My VALIANT (all capitals, all the time and all that) story
Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
Not an update, but an addendum to the first post in this thread.
The story of how I came to be a VALIANT fan late in the day (well, in fact very late in the day to be honest), needs to be placed in context I feel, given a recent event in my life. I read my first comic book at about 6 years of age or so. It was issue 153 of the Brave and the Bold, which was at the time a team-up book that starred Batman with a different guest character in each issue, primarily drawn by Jim Aparo in the era in which I read it. That issue featured Batman teaming up with the Red Tornado, and the magic of reading that first American comic book (vastly different from UK comics) ignited a spark of wonder and enthrallment in my mind. So much so that almost 30 years on I am addicted to the medium despite beyond inflation price rises, as well as the cyclical nature of storytelling, 'events', changing flavour-of-the-day art styles and so on. That first comic book was bought for me by my father, as was my second. Following this I used my pocket money - given to me by my father - until I was working part-time in my mid-teens to support my hobby myself.
My father passed away at the end of October. We were estranged which was my choice, and one I haven't second-guessed, and the decision to have no contact was a complicated one, but the right one for me and my own well-being. I was sad and indeed upset at his passing. Things were evidently very difficult between us as I have said, but I have to thank him for introducing me to the medium as a life-long hobby. He was not a reader of comic books, but it was a hobby he supported and it helped me as I grew up. My English language skills were developed through reading comics - I had a reading age rated at equivalent to 14 at the age of 10, despite having read pretty much only comic books. It helped give me some understanding of scientific principles (even if comic book science is woolly and more than slightly crazy - including VALIANT 'science'). It gave me an escape during difficult times growing up when I needed my own company. It is a hobby that has given a lot, and in recent years taken it back in cash! But I would not be without my hobby, VALIANT included now, and I have my father to thank for that.
The story of how I came to be a VALIANT fan late in the day (well, in fact very late in the day to be honest), needs to be placed in context I feel, given a recent event in my life. I read my first comic book at about 6 years of age or so. It was issue 153 of the Brave and the Bold, which was at the time a team-up book that starred Batman with a different guest character in each issue, primarily drawn by Jim Aparo in the era in which I read it. That issue featured Batman teaming up with the Red Tornado, and the magic of reading that first American comic book (vastly different from UK comics) ignited a spark of wonder and enthrallment in my mind. So much so that almost 30 years on I am addicted to the medium despite beyond inflation price rises, as well as the cyclical nature of storytelling, 'events', changing flavour-of-the-day art styles and so on. That first comic book was bought for me by my father, as was my second. Following this I used my pocket money - given to me by my father - until I was working part-time in my mid-teens to support my hobby myself.
My father passed away at the end of October. We were estranged which was my choice, and one I haven't second-guessed, and the decision to have no contact was a complicated one, but the right one for me and my own well-being. I was sad and indeed upset at his passing. Things were evidently very difficult between us as I have said, but I have to thank him for introducing me to the medium as a life-long hobby. He was not a reader of comic books, but it was a hobby he supported and it helped me as I grew up. My English language skills were developed through reading comics - I had a reading age rated at equivalent to 14 at the age of 10, despite having read pretty much only comic books. It helped give me some understanding of scientific principles (even if comic book science is woolly and more than slightly crazy - including VALIANT 'science'). It gave me an escape during difficult times growing up when I needed my own company. It is a hobby that has given a lot, and in recent years taken it back in cash! But I would not be without my hobby, VALIANT included now, and I have my father to thank for that.
VEI - I look forward to you one day publishing MORE than 9-10 books per month
- Rufusharley
- donkey-shorts!..uhh i mean..danke schön!
- Posts: 6431
- Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:49:32 am
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44:09 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
Damn. It is a simple rule that even Paul Smith would have understood...Chiclo wrote:We missed you, leon.
We got another English DU guy, but he missed the memo about all Englishmen have to use Shadowman avatars.
It's like there was a large, Shadowman-shaped hole in our hearts.
You can't get quality limeys these days...
VEI - I look forward to you one day publishing MORE than 9-10 books per month
- siren3-4
- The best feeling I get is filling holes
- Posts: 8912
- Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2005 9:46:16 pm
- Location: Florida
Who ?leonmallett wrote:Damn. It is a simple rule that even Paul Smith would have understood...Chiclo wrote:We missed you, leon.
We got another English DU guy, but he missed the memo about all Englishmen have to use Shadowman avatars.
It's like there was a large, Shadowman-shaped hole in our hearts.
You can't get quality limeys these days...
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44:09 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
-
- Chief of the Dia Tribe
- Posts: 22414
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2004 8:55:24 pm
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44:09 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44:09 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
- Rufusharley
- donkey-shorts!..uhh i mean..danke schön!
- Posts: 6431
- Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:49:32 am
- Location: Charleston, SC
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
Rufusharley wrote:there's always post 478.Draco wrote:GAH !!!!!!!!!!
made me miss my 300th post too.
I was intending to say something really profound.
Phhft.
oh well
That is the important post, really. 478 is the way to go. Or 503. That is a true milestone...
VEI - I look forward to you one day publishing MORE than 9-10 books per month
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44:09 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
Carzy? Crazy? Incompetent more like. Look at the mess of my quoted post. Damn, but I am a NOOB....Draco wrote:Why you crazy old...............
Not even going to edit it. I want my shame to be in public.
Time to flagellate myself. Where is my rusty razor wire...?
VEI - I look forward to you one day publishing MORE than 9-10 books per month
- Draco
- Well I think I talked enough poop...
- Posts: 10178
- Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:44:09 pm
- Valiant fan since: preordered vh1 from start
- Favorite character: X-O from vh1
- Favorite title: X-O vh1
- Favorite writer: Good question?
- Favorite artist: ooooh another good question
- Location: Dead Universe Comics, Buckinghamshire, England
- leonmallett
- My mind is sharp. Like a sharp thing.
- Posts: 9444
- Joined: Sun Jul 09, 2006 9:39:01 am
- Valiant fan since: 2006
- Favorite character: Shadowman (Hall version)
- Favorite title: Shadowman (under Hall)
- Favorite writer: Fred Van Lente
- Favorite artist: Clayton Henry
- Location: hunting down paulsmith56 somewhere in the balti belt...
- Rufusharley
- donkey-shorts!..uhh i mean..danke schön!
- Posts: 6431
- Joined: Fri Apr 07, 2006 2:49:32 am
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Chiclo
- I'm Chiclo. My strong Dongs paid off well.
- Posts: 21667
- Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:09:11 am
- Favorite character: Kris
- Location: Texas
- Contact:
It's a big internet and there are much better suited websites for flagellating yourself than this one.leonmallett wrote:Carzy? Crazy? Incompetent more like. Look at the mess of my quoted post. Damn, but I am a NOOB....Draco wrote:Why you crazy old...............
Not even going to edit it. I want my shame to be in public.
Time to flagellate myself. Where is my rusty razor wire...?
Fetishes you never knew you had.