Shakespeare

Stepping out of the early Valiant Universe in 1993, Shakespeare made their debut in The H.A.R.D. Corps #4 — a creation of the powerhouse team of David Michelinie, Bob Layton, and Mike Leeke during one of comics' most exciting indie publisher moments. This Copper/Modern Age character moves through the gritty, high-stakes world of Acclaim/Valiant, sharing pages with the likes of Hammerhead, Gunslinger, and Bloodshot across titles including the crossover event Deathmate. With a key issue already to their name and appearances spanning The H.A.R.D. Corps, Deathmate, and Bloodshot, Shakespeare is a compact but rewarding corner of the Valiant tapestry — exactly the kind of character that rewards the dedicated collector digging into one of the era's most distinctive universes.