Valiant proved you wrong...

[Sven the Returned]

I was sure Ninjak will be boring for me and it's a been there, seen that archetype, but i was wrong. What about you?

[Magnus9178]

I was sure Ninjak will be boring for me and it's a been there, seen that archetype, but i was wrong. What about you?

It's a great approach and they are giving him the James Bond Ninja sorties he deserves! It was a simple concept that we just could never get perfectly in the VE1 run. I'm really happy with this book as well and hope it's around for a while!

[Donovan]

Quantum & Woody were Acclaim - they Had NO place in MY Valiant Universe. I plugged my nose when I bought it out of support for VEI.

Then I read it.

It's now my favourite comic out of all the publishers out there.

[dmezynski]

I have really like this run of Ninjak. As said earlier, the original run wasn't that great, but certainly better than the Acclaim version.

Ninjak has better characterization this time around, and also has better chemistry with the other heroes.

[leonmallett]

VEI actually getting around to publishing comics. Glad they proved me wrong on that.

[possumgrease]

I was like the OP. I didn't expect to enjoy Ninjak , but it's fast approaching becoming my favorite title, only behind Harbinger/Imperium. Hopefully by issue 12 we will have a really, really good story.

As for Q&W, I keep trying to like it, but I find myself struggling to get through the Deluxe Edition.

[Chiclo]

I used to be pretty vocally anti-VEI. Then came X-O Manowar 1.

I hated Harbinger 1. Hated it. How can this book about a rapist be at all good? Then came Harbinger 2.

I feel reformed.

[mero19]

V1 Bloodshot . Can't say I hated it , cause I bought it , but was more for the interactions with others characters I would assume. VEI Bloodshot though, has been most of my favorite of relaunch.

[kjjohanson]

I used to be pretty vocally anti-VEI. Then came X-O Manowar 1.

I hated Harbinger 1. Hated it. How can this book about a rapist be at all good? Then came Harbinger 2.

I feel reformed.

I still think that's going to be a huge challenge to pull off in a movie. They may have to play with the events between Peter and Kris a bit.

[Watchtower]

I used to be pretty vocally anti-VEI. Then came X-O Manowar 1.

I hated Harbinger 1. Hated it. How can this book about a rapist be at all good? Then came Harbinger 2.

I feel reformed.

I still think that's going to be a huge challenge to pull off in a movie. They may have to play with the events between Peter and Kris a bit.

Honestly? They better not.

I really want them to keep the scene as close as they can, and I don't want them to sugarcoat it. I want the movie to scream "PETER STANCHEK JUST RAPED A GIRL. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM." Because Rape Is A Special Kind Of Evil is a toxic and damaging mindset, and if anything is capable of turning that on its head it's Harbinger.

....Anyway, back on topic: When VEI was first starting off I made it very clear that I didn't want to see a return of the 4000 A.D. setting. As far as I was (and, in a way, still am) concerned it was an artifact of Magnus: Robot Fighter that was no longer relevant with the license unusable, and I wanted Rai to be better integrated to the present-day Valiant. I do still want that in a sense, but Kindt's Rai run has not only been an excellent series in its own right but it's managed to keep itself tied well to the universe with Dr. Silk and the Geomancer. Ivar jumping laps around time and Tama getting dragged in from the future helps out.

[leonmallett]

I used to be pretty vocally anti-VEI. Then came X-O Manowar 1.

I hated Harbinger 1. Hated it. How can this book about a rapist be at all good? Then came Harbinger 2.

I feel reformed.

I still think that's going to be a huge challenge to pull off in a movie. They may have to play with the events between Peter and Kris a bit.

Honestly? They better not.

I really want them to keep the scene as close as they can, and I don't want them to sugarcoat it. I want the movie to scream "PETER STANCHEK JUST RAPED A GIRL. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM." Because Rape Is A Special Kind Of Evil is a toxic and damaging mindset, and if anything is capable of turning that on its head it's Harbinger.

....Anyway, back on topic: When VEI was first starting off I made it very clear that I didn't want to see a return of the 4000 A.D. setting. As far as I was (and, in a way, still am) concerned it was an artifact of Magnus: Robot Fighter that was no longer relevant with the license unusable, and I wanted Rai to be better integrated to the present-day Valiant. I do still want that in a sense, but Kindt's Rai run has not only been an excellent series in its own right but it's managed to keep itself tied well to the universe with Dr. Silk and the Geomancer. Ivar jumping laps around time and Tama getting dragged in from the future helps out.

Not all of us sympathised or empathised with Stancheck. Honestly, I didn't feel his arc has been satisfactory as an individual reader, but acknowledging that others have enjoyed it. I liked the Harbinger series in spite of Peter, and grew to like it for the other leads. Just putting it out there to counter the argument that it did work for all readers in story and character terms.

I really don't think a movie studio would go that route. I could be wrong, but something like that could really turn response and critique of a hypothetical movie.

[Watchtower]

I used to be pretty vocally anti-VEI. Then came X-O Manowar 1.

I hated Harbinger 1. Hated it. How can this book about a rapist be at all good? Then came Harbinger 2.

I feel reformed.

I still think that's going to be a huge challenge to pull off in a movie. They may have to play with the events between Peter and Kris a bit.

Honestly? They better not.

I really want them to keep the scene as close as they can, and I don't want them to sugarcoat it. I want the movie to scream "PETER STANCHEK JUST RAPED A GIRL. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM." Because Rape Is A Special Kind Of Evil is a toxic and damaging mindset, and if anything is capable of turning that on its head it's Harbinger.

....Anyway, back on topic: When VEI was first starting off I made it very clear that I didn't want to see a return of the 4000 A.D. setting. As far as I was (and, in a way, still am) concerned it was an artifact of Magnus: Robot Fighter that was no longer relevant with the license unusable, and I wanted Rai to be better integrated to the present-day Valiant. I do still want that in a sense, but Kindt's Rai run has not only been an excellent series in its own right but it's managed to keep itself tied well to the universe with Dr. Silk and the Geomancer. Ivar jumping laps around time and Tama getting dragged in from the future helps out.

Not all of us sympathised or empathised with Stancheck. Honestly, I didn't feel his arc has been satisfactory as an individual reader, but acknowledging that others have enjoyed it. I liked the Harbinger series in spite of Peter, and grew to like it for the other leads. Just putting it out there to counter the argument that it did work for all readers in story and character terms.

I really don't think a movie studio would go that route. I could be wrong, but something like that could really turn response and critique of a hypothetical movie.

Admittedly I was focusing more on the comic's intent than audience response, but calling him "sympathetic" might've still been a bit too strong, since in reality Peter straddles the line in his actions. He's clearly a kid in pain seeking retribution and purpose, but he's also clearly damaged and has done some really *SQUEE* up stuff, the rape of Kris being especially heinous. In a way, not sympathizing with him is perfectly reasonable, and the fact that Harbinger can still hold itself up in spite of that is a strength in itself.

Still, yeah, Hollywood would most likely freak out over something so risky and ensure it doesn't happen. Would be hella ballsy though.

[BugsySig]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I never thought I'd like Archer & Armstrong (sorry, BWS fans, I never got it)...VEI proved me wrong.

I never thought anything could top "Children of the 8th Day"...VEI proved me wrong.

[Ramses818]

I totally believed in Ninjak and my son was climbing the walls waiting for it!

[jmatt]

I want the movie to scream "PETER STANCHEK JUST RAPED A GIRL. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU SYMPATHIZE WITH HIM."

Don't hold your breath. That's not gonna happen.

[Shadowman99]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I've hated the faces on Khari Evan's characters since day one and still do. The same squashed up, pouty little face on every person - everybody looks the same

[BugsySig]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I've hated the faces on Khari Evan's characters since day one and still do. The same squashed up, pouty little face on every person - everybody looks the same

I hated it at first, then at some point I really started enjoying it. The issue with the faces was still a little bothersome, but the art was dynamic and different. I like that VEI was willing to use an artist like Evans early to really set Harbinger apart.

[omega_override]

My initial thoughts in regards to Bloodshot and Harbinger were that they were completely uninspired rip offs of Punisher & New Mutants , how wrong and naive I was. And the fact that I originally dismissed Shadowman as dull and boring frightens me, as I only considered him note-worthy because he was a New Orleans native

[agent_graves]

I can't really think of a time they proved me wrong, I'm pretty optimistic about the books that interest me, and the ones that don't, I don't bother. I guess I can say that, three years later, they still hold my interest, I look forward to the Valiant titles I read more than any of the many titles I read from Marvel, Dc, and Image. I read more Image titles than any other publisher, but some months Valiant beats out the big two (not combined) on my pull list, depending on their monthly output.

[Watchtower]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I've hated the faces on Khari Evan's characters since day one and still do. The same squashed up, pouty little face on every person - everybody looks the same

I hated it at first, then at some point I really started enjoying it. The issue with the faces was still a little bothersome, but the art was dynamic and different. I like that VEI was willing to use an artist like Evans early to really set Harbinger apart.

I could say the same about Trevor Hairsine. When I first saw it I was immediately off-put by his faces, how samey and pointed and alien they looked. As time went on, however, it actually started looking better and better, and now I don't really mind his art anymore.

[ShadowTuga]

Harbinger.

I'll explain. When I first got into VEI, the next book to hit the shelves was this one. I read the premise and thought "Teen Mutants, done-to-death, nothing to see here".
Then I read the sneak peek in X-O #1 and I immediately asked my LCS to add it. I still think that preview for Harby #1 is the best sneak peek ever: who would not wan to read a comic like that?

[Shadowman99]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I've hated the faces on Khari Evan's characters since day one and still do. The same squashed up, pouty little face on every person - everybody looks the same

I hated it at first, then at some point I really started enjoying it. The issue with the faces was still a little bothersome, but the art was dynamic and different. I like that VEI was willing to use an artist like Evans early to really set Harbinger apart.

I could say the same about Trevor Hairsine. When I first saw it I was immediately off-put by his faces, how samey and pointed and alien they looked. As time went on, however, it actually started looking better and better, and now I don't really mind his art anymore.

I'm glad you and Bugsy have both managed to come around to being able to enjoy the art from KE and TH regardless of initial displeasures with it. Sadly for me, I still swear a little internally whenever I turn a comic page and see that KE has drawn a few pages in it.

[grendeljd]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I've hated the faces on Khari Evan's characters since day one and still do. The same squashed up, pouty little face on every person - everybody looks the same

I hated it at first, then at some point I really started enjoying it. The issue with the faces was still a little bothersome, but the art was dynamic and different. I like that VEI was willing to use an artist like Evans early to really set Harbinger apart.

I could say the same about Trevor Hairsine. When I first saw it I was immediately off-put by his faces, how samey and pointed and alien they looked. As time went on, however, it actually started looking better and better, and now I don't really mind his art anymore.

I'm glad you and Bugsy have both managed to come around to being able to enjoy the art from KE and TH regardless of initial displeasures with it. Sadly for me, I still swear a little internally whenever I turn a comic page and see that KE has drawn a few pages in it.

Khari is still my favourite artist on Harbinger. His style defines the overall mood of that run for me. I understand why some people aren't fans of his "squishy" faces, but IMO he is very skilled at conveying emotions through facial expressions. The squishiness is just a by-product of his particular style. I also very much enjoy the way he places figures in believable backgrounds as well.

[Shadowman99]

I never thought I'd like Khari Evan's art...VEI proved me wrong.

I've hated the faces on Khari Evan's characters since day one and still do. The same squashed up, pouty little face on every person - everybody looks the same

I hated it at first, then at some point I really started enjoying it. The issue with the faces was still a little bothersome, but the art was dynamic and different. I like that VEI was willing to use an artist like Evans early to really set Harbinger apart.

I could say the same about Trevor Hairsine. When I first saw it I was immediately off-put by his faces, how samey and pointed and alien they looked. As time went on, however, it actually started looking better and better, and now I don't really mind his art anymore.

I'm glad you and Bugsy have both managed to come around to being able to enjoy the art from KE and TH regardless of initial displeasures with it. Sadly for me, I still swear a little internally whenever I turn a comic page and see that KE has drawn a few pages in it.

Khari is still my favourite artist on Harbinger. His style defines the overall mood of that run for me. I understand why some people aren't fans of his "squishy" faces, but IMO he is very skilled at conveying emotions through facial expressions. The squishiness is just a by-product of his particular style. I also very much enjoy the way he places figures in believable backgrounds as well.

Has nobody ever shown him a BWS drawing?