A Classic ‘90s Hero Rises in Valiant Beyond’s Tales of the Shadowman: Legacy of Leroi

An icon from an acclaimed era of Valiant history returns to challenge for Shadowman’s throne this March in TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN #7: LEGACY OF LEROI #1 by Alien Books and Valiant Comics. Spearheaded by the fan-favorite team of rising star AJ Ampadu and artist Sergio Monjes, this new story arc introduces a new version of Michael LeRoi, originally created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Ashley Wood, and best known for his starring role in the SHADOWMAN video game series released by Acclaim in the 1990s.

“When Garth Ennis reimagined Michael LeRoi as Shadowman for Acclaim in 1997, it completely blew me away,” explains series writer AJ Ampadu. “It was a darker, more mature take on the character, yet it stayed true to his roots in black magic and voodoo.”

“The Valiant Beyond iteration of Michael LeRoi comes with a new beginning that does not rely on prior knowledge of the canon or lore,” continues Ampadu. “It’s one where we combine the best elements from past versions to create something fresh and exciting while still honoring the character’s legacy.”

The Valiant Beyond universe, a new-reader friendly iteration of the classic comics franchise, launched earlier this year and features short story-arcs allowing for readers to jump easily into the ongoing series every few months. LEGACY OF LEROI will kick off the third arc of TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN this March and is designed to bring readers up to speed while rewarding long-time fans for their dedication.

“We briefly teased Michael’s return in the RESURGENCE OF THE VALIANT UNIVERSE FINALE issue back in January,” explains Alien Books Director/Editor-in-Chief Matias Timarchi. “AJ has been wanting to bring back Michael for a long time, and we knew it was something that the Valiant fans would appreciate. We’re very pleased to be able to do an entire arc focused on this amazing character and he’s in very good hands with AJ and Sergio.”

VALIANT BEYOND: TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN #7 – LEGACY OF LEROI #1 goes on sale April 1, 2026 and features covers by Aaron Lopresti and Federico Mele.

Final orders are due with comic shops on February 23. Current issues of VALIANT BEYOND: TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN are on sale now.

For more information, please refer to IDW Publishing’s February catalog or the Penguin Random House website.

SOLICITATION INFO

TALES OF THE SHADOWMAN #7: LEGACY OF LEROI #1

THE RETURN OF A FAN-FAVORITE VALIANT CHARACTER STARTS HERE!

Shadowman is stretched thin as the protector of New Orleans and the Deadside. Now, a pair of mambos come to him for help in recovering the remains of a loved one from the Blood Desert. This quest will shake Shadowman to his core as one of the most beloved characters from Valiant history makes their long-awaited return to comics in the first chapter of “Legacy of LeRoi!” AJ Ampadu and Sergio Monjes continue their ACCLAIMED run on Shadowman and you’re just in time to jump on board!

Script: AJ Ampadu

Art: Sergio Monjes

Main Cover: Aaron Lopresti (A – Reg)

Variant Covers: Federico Mele (B – Icon), Aaron Lopresti (C – Full Art), Federico Mele (D – Icon Full Art)

FOC: 02/23/2026

On Sale Date: 04/01/2026

Rated Mature

32-page, full color comic

$4.99 U.S.