Essential post-unity story arcs?

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Jrosen
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Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Jrosen »

I'm finishing up my first go through of the pre-unity and unity story arcs, and I'd like some recommendations for essential (or just really good) post-unity reading lists. It seems that most recommendations I've come across about VH1 are pre-unity, and I want to know what i should read next!

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by 1st Among Equals »

I recommend the Malev War that happen in the Magnus and Rai books.

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by SwiftMann »

I don't know if they are "essential" but having read Unity through pre-Deathmate just a few months back (just finished up Deathmate through pre-Chaos Effect this week), these are the titles I enjoyed the most and feel most relevant at this point. The issue numbers are just the ones that fall between Unity and Deathmate in the timeline.

Magnus #17-29 - Armageddon 4002 is great.

Solar #14-24 - Nothing specifically mind-blowing but good storytelling.

X-O #9-19 - The end of this run is a bit of a clunker, but good post-Unity world building.

Shadowman #6-16 - My favorite post-Unity book. Fun, wacky, dark.
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Oxmyx »

Just last night I was listening to the OTV podcast on their Top 5 episode and multiple guys there really loved a two-issue arc of Eternal Warrior. It may have been 6 and 7. Cover of first half was disturbing Darque licking blood off his glove. I haven't read it but really want to now.
I've been looking everywhere for the ultra-rare Turok vs Blister issue. Anybody able to help me out?

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by SwiftMann »

Oxmyx wrote:Just last night I was listening to the OTV podcast on their Top 5 episode and multiple guys there really loved a two-issue arc of Eternal Warrior. It may have been 6 and 7. Cover of first half was disturbing Darque licking blood off his glove. I haven't read it but really want to now.
It was #6 & 7. It was also Barry Windor Smith's last real hurrah on the title as well as introducing a lot of great stuff about Darque and Geomancers.
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by kinggirlfriend »

It wasn't his last hurrah. Issue 8 was a double sized issue! That was his last hurrah.

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Jrosen »

I'll start with the Malev war, but I'm disappointed that there aren't that many recommendations. Is post-Shooter Valiant bad?

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by SwiftMann »

kinggirlfriend wrote:It wasn't his last hurrah. Issue 8 was a double sized issue! That was his last hurrah.
Which is why I wrote "last real hurrah." #8 was the Three Musketeers flashback that didn't add anything to the world BWS had been building. Entertaining, but not relevant like #6 & 7.
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by SwiftMann »

Jrosen wrote:I'll start with the Malev war, but I'm disappointed that there aren't that many recommendations. Is post-Shooter Valiant bad?
It had it's moments in the first year after Unity, but it seems things fell apart pretty quickly after that.

I've written up my thoughts on the first three years in the "Re-Reading The 1990s VALIANT Universe" sub-forum.

Pre-Unity

Unity through Pre-Deathmate

Deathmate through pre-Chaos Effect
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Jrosen »

SwiftMann wrote:
Jrosen wrote:I'll start with the Malev war, but I'm disappointed that there aren't that many recommendations. Is post-Shooter Valiant bad?
It had it's moments in the first year after Unity, but it seems things fell apart pretty quickly after that.

I've written up my thoughts on the first three years in the "Re-Reading The 1990s VALIANT Universe" sub-forum.

Pre-Unity

Unity through Pre-Deathmate

Deathmate through pre-Chaos Effect
Thanks! Those are very helpful.

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by pjar »

I'd recommend the entire run of Archer and Armstrong. While there's no real arc, it's just a fun, buddy comedy experience. And there's a later arc in Solar, I think right before Jurgens takes over that's pretty good, but I don't remember the issues. Perhaps some else can recall. Its the arc involving the detective.

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Oxmyx »

Jrosen, yes the replies to this thread were a little disappointing to me also. I've been working 11 hour days lately so I was going to just sit back, but also I have a spotty reading experience and don't feel qualified. But I strongly recommend the Malev War arc. The very first few Rai and the Future Force are among my favs of all Valiant. I am in an interesting position among Valiant fans as I have had the opportunity to read very little pre-Unity. After the Malev War I enjoyed Solar the Destroyer #0 and the first PsiLords books. The crossover between XO and Shadowman, one book from each title, was fun for me. I agree with the people recommending all the run of Archer Armstrong. The XO issue with the She-Devil of War was a fun issue. I'm enjoying the first few HARD Corps more than I expected
I've been looking everywhere for the ultra-rare Turok vs Blister issue. Anybody able to help me out?

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by mramsterdam »

Timewalker:harbinger wars and most of the Visitor are good reads. :)
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by MoonChild »

Bloodshot was good till the very end, a few duds but for the most part entertaining. Malev war was really good.
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by buff-beardo »

I highly recommend the following post-unity story arcs:

Eternal Warrior 4-5: 1st Immortal Enemy & Bloodshot
Eternal Warrior 6-7: early Master Darque story w/ script & art by Barry Windsor Smith
Eternal Warrior 12-14: Immortal Enemy Arc

Harbinger 10-11: 1st Hard Corps
Harbinger 23-25: climax of Pete vs Harada

Shadowman 7-12: Blood Runner’s Arc/1st Master Darque

Solar 14-15: Fred Bender arc

Solar 16-18/X-O Manowar 11-13: Solar vs X-O vs Spider Aliens & various X-O Armor Classes

Solar 21-23: Master Darque arc

Solar 25/Secret Weapons 1-2: Dr Eclipse Arc

X-O Manowar 9-10: X-O evolves arc
X-O Manowar 14-15: Turok arc
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Jrosen »

Nobody has recommended Chaos Effect. Is that because the Acclaim takeover took place during the beginning of the story arc or is it just bad?

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by SwiftMann »

I just read the entire thing last week. It's dumb. Most books have nothing to do with the event itself, which basically is "unexplained hole in the sky." The "Delta" arc is pretty fun, but has nothing to do with anything. You could honestly just read Alpha and Omega and get the whole story.


PS - Sweet list by buff-beardo
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Oxmyx »

SwiftMann wrote:I just read the entire thing last week. It's dumb. Most books have nothing to do with the event itself, which basically is "unexplained hole in the sky." The "Delta" arc is pretty fun, but has nothing to do with anything. You could honestly just read Alpha and Omega and get the whole story.


PS - Sweet list by buff-beardo
I mostly agree, but the Shadowman and Magnus and PsiLords parts were all pretty good AND relevant. I enjoyed them all. Getting to see Solar the Destroyer is always fun. Plus seeing supercharged Shadowman was fun
I've been looking everywhere for the ultra-rare Turok vs Blister issue. Anybody able to help me out?

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by mramsterdam »

Oxmyx wrote:
SwiftMann wrote:I just read the entire thing last week. It's dumb. Most books have nothing to do with the event itself, which basically is "unexplained hole in the sky." The "Delta" arc is pretty fun, but has nothing to do with anything. You could honestly just read Alpha and Omega and get the whole story.


PS - Sweet list by buff-beardo
I mostly agree, but the Shadowman and Magnus and PsiLords parts were all pretty good AND relevant. I enjoyed them all. Getting to see Solar the Destroyer is always fun. Plus seeing supercharged Shadowman was fun
They should have brought back mon-ark,instead of using snakehandler the apache, to get Turok involved.It was a missed oppurtunity for Valiant and the human one don't count. :lol:
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Jrosen »

I just finished the Malev War. The beginning was fantastic and the Battle for South Am was good, but the ending was a let down. I don't understand why they wrote out the EW but brought back the Geomancer. It didn't make much sense.

For my next series into VH1, I was thinking about Master Darque. I have shadowman 6 - 8, EW 6 and 7, and I'm going to pull the first arc of Dr. Mirage. Any other suggeations?

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Aram »

Jrosen wrote:I just finished the Malev War. The beginning was fantastic and the Battle for South Am was good, but the ending was a let down. I don't understand why they wrote out the EW but brought back the Geomancer. It didn't make much sense.

For my next series into VH1, I was thinking about Master Darque. I have shadowman 6 - 8, EW 6 and 7, and I'm going to pull the first arc of Dr. Mirage. Any other suggeations?
Dr mirage starts going downhill once bob and Bernard leave, I think beginning in 14. I wouldn’t say it gets bad, just mediocre.
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Aram »

SwiftMann wrote:
kinggirlfriend wrote:It wasn't his last hurrah. Issue 8 was a double sized issue! That was his last hurrah.
Which is why I wrote "last real hurrah." #8 was the Three Musketeers flashback that didn't add anything to the world BWS had been building. Entertaining, but not relevant like #6 & 7.
Really? Introducing Ivar didn’t add anything? :?
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by kinggirlfriend »

I still stand by my comment. :D #8 is a grand issue and the last hurrah. That's not to say I don't like #6 and #7, I think they are bloody brilliant. Together with #8 they make my favorite 3 VH1 issues.

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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by mramsterdam »

[quote="Jrosen"]I just finished the Malev War. The beginning was fantastic and the Battle for South Am was good, but the ending was a let down. I don't understand why they wrote out the EW but brought back the Geomancer. It didn't make much sense.
I feel the same way about EW and Izak too.The two are never seen or heard from ever again.I thought the ending to the Malev war was good and rai was unstoppable against everybody except Magnus.Why didn't anybody mention Ninjak,it was good till after he finished fighting white wolf and dr silk?
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Re: Essential post-unity story arcs?

Post by Oxmyx »

Jrosen wrote:I just finished the Malev War. The beginning was fantastic and the Battle for South Am was good, but the ending was a let down. I don't understand why they wrote out the EW but brought back the Geomancer. It didn't make much sense.

For my next series into VH1, I was thinking about Master Darque. I have shadowman 6 - 8, EW 6 and 7, and I'm going to pull the first arc of Dr. Mirage. Any other suggeations?
For a good Master Darque reading that sounds good but I'd end with Chaos Effect Alpha, Omega, Shadowman (add Solar and Mirage if you want...and even tho 4002 AD is relevant to the story, it isn't needed)
I've been looking everywhere for the ultra-rare Turok vs Blister issue. Anybody able to help me out?


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