Valiant keeps killing It!

**Hawkeyeps** · 12-14-2012, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by JaggedFel

Don't think u can apply the business model of the Big 2 or even Image to Valiant.

I do like Valiant taking things slowly and slowly building up to quality.

I think that's a great point, the business model can't be applied but the product VALIANT is producing is pleasing me as a comics fan and that is leading me to be less of a consumer of Marvel.

There in is the fundemental difference IMO- VALIANT approaches me as a reader, Marvel approaches me as a consumer. One seeks to entertain the other to exploit.

It's all cool until the people realise "the Emperor wears no clothes".

Back on topic, VALIANT is killing it

**Captain Craig** · 12-14-2012, 08:07 PM

When bits of info like that slip out from Fraction about Defenders, a book I bought and wanted to succeed, only to find out it was basically dead on the vine from day one makes me even more leary. I'm getting Red She-Hulk but is that predestined for failure. Should I even try with Morbius? That of them all sounds like the Defenders scenario.

Captain Atom was one of the few listed last page I felt might have some chance. Voodoo, Grifter...come on those were obligations to Jim Lee and I'm amazed they got a 12 issue deal. Atom should've at least had that.

I'm glad VALIANT is killing it!!!

**Hawkeyeps** · 12-14-2012, 09:27 PM

Well if it's Morbius how could it possibly fail??

I'm sure Marvel is heavily invested in this major IP and after all it is another #1!!!

**Destro777** · 12-15-2012, 09:38 PM

I get what some of yall are saying about being burnt out by Marvel and all - but lets not act like the entire company has gone to the crapper. Hickman has released some essential comics the past few years over there - plus Jason Aaron and Rick Remender are no slouch for bringing fresh and edgy stuff to long running characters. Theres still very high quality books out of Marvel.

Valiant's new launch has been amazing. I get excited every time a new book is released. And as a long time Valiant fan from way back it seems impossible to miss any title or issue. A smaller, tight continuity, and highly varied books with limitless possibilities does all the tricks.

**AJBopp** · 12-15-2012, 09:45 PM

I for one e am acting like the entire company has gone to the crapper. unapologetic. they may doing some good things but done looking for things amongst all the junk they put out.

**Lazyking** · 12-15-2012, 10:09 PM

I'm a new comic fan so I don't really have like any distaste for any of the comic publishers but Valiant is pulling me in. I went to my comic book shop for the first time today, bought the X-O manowar first trade cause I only read the first issue and damn that was some good stuff. I like that all of it's kinda new with only five titles as well.. but that doesn't mean their isn't quality cause there is, plenty of it.

**jgrifo10** · 12-16-2012, 12:12 PM

I just started reading Valiant comics (today I've just finished all number 1 issues), but I've got a pair of question, the Valiant universe is a shared universe or each collection is independent (it doesn't matter a lot to me but I've got the question when I saw so much diversity in all the collections), and most important, which runs/collections of the "old" Valiant universe deserve a read? Are there any trades? Thanks for a new Valiant geek :D

**BugsySig** · 12-16-2012, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by jgrifo10

I just started reading Valiant comics (today I've just finished all number 1 issues), but I've got a pair of question, the Valiant universe is a shared universe or each collection is independent (it doesn't matter a lot to me but I've got the question when I saw so much diversity in all the collections), and most important, which runs/collections of the "old" Valiant universe deserve a read? Are there any trades? Thanks for a new Valiant geek :D

It is a shared universe. The first major crossover, Harbinger Wars, will take place in the Spring between Harbinger, Bloodshot and a central Harbinger Wars miniseries.

As far as original runs, they can be hard to find, but any "Pre-Unity" books are worth reading. In general the first 12-25 issues of all the original series are pretty good.

There are several original trades from the 90s available, as well as 3 more recent hardcover collections. Those can be pricey--Harbinger: The Beginning, XO Manowar: Birth and Archer & Armstrong: First Impressions--but are well worth it IMO. each comes with a new original story as well.

VALIANT has started a regular Valiant Masters Hardcover collection. The most recent was just released in October, Bloodshot: Blood of the Machine. Ninjak is the next solicited Hardcover for the collection and their FCBD Valiant Masters Preview solicit suggests Eternal Warrior and Shadowman are next.

Of course, you could always go digital as VALIANT has made much of their early library available.

Welcome aboard!

**Hawkeyeps** · 12-17-2012, 10:04 AM

Here's another little tid bit about the mind set over at Marvel, from the boards over at Bleeding Cool-

Steve Wacker-No comic company has ever cared about the "greater scheme of things". Every comic you've ever loved was simply people trying to sell some comics that month.

That's the way of commercial art. If it becomes a perennial...then all the better. BUt if you aim for that, you more often than not miss.

BC Poster- Also, bullshit on the part in bold. Shooter has talked specifically, and extensively, about his mission when he arrived at Marvel, to build creative equity in the characters and to tell good stories. Those are the bedrocks of how he built the company. But I know that is lost on someone who is strip-mining the characters and generally trying to stay afloat - and is content to do so

Wacker- I can't be responsible for your naiveté.

I like to think VALIANT is an exception to Wacker's rule, "strip-mining" that was a great line.

**Captain Craig** · 12-17-2012, 12:18 PM

Steve Wacker is also an egotistical douche who's been slapped on the back so many times he believes his own hype.

The problem is that Wacker is wrong when he says "no company", cause I'm sure there are some. Initial IMAGE strikes me as having been blantant commercialism(or strip-mining) of art to try and tell a story. Even in Marvel's early days under Stan they were concerned about the greater scheme of things. True it wasn't as tied to together as today's crossovers but Stan and Co. cared about making it all work. Character building that worked within a book and when a character crossed over(hero or villain). Wacker flys, continuity wise, by the seat of his pants. If it's a contradiction so what. End ASM again, sure, why not cause there are suckers out there who'll eat up an all new #1 in 18months time to validate him on having done so.

Now VALIANT is new again and never got around to lasting long enough, either time, to be able to dabble in the cancel/reboot phenom. The current ownership doesn't strike me as a group that would do that, just to do it though. I hope they are of the mold where getting bold new talent and ADVERTISING it as such would the be method to get people back to a book. Creators turned over all the time in the 60's - 90's and nary a peep of publicity was made about it 98% of the time and yet people came to books or stayed regardless. Funny isn't it.

**BugsySig** · 12-17-2012, 02:04 PM

I don't think Allan Moore, Neil Gaiman or Frank Miller were ever just "trying to sell comics".

When DC was too concerned about giving Moore the Charleton characters to play with, because he might damage their long-term marketability, he just created his own archetypal characters and produced one of the most praised creative works of the past 50 years.

I'm not comparing anything at VALIANT to those creators' seminal works (though I think Harbinger will one day soon be held in very high regard), just that Wacker has no fucking clue what this medium's potential is.

**Hawkeyeps** · 12-17-2012, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by BugsySig

I don't think Allan Moore, Neil Gaiman or Frank Miller were ever just "trying to sell comics".

When DC was too concerned about giving Moore the Charleton characters to play with, because he might damage their long-term marketability, he just created his own archetypal characters and produced one of the most praised creative works of the past 50 years.

I'm not comparing anything at VALIANT to those creators' seminal works (though I think Harbinger will one day soon be held in very high regard), just that Wacker has no fucking clue what this medium's potential is.

I think Wacker sees fans as money sources nothing more and thinks that any attempts to do any thing other than bleed us are foolish and doomed to fail. Just shit can it and give me another #1, that seems to be his philosphy.

What a Douche... I got news for Wacker my current VALIANT habit has come at the expense of not buying shitty Marvel comics any more.

Thanks for sucking, keep it up VALIANT could use the market share.

**Manga4life** · 12-17-2012, 03:53 PM

As it pertains to the "Marvel sucks" theme going on here, please allow me to say this..........

Marvel sucks.

Man that felt good. Keep on rocking Valiant, keep on rocking.