How Valiant changed the comic landscape for me

[whospaul]

I didn't start really reading comics until about three years ago. I started by picking up Batman graphic novels and didn't start getting monthly comics until about a year later. I started with Batman, then X-Men, until my wife saw that a local comic shop I had never been to (Coast City Comics in Portland, ME) was having a buy one get one free sale on back issues. I went in and asked the guys working to help me find something new, something different from what I was already reading. I left with the first couple of issues of Archer and Armstrong and Bloodshot.

The next day, I went back in and bought the rest of the back issues that they had for those two titles. When Harbinger Wars was coming, I picked up all of Harbinger and got caught up on that. Meanwhile, I was trying out different Valiant titles, but I was trying to keep my comic book budget from growing, so I kind of stuck to Archer and Armstrong, Bloodshot, and Harbinger... until I read Unity #1. After that, I bought the whole lot of X-O Manowar books (I think it was 1-18 at the time) on eBay for under $20! I loved it so much that I couldn't believe I had waited that long to try reading it! I cut back on other comics and was all in on Valiant. Now I read everything and I've started rereading everything.

I love the current Valiant so much that I've always been intrigued by the original books. I decided to start picking them up, since it's pretty easy to pick up readable copies on a budget. Once I had stockpiled a bunch, I decided to start reading them in the order they were originally published, which I've just started doing. So far I've read Magnus #1-3. I've been using the publication history here as a resource. I decided I would write reviews about each issue that I've read, which I shared with a few other fans I had met on Twitter. That turned into me writing them weekly for valiantcentral.com, which is growing into even more involvement with the Valiant community.

I've been amazed by how great Valiant fans are. I'm not able to spend much on comics these days, but the connections that I've made with other fans allows me to get so much more enjoyment out of this hobby without having to spend more money. Now I'm listening to three podcasts (The Valiant Podcast, Valiant Effort, and Only the Valiant), writing on a Valiant website, I'm even in a fantasy football league with Matt Kindt. It's been fantastic. This is the first time I've done any more than use the publication history or price guide on this site, but I look forward to exploring it a lot more now!

[lorddunlow]

Welcome to the boards. It's fun here as long as you steer clear of the Canadians.

[Elveen]

Hola Compadre!

If your willing to pay for shipping, I can send you some reading material.

[Jace]

Yes welcome to the wonderful world of Valiant Fans. I can say 100%, unequivocally. without hesitation or reservation that VEI is a company that cares more about their fans than any other company out there. They are a great bunch of creative individuals and all around stand-up guys! The community here demonstrates that same sense of togetherness and caring for each other. It really is something special.

[bobby97801]

Welcome to the board

[greg]

Welcome to the board!

[comicsyte95]

Welcome!

[betterthanezra]

Yes Welcome

-Brian

[Daniel Jackson]

Welcome to the board.

[BugsySig]

Welcome!

Great screen name! Fits your custom perfectly

[grendeljd]

Welcome!

Great screen name! Fits your custom perfectly

I was going to say, that may be one of the funniest board names I've seen yet!

Welcome aboard, great story

[doodlebird]

Welcome