"We Anticipate Being Able to Focus on Expanding": Valiant Publisher Breaks Down New IDW Deal

[Ryan]

There was a very bad run or two in X-O, sure. Not sure I agree about Shadowman. I think that has been fairly good since Jack returned. I particularly enjoyed the expanded origin of the Loa and Jaunty.

Didn't DMG only have two X-O runs, and even you say they're 'very bad'. That's really a bad sign when he's the flagship character and they're only doing what, 4 or 5 books a month at most?

I don't know, I guess I just have a higher standard for Valiant. They should all be looking at VH1 Harby 1-6, Solar 1-10, Magnus 0-8, A&A 0-12, X-O 0-10 as the bar that's been set. Everything Valiant makes should be at least aiming for that level.

[ManofTheAtom]

There was a very bad run or two in X-O, sure. Not sure I agree about Shadowman. I think that has been fairly good since Jack returned. I particularly enjoyed the expanded origin of the Loa and Jaunty.

Didn't DMG only have two X-O runs, and even you say they're 'very bad'. That's really a bad sign when he's the flagship character and they're only doing what, 4 or 5 books a month at most?

I don't know, I guess I just have a higher standard for Valiant. They should all be looking at VH1 Harby 1-6, Solar 1-10, Magnus 0-8, A&A 0-12, X-O 0-10 as the bar that's been set. Everything Valiant makes should be at least aiming for that level.

Dinesh did look at all of that, which is why VEI during his tenure was of such high standard. But the idea that such a standard can be sustained in the long run does not hold. DC and Marvel have gone through those kind of slumps for decades.

Quality always ebbs and flows at every publisher.

Alien needs to finds its groove. Now that Hawkins is not their EiC maybe they'll find it with the next one. Time will tell.

[Chiclo]

DC and Marvel have gone through those kind of slumps for decades.

Quality always ebbs and flows at every publisher.

So, Valiant has undergone a sustained period of poorer quality comics, despite being internally consistent with previously established logic and guidelines?

Alien needs to finds its groove. Now that Hawkins is not their EiC maybe they'll find it with the next one. Time will tell.

In retaining Hawkins as their EiC, does that mean that Alien actively continued in DMG's established pattern of decisions? Which had led to a sustained drop in quality?

[ManofTheAtom]

DC and Marvel have gone through those kind of slumps for decades.

Quality always ebbs and flows at every publisher.

So, Valiant has undergone a sustained period of poorer quality comics, despite being internally consistent with previously established logic and guidelines?

Alien needs to finds its groove. Now that Hawkins is not their EiC maybe they'll find it with the next one. Time will tell.

In retaining Hawkins as their EiC, does that mean that Alien actively continued in DMG's established pattern of decisions? Which had led to a sustained drop in quality?

Quality has nothing to do with internal consistency.

Any drop in quality has nothing to do with DMG and Alien being being consistent with the style and tone and canon of VEI. That's entirely independent of that.

[ManofTheAtom]

Not every single VH-1 comic during either Shooter's or Layton's tenures was a winner, and that had nothing to do with them being consistent with what came before.

[Ryan]

So, Valiant has undergone a sustained period of poorer quality comics, despite being internally consistent with previously established logic and guidelines?

In retaining Hawkins as their EiC, does that mean that Alien actively continued in DMG's established pattern of decisions? Which had led to a sustained drop in quality?

It's hopeless to try to make sense of the constantly shifting contradictions. It only makes sense when you realize that most of Mota's takes are solely based on the positivity or negativity of his personal interactions with the various Valiant heads (Nicieza - negative, Dino and Martin Alien - positive).

[ManofTheAtom]

So, Valiant has undergone a sustained period of poorer quality comics, despite being internally consistent with previously established logic and guidelines?

In retaining Hawkins as their EiC, does that mean that Alien actively continued in DMG's established pattern of decisions? Which had led to a sustained drop in quality?

It's hopeless to try to make sense of the constantly shifting contradictions. It only makes sense when you realize that most of Mota's takes are solely based on the positivity or negativity of his personal interactions with the various Valiant heads (Nicieza - negative, Dino and Martin Alien - positive).

Incorrect. I've already said many times that there was a lot Dinesh did I disagree with and have also said there was some good stuff from VH 2 that could have been integrated into VALIANT because they didn't need a reboot to be done.

[ManofTheAtom]

And PLEASE don't say Silk undoing death in Resurgence. As stated MANY times before, what was done is perfectly consistent with concepts from Archer and Armstrong, such as the Boon.

Concepts such as magic.

In Shadowman #2 published in 2012 Dox asks Jack if he's read Clarke and cites his third law, which states that any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic, and remarks that magic is science.

So, firstly, magic at VALIANT has not been handled like it has been at Marvel. From the start of the VEI reboot it's been handled the way one would expect it to be handled in the VALIANT Universe, quite literally using the argument I've been using for years, that it adheres to Clarke's third law. Secondly, if it has been consistent across VEI, DMG, and Alien, then what's the problem? This is EXACTLY how one would want magic in the VALIANT Universe to be quantified.

As much as I wish I could take credit for suggesting this as was the case with Archer's journal in Archer & Armstrong #1 and (as Dinesh once told me though I cannot recall doing) Gilad in X-O Manowar #1 I did not. Dox's dialogue came either from Dinesh or from Jordan.

[Chiclo]

And PLEASE don't say Silk undoing death in Resurgence. As stated MANY times before, what was done is perfectly consistent with concepts from Archer and Armstrong, such as the Boon.

Concepts such as magic.

In Shadowman #2 published in 2012 Dox asks Jack if he's read Clarke and cites his third law, which states that any sufficiently advanced science is indistinguishable from magic, and remarks that magic is science.

So, firstly, magic at VALIANT has not been handled like it has been at Marvel. From the start of the VEI reboot it's been handled the way one would expect it to be handled in the VALIANT Universe, quite literally using the argument I've been using for years, that it adheres to Clarke's third law. Secondly, if it has been consistent across VEI, DMG, and Alien, then what's the problem? This is EXACTLY how one would want magic in the VALIANT Universe to be quantified.

As much as I wish I could take credit for suggesting this as was the case with Archer's journal in Archer & Armstrong #1 and (as Dinesh once told me though I cannot recall doing) Gilad in X-O Manowar #1 I did not. Dox's dialogue came either from Dinesh or from Jordan.

How authoritative is Dox on this matter? Is that like saying something is an art form? An example that comes to mind is handloading, the practice of reusing certain components from ammunition to produce ammunition at home. Handloading is more art than science but truly is neither. Bullfighting is a sport but I have heard it described as both a science and an artform. Is Dox merely expressing that magic can be approached systematically and, with study, be predictably used? Is this an expression, a metaphor?

Just because a character says something does not make it a binding physical law within that universe. It could be an expression or it could be a widely misunderstood application of natural order, like alchemy.

[ManofTheAtom]

How authoritative is Dox on this matter? Is that like saying something is an art form? An example that comes to mind is handloading, the practice of reusing certain components from ammunition to produce ammunition at home. Handloading is more art than science but truly is neither. Bullfighting is a sport but I have heard it described as both a science and an artform. Is Dox merely expressing that magic can be approached systematically and, with study, be predictably used? Is this an expression, a metaphor?

Just because a character says something does not make it a binding physical law within that universe. It could be an expression or it could be a widely misunderstood application of natural order, like alchemy.

The existence of Lyceum and the Universitas Divinum makes it likely that magic is an advanced form of science that, just like science, requires years of study to master. Indeed, Darque spends a decade in Lyceum doing just that, studying.

[Chiclo]

How authoritative is Dox on this matter? Is that like saying something is an art form? An example that comes to mind is handloading, the practice of reusing certain components from ammunition to produce ammunition at home. Handloading is more art than science but truly is neither. Bullfighting is a sport but I have heard it described as both a science and an artform. Is Dox merely expressing that magic can be approached systematically and, with study, be predictably used? Is this an expression, a metaphor?

Just because a character says something does not make it a binding physical law within that universe. It could be an expression or it could be a widely misunderstood application of natural order, like alchemy.

The existence of Lyceum and the Universitas Divinum makes it likely that magic is an advanced form of science that, just like science, requires years of study to master. Indeed, Darque spends a decade in Lyceum doing just that, studying.

Studying magic, scientifically.

[ManofTheAtom]

How authoritative is Dox on this matter? Is that like saying something is an art form? An example that comes to mind is handloading, the practice of reusing certain components from ammunition to produce ammunition at home. Handloading is more art than science but truly is neither. Bullfighting is a sport but I have heard it described as both a science and an artform. Is Dox merely expressing that magic can be approached systematically and, with study, be predictably used? Is this an expression, a metaphor?

Just because a character says something does not make it a binding physical law within that universe. It could be an expression or it could be a widely misunderstood application of natural order, like alchemy.

The existence of Lyceum and the Universitas Divinum makes it likely that magic is an advanced form of science that, just like science, requires years of study to master. Indeed, Darque spends a decade in Lyceum doing just that, studying.

Studying magic, scientifically.

Correct. The Universitas Divinum is Hogwarts.

[ManofTheAtom]

[ManofTheAtom]

This is the kind of conversation we would have had when the comic first came out had I still been active here back then...

[grendeljd]

I’m still confused on how IDW fit in with Alien??

DMG and Alien have consistently shins themselves to be amateurs when it comes to releasing a quality comic book line. If IDW can take control and (significantly) improve the books then that might be something.

I always wonder who is giving positive feedback to Alien to make then think they’re on the right track

It sounds like Alien and DMG work together on the books (Alien has to run everything past DMG) so I imagine IDW is helping from a publisher standpoint.

But I don’t know much.

Is ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ a saying over in the US?

https://www.adultswim.com/videos/infome ... any-cooks/

The second I saw your hyperlink text just now I was sincerely hoping it was that awesomely bizarre, surreal video - I love that crazy thing, been aware of it for years! Nice reference, Chiclo!

[ManofTheAtom]

I’m still confused on how IDW fit in with Alien??

DMG and Alien have consistently shins themselves to be amateurs when it comes to releasing a quality comic book line. If IDW can take control and (significantly) improve the books then that might be something.

I always wonder who is giving positive feedback to Alien to make then think they’re on the right track

It sounds like Alien and DMG work together on the books (Alien has to run everything past DMG) so I imagine IDW is helping from a publisher standpoint.

But I don’t know much.

Is ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ a saying over in the US?

https://www.adultswim.com/videos/infome ... any-cooks/

The second I saw your hyperlink text just now I was sincerely hoping it was that awesomely bizarre, surreal video - I love that crazy thing, been aware of it for years! Nice reference, Chiclo!

Yeah,that one was fun.