Gilad Anni-Padda, also known as the Eternal Warrior, is a character/Superhero published by Valiant Comics and originally created by Jim Shooter and Don Perlin. Introduced originally in 1992, he was then rebooted in 1996 after Acclaim Entertainment bought Valiant Comics. He was rebooted yet again by Valiant Entertainment, Inc. in 2012. An ageless master fighter with enhanced abilities, Gilad helps protect Earth and humanity from various threats over his long life, often using methods considered ruthless by others.
The character is sometimes described as "the Fist and Steel of the Earth," a warrior chosen by the planet itself. He is sometimes guided by the Geomancers, a long line of sorcerers in the Valiant Universe who are guided by the voice and will of Earth itself. In each version of his continuity, Gilad has two immortal brothers: Aram (who later takes the name Armstrong) and Ivar the Timewalker. Since the 2012 Valiant Universe reboot, Gilad also has an immortal sister: Vexana the War-Monger. In each version of his continuity, Gilad fights a perpetually reincarnating villain called the Immortal Enemy or the Last Enemy. In both the original continuity and the 2012 Valiant Entertainment reboot continuity, it is indicated that any children Gilad has may be fated to be psychopathic or remorseless killers.
Publication history
Original Valiant Comics
Gilad was introduced in Eternal Warrior, a 50-issue series published by Valiant Comics from 1992 to 1996. During this time, there were also two issues published of the supplementary mini-series Eternal Warrior Yearbook. The original creative team was co-creator Jim Shooter with artist John Dixon, followed by writers Kevin VanHook, Barry Windsor-Smith, Mark Moretti, and John Ostrander. The series followed Gilad's adventures, often having him encounter other Valiant heroes and villains in the Valiant Universe such as Bloodshot, Master Darque, and the team of Archer & Armstrong. Issues often involved flashback scenes to different adventures Gilad experienced through history, later also showing his life centuries in the future.
Throughout history, Gilad is often seen working alongside Geomancers, a long-line of sorcerers connected to Earth itself and who sometimes recruited others to help against great threats. His one recurring foe is the Immortal Enemy, a mortal who repeatedly reincarnates, recalls his past lives, and attempts evil again, always having one green eye and one brown eye. Originally, Eternal Warrior Volume 1 #1 introduces Gilad with only one immortal brother, Aram. The crossover story of Eternal Warrior Volume 1 #8 and Archer & Armstrong Volume 1 #8 then retroactively introduced Ivar as a third brother, the eldest, before he went on to star in his own series Timewalker, which then established that the father of the three men was a warrior called Vandal, who may have had unique qualities himself. Some fans have wondered if the immortal DC Comics villain Vandal Savage was an inspiration for Gilad, both due to the name being used for his father and because, like Gilad, Savage also has an enemy who repeatedly reincarnates in new bodies and retains knowledge of his past lives, the hero Immortal Man.
Acclaim Comics
Acclaim Entertainment bought Valiant comics in 1994, leading to the first reboot of the Valiant characters. In 1997, the graphic novel series Eternal Warriors reintroduced Gilad, now also called "Warmaster." He and his two brothers, the sons of Vikings named Mog and Nin, are collectively called the "Eternal Warriors" and share immortality with others over the centuries, creating the "Forever Family." The series started with the 1997 graphic novel Eternal Warriors: Time and Treachery by writer Art Holcomb and artists Doug Wheatley and John Floyd. The series ended in 1998 after five more graphic novels. In chronological order, they were: Eternal Warriors: Digital Alchemy, Eternal Warriors: Archer & Armstong, Eternal Warriors: Blackworks, Eternal Warriors: Mog, and Eternal Warriors: The Immortal Enemy.