The anticlimatic ending in Valiant titles

[Thomas]

Don't know if everyone has already read Book of Death so not to spoil anyone:
Am I the only one who thought that the ending of Book of Death was anticlimactic? I mean Gilad just throws his axe at some stone, gem, magic thingy and that's it. Darque is defeated. There was this whole build up over the issues, but the ending felt really disappointing to me.
The same happend in The Valiant, where I liked the built up but was disappointed by the ending.
Even in Armor Hunters I think the final fight with Reebo should have been more fleshed out.
I think the problem here was that it had to be contained in four issues. I think one more issue would have helped. I like that Valiant doesn't go overboard with Events like Marvel or DC and keeps it rather contained. But I really think that one more issue would have given more pages to flesh out the final confrontation of Gilad, Tama and Darque.
What do you think about this. Am I the only one? I really want a satisfying ending. It's not easy to do that, but I think it can be pulled off.
I hope the anticlimactic ending doesn't become a trend for Valiants event titles.

[ShadowTuga]

I also thought theending to be the worst part of this event. Very disappointing, imho.
The tie-ins were all stellar, though.

[jmatt]

You can lump the ending to Divinity's arc in there as well.

It's not necessarily that the final disposition to BoD isn't consequential enough, just that the final conflict seems restrained. I mean, Gilad is dead, Tama has collected David's power and Darque is imprisoned in a tree. Consequential, to be sure. But as I stated elsewhere, it needed more "Feel my power!"-ish kind of oomph, to coin a cliche.

I think it may also suffer from the fact that the prophecy was so dire, and we saw that splash page with all the characters squaring off against the Corrupted One... and then it all just went away. We never saw that Battle Royale, just its aftermath with all the heroes defeated.

It's Venditti. The final battle in X-O's Dead Hand arc was similar. Tremendous build-up, then in a page or so, X-O flies to the Dead Hand core, whacks a computer and its over. I agree that the desire to keep each arc so it fits neatly into a TPB is partly to blame. Perhaps if the rest of his issues didn't move like molasses it would free up more panels for the final confrontation.

LotG ended appropriately, and the Fall Of books did too.

[Thomas]

You can lump the ending to Divinity's arc in there as well.

It's not necessarily that the final disposition to BoD isn't consequential enough, just that the final conflict seems restrained. I mean, Gilad is dead, Tama has collected David's power and Darque is imprisoned in a tree. Consequential, to be sure. But as I stated elsewhere, it needed more "Feel my power!"-ish kind of oomph, to coin a cliche.

I think it may also suffer from the fact that the prophecy was so dire, and we saw that splash page with all the characters squaring off against the Corrupted One... and then it all just went away. We never saw that Battle Royale, just its aftermath with all the heroes defeated.

It's Venditti. The final battle in X-O's Dead Hand arc was similar. Tremendous build-up, then in a page or so, X-O flies to the Dead Hand core, whacks a computer and its over. I agree that the desire to keep each arc so it fits neatly into a TPB is partly to blame. Perhaps if the rest of his issues didn't move like molasses it would free up more panels for the final confrontation.

LotG ended appropriately, and the Fall Of books did too.

Right you are. The ending is consequential, but the final fight is not satisfying enough. We only got like nine pages, or so, of the fight with Darque, until he was defeated. I would have prefered it if they added an issue and ended issue four with the cliche "the villain is about to win" cliffhanger, if that meant that we get something epic out of it in the next issue.

[Brapbrap]

the problem is that they give all their events to venditti or kindt, who are not that great.

the ending pages of harbinger wars with Maniac and then Kozol's lawyer are fantastic, they need to give Dysart the next event

[jmatt]

the problem is that they give all their events to venditti or kindt, who are not that great.

I have to disagree. Kind-T's Rai and Ninjak have been wonderful. I have some quibbles with Venditti's writing (too slow and straightforward for the most part) but enjoyable nonetheless.

[BugsySig]

the problem is that they give all their events to venditti or kindt, who are not that great.

the ending pages of harbinger wars with Maniac and then Kozol's lawyer are fantastic, they need to give Dysart the next event

+1

[tiredofmyself]

Second that Harbinger Wars has the best resolution and setup for individual titles afterwards. It also introduces tons of new characters.

Armor Hunters have great new characters, but the resolution is not as good.

Valiant and Book of Death though, seem to exist for the sequel hooks (Bloodshot Reborn & Wrath of EW).

[myron]

can someone move this to the published titles section?

[possumgrease]

Second that Harbinger Wars has the best resolution and setup for individual titles afterwards. It also introduces tons of new characters.

Armor Hunters have great new characters, but the resolution is not as good.

Valiant and Book of Death though, seem to exist for the sequel hooks (Bloodshot Reborn & Wrath of EW).

I fully agree, but would add that if I stopped reading those arcs before the final issue, I would say The Valiant was the best.

[ShadowTuga]

The Valiant made me want to read BR asap. This felt more like "oh, now he's coming back but has to cross a ton of stuff first" resolution. I will read Wrath, but I am not anticipating it with the enthusiasm Gilad deserves.

I don't blame Venditti. This felt like it was something that editorial asked for. He doesn't write 4 issue amazing arcs. He writes 40 something. And it pays back, BIG time. The last ish of X-O (when the Priest gets it) was amazing in that aspect- 3 years of continuity will do that. I loved it, LOVED IT. Maybe 4-issue "EVENTS!!!" are not his forte.
JD must come back to the "Summer blockbuster" thing.

[jmatt]

I don't blame Venditti. This felt like it was something that editorial asked for.

I'll row back on some of my Venditti criticism, at least as far as BoD is concerned.

The way it was handled was appropriate, in showing just the aftermath of the battles. But my point is that the solicitations with the big group squaring off against a foe may have left people feeling like they missed something. We wanted to know who all those characters were and see them in action.