Should Barry Windsor-Smith & Bob Layton be brought back?

[Stinger]

I'd want Bart Sears to be back. I hope Joe Quesada if I'm dreaming.

Not if he's EIC. That'd be a nightmare

Actually, I've been absence from comic world for 15 years. Of course, I mean of him as being an artist along with Jim Palmotti.

[cobra_commander]

Thats exactly the kind of jackassery that should be rewarded!

Why?

I don't know. I just like the guy even more after reading that.

I like him more after reading A&O or Storyteller, not after reading that.

There are too many self-absorbed creators as it is. That act doesn't do anything for me...

Don't take it so seriously. I seem to remember whoever it was that got the book signed did say BWS said it without any malice.

I'm not taking it seriously. Didn't mean for it to 'sound' so if it did.

I'm just of the mindset that I'd like to buy any new books he puts out, but I don't really ever want to stand in line to get his autograph.

[cobra_commander]

Actually, I've been absence from comic world for 15 years.

You've missed almost nothing

[cobra_commander]

BWS, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. Yeah, he's a great artist and I think Valiant's downhill slide really began with his departure, but he draws the same face on every character and it gets really old after a while.

BWS is the *SQUEE*!!! <---- compliment.
Look at Van Gogh's paintings don't they kinda all look the same? But then again no....BWS style is also unique, in a Van Gogh way,and I'm not sure it can ever be duplicated. To me his work always stood out above all the others. It never got old for me, And I for one would definately want to see him back!!

Yeah I think thats an undeserved diss on BWS. BWS strength lies in the way he can tell a story with his art and he has a very unique style.I think its a bit of stretch to say all his faces look the same. When I read his A&As I know which one is Archer and which one is Armstrong.

That's exactly what I was trying to say!!!!

I love digging this little gem out. Great example of BWS, at his best

[Solar_OSX]

Absolutely.

I think Bob has already said on his website that he's done a couple projects for VEI. Barry would be awesome to have back as well.

I do think, however, that if VEI is going to try to resurrect the "Shooterverse" (pre-Unity VALIANT) then it'd be wise to let Jim direct them in the direction they should go. At least initially.

Inviting different creators back to do plots, stories, etc. is just going to lead to continuity problems if they aren't careful.

It would be great to see Bob Layton, BWS and others contributing; but I hope VEI lets Jim do the directing.

[Chiclo]

I realize we are excited about resurrecting a comic book company dead for 7 years and looking to return it to its glory 15 years past BUT it's more important when discussing the future of Valiant to look forward rather than backward. BWS was a great influence in the past, but he's been less than willing recently to even sign a Valiant book. Don't place too much stock in him.

It would be neat to get these men back together to try to recapture that something magical that was, but there's no guarantee that they can.

[cobra_commander]

Inviting different creators back to do plots, stories, etc. is just going to lead to continuity problems if they aren't careful.

Thats a really good point. The danger in bringing a lot of creators together is a lack of direction...

[Stinger]

I still don't get why Shooter and his gang fell apart after Unity. All I know was that Shooter left and started Defiant comics.

I still have no clue why Shooter would want to be back to Valiant again, but it will be rise if Shooter wants to make more money. I'm sure Shooter have seen better paid job when he was working with Valiant.

That would be very sick-smart if Shooter comes back to resurrect Valiant comics for making a new movie. Look what happened to Transformers lately.

[Jaknife]

Actually, I've been absence from comic world for 15 years.

You've missed almost nothing

wouldnt that mean youve been absent since before valiant?

[Stinger]

Actually, I've been absence from comic world for 15 years.

You've missed almost nothing

wouldnt that mean youve been absent since before valiant?

Dude, it actually feels like 15 years. I quitted collecting comics during Gen 13 era. That is when the first series got peaked high and the 2nd series came out. I was a major Bad Girl collector back in the day.

[DK2]

I still don't get why Shooter and his gang fell apart after Unity. All I know was that Shooter left and started Defiant comics.

I still have no clue why Shooter would want to be back to Valiant again, but it will be rise if Shooter wants to make more money. I'm sure Shooter have seen better paid job when he was working with Valiant.

That would be very sick-smart if Shooter comes back to resurrect Valiant comics for making a new movie. Look what happened to Transformers lately.

Shooter was forced out, or fired by his co-ownership partners at Voyager Communications, Inc., Valiant's parent company, at the time he left, something like that, which of course was unfortunate at the time it happened (I think they were trying to sell off Valiant, which Shooter didn't want happen I think, maybe I'm wrong, or was it over the company's direction?). They even dumped some of the Valiant people who were very loyal to him, leaving them unemployed, which was just stupid. Shooter of course brought them over to help him create Defiant Comics, and later on, Broadway Comics.

Bob Layton was promoted as the new boss (Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President) of Valiant by the owners to take over Shooter's role. I think Layton was possibly one of those who didn't like Shooter either, I'm not sure (I'm pretty sure Layton doesn't like Shooter, so maybe a reunion between them at the new Valiant would be a bad idea if such a thing was to happen). When Layton took over, Valiant was still strong going into 1993 and 1994, but after that, Valiant's sale to Acclaim is what I think killed the company by 1996, ending the VH1 era. Layton himself bowed out, leaving things to dry as things fell apart at Valiant.

I think Windsor-Smith was one of the people who supported Shooter, even after Shooter was fired from Valiant, Windsor-Smith stayed on a bit longer post-Shooter era, continuiing his role as mentor to the young artists of Valiant. I think the Valiant bosses promoted Windsor-Smith didn't they? From what I've heard though, Windsor-Smith's new position was never clear as to what his new role was, and I think he left over that dispute. This was when he would go off to Malibu Comics to create Rune I think.

[k_c_collectibles]

I am totally in favor of Bob Layton! His work on X-O was top notch in my book as well as some of his other creations.

BWS - another no brainer! Him working on Archer & Armstrong again would be a dream come true! That series rocked when he was working on it, but lacked direction after he left. Plus the art was not even close to the same quality.

Plus both people had a LOT of creative input into how the Valiant Universe was put together.

Two thumbs up from me on both guys!
Chris

[Todd Luck]

Shooter's only board for a whole one story (that's probably 8 pages or less)

I seriously doubt BWS would want to get on board.

Acccording to Layton he's doing two "secret" projects for VEI but it's hard to say if those are little one shot deals or not and if they're even comics at all (maybe he's tracing them a lithograph ).

[Second_Death]

Shooter's only board for a whole one story (that's probably 8 pages or less)

I seriously doubt BWS would want to get on board.

Acccording to Layton he's doing two "secret" projects for VEI but it's hard to say if those are little one shot deals or not and if they're even comics at all (maybe he's tracing them a lithograph ).

This is definitely the realistic approach to take on what to expect from the Big 3 by way of contribution to the new Valiant. Until the company starts announcing more new material, we probably shouldn't expect anything more from them.

However...........we can hope! Having Jim on board to provide direction and writing, BWS with total control of his own title (A&A ), and Bob at the helm of XO.........................even Valiant haters would be excited about those possibilities.

[tarheelmarine]

If it were up to me, I'd definitely bring back Layton. He's been pretty good to the fans and obviously has a fondness for the Valiant universe and characters.

BWS, on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. Yeah, he's a great artist and I think Valiant's downhill slide really began with his departure, but he draws the same face on every character and it gets really old after a while.

I think both would make great additions, but I agree about BWS's drawing of faces as well. I wonder if he does that when he's rushed? This was very apparent in Unity where Erica and her son looked identical at many places.

[cobra_commander]

BWS should draw all the faces in the new VALIANT comics and Rob Liefeld should draw all the feet

[IanAlexavier]

lol.. then DNV would tank from the start..

comparing BWS and Liefield is just WRONG!!



Shooter in charge, Layton on writing and drawing, BWS on drawing and some writing... Quesada as an artist, ok..

[cobra_commander]

lol.. then DNV would tank from the start..

comparing BWS and Liefield is just WRONG!!



Shooter in charge, Layton on writing and drawing, BWS on drawing and some writing... Quesada as an artist, ok..

......and Liefeld on feet

[slym2none]

lol.. then DNV would tank from the start..

comparing BWS and Liefield is just WRONG!!



Shooter in charge, Layton on writing and drawing, BWS on drawing and some writing... Quesada as an artist, ok..

......and Liefeld on feet

Nonono!!! Liefeld on ankles! Even if they are just elongated diamonds, at least his feet exist!





-slym

[Lightning Strike]

lol.. then DNV would tank from the start..

comparing BWS and Liefield is just WRONG!!



Shooter in charge, Layton on writing and drawing, BWS on drawing and some writing... Quesada as an artist, ok..

......and Liefeld on feet

Someone has a foot fetish for Leifeld

[Daniel Jackson]

lol.. then DNV would tank from the start..

comparing BWS and Liefield is just WRONG!!



Shooter in charge, Layton on writing and drawing, BWS on drawing and some writing... Quesada as an artist, ok..

......and Liefeld on feet

Someone has a foot fetish for Leifeld

Eww...

[mobstirr]

I was wondering if the new Valiant owners should bring both Barry Windsor-Smith and Bob Layton back into the Valiant universe?

Definitely.

[tarheelmarine]

BWS should draw all the faces in the new VALIANT comics and Rob Liefeld should draw all the feet

Funny stuff, Liefeld was recently quoted in Wizard saying Hulk would kick Drunken Traitor's Butt. At least he had that right.

[Stinger]

I still don't get why Shooter and his gang fell apart after Unity. All I know was that Shooter left and started Defiant comics.

I still have no clue why Shooter would want to be back to Valiant again, but it will be rise if Shooter wants to make more money. I'm sure Shooter have seen better paid job when he was working with Valiant.

That would be very sick-smart if Shooter comes back to resurrect Valiant comics for making a new movie. Look what happened to Transformers lately.

Shooter was forced out, or fired by his co-ownership partners at Voyager Communications, Inc., Valiant's parent company, at the time he left, something like that, which of course was unfortunate at the time it happened (I think they were trying to sell off Valiant, which Shooter didn't want happen I think, maybe I'm wrong, or was it over the company's direction?). They even dumped some of the Valiant people who were very loyal to him, leaving them unemployed, which was just stupid. Shooter of course brought them over to help him create Defiant Comics, and later on, Broadway Comics.

Bob Layton was promoted as the new boss (Editor-in-Chief and Senior Vice President) of Valiant by the owners to take over Shooter's role. I think Layton was possibly one of those who didn't like Shooter either, I'm not sure (I'm pretty sure Layton doesn't like Shooter, so maybe a reunion between them at the new Valiant would be a bad idea if such a thing was to happen). When Layton took over, Valiant was still strong going into 1993 and 1994, but after that, Valiant's sale to Acclaim is what I think killed the company by 1996, ending the VH1 era. Layton himself bowed out, leaving things to dry as things fell apart at Valiant.

I think Windsor-Smith was one of the people who supported Shooter, even after Shooter was fired from Valiant, Windsor-Smith stayed on a bit longer post-Shooter era, continuiing his role as mentor to the young artists of Valiant. I think the Valiant bosses promoted Windsor-Smith didn't they? From what I've heard though, Windsor-Smith's new position was never clear as to what his new role was, and I think he left over that dispute. This was when he would go off to Malibu Comics to create Rune I think.

That's the problem when you work for a huge corporation with executive officers don't understand much about comic books. All they cared is the full control and movement, so Jim Shooter seems want to take a control on Valiant - so he'll get auto-fired. That'll make sense.

I guess right now Valiant is dead so they seem give Jim Shooter a shot.

[cobra_commander]

lol.. then DNV would tank from the start..

comparing BWS and Liefield is just WRONG!!



Shooter in charge, Layton on writing and drawing, BWS on drawing and some writing... Quesada as an artist, ok..

......and Liefeld on feet

Someone has a foot fetish for Leifeld

Eww...