Rai (pronounced “rye”) is a fictional superhero from the Valiant Comics universe. Rai was the first original hero created by Valiant and had its beginning as a flipbook back-up feature in Magnus Robot Fighter issues #5-8. The popularity of the flipbook back-up story later led to an ongoing series. Valiant Entertainment is the current owner of Rai and the rest of the original Valiant Comics characters.
Rai is the spirit guardian that protects the nation of Japan in the 41st century. It is a mantle passed down from father to son through the generations. As such the series chronicled a number of protagonists.
In 4001 A.D., a massive machine known as the Host covers the entire island of Japan. Fifty billion Japanese dwell inside this mighty construct, which is, in fact, a single, enormous robot. Rai is the hereditary defender of the Host – its living “immune system.” Rai draws weapons from his own body to protect the people of Japan and his creator Grandmother, the sentient AI robot that controls Japan.
The line of Rai were created by Grandmother in the image of the 20th century hero Bloodshot. She hoped to inspire her people by invoking his heroism.
Japan is torn by two waring ideologies. The traditionalists, who believe Grandmother should continue controlling every aspect of life; and the extremist Anti-Grannies, who want to destroy Grandmother and believe that Japan should begin caring for itself.
Rai’s name is the kanji for “spirit”, has that meaning, and is pronounced the same way, but is spelled differently in English. The English spelling for that pronunciation would normally be “Rei”.
To download issues 0-11 click below
To download issies 12-23 click below
To download issues 24-33 and Companion 1 click below
