As reported by Newsarama, Valiant has just announced the arrival of Eternal Warrior: Awakening #1. This standalone special is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Valiant’s immortal solider, while showcasing a never-before-told tale!

New York Times bestselling writer Robert Venditti (Hal Jordan & The Green Lantern Corps) and acclaimed artist Renato Guedes (Wolverine) unleash the second of four specials issues on May 10, 2017. This formative chapter honors the life of Gilad Anni-Padda, while celebrating the original Eternal Warrior #1 legends, Jim Shooter and John Dixon.

“I think there’s a tendency to interpret Gilad as very dark and grim, since he’s been a warrior for, well, eternity. It’s right there in the title. But I see him as an eternal optimist. He believes humanity is far more good than bad, and that the battle of good versus evil will be won one day. Otherwise, what makes him get out of bed and sacrifice so much to keep going? Really, I look at the Eternal Warrior, and beneath all the battles and bloodshed, I see an unending wellspring of hope,” said Venditti.

Following the most violent battle of his life, Gilad Anni-Padda suffers a devastating injury. He later awakens, nursed back to health on a strange land, with no memory of his past. In an age of cruelty, a tribe has shown him compassion. He’ll return their gift in kind, as the real violence begins.

Discover the man behind the sword on May 10 in Eternal Warrior: Awakening #1, featuring covers by Clayton Crain (Carnage), Robert Gill (Book of Death), Marc Laming (Ninjak), and Jeffrey Veregge (Red Wolf).

Valiant’s 25th anniversary begins on April 25 with the release of Immortal Brothers: The Tale of the Green Knight #1. This special 48-page quest, led by Fred Van Lente (Archer & Armstrong) and Cary Nord (X-O Manowar), dives into the Arthurian legend.