnus. So Magnus actually got to meet himself as a baby. Don't you love time anomalies?
Did Magnus Ever Team-Up with any Non-Valiant Characters?
Yes. He appeared in a two-issue Magnus/Nexus crossover and a wonderful Magnus/Predator story, as well. He also took part in the Deathmate crossover that Valiant did with Image Comics.
Will Magnus ever return in 'real' comics again?
He has already. This past December saw the release of Unity 2000 written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Jim Starlin. Mr. Shooter is attempting to reconcile the original Valiant universe (home to our Magnus) with the later versions, creating a coherent Valiant Universe once more. We wish him luck. Whether or not this means that Magnus will once again return as a monthly title is unknown at this time. The Unity 2000 limited series has been plagued by missed deadlines and is still awaiting completion as of this writing.
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