What is it about Valiant?

[Magnus Man-O-War]

VH1 has been gone for 8 years now (I think) but still people gather and discuss their favorite books.

What is it about Valiant comics that makes everyone here still enjoy them after all these years?

For me I guess it would have to be the tight continuity and the fact that they were "building a universe." You could really feel the creative energy coming off of the company in the beginning (until Jim Shooter left and even for some books a little while after that). I liked the fact that up until Unity every book had a purpose that led up to that event. I like the fact that Valiant had a vision at a time when the big companies were starting to get very stale. I loved the fact that Unity was a crossover done right.

So, what does everyone else think??

[Todd Luck]

VH1 has been gone for 8 years now (I think) but still people gather and discuss their favorite books.

What is it about Valiant comics that makes everyone here still enjoy them after all these years?

For me I guess it would have to be the tight continuity and the fact that they were "building a universe." You could really feel the creative energy coming off of the company in the beginning (until Jim Shooter left and even for some books a little while after that). I liked the fact that up until Unity every book had a purpose that led up to that event. I like the fact that Valiant had a vision at a time when the big companies were starting to get very stale. I loved the fact that Unity was a crossover done right.

So, what does everyone else think??

I agree totally. Shooter's riegn at Valiant was produced some of the best runs in comic history. The amount of people who still fondly remember Valiant is amazing but Valiant, at the hieght of it's popularity, was the fourth or fifth biggest company in the industry so out all those millions sold someone should remember the comics.

Even after Shooter left and the company became drastically...different, it still had an air of freshness that few companies or lines had at that time (Milestone, Defiant, and Broadway all being wonderful exceptions to the rule). Comic readers have always been hungry for an quality monthly alternative to the Big Two's old universes. It's always amazed me that none of the attempts to provide that alternative ever sticked.

[DawgPhan]

I think ever person on here is goign to say the stories, the tight continuity, and such, which are all good reasons, but for me a big reason is that there are the first comics I read and I could not afford many of the issues and now I can afford every single one of them without batting an eye...Most of them are worth nothing and will continue to be worth nothing for years to come so I have not problem sitting on the can with a great Bloodshot books and enjoying myself...No worries...Most wouldnt think about doing that with most comics, but Valiants you can do what you like with. Hell want to show a friend this cool character Bloodshot? Give him a couple of books..Let him read them...you can read them. Your KIDS could read them...no worries...

[Daniel Jackson]

The superb writing was definitely a factor for me as well but I was just blown away by the amazing artwork and the particular way they used to color the early issues. It reminded me of the days when Marvel was enjoying their reign as king in the early sixties when Spiderman, Fantastic Four, Hulk etc. first emerged. Those books were amazing and I felt like I was seeing Marvel all over again but we all know how quickly the company that once looked so promising, started to lose it's focus and eventually their customers. It's really a shame the way it all turned out because it did look they were going to be the next big one.

[soundoftheuniverse]

Call me crazy but I really loved the SMELL of my Valiants. Curling up on my bed with a fresh stack of Valiants was awesome. I can't describe it but nothing brings back the nostalgia for me like the good old smell of Valiants. Crack open a bag and take a whif... it's wonderful.

[putz]

You have issues. You might need to get out more.

[putz]

That, or I may need to start smelling my comics. My wife my try to have me committed if she sees me doing it.