Honest opinion on Ninjak Vs. the Valiant Universe

[SlyTrooper]

I've recently been catching up on my reading for Valiant after buying most of the books that I was missing, and I decided to go back and watch the teaser for Ninjak Vs. When I first watched it, after it was released, I was very underwhelmed and thought it looked poor. However, after revisiting it, I'm now torn between whether the content itself is bad or if the trailer was just amateurishly put together.

From what I can see, there is lots of good in there but I think it was just presented in a bad way. This isn't helped by the fact that we haven't had any follow-up footage since; there's been lots of time to improve and a second trailer could change my opinion more positively.

I'm curious as to your opinions on the quality of the series (from what we've seen) and if you think it will actually live up to the brand?

Also, as a little side note, what do you think is actually going on with the series? It was supposed to come out last year after all.

[geocarr]

I was able to see footage at NC Comicon in November containing Ninjak, Neville, Roku, Archer & Armstrong, and X-O Manowar and I can say that I enjoyed it all very much. Dinesh told me that he would release it when he thought it was right and not before even if it meant it was never released. He said that's how he approaches everything with VEI and was humble enough to admit his mistakes with their fist iteration of Shadowman. He has a quality standard that he's not willing to compromise for better or for worse and I respect him immensely for that.

[greg]

I was able to see footage at NC Comicon in November containing Ninjak, Neville, Roku, Archer & Armstrong, and X-O Manowar and I can say that I enjoyed it all very much. Dinesh told me that he would release it when he thought it was right and not before even if it meant it was never released. He said that's how he approaches everything with VEI and was humble enough to admit his mistakes with their fist iteration of Shadowman. He has a quality standard that he's not willing to compromise for better or for worse and I respect him immensely for that.

That's why Dinesh's Valiant has rivaled Jim Shooter's Valiant, in my opinion. Both have very high standards for quality over quantity. Valiant "died" the first time when Jim Shooter left and then soon after, quantity mattered more than quality. By 1996, Valiant had neither. Even when current Valiant has a big push for quantity, such as Book of Death #1 or X-O Manowar #1 (2017), it was because they had confidence in the quality.

Yes, it's a business and more sales would be more success from the business side, but quantity over quality isn't sustainable. You either build bridges (quality) or burn them (quantity). It depends on your short-term and long-term goals.

[WrathOfArmstrong]

I've recently been catching up on my reading for Valiant after buying most of the books that I was missing, and I decided to go back and watch the teaser for Ninjak Vs. When I first watched it, after it was released, I was very underwhelmed and thought it looked poor. However, after revisiting it, I'm now torn between whether the content itself is bad or if the trailer was just amateurishly put together.

From what I can see, there is lots of good in there but I think it was just presented in a bad way. This isn't helped by the fact that we haven't had any follow-up footage since; there's been lots of time to improve and a second trailer could change my opinion more positively.

I'm curious as to your opinions on the quality of the series (from what we've seen) and if you think it will actually live up to the brand?

Also, as a little side note, what do you think is actually going on with the series? It was supposed to come out last year after all.

I would agree it looks amateurish. Like below the quality of the Mortal Kombat webseries. If the content of the story is great, it'll overcome that look, but given the title I wasn't expecting much other than meet-and-greet-and-fisticuffs. I'm glad Dinesh might consider holding off on releasing it if it isn't great.

That said, I also remember BATMAN: DEAD END fan film. It wasn't 100% movie quality and lacked a story, but it came right before Nolan's films and it was very welcome and enjoyable just to see Batman (and others) on screen. I'm sure I'll appreciate it on some level when/if it arrives.

[TheFerg714]

I can't wait for it!

That said, the LONG wait since the first trailer and the "canceled" second trailer make me a little nervous. I have to say, a lot of my initial hype has kind of faded, and I'm really worried that the casual comic reader's hype has disappeared altogether. Honestly, I just hope it's good.

[SlyTrooper]

I can't wait for it!

That said, the LONG wait since the first trailer and the "canceled" second trailer make me a little nervous. I have to say, a lot of my initial hype has kind of faded, and I'm really worried that the casual comic reader's hype has disappeared altogether. Honestly, I just hope it's good.

I agree about the casual hype disappearing. I think the first trailer didn't do enough and now it's been too long for those who may have been slightly interested to still be committed. If they release a second trailer with high standard editing then they could still bring it back though. The images they have been releasing lately have been very promising, so I hope they carry that standard into a second trailer.

[tell]

I was never excited for the webseries, it looked a little embarrassing but I'm also pretty critical of most live action comic book media. I like comics, I think it's weird when real people people pretend to be superheros. When you make drawings real I can't help but see all the little aspects that aren't exactly cool.

I'll watch it, but I'm not expecting to enjoy it.

[IMJ]

The trailer basically has the cadence and cinematography of a modern filmed live action afternoon T.V. show for kids, post Power Rangers era. Not my thing, but I could see the Power Rangers generation loving this. Dinesh needs to orchestrate a quality, direct to blu-ray anime style Valiant Universe to begin to have these IP's penetrate the wall across another sub-culture.

[jmatt]

I guess I'm just easy to please. I thought the trailer looked great for what it is: a YouTube webseries. I'm actually surprised at the amount of money and effort that goes into something that is offered to the public free of charge.

[Ricomortis]

I guess I'm just easy to please. I thought the trailer looked great for what it is: a YouTube webseries. I'm actually surprised at the amount of money and effort that goes into something that is offered to the public free of charge.

100% agree...

They are spending a ton for something that they will make zilch on. People expect to much in the world anymore... JS...

[SlyTrooper]

I guess I'm just easy to please. I thought the trailer looked great for what it is: a YouTube webseries. I'm actually surprised at the amount of money and effort that goes into something that is offered to the public free of charge.

100% agree...

They are spending a ton for something that they will make zilch on. People expect to much in the world anymore... JS...

Well that's not entirely true. Any exposure they get will bring in additional profits from people who then go and purchase their products.

[Ricomortis]

I will say... It looks WAY better than any Bat in the Sun I have seen to date....

[DirtbagSailor]

In 2004, Sandy Collora, Daren Hicks, and Simon Tams made a 3:40 second World’s Finest movie trailer; a movie that did not actually exist.

However, it visually demonstrated to the world (and film makers) what might be possible, and also the marketing potential for the intellectual properties and concept.

World's Finest is a fan film directed by Sandy Collora. It works as a trailer to a movie that does not exist: the long-awaited cinematic team-up of Superman and Batman. While Superman and Batman had appeared together often in comic books and in animation (notably Super Friends), there would not be an official live-action pairing until Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which was released twelve years later...

[DirtbagSailor]

In December of 2016, Bat in the Sun released Super Power Beat Down: Wonder Woman vs Wolverine.

Six months later, the Wonder Woman Movie was released.

[DirtbagSailor]

In June of 2013, Bat in the Sun released Super Power Beat Down: Batman vs Deadpool.

July 2014 was the make-or-break moment for Deadpool. After wasting away in 20th Century Fox’s vaults, test footage of the Deadpool movie leaked, and the Internet basically broke over the release. The leak was what ulimately got Tim Miller’s movie approved by the studio...

In February of 2016, the Deadpool Movie was released.

In July of 2015, Bat in the Sun released Super Power Beat Down: Joker & Harley Quinn vs Deadpool & Domino.

In June of 2018, the Deadpool 2 Movie will be released; featuring Domino.

[DirtbagSailor]

My “honest thoughts” about the web series?

It’s a web series that will significantly expand awareness of the Valiant brand to the global community. It will serve as a visual representation to film makers and studios as to “what is possible” with Valiant intellectual properties.

I do NOT believe that large studios or production companies blindly jump into unknown (to them) projects without first getting a “warm and fuzzy” feeling as to the return on investment and market potential.

I believe that projects like this are part of the “new” process in Hollywood; that you have to date a little before you propose.

This is a YouTube series, that (fully honesty) appears visually superior to what we might make with home made costumes and a web camera. Can’t make this easily with an iPhone and four friends from work.

FACT: It is also WAAAY more than we (the Valiant Fans Community) have ever had. I’d say this is a HUGE step forward!

[SlyTrooper]

FACT: It is also WAAAY more than we (the Valiant Fans Community) have ever had. I’d say this is a HUGE step forward!

Definitely. To think that Valiant may become well-known in the next few years is quite exciting, as the possibilities will grow massively. Even with the core comics themselves, there will likely be lots of new books that will come out as result. I would be very surprised if there isn't a reprint of Bloodshot Deluxe edition Book 1 to go along with the movie, if not an omnibus.

[Foxom]

I'm torn. On one hand I figure anything is better than what we have so far. But at the same time this will be many people's first taste of what valiant has to offer. And I'm affraid that if they don't have the appreciation that we do for valiant before they watch, if it's sub par they'll write it off as not good as Marvel or god forbid equal to DC. We'll all watch no matter what. But that doesn't help. This needs to build a ground swell of new people thirsty for more VEI. And if it's just so-so i don't think it will move the needle for most casual viewers.

[geocarr]

I'm torn. On one hand I figure anything is better than what we have so far. But at the same time this will be many people's first taste of what valiant has to offer. And I'm affraid that if they don't have the appreciation that we do for valiant before they watch, if it's sub par they'll write it off as not good as Marvel or god forbid equal to DC. We'll all watch no matter what. But that doesn't help. This needs to build a ground swell of new people thirsty for more VEI. And if it's just so-so i don't think it will move the needle for most casual viewers.

Have Faith noob. No offense meant.

[Phoenix8008]

Anybody else here hoping against hope that they might release this webseries today, since the first comic tie in for it is coming out today?

[geocarr]

According to VEI's website it could be released anytime between now and March 19th since the first day of Spring is March 20th.

Watch the upcoming live-action digital promotion coming this winter

http://valiantentertainment.com/comics/ ... niverse-1/
I think I'm gonna die holding my breath first though...

[greg]

My opinion is that it's clear that VEI is trying something a little different. Think about the first time you heard that Netflix was going to produce their own shows. What? That's weird. Now you have multiple award-winning shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc., and they aren't exactly huge budget shows.

YouTube is a big enough platform that a similar plan... produce a YouTube-specific series, shorter, to accommodate YouTube audiences, but adding up to an hour-long show (pilot, if you like), using a production team that's already known on YouTube (Bat in the Sun) with a bigger budget than they've ever had... is worth pursuing.

The concept is great, for what it is. It isn't a $150,000,000 budget blockbuster movie for theaters. It's less than that. When you watch the trailer and it feels like it's a lot less than the trailer for a $150,000,000 budget blockbuster movie for theaters, you're right. It's less than that. Disney owns Marvel. Disney has Disney money ($55billion annual). Time Warner owns DC. Time Warner has Time Warner money ($28billion annual). Valiant owns Valiant. Valiant money isn't even one billion... much less tens of billions annually.

We can debate whether X-O Manowar could defeat Iron Man in the comics all day, but there's no debate on which one wins the battle of publisher and movie funding. You can't get Chateaubriand with a cheeseburger budget.

[kinggirlfriend]

I'm normally not really into all the stuff outside of the comics, for example: film, cartoons, video games, toys, pajamas, pillow cases, etc. I am just a fan of the comic book medium. But it's hard to complain about something that's free. And I'd be lying if I said I'm not going to check it out the second it drops. I thought the teaser looked fun. It can only help the visibility of the brand. And even if only a small fraction of viewers check out the books then it's a win.

[TheeBaldMoose]

Im just gonna ride this wave here, kinda chill, just wait it out. I'm not gonna get upset that it's behind schedule, and I'll hold back all my emotions, as I trust that Dinesh has what's best in mind for Valiant. Will this influence the movie idea? quite possibly. I really like the points DBS brings up regarding other "internet successes". Gotta say, Greg has some fantastic points too.

When will it hit the internet? Dunno, but I do know one thing. When it does, good or bad, I'm gonna support the *SQUEE* outa it for a very long time. I won't knit-pick it saying that the make-up looks bad, I'm just gonna be happy that they were able to put something out.

Til that day happens, just gonna hang here and chill. Just wanna be a fan

[SlyTrooper]

Has anyone read the new #1 for Ninjak Vs? I don't read single issues much, so I haven't, but I read the preview and I like what they've done at least from that small glimpse.