Hello! My Valiant Story...

How did you become a VALIANT collector?

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RDNacho
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Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by RDNacho »

Hello,

I was introduced to Valiant when the original Unity story was new on the shelves as a teen in the 90s. I picked up a couple of the Unity issues at a LCS and it wasn't long before I had all 18 issues. The story was unlike any other that I had previously read. I was hooked, I then began trying to buy every back issue from the Valiant line. I found most except for the exclusive books like the mail away and gold books. Unfortunately, I quit collecting comics a few years after due to getting married and raising kids, but kept what books I had in storage.

Fast forward to 2012-13, I've been married since '96 and the kids are teenagers. I had a friend mention that Valiant was going to re-launch. I did some searching online and it was true, so I got my books out of storage and started to re-read them. I had not picked up a comic since the early to mid 90s, and this was great. It brought back a lot of good memories. I went with this friend to a local comic book show about a month later and was able to find a couple of the new Valiant books. One dealer was selling X-O Manowar #1 for 50 cents. I bought all 15 copies that he had. After I read the new issues I went a little crazy and started buying every Valiant issue I could find. I bought huge lots from Ebay and lots of single books too. My friend and I drive to nearby cities to comic shops and I buy anything Valiant that I can find.

Present day...I have a copy of every Valiant issue from the re-launch and almost every issue from the 90s and even most from Acclaim. I have quite a few extra copies of most books that I try to give to anyone that will take them to try and get more readers. We have two local comic shops that only buy a couple of each issue and never get any of the variant covers. I constantly try to push them to get more and ask the owners to push the line because they are such good reads. The main store that I buy from is pretty small and he has only been open for a little over a year. He never buys more than 5 of any issue and sometimes I buy all five, keep one for me and hand the other four out to whoever walks in the door. Most people that shop there are Marvel fans and I am known as the Valiant guy. I get heckled every time I am there but I keep pushing...

I attended C2E2 this year and had a blast. I went all 3 days. On the first day I went alone and was wearing my Shadowman shirt. I was there early and as I entered I went straight to the Valiant booth. I was greeted by Dinesh, man he is awesome. He noticed my shirt and said "man, do I have something for you.." He walked behind the counter and brought back a gold Bloodshot Reborn and said this is the very first one of these we have handed out. You can tell when you talk to him that he is enjoying what he is doing. I told him that I was a huge fan and that I have a copy of every issue that they have put out so far but I also has some concerns. I told him that a really miss Shadowman and need to have him in a book. He went a grabbed a tablet and showed me some upcoming art that included what looked like Shadowman. I told him that all I read is Valiant and I need more than 8-9 books a month. He said for me to be patient, they want to make sure that they put out the best stories with the best art they will continue to grow.

Also while at the show I met a couple of people from here. I met Rico...man this guy's collection is amazing...I collect CGC books too and he has some amazing sets put together. It was cool actually meeting him after I was already familiar with what he has listed on CGC. He picked up some pretty cool items including the C2E2 exclusive Bloodshot Reborn cover. I saw that and I had to find myself a cover while there. I ended up buying The Goat #0 cover painted by Tom Fowler. It is a super cool cover. I'll post a picture after I figure out how.

I also met Sonic Dan while waiting for Matt Kindt to arrive at the Valiant booth to sign books. He showed me the Divinity book he was going to have signed. I also ended up getting Matt Kindt to sign a lot of books and even got a couple of sketches from him. Dan was super cool and told me about some of the art work he had and was getting. I had a great time talking to each of these guys, and it was nice to meet people that enjoy the same things that I do. I hope to run into them again next year.

Anyway, thanks for your time.

Rick

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DirtbagSailor
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by DirtbagSailor »

Welcome Rick!

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ilzuccone
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by ilzuccone »

:thumb: welcome

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Ricomortis
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by Ricomortis »

Rick

It was great meeting you at C2E2 & WELCOME to the board!

Let me start off saying... I thought I was crazy at first, being so obsessed with Valiant, until I found THIS place. I felt alone and wondered often if I was crazy. It is a great feeling knowing that there are so many people that are passionate about the same things. As for CGC Valiant's, I felt a little more isolated as not many people collected Cgc books, much less Valiant Cgc books. What sealed the deal on isolation island was the amount of slabs I pursued and how many sets I am obtaining.

All that to basically say that I am honored! I am glad that my collection and enthusiasm has helped Valiant fans in one way or another. I just assumed everyone thought I was crazy. :lol:

Rick will soon hold the title on Armorines (Acclaim) Good Luck on your grades! :thumb:

Rico
Image
Image
Image

Check out my Gallery for this year: A year in the life of Ricomortis (2018) http://www.valiantfans.com/forum/viewto ... 35&t=50927" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Check out my Gallery for last year: "A year in the life of Ricomortis (2017)" http://www.valiantfans.com/forum/viewto ... 6#p1056798" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Beware Cyclops
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by Beware Cyclops »

RDNacho wrote:...I ended up buying The Goat #0 cover painted by Tom Fowler. It is a super cool cover. I'll post a picture after I figure out how.

Rick
:evil: YOU'RE the one who got that cover?!?! Good choice, I knew I'd find out who bought it out from under me!!!! Welcome to the boards!

QW_GOAT_ZERO_COVER_FOWLER-600x924.jpg
QW_GOAT_ZERO_COVER_FOWLER-600x924.jpg (152.72 KiB) Viewed 5180 times
Paolo told me that someone in Chicago got the cover. I never thought it would be so soon until I found out who. :lol:

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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by Sunlight_on_Snow »

Welcome, Rick! :thumb:
"What was appealing about the moment would be, in time, the cause of its end. It was the first time I experienced an identifiable algodonic state. That is, I became capable of observing beauty while experiencing sadness simultaneously." -- Joshua Dysart, Imperium #3

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RDNacho
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Favorite character: The Goat, Shadowman, Armstrong
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Favorite artist: LaRosa, Crain, Fowler, Suayan
Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by RDNacho »

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Rico - I believe it is still possible that your set will be better than mine if the grades come back low.

Beware Cyclops - I actually bought the first page of The Goat #0 and then I noticed he had a Rai #6 variant cover OA, I think it was painted by Lemire. The price was not outrageous but it was more than I could afford at the time so I asked if he had any other covers. He only had one other Valiant cover with him at the show, and when he showed me which it was it was obvious that I had to buy it.

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RDNacho
100 posts! (if you round to the nearest 100)
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Valiant fan since: '90s Unity
Favorite character: The Goat, Shadowman, Armstrong
Favorite title: Shadowman, Q&W
Favorite writer: Shooter, Kindt
Favorite artist: LaRosa, Crain, Fowler, Suayan
Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by RDNacho »

I am trying to figure out how to post an image...I hope this works :hope:

Image

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RDNacho
100 posts! (if you round to the nearest 100)
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Posts: 56
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Valiant fan since: '90s Unity
Favorite character: The Goat, Shadowman, Armstrong
Favorite title: Shadowman, Q&W
Favorite writer: Shooter, Kindt
Favorite artist: LaRosa, Crain, Fowler, Suayan
Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by RDNacho »

Here are the Armorines books that are submitted to CGC all signed by Jim Calafiore at C2E2...

Image


and the book I already have...

Image

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Beware Cyclops
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by Beware Cyclops »

RDNacho wrote:Thanks for the warm welcome!

.....

Beware Cyclops - I actually bought the first page of The Goat #0 and then I noticed he had a Rai #6 variant cover OA, I think it was painted by Lemire. The price was not outrageous but it was more than I could afford at the time so I asked if he had any other covers. He only had one other Valiant cover with him at the show, and when he showed me which it was it was obvious that I had to buy it.
:!: So.... where do you keep it? Address, floor/apartment #, in a closet, drawer, under the bed? Guarded by Rottweiler? I promise I won't try to come and get it. :kidaround: Seriously, I won't try to come over and get it.

I bought page 5 of Goat #0 at Special Edition: NYC

Image

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RDNacho
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Favorite artist: LaRosa, Crain, Fowler, Suayan
Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by RDNacho »

Man, I love love love that page....
It would look nice in a frame next to the two I have....

so, uh...where did you say you keep that :P

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Beware Cyclops
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by Beware Cyclops »

RDNacho wrote:Man, I love love love that page....
It would look nice in a frame next to the two I have....

so, uh...where did you say you keep that :P
Right next to the empty spot where I'd like the Fowler Goat #0 cover to be. :wink:

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Daniel Jackson
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by Daniel Jackson »

Wow, 9.8 Armorines 4. Hard to find in any condition really. Welcome to the board.

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greg
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by greg »

Welcome to the board!

Since you've already met Dinesh, Rico, and Sonicdan, I'm afraid it's all downhill from here. :wink:

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geocarr
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by geocarr »

Welcome to the board! Great story!
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lorddunlow
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by lorddunlow »

Ricomortis wrote:Rick

It was great meeting you at C2E2 & WELCOME to the board!

Let me start off saying... I thought I was crazy at first, being so obsessed with Valiant, until I found THIS place. I felt alone and wondered often if I was crazy. It is a great feeling knowing that there are so many people that are passionate about the same things. As for CGC Valiant's, I felt a little more isolated as not many people collected Cgc books, much less Valiant Cgc books. What sealed the deal on isolation island was the amount of slabs I pursued and how many sets I am obtaining.

All that to basically say that I am honored! I am glad that my collection and enthusiasm has helped Valiant fans in one way or another. I just assumed everyone thought I was crazy. :lol:

Rick will soon hold the title on Armorines (Acclaim) Good Luck on your grades! :thumb:

Rico
We're all mad here... I'm mad... You're mad...
*SQUEE* your science, I have a machine gun.

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lorddunlow
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by lorddunlow »

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

(By the way, where the hell is MarkRoseHFX?)
*SQUEE* your science, I have a machine gun.

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betterthanezra
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by betterthanezra »

Welcome never thought I would see an Armorines #4 Acclaim 9.8 CGC that is one rare book :thumb:

-Brian
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My Valiant story here

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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by grendeljd »

Great story, man - welcome!!

And never mind what this guy right here says!! :lol:
lorddunlow wrote:Welcome to the boards. It's fun here as long as you steer clear of the Canadians like MarkRoseHFX and grendeljd.

(By the way, where the hell is MarkRoseHFX?)
I like to draw stuff... http://grendeljd.deviantart.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My wife likes to draw stuff too, and she is better than me! [I'm very proud of her]... https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sara-Dec ... ref=stream" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by comicsyte95 »

Welcome! :thumb:
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by depluto »

Welcome aboard!

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MarkRoseHFX
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by MarkRoseHFX »

lorddunlow wrote:Welcome to the boards. It's fun here as long as you steer clear of the Canadians like MarkRoseHFX and grendeljd.

(By the way, where the hell is MarkRoseHFX?)
:hi:

have you missed me dunlow?
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http://about.me/markrosehfx

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lorddunlow
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by lorddunlow »

I actually have! Where ya been?
*SQUEE* your science, I have a machine gun.

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geocarr
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by geocarr »

MarkRoseHFX wrote:
lorddunlow wrote:Welcome to the boards. It's fun here as long as you steer clear of the Canadians like MarkRoseHFX and grendeljd.
(By the way, where the hell is MarkRoseHFX?)
:hi:
have you missed me dunlow?
lorddunlow wrote:I actually have! Where ya been?
Uhh, Canada! Duh!! :?
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bobby97801
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Re: Hello! My Valiant Story...

Post by bobby97801 »

Welcome :thumb:


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