Faith Herbert, also known as Zephyr, is a fictional superhero, who has appeared in various series published by Valiant Comics. Created by writer Jim Shooter and David Lapham, she is a member of the Harbinger Renegades who appear primarily in Valiant's Harbinger series, as well as a major influence in the larger Valiant Universe.
She first appeared in Harbinger #1 (January 1992). Faith starred in her first solo limited series in April 2016 which was followed by solo ongoing series which ran from July 2016 to June 2017.
Fictional character biography After losing her parents in a car crash at a young age, Faith Herbert was raised by her loving grandmother. The young Faith found solace in the fantasy worlds her parents had once shared with her – comic books, science-fiction movies, the TV shows of Joss Whedon, and nerd fandom filled her life. Eventually, Faith thought she had found the secret to becoming a real superhero when she was approached by the Harbinger Foundation. There Faith met Peter Stanchek, another powerful psiot the Foundation had recently recruited. Utilizing his ability to activate other latent psiots, Peter unlocked the potential within Faith, giving her the ability to fly. She is the founder of the Harbinger Resistance.
Powers and abilities Flight, plus the ability to generate a companion field around nearby people and objects, carrying them telekinetically along her flight path. Recently she's delved into utilizing it in a psychokinetic fashion such as for shielding, a battering ram, and manipulating internal mechanisms, e.g., unlocking a door or moving people/objects around without physical contact.
Publication history In January 1992, Faith first appeared in Harbinger #1. Faith also appeared again in the Harbinger series after the 2012 reboot.
Solo comic series In 2016, Jody Houser began writing the first solo series about Faith. PBS highlighted that Faith "sold out five times in its limited-run series, a significant feat in the comic book industry" which led to Valiant launching an ongoing series starring Faith, with Houser as the writer, in July 2016. NPR's review stated that "Houser has accomplished something deceptively simple: she's made Faith a fun character to spend time with. Faith is lighthearted but virtuous, with a cheesy sense of humor, compassion and smarts". In 2017, Faith (2016) was nominated for the "Best New Series" Eisner Award.
Houser went on to write two sequel limited series: Faith & The Future Force (2017) and Faith: Dreamside (2018). Faith also appeared in the one-shot Faith's Winter Wonderland Special #1 (December 2017) written by Marguerite Sauvage with art by Francis Portela and M.J. Kim.
Prose series In 2020, Faith's origin story was retold in the young adult prose novel Faith: Taking Flight by Julie Murphy. Murphy stated that "Faith doesn't present as queer in the comics, but it didn't feel like a leap for me to write her as queer/questioning as a young adult. First off, she's in high school – who in high school isn't questioning absolutely every thing? [...] So that was an aspect of Faith I was really excited to write and something I was glad to know that the team at Valiant was also open to". The sequel, Faith: Greater Heights by Murphy, was published in November 2021.
Accolades
Awards Year Award Category Media nominated Result Ref 2016 Diamond Gem Awards Best Comic Book of the Year Faith #1 (Ongoing) 2016 Diamond Gem Awards Best New Comic Book Series Faith – Valiant Entertainment 2016 Diamond Gem Awards Reprint TP or HC of the Year Faith TPB Volume 1: Hollywood & Vine 2016 YALSA Quick Picks For Reluctant Young Adult Readers Faith TPB Volume 1: Hollywood & Vine 2017 Eisner Awards Best New Series Faith – Valiant Entertainment
Lists
Faith was named one of The 16 Best Comics of 2016 by Nerdist. Faith was named one of The 7 best new comics of 2016 by Vox. Faith was named one of The 14 Best Comics Of 2016 by Uproxx. Faith was named one of The 7 Best Comics & Graphic Novels of 2016 by Barnes & Noble. The Faith #1 (ongoing series) Kevin Wada cover was the years' best cover on the Vulture list of The 10 Best Comic-Book Covers of 2016. Faith Vol. 1: Hollywood and Vine TPB was named one of the Best of 2016 by the Everett Public Library system Faith Vol. 1: Hollywood and Vine TPB was named one of the Best Comics & Graphics Novels of 2016 by Amazon
Collected editions
Comics
Title Material collected Pages Publication date ISBNTrade paperback 1 Hollywood and Vine Faith Vol. 1 #1–4 112 July 2016 2 California Scheming Faith Vol. 2 #1–4 112 November 2016 3 Superstar Faith Vol. 2 #5–8 128 May 2017 4 The Faithless Faith Vol. 2 #9–12 128 August 2017 5Faith & The Future Force Faith & The Future Force #1–4112December 20176Faith: Dreamside Faith: Dreamside #1–4112February 2019Hardback 1 Faith: Hollywood & Vine Deluxe Edition Faith Vol. 1 #1–4 and Harbinger: Faith #0 160 March 2017 2 Faith Deluxe Edition Book 1 Faith Vol. 1 #1–4, Harbinger: Faith #0, Faith Vol. 2 #1–8 and A&A: The Adventures of Archer & Armstrong #5 368 December 2018
Novels Title Author Publisher Publication date ISBN1Faith: Taking FlightJulie MurphyHarperCollinsJuly 20202Faith: Greater HeightsJulie MurphyHarperCollinsNovember 2021
In other media In June 2018, Sony Pictures announced a film adaptation of Faith with Maria Melnik hired to pen the script; this was to be part of a larger series of film adaptations of the Valiant Universe. Slashfilm commented that "screenwriter Eric Heisserer seemed to indicate that Faith might pop up in the developing Harbinger before she gets her own movie". However, Sony subsequently sold the rights to the Valiant Universe to Paramount Pictures in 2019. In February 2022, Deadline reported that Wes Ball was to direct a Harbinger film written by Andrew Lanham.
References
External links