The Question for the ages.....

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:40 pm

welll maybe not... but here it is....

So I read Magnus #1-8 earlier this summer...

and I am currently reading Solar #1-10 (I'll finish tonight)

...and here is the question...

which is a better comic book run?

(this is kinda like the DeNero vs. Pacino, who is the better actor question)

[if this has been asked before, sorry, I looked for it, but I couldn't find it]

So boys.... which one is it??????

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 4:44 pm

Just depends on who you like better. Magnus would be my choice, but Solar wouldn't be far behind. Both are excellent reads.

Ben(inabox) · Post by **Ben(inabox)** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:04 pm

For some reason, I never really liked Magnus all that much

So I would have to go with Solar... Plus, I just like Barry Windsor-Smith!

hulk181man · Post by **hulk181man** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:09 pm

I vote Rai 1-5

no, I mean Solar...

wait, really it's Magnus....

or was it Harbinger 1-7

RobInOttawa · Post by **RobInOttawa** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:28 pm

I would vote for Magnus, although Solar comes up extremely close. Of course all the pre-unity books are awesome.

acc205 · Post by **acc205** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 5:39 pm

tough choice.

Solar should really go to 11 because of that fight with the eggbreakers and gilad.

I think Magnus just beats out Solar (even with the alpha and omega inserts, the solar splittings and mergings, the first harada, the death of the penguins, the first xo armor and the fight with the armor AND the whole erica pierce thing).

Magnus has Steel Nation and the Rai Invasion story and Rai is just too cool.

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:06 pm

acc205 wrote:tough choice.

Solar should really go to 11 because of that fight with the eggbreakers and gilad.

I think Magnus just beats out Solar (even with the alpha and omega inserts, the solar splittings and mergings, the first harada, the death of the penguins, the first xo armor and the fight with the armor AND the whole erica pierce thing).

Magnus has Steel Nation and the Rai Invasion story and Rai is just too cool.

magnus also has the card inserts....

but Solar 1-10 contains all the most important plot lines on the early Valiant universe... including some MAJOR 1st apperances....

...right now I can't decide... (I just re-read solar 7 & 8...)

Blood of Heroes · Post by **Blood of Heroes** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 6:46 pm

I never got into the Magnus books, but I did just read Solar 0-12 for the first time ever; I recently started collecting books that were out of my price range 12 years ago. Holy crap! I never imagined it would be that good. I was confused by the by the two Seleski's and Solar, but then it just all came together, literally, and blew me away. What an amazing piece of writing.That said, I vote for Solar!

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 7:21 pm

It's like asking who your favorite child is.

speedracex · Post by **speedracex** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 8:58 pm

yeah I really enjoyed both storylines, cant make that decision

k_c_collectibles · Post by **k_c_collectibles** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:10 pm

I vote for Alpha and Omega. That story is in the early Solar issues

Chris

P.S. I would have chosen X-O if it was one of the choices though...

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:00 pm

Solar.

The character has so many possibilities

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:10 pm

jedimarley wrote:It's like asking who your favorite child is.

That's exactly what I was going to say.

steverino · Post by **steverino** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:12 pm

this is kinda like the DeNero vs. Pacino, who is the better actor question

Definitely De Niro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHT9XVMW3LE

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:20 pm

After reading Solar #10 today.. I am going to go with....

Solar. Solar over Magnus....

Here is why:
-BWS
-What a great begining to a comic... there are two Solars.. then there are 3 of them, (all three are shown in one pannel in Phil's apartment)
-The creation of Mothergod (she does'nt even know she is the Mothergod yet!)
-Spider Aliens (when Solar first uses his "X-ray" vision and sees the anachroid skeleton .... sweet!
-Toyo...
-Buck Mchenery and Geoff Mchenery (Geomancers)
-The Eternal Warrior (even with a dorky haircut)
-Erica's baby (then Solar "killing" the baby)
-The development of Solar figuring out how to be a hero...
-The spider alien champion in the XO-Manowar almost defeating Solar
-Solar hooking up with the fat chick.... then moving on to the hottie Gayle.
-Contnuinity (with the mention of the Harby kids fighting the Eggbreakers)
-Solar #10 cover .... I still hold it with reverence!

and last but not least.....

-Laying the groundwork for the Unity Crossover...

AND....

I haven't even read Alph and Omega yet (I just got Solar #7 and #8 so it will be my first time reading the entire, complete story..... I am going to read all ten parts all together....

So, for me, ..... I'll take Solar.....

until next time I read Solar first, then Magnus #1-8

(By the way.... I take DeNero over Pacino... by a nose!)

RobInOttawa · Post by **RobInOttawa** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:43 pm

You make a really strong and convincing argument for Solar. I'll play devil's advocate and argue for Magnus.

1) Magnus is the first Valiant superhero book
2) There is tight continuity throughout (also for Solar).
3) First book to introduce the idea of coupons for a Zero issue book (good and bad idea).
4) First to have a flip book that introduces Rai.
5) Magnus is not a traditional superhero and usually beats his opponents by using his brain and outsmarting them.
6) Magnus questions his role in being a "robot fighter"
7) Battles are not pointless and the villains don't always come back for no apparent reason.

Magnus is also the first book that showed me that there are better comics than Marvel. Although I like "the big three" in the DC universe, I never really collected DC comics.

Leeja seemed like a really spoiled daughter of president Claine, but the writers grew her character naturally over several issues. Usually, only superhero women are strong willed and tough, although still need to be saved occasionally by the male super hero. Leeja saved Magnus a few times after she naturally became a better person.

Magnus also took Russ Manning's original thought provoking ideas and emphasized real world dilemmas in a distant future. In some ways we are are like North Am where technology is taking over our lives. Today, instead of robots, we have computers, cell phones, ipods, and even the 'crackberry' to always be connected.

Magnus also takes place in the "Ottawa Sector" so this is kind of cool. Like Zepher joked to Magnus, he must be "Canadian"

The Rai flip-book also showed Japan transform into a dragon and lift into space.

I have to point out that the art work in both Solar and Magnus is top-notch and natural looking. In most of the later Valiant (Acclaim) comics, the characters look like they've been injected with steroids are always posing.

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:27 pm

RobInOttawa wrote:You make a really strong and convincing argument for Solar. I'll play devil's advocate and argue for Magnus.

1) Magnus is the first VALIANT superhero book
2) There is tight continuity throughout (also for Solar).
3) First book to introduce the idea of coupons for a Zero issue book (good and bad idea).
4) First to have a flip book that introduces Rai.
5) Magnus is not a traditional superhero and usually beats his opponents by using his brain and outsmarting them.
6) Magnus questions his role in being a "robot fighter"
7) Battles are not pointless and the villains don't always come back for no apparent reason.

Magnus is also the first book that showed me that there are better comics than Marvel. Although I like "the big three" in the DC universe, I never really collected DC comics.

Leeja seemed like a really spoiled daughter of president Claine, but the writers grew her character naturally over several issues. Usually, only superhero women are strong willed and tough, although still need to be saved occasionally by the male super hero. Leeja saved Magnus a few times after she naturally became a better person.

Magnus also took Russ Manning's original thought provoking ideas and emphasized real world dilemmas in a distant future. In some ways we are are like North Am where technology is taking over our lives. Today, instead of robots, we have computers, cell phones, ipods, and even the 'crackberry' to always be connected.

Magnus also takes place in the "Ottawa Sector" so this is kind of cool. Like Zepher joked to Magnus, he must be "Canadian"

The Rai flip-book also showed Japan transform into a dragon and lift into space.

I have to point out that the art work in both Solar and Magnus is top-notch and natural looking. In most of the later VALIANT (Acclaim) comics, the characters look like they've been injected with steroids are always posing.

Rob NICE post!

Let me comment...

First I agree, Magnus #1-8 is an A+, top notch book, but for the sake of a double devil's advocate... allow me....

Remember, I agree with all you wrote ( but like the DeNero vs. Pacino debate, there has to be awinner, but both are GREAT)...

But I will make a few comments...

2) There is tight continuity throughout

Yes, but I define continuity as, what happens between different books is consistent, in Magnus Robot Fighter, there were no other books happening at the same time (in the future), but With Solar, we have Harby (as one expample, not mention XO, where Solar goes to Orb ind.)... the Harby kids got into a fight with the eggbreakers, and it is mentioned/dealt with in the Solar book... I consider that continuity....

5) Magnus is not a traditional superhero and usually beats his opponents by using his brain and outsmarting them.

Very true, (one of the best parts about the early Magnus books IMO), but I believe this is even stronger in the Solar books... while Solar is UNQUESTIONABLY the most "Powerful" entinty... he constiantly has to use his brain to defeat his enemies... the XO alien, the baby, the "other" Phil (Phil of the future

[if you don't have kids, you don't get it]) So while magnus is not the "Incredible" Magnus "Magnus....killl... Magnus ... smash" I believe Solar is written as a more cerebral Hero...

6) Magnus questions his role in being a "robot fighter"

Yes.... but again I find this ("who am I?" "Do I belong here")more strongly written about in the Solar books... Magnus questions his defending North Am., and infact, turn against No. Am. and becomes a goph... but Solar even ponders SUCIDE! That is a person questioning his role... it is not untill #7 and #8 where Solar decided, ...Yes, I will kill the spider aliens.. they deserve it. And even after that in issue #9, he does not know what he should do about Erica and her baby... (Solar says something like.... maybe He, erica, and the baby should leave the earth and live "somewhere" where they could not do any harm... Nine issues into his book.... the main character is still questioning himself... Magnus questioned his role... but made a decision, to become a goph... Solar has no idea what his role is....

Leeja seemed like a really spoiled daughter of president Claine, but the writers grew her character naturally over several issues. Usually, only superhero women are strong willed and tough, although still need to be saved occasionally by the male super hero. Leeja saved Magnus a few times after she naturally became a better person.

Nothing to say here... PERFECTLY SAID... leeja kicks butt! (although there is a similar development in Erica, execpt she becomes a "bad girl" that sexually mollests her son...)

So I agree with all that you said... I just think (IMO) that Solar has some of the points you listed as postivies for Magnus... as even BIGGER positives for Solar.

But Rob.... an excellent post!

That was fun.....

(if me stealing ZWH's posting style doesn't bring him back.... nothing will, just kidding Z)

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 12:25 am

Heath wrote:
jedimarley wrote:It's like asking who your favorite child is.
That's exactly what I was going to say.

I don't have kids - but ditto!

-slym

Rufusharley · Post by **Rufusharley** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:50 am

I'd have to say Solar. I really dig a comic that has physics and space-time at it's heart.

tarheelmarine · Post by **tarheelmarine** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:17 am

RobInOttawa wrote:
Magnus also took Russ Manning's original thought provoking ideas and emphasized real world dilemmas in a distant future. In some ways we are are like North Am where technology is taking over our lives. Today, instead of robots, we have computers, cell phones, ipods, and even the 'crackberry' to always be connected.

I also like the fact that Magnus questions why he is "killing" freewills. The dilemna of persecuting freewills is a parallel to racism. I really liked the that in Magnus you had predjudices being fought against. Magnus was cool because it addressed a broad range of social issues in addition to being a good superhero comic.

The Mighty Drew · Post by **The Mighty Drew** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:39 am

Definitely a tough choice, but I have to go with Magnus. The "Steel Nation" storyline from the first four issues is, in my opinion, one of the greatest comic stories ever written.

I can't say much more than what's already been said about this character. But it should be pointed out that Magnus, unlike Solar, was written without any changes to his origin. Jim Shooter was able to take the original Gold Key concept from the 60's and show that Russ Manning's creation was still as relavant and timely for a 1990's audience. That's really saying something considering how dark comics had become by then.

Don't get me wrong about Solar. The early Solar run is probably among my personal Top 20 of the greatest comic storylines ever. But the early Magnus run is in the Top 5.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:45 am

Ben(inabox) wrote:For some reason, I never really liked Magnus all that much

GET. OFF. THIS. MESSAGE. BOARD. NOW !

myron · Post by **myron** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:54 am

Solar and Magnus in those runs were both absolutely incredible...there are very few comics that are as well done as them, but for some reason I would choose Solar...maybe because it's slightly more cerebral and provokes more thought?...I don't know...

why don't you make this a poll Elveen...

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:08 am

Thought provoking and cerebral though Solar is...

My choice is for MAGNUS

Why?

Its so good, after you've read STEEL NATION, you get the feeling like its gone BEYOND a comic.

And like ALL great comics,
WATCHMEN, DARK KNIGHT, SANDMAN, KILLING JOKE...

it doesn't just STAND OUT in your memory years and years after you've read it...But it HAUNTS you...

MAGNUS hands down. F*ck the kids!

Elveen · Post by **Elveen** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:17 am

Ok, so now it is a poll... so vote fellas!

ValiantFans.com Board - Since 2004

The Question for the ages.....

Magnus #1-8 or Solar #1-10

The Question for the ages.....