Livewire

Livewire, the alias of Amanda McKee, is one of Valiant Entertainment's most compelling and powerful characters — a technopath whose ability to communicate with, manipulate, and even destroy technology makes her arguably the most dangerous psionic in the Valiant Universe. A former ward of the sinister Harbinger Foundation, Amanda was recruited and shaped by the manipulative Toyo Harada before ultimately forging her own path as both hero and reluctant revolutionary. Her powers extend far beyond simple gadgetry, encompassing full technopathy, electronic disruption, adaptive mutation enhancement, and the ability to interface directly with virtually any machine or network on Earth.

Amanda McKee made her first appearance in Harbinger #15 (1993), a key bronze-to-modern era Valiant issue that collectors have long prized as the debut of a character who would grow into one of the publisher's marquee leads. That original Valiant Universe run established her complicated loyalty to Harada and hinted at the enormous potential she carried. When Valiant relaunched in 2012, Livewire was reintroduced as a central figure across multiple titles, most notably as a founding and pivotal member of Unity — Valiant's premier superteam — where her tactical intellect and raw technological power made her the spine of the squad. Her appearances in the Unity ongoing series, alongside X-O Manowar, Ninjak, and Eternal Warrior, cemented her status as a franchise cornerstone.

Her solo ongoing series, simply titled Livewire, launched in 2018 and is perhaps the most critically significant run for collectors to pursue. Written by Vita Ayala, the series placed Amanda at the center of a nation-shaking conflict after she made the catastrophic decision to shut down the power grid across the United States to protect fellow psiots — an act that branded her a terrorist in the eyes of the world. This arc, which tied directly into the Harbinger Wars 2 crossover event, elevated Livewire into morally complex territory that few superhero comics dare to explore, asking hard questions about power, protection, and sacrifice. Her appearances in Secret Weapons, the acclaimed limited series spotlighting forgotten Harbinger Foundation psiots, further showcased her as a nuanced mentor figure and added essential context to her character.

For collectors, Livewire's key issues span multiple decades and publishing eras, making a complete run a genuinely rewarding hunt. Harbinger #15 remains the foundational pickup, while her modern Valiant appearances in Harbinger (2012), Unity, Harbinger Wars, Secret Weapons, and her own solo title form one of the most cohesive and character-driven runs in contemporary comics. With Valiant properties gaining renewed Hollywood attention, now is an ideal time to lock in her key books before broader audiences discover just how extraordinary Amanda McKee truly is.