Iconic Valiant Covers

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markie7235
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Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by markie7235 »

My brother-in-law and I recently got into a conversation about iconic covers from Marvel comics, and it got me thinking what covers are there for Valiant books that could be considered iconic? By iconic, I mean is immediately recognizable, has been imitated, paid homage to, or defines a character/series.

I'm sure there's more, but ones that immediately came to mind for me are:
Harbinger #1 VH1 - I feel this one doesn't need much explanation at this point
Rai # 0 - For some reason this one always comes up too, though I know some would argue this was rip off/homage to a Punisher cover
Solar #10 - I may be wrong, but fairly certain this was the first book to ever do the all black cover...Now you see these all the time
Eternal Warrior #1 VH1 - This or #4 for me always felt like the defining Eternal Warrior covers
Divinity #1 (either regular cover A or 1:40 cover) - Felt these two covers perfectly captured the essence of Divinity
Bloodshot #1 VH1 - Honestly, not one of my favorites, but I know for a few people, this is a very recognizable Valiant cover

Curious what other people would pick and why as iconic valiant covers

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by greg »

Rai #3

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by nycjadie »

In terms of homage covers/cover swipes, I've seen:
Magnus 1
X-O 5

Deathmate Prologue is definetly a classic cover as well.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by markie7235 »

greg wrote:Rai #3
Interesting pick, any particular reason why? I do like that cover myself also, and actually felt Rai 0, 3, and 5 were all really good covers for Rai

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by greg »

markie7235 wrote:
greg wrote:Rai #3
Interesting pick, any particular reason why? I do like that cover myself also, and actually felt Rai 0, 3, and 5 were all really good covers for Rai
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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Juki »

To discuss Valiant covers that are “already iconic” one has to stay within the VH1 library of cover art. But, I feel like there are many covers in the VEI line that have the chance to be iconic in the future. Does anyone else feel that way?

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Summydad1 »

Rai 0 for me. That is THE cover. Harby 1 is honorable mention. I can’t choose any VEI covers as iconic. I love some of the VEI covers but not Iconic. That is not a slight at all to the VEI artists. Imperium 1 1:40, Eternal Warrior 5 Mack, Eternity 1 1:40, anything by Clayton Crain. Those are beautiful works of art just not icons. In my opinion.
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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Juki »

Summydad1,

In order for comic cover art to be "iconic" it has to be associated with something lasting and memorable (the start of something new, a first appearance, memorable story or origin). So, I guess you communicated what I meant to say... VEI has some really great cover art. In order for some of that art to become "iconic" it will have to represent stories and characters that are fondly remembered by the masses. The potential is there in my opinion... time will tell.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by markie7235 »

Juki wrote:Summydad1,

In order for comic cover art to be "iconic" it has to be associated with something lasting and memorable (the start of something new, a first appearance, memorable story or origin). So, I guess you communicated what I meant to say... VEI has some really great cover art. In order for some of that art to become "iconic" it will have to represent stories and characters that are fondly remembered by the masses. The potential is there in my opinion... time will tell.
I guess it depends on how you define iconic, but I'd agree. Only reason I put Divinity #1 on my list is Divinity only shows up with VEI, and I feel at this time in years to come, when people think of the definitive cover that represents Divinity as a series or character, it will be Divinity #1 1:40 that comes to mind. Every time I heard the name Divinity, that cover pops into my mind.

Though Eternity #1 1:40 for me would be the definitive cover that captures the essence of the Valiant cosmic world. That's just such a beautiful cover....Though I'm still irked there were characters drawn on it that were never introduced in the series and thus don't even have names (unless you consider the promotional art, but who knows if those names were final since many of the ones introduced had different names than the sketch art).

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Juki »

markie7235 wrote:
Juki wrote:Summydad1,

In order for comic cover art to be "iconic" it has to be associated with something lasting and memorable (the start of something new, a first appearance, memorable story or origin). So, I guess you communicated what I meant to say... VEI has some really great cover art. In order for some of that art to become "iconic" it will have to represent stories and characters that are fondly remembered by the masses. The potential is there in my opinion... time will tell.
I guess it depends on how you define iconic, but I'd agree. Only reason I put Divinity #1 on my list is Divinity only shows up with VEI, and I feel at this time in years to come, when people think of the definitive cover that represents Divinity as a series or character, it will be Divinity #1 1:40 that comes to mind. Every time I heard the name Divinity, that cover pops into my mind.

Though Eternity #1 1:40 for me would be the definitive cover that captures the essence of the Valiant cosmic world. That's just such a beautiful cover....Though I'm still irked there were characters drawn on it that were never introduced in the series and thus don't even have names (unless you consider the promotional art, but who knows if those names were final since many of the ones introduced had different names than the sketch art).

Markie,
That is a great example of what I was trying to express. If Divinity stories are told for years to come... the art for Divinity 1:40 (and much of the other Divinity cover art) will become "iconic." There is some great cover art there with an already pre-iconic feel.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Juki »

As far as VH1 iconic art... I would go with Solar 3, Harbinger 1, A and A 1, and X-O #1 (some people don't care for this cover.... but X-O #1 is one of my favorites including his first cover appearance... "classic"). Also, Shadowman 8.
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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by David_Cody »

I always think of one of my fav VH1 covers is Bloodshot 6 when he's falling out the airplane. Don't know why that issue tops my list, but I think it's awful cool.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by possumgrease »

Unity 0 (VH-1) is iconic to me.

I think its harder for issues with multiple covers to be iconic.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by markie7235 »

possumgrease wrote:Unity 0 (VH-1) is iconic to me.

I think its harder for issues with multiple covers to be iconic.
I tend to agree on the multi-cover situation. Before the trend of variant covers, it was so much easier. In some ways I feel variant covers devalues the core books, both in terms of iconic potential and also in terms of value. Just seems like now having the intro of a new core character means nothing unless you have the hardest to find variant version of that book. Maybe just me, but feels like investing is now about investing in variants, not in books that are valued for their own inherint reasons otherwise. While I love the art on many of the variants out there, I just don't like the trend overall. It's great for retailers/distributors, but just tends to be costly for fans/collectors.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by greg »

Juki wrote:As far as VH1 iconic art... I would go with Solar 3, Harbinger 1, A and A 1, and X-O #1 (some people don't care for this cover.... but X-O #1 is one of my favorites including his first cover appearance... "classic"). Also, Shadowman 8.
Clarifying... did you mean A & A #0?

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Juki »

greg wrote:
Juki wrote:As far as VH1 iconic art... I would go with Solar 3, Harbinger 1, A and A 1, and X-O #1 (some people don't care for this cover.... but X-O #1 is one of my favorites including his first cover appearance... "classic"). Also, Shadowman 8.
Clarifying... did you mean A & A #0?
Sorry... yes. Thanks Gregg. A and A #0.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by JCP »

Bloodshot #1 chromium cover. I remember there was a line out of the LCS to get a copy and people were worried the store would run out despite a gazillion of those things being printed. Solar 10 despite its simplicity is still iconic.
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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by 777Peralta »

I have to say for personally my favorite is:

Eternity #1 By Felipe Massafera

That beautiful painting is my favorite that he has done for Valiant. Just looking at it in person it crazy!

I display at my home the Eternity painting above the ICONS painting. Those two combined is valiant at its best.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by markie7235 »

777Peralta wrote:I have to say for personally my favorite is:

Eternity #1 By Felipe Massafera

That beautiful painting is my favorite that he has done for Valiant. Just looking at it in person it crazy!

I display at my home the Eternity painting above the ICONS painting. Those two combined is valiant at its best.
While I like many Valiant covers, I have to admit that Eternity #1 Massafera wrap around is my favorite also. I just feel this cover captures the essence of the series, Divinity, the Cosmic, all of it so perfectly. Plus I love the color schemes of all those various blues and purples mixing together. Just feels like a book about some cosmic event about to transpire. Well worth the $40 I paid to pre-order one off ebay that then graded at 9.8

No idea if it will ever considered "iconic" but for me, if Valiant ever goes more in/all in on a deeper cosmic aspect of their universe with additional cosmic characters and titles, this will be the cover that I will always associate with that aspect of Valiant as starting it all (and yes, I know Divinity came first)

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by nycjadie »

Some of the most iconic covers are those that tell a story. You can see that in some of the early Harbinger covers, like #3. Some of my new favorites are Mico Suayan.

Ninjak 6. I love the reflection on the goggles. Just missed out on purchasing this one. I think it's his most Kirby cover. Super cool. [And whomever bought that one, let me know when you want to sell!]

His Rapture covers are really nice too. I have the first one.

Ninjak 9 with the sword reflection.

Harbinger 1 pullbox.

Harbinger 7-10.

List goes on.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Aram »

Gotta say vh1 unity 1 is high up there for me.
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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Rai-fan »

My top 10:

Magnus 0 - this is more nostalgia-driven than anything. It was a $100 grail book when I was 13. But I like it far more than any of the other Magnus covers, including # 1, # 5, # 12, and # 21.

Harbinger 1 - X-Men done right. Also nostalgia-driven as a $100 wall book.

Rai 0 - sure - could have been Punisher-with-a-sword, but the simplicity and silhouette made it stand out.

Rai 5 - never was as expensive as # 3 or 4, but my god do I love this cover. And if you've got a background in Japanese culture (as I do), it's obvious without reading the story that he's contemplating Seppuku.

My other creds for making this judgement? I'm Rai-fan.

Solar 10 - as other folks have noted.

Eternal Warrior # 35 (the white "Graphic" warning hiding the severed arm cover)

Eternal Warrior # 48 -- Gilad as Lawrence of Arabia, but with a sword clean through him.

X-O # 14 - X-O, Turok and that dinosaur. Arguably, the best cover of Bart Sears career.

Solar # 22 - highly detailed Quesada goodness.

Unity # 0 - Come on, now. This - more than anything else, is the book that put Valiant on the map. Features nearly everyone and was the introduction to Valiant for a generation.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by DirtbagSailor »

Harbinger #1 (V1)
Rai #5 (V1)
Rai #0 (V1)
Solar Man of the Atom #3 (V1)
Magnus Robot Fighter #12 (V1)
Archer & Armstrong #0 (V1)
Archer & Armstrong #3 (V1)
Archer & Armstrong #7 (V1)
Unity #0 (V1)

-----------------------------------

Harbinger #18 (Andrew Robinson)
Unity #5 (Mico Suayan)
Eternity #1 (Felipe Massafera)
Divinity #1 (Lewis LaRosa)
Divinity #3 (Lewis LaRosa)
Eternal Warrior #5 (David Mack)
Imperium #1 (Doug Braithwaite)
Bloodshot #1 (Mico Suayan)
X-O Manowar #1 (2017) (Lewis LaRosa)
Ninjak #1 (Lewis LaRosa)

Harbinger Wars (Clayton Henry Interlocking Covers)
Harbinger Wars (Mico Suayan Interlocking Covers)
Harbinger #0 (Lewis LaRosa Gatefold Cover)

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by David_Cody »

Aram wrote:Gotta say vh1 unity 1 is high up there for me.
It's hard to not ignore such an icon cover.

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Re: Iconic Valiant Covers

Post by Daniel Jackson »

I've always been partial to Magnus 12. Loved the cover on that book and it had the added bonus of Turok. Magnus 0 would be another, along with Solar 3 and 5. Something about those covers really appeals to me. To be fair though, almost all of the pre Unity covers were very well done.


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