How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

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How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Juki »

I am wondering about the print numbers for comics like Divinity Blank sketch and SAVAGE Blank sketch comic books since they have major first appearances. But, then I started to wonder If Valiant rolls out the same number of blank sketch books routinely regardless of print run of the other regular and variant comics. Or, does a low general print run lower the blank run #s? Does anyone know?

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by magnusr »

Juki wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:56:22 pm I am wondering about the print numbers for comics like Divinity Blank sketch and SAVAGE Blank sketch comic books since they have major first appearances. But, then I started to wonder If Valiant rolls out the same number of blank sketch books routinely regardless of print run of the other regular and variant comics. Or, does a low general print run lower the blank run #s? Does anyone know?
Just know that they are on the order form (at least Savage was), so a guess would be that they are printed to order (plus some margin).

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by nonplayer »

If anyone wants some I got one of each
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by corey »

I think x-o 2or 3?? Was an error or not supposed to have been made?I don't remember facepalm

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by kjjohanson »

magnusr wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:12:39 am
Juki wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:56:22 pm I am wondering about the print numbers for comics like Divinity Blank sketch and SAVAGE Blank sketch comic books since they have major first appearances. But, then I started to wonder If Valiant rolls out the same number of blank sketch books routinely regardless of print run of the other regular and variant comics. Or, does a low general print run lower the blank run #s? Does anyone know?
Just know that they are on the order form (at least Savage was), so a guess would be that they are printed to order (plus some margin).

/Magnus
I would imagine that this is pretty much the case. I'm guessing they overprint the blanks a little more than the rets of the covers, because they have them available at conventions (makes sense, if a fan wants to get an original sketch).
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Juki »

kjjohanson wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 8:03:22 pm
magnusr wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:12:39 am
Juki wrote: Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:56:22 pm I am wondering about the print numbers for comics like Divinity Blank sketch and SAVAGE Blank sketch comic books since they have major first appearances. But, then I started to wonder If Valiant rolls out the same number of blank sketch books routinely regardless of print run of the other regular and variant comics. Or, does a low general print run lower the blank run #s? Does anyone know?
Just know that they are on the order form (at least Savage was), so a guess would be that they are printed to order (plus some margin).

/Magnus
I would imagine that this is pretty much the case. I'm guessing they overprint the blanks a little more than the rets of the covers, because they have them available at conventions (makes sense, if a fan wants to get an original sketch).
This would make sense.... that is why, without any inside knowledge, I would guess that they would print a minimum of 1,000 to 1,500 blanks. I understand that there may be exceptions.... like the X-O #3 Blank.

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Ramses818 »

I know people don’t remember but the combo blanks are much rarer than the regular blank cover. For those that don’t know they had flip book blanks from 2012 (?). They were XO/Harbinger, Archer and Armstrong/Bloodshot and Shadowman/ I forget right now..lol. I could pull the, out and check. I think they were limited 500-1000. The XO was a exclusive error? Lol. It was supposed to be a convention exclusive if I remember. Again something like 500 but of course I could be wrong, I wasn’t focused on print runs at the time. The Divinity and Savage blanks were not limited per se, as they were open orders. They were not heavily promoted so their numbers are very small.. truly a great collectible if DMG can do something right with them. Valiant laid a lot of ground work for those early issues that still has never been developed. facepalm

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by TheeBaldMoose »

corey wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 5:45:33 pm I think x-o 2or 3?? Was an error or not supposed to have been made?I don't remember facepalm
Yea, X-O#3 had a blank variant, I've only seen a few at Cons, and I think they weren't supposed to be made, but that could have just been the story to motivate people.
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by magnus20009 »

TheeBaldMoose wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:46:30 am
corey wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 5:45:33 pm I think x-o 2or 3?? Was an error or not supposed to have been made?I don't remember facepalm
Yea, X-O#3 had a blank variant, I've only seen a few at Cons, and I think they weren't supposed to be made, but that could have just been the story to motivate people.
Is there a list of all the sketchbooks?

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Juki »

Ramses818 wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:08:06 am I know people don’t remember but the combo blanks are much rarer than the regular blank cover. For those that don’t know they had flip book blanks from 2012 (?). They were XO/Harbinger, Archer and Armstrong/Bloodshot and Shadowman/ I forget right now..lol. I could pull the, out and check. I think they were limited 500-1000. The XO was a exclusive error? Lol. It was supposed to be a convention exclusive if I remember. Again something like 500 but of course I could be wrong, I wasn’t focused on print runs at the time. The Divinity and Savage blanks were not limited per se, as they were open orders. They were not heavily promoted so their numbers are very small.. truly a great collectible if DMG can do something right with them. Valiant laid a lot of ground work for those early issues that still has never been developed. facepalm
I believe it was a Shadowman/Harbinger Wars combo blank flip book (which I don’t own). If I remember correctly that was the last of the 3 to come out. I do own one copy of XO/Harbinger combo blank and one copy of A&A/Bloodshot combo blank(so those are correct, and I think they came out before Shadowman/HW?). I thought these 3 combo blank books were “convention exclusives” as well (and that’s why they were limited to about 1000). Does anyone know for sure?

If anyone has an extra of the Shadowman/HW I might be interested ...so I could have the set.

So, the 3 above combo blanks (And the X-O #3) are possible “exclusives,” and, in my mind, in a different category than the regular blank sketch covers as to how Valiant arrived at print numbers. So, if regular blank covers are on an “as needed” order basis with possible extra copies printed to sell at conventions for convention sketches.... I am still wondering what kind of print numbers that would be?
Last edited by Juki on Wed Jun 03, 2020 1:40:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by geocarr »

Others should chime in to confirm or correct, but I believe the release order was:

XO / Harbinger Flipbook
Archer & Armstrong / Bloodshot Flipbook
Shadowman /Harbinger Wars Flipbook

I also seem to remember them being pretty limited and getting scooped up pretty quickly.
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by nycjadie »

Print run was 1000, if I recall what Dinesh told me correctly at ECCC I’m 2012, give it take. Only 1 or 2 tables at that first con!

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Juki »

nycjadie wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 2:13:26 pm Print run was 1000, if I recall what Dinesh told me correctly at ECCC I’m 2012, give it take. Only 1 or 2 tables at that first con!
So, were they only available for purchase at the convention?

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by nycjadie »

Yes, convention only. They weren't cheap either, if I recall. $15-20. They helped cover the cost of the convention in those early days. I have a few sketch covers done at the first con with these blanks. Super fun books.

The other book was the Summer of Valiant. I believe that was $20.

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by TheeBaldMoose »

magnus20009 wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 11:42:29 am
TheeBaldMoose wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:46:30 am
corey wrote: Tue Jun 02, 2020 5:45:33 pm I think x-o 2or 3?? Was an error or not supposed to have been made?I don't remember facepalm
Yea, X-O#3 had a blank variant, I've only seen a few at Cons, and I think they weren't supposed to be made, but that could have just been the story to motivate people.
Is there a list of all the sketchbooks?
an actual list? No, I don't think so. But, every series, including mini's (I think) have had blanks. I Think XO was the first to have 2 (and 3)
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by magnus20009 »

What would make this thread really interesting is if people would posted which blank covers they have that sketches have been done on. I am sure there are some great drawings people have managed to collect.

I'll go first

A&A Adventures of Archer & Armstrong 1
Image

Death Defying Doctor Mirage 1
Image

Imperium 1
Image

Ninjak 1
Image

Rai 1
Image

Unity 1
Image

and not a drawing but I believe the only store Variant blank cover the Valiant has put out to date
Image

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by magnus20009 »

Double post

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Juki »

Wow magnus20009.... those are amazing! :o

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by kjjohanson »

The flipbooks were convention exclusives for $20. The first 2 (X-O/Harbinger & Bloodshot/A&A) were both available at NYCC in 2012, but I think the first of the two sold out that weekend. I believe that at least the X-O/Harbinger had been available at a previous convention, which would make sense since that one ended up selling out then, but NYCC may have been the first time Bloodshot/A&A was available. Summer of Valiant TPB was also available for the first time at that convention, for $20. The Shadowman/Harbinger Wars came out a little later (the next summer, perhaps?)

There are two versions of the blank covers for Delinquents and the latest Bloodshot series, one with a matte cover, and another glossier cover.
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by magnus20009 »

Juki wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 8:16:37 pm Wow magnus20009.... those are amazing! :o
Thanks. I can’t take credit for the covers. They come from a fellow collector who was looking to lighten up a bit. I would love to see what he has hidden away though :poke:

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

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Deleted double post.
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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Juki »

Is there any story behind the Unity Phantom Blank Variant? I’m not sure what “Phantom Variant” means. I thought it may be a “comic shop variant.” I happen to have one and wonder if it was a convention exclusive as well?

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by magnusr »

magnus20009 wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 7:56:33 pm What would make this thread really interesting is if people would posted which blank covers they have that sketches have been done on. I am sure there are some great drawings people have managed to collect.

I'll go first
Nice sketches!

There's more in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=42745

/Magnus

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Re: How many issues of Blank sketch books do you think are printed?

Post by Sunlight on Snow »

Juki wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 9:44:25 pm Is there any story behind the Unity Phantom Blank Variant? I’m not sure what “Phantom Variant” means. I thought it may be a “comic shop variant.” I happen to have one and wonder if it was a convention exclusive as well?
Shared Retailer Exclusive.

Lets say they print 1000 of those and 20 retailers contribute, then every retailer receives 50 copies. Something like that. Not sure if there are different tiers to pay more/less and receive more/less copies. There's the Phantom Variants and the Ghost Variants. Not all Phantoms are blank; quite the contrary. Not sure which had come first? I think the Ghost Variants. They have in common that they're usually not advertised before the release. Unless you have inside information you will not now which series and issue is going to get one of those variants and who the participating shops are (well, at least that was the idea at the very beginning).

Last not least there are Diamond Summit and Retailer Round Table variants that are also considered shared retailer variants. Finally there are those Shared Retailer Variants that share the same cover with the retailers' logos and names printed on window fronts etc.; e.g. the 15th anniversary reprinting of The Walking Dead #1.


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