Clueless comments we've all heard about Valiant...

[greg]

This topic is inspired by these quotes from another discussion:

Dude! i only have about 15 books to complete my vh1 run! they are the "money" books. they all have quadrupled in price over night

This.

and...

"This movie *SQUEE* is stupid! I paid $.32 for every pre-unity issue in NM+/M condition at a flea market in Montana and wouldn't pay more than $1 per issue now. I hate people with jobs and money. I'm a huge Valiant fan though..."

Or

"What happened? Why is everyone buying Valiant books all of a sudden? I don't think there is anything special about them. They're great. But people who buy them are annoying..."

Or

"I've only had 25 years to collect my VH1 full run while prices were low. Now that people actually give a *SQUEE* I'm bitter that I procrastinated to *SQUEE* long and now might have to pay $45 for one of the 5 hot keys right now. Stupid money... ...I'm going to go back to driving my school bus and crying about life and the collection that can NEVER be..."

Here's one that I've heard SEVERAL times in the past 18 years...

"Valiant? I read them all from the beginning and I didn't like them" (so I ask about Solar #1-#10 and they say) "I don't remember that... but I know I didn't like Future Forces!"

[drmirage]

[greg]

"Valiant is the reason the comic industry almost died!"
(Turok #1, the highest printed book Valiant ever did was only #5 in print run the month it was released.)

[Ramses818]

Valiant? Aren't you the guys who did Magnus in the 90's. Please keep in mind this was at WonderCon! with the giant banners there!

[greg]

"I was a HUGE Valiant fan back in the day... really liked Bloodsport"

[DirtbagSailor]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

[Ricomortis]

I am SO freaking sick of going into stores and asking about Valiant issues, just to be smirked at... not taken seriously or outright ignored about it. Freaking clueless idiots! I'm not bitter!

My wife on the other hand... went into a store yesterday and bought up about 200 bucks worth of Valiants all dressed up in her business attire and gets drooled on, stalked, and asked thousands of questions about Valiant. Go figure...



I guess whatever takes... whatever it takes...

[greg]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

I'm in Arkansas.

[greg]

I am SO freaking sick of going into stores and asking about Valiant issues, just to be smirked at... not taken seriously or outright ignored about it. Freaking clueless idiots! I'm not bitter!

Just take a print out of this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271829365166" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then tell them you are just looking for more because you bought it for $2 in there last month.
(This works best if you ask for "more Valiant" when you come into the store.)

My wife on the other hand... went into a store yesterday and bought up about 200 bucks worth of Valiants all dressed up in her business attire and gets drooled on, stalked, and asked thousands of questions about Valiant. Go figure...



I guess whatever takes... whatever it takes...

Tell her to make up a date that she'll come back and look for more.
They'll probably mark it on their calendars and have a pity-party when she doesn't show.

Bonus points: Get her to make a "date" with you on that same day. Their sadness parallels your joy.

[Beware Cyclops]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

I'm in Arkansas.

That's the one place they didn't look... Arkansas.

[greg]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

I'm in Arkansas.

That's the one place they didn't look... Arkansas.

Actually, there's a good chance every copy of Harbinger #1-#6 are already gone from Arkansas... shops.

[Ricomortis]

I am SO freaking sick of going into stores and asking about Valiant issues, just to be smirked at... not taken seriously or outright ignored about it. Freaking clueless idiots! I'm not bitter!

Just take a print out of this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271829365166" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then tell them you are just looking for more because you bought it for $2 in there last month.
(This works best if you ask for "more Valiant" when you come into the store.)

My wife on the other hand... went into a store yesterday and bought up about 200 bucks worth of Valiants all dressed up in her business attire and gets drooled on, stalked, and asked thousands of questions about Valiant. Go figure...



I guess whatever takes... whatever it takes...

Tell her to make up a date that she'll come back and look for more.
They'll probably mark it on their calendars and have a pity-party when she doesn't show.

Bonus points: Get her to make a "date" with you on that same day. Their sadness parallels your joy.

OMG! That is funny that you say that... because that is pretty much what my wife said. She wants me to send in some that I bought (WHICH I must say 1 has a chance at 9.9) and take it back in there and say "THIS is why you need to handle the books at check out with care" Reason being... she pretty much tore into the checkout lady 2-3 times for the way she handled the books. Does my wife know me or what? lol

They actually begged her to come back... the guys did anyway...the lady wouldn't even look at her.

Rico

[nycjadie]

When I travel, I always go to the local shops and ask if they have anything Valiant. I frequently get this:

Nobody ever asks for Valiant.

They never sell.

I only have Prince Valiant TPBs.

What's Acclaim?

I have a lot of Gold Key Disney books if you're interested in that.

Valiant is worthless, I can't even give them away. "I'll take them for next to nothing." I have a short box of back issues (points to box of ratty VEI issues) at $3.99 each if you want them.

I have a few issues in the $.50 bin (with price stickers on them).

[depluto]

The one I can't stand is "I named my penis Jim Shooter!"

[FormerReader]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

I'm in Arkansas.

I wouldn't brag about it.

[greg]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

I'm in Arkansas.

I wouldn't brag about it.

Good point, FormerReader. Just current readers around these parts.

[BugsySig]

I can't believe they sold out again. Didn't they learn the first time?

[FormerReader]

"I can't find the first 10 issues of Harbinger. That's a problem being that I'm in Arkansas with limited places to find comics..."

Yup, and I suppose that eBay, Amazon, Facebook, ValiantFans, Mile High, Heritage, MyComicShop.com, ComicConnect, and the CGC Boards just refuse to ship to Arkansas for like $1-$2 in shipping fees. That must be it...

I'm in Arkansas.

I wouldn't brag about it.

Good point, FormerReader. Just current readers around these parts.

Well played.

[TheFerg714]

I got a good one. This was at a little comic shop in Amarillo, TX, about a week after The Valiant #1 was released.

Me: "Hey, just out of curiosity, how well did The Valiant sell?"
Store Employee: "Oh, they sell okay. We have a few fans."
Me: "No, I mean, The Valiant. That book right there." *point at new releases*
Him: "Oh, I don't know."
Me: "You should check it out. It was really great."
Him: "Maybe. I was into Valiant when they first came back, but I was really upset that Harbinger was canceled."
Me: "Well did you read issue #25? The Renegades are done for, and Harada's story continues in Imperium."
Him: "Eh, I'm not interested."
Me: "Oh.. ok."

After about 30 minutes of shopping I go back to spend about $40 on a bunch of comics.
Me: "So, have you read anything else? Rai? Unity? They're really blowing my mind."
Him: "No."
And quietness follows. I just didn't say anything else until he said thank you and handed me my comics.

I mean, what's the deal? Is he mad at me for being a fan of a publisher?

[DirtbagSailor]

I mean, what's the deal? Is he mad at me for being a fan of a publisher?

I might be wrong, so if. I am please disregard what I'm about to say.

People in general like people with similar interests. I'm an athlete, and have competed all over the word. In 2013, I managed to actually WIN the GRC MARATHON on the island if Guam, and a few months later I completed the full 140.6 mile IRONMAN triathlon in Cairns Austrailia. But when I go to a gym, or to a CrossFit box and talk with other athletes they look at me like I'm some two headed purple monster and don't listed to a word.

They don't care, because I'm not doing what they are doing. There is no real value in it for them socially to invest in a discussion with me about triathlons or marathons since they don't aspire to involve themselves in those sorts of physical activities. Perhaps on some intellectual level they "understand" the effort and ability required, but they simply don't value it and would rather talk about their specific interests.

And I'm the same way. While training to win the marathon, I would stop by the CrossFit box to pick up my wife after her workouts. People would constantly say "hey dude, you missed an awesome workout! When are you going to start showing up to train with us?"

Is suppose once I've completed my 2-3 hour training sessions 7 days a week and achieved my specific goal?

Even though our interests both fall within the same category (athletics, health, and fitness) the specifics are not the same, and so they didn't have much interest in what I do since it's not what they do. It doesn't matter that I am very knowledgable or have been successful in competition. They just stare blankly and change the subject...

Likewise, unless you are reading EXACTLY what that LCS owner/employee is reading, it is possible that he/she will not be overly enthusiastic about your comic book interests. The quality, history, and value is there, yes, but some people just want Deadpool, Harley Quinn, or The Walking Dead and nothing more. I suspect a large portion of the comic book community doesn't read or collect anything outside of what is popular or in theaters at that exact moment. Gives them a wider pool of social re-enforcement to draw upon.

[TheFerg714]

Likewise, unless you are reading EXACTLY what that LCS owner/employee is reading, it is possible that he/she will not be overly enthusiastic about your comic book interests. The quality, history, and value is there, yes, but some people just want Deadpool, Harley Quinn, or The Walking Dead and nothing more. I suspect a large portion of the comic book community doesn't read or collect anything outside of what is popular or in theaters at that exact moment. Gives them a wider pool of social re-enforcement to draw upon.

I 100% agree with everything you just said, but I mean.. he works at a comic shop. You'd think he could (and would want to) hold a conversation with a customer about a book that they might not read personally.

[DirtbagSailor]

I 100% agree with everything you just said, but I mean.. he works at a comic shop. You'd think he could (and would want to) hold a conversation with a customer about a book that they might not read personally.

I agree. Some of the most intelligent and socially enjoyable people I have had the privilege to meet work in or own a LCS. However, I have ALSO had the misfortune of meeting many others who harshly judge others for not dressing like a mix-up combination of “The Crow” and Robert Smith from “The Cure”; seriously believe that romantic steam-punk inspired vampires are indeed quite REAL (and also that they are one); and that both Trent Reznor and Marilyn Manson speak to them each night in their dreams and understand them.

Some people are just broken and not meant to connect with others.

[DirtbagSailor]

Lol, check-out Sonic Dan with the assist!

[greg]

It's the same mentality... everywhere.

"Why does he have all the good stuff? I'm as good as him. I deserve some. He should be forced to share."

Oh, really?

You deserve to have 10 copies of an awesome book because you spent years looking through hundreds of thousands of books to find those 10?
You deserve to have 10 copies of an awesome book because you watched the auctions and bought them at the right time with the money you saved?

What? You didn't?

You just saw his stack of 10 and said, "HOARDER! YOU MUST SPLIT THEM UP! YOU'VE GOT SO MANY GIVE ME A BULK DISCOUNT!"

You've done nothing. You get what you've earned.



No, wait. You did do something. You typed your outrage on the internet. OK, I'll take the time to respond in kind...

This is for you...

NO.

[bygranddesign]

The one I can't stand is "I named my penis Jim Shooter!"

well.. you shouldn't have asked.