New Solar and Magnus stories

[Daniel Jackson]

I did not read all of these posts.... but I am bummed that Solar and Magnus will not be part of DNV.

I also wish that VEI had a booth at SDCC with something.... a sketch book, and SDCC exclusive new Valiant book.


I am kinda bummed.

I think that is strange as well. Seems like a huge missed opportunity on their part to get the word out.

[Dr. Solar]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

[ncameron]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DH. Valiant was a force to be reckoned with for a short while. I imagine they would rather not have that kind of competition again. I'm sure they know that taking Solar and Magnus out of the picture for Valiant is a great way to the throw a monkey wrench in the works for them..

I doubt DH looked at Valiant's starting to publish again and trying to quash it as a reason, it was more likely the sales of the Magnus and Solar HCs. DH has outlasted a lot of comic companies for a reason.

-neil

[cinlach@aol.com]

Has VEI ever stated that they would be "publishing" their new stories by the end of the year or simply "releasing" their new stories by the end of the year?

Is a distribution deal between VEI and Dark Horse an outside possibility? Because if so, and VEI licenses their characters out for use by Dark Horse, and Dark Horse produces the books under VEI's direction, then this could be very good news.

Or at least, better news then what it currently appears...

[Daniel Jackson]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK. Valiant was a force to be reckoned with for a short while. I imagine they would rather not have that kind of competition again. I'm sure they know that taking Solar and Magnus out of the picture for Valiant is a great way to the throw a monkey wrench in the works for them..

I doubt DH looked at Valiant's starting to publish again and trying to quash it as a reason, it was more likely the sales of the Magnus and Solar HCs. DH has outlasted a lot of comic companies for a reason.

-neil

Then why didn't they pursue this avenue before Ibooks got the rights to Magnus?

My thinking is that GK jumped on the reprint rights to stall for time till they could convince Classic Media to give them the rights to new material. It was just a way to have leverage over VEI as they tried to secure the rights.

[yardstick]

Great post Jay Tomio!

I agree that the characters are in great hands with Dark Horse.

At the risk of sounding like a heretic again, could VEI license characters to Dark Horse as well?

Why not? Valiant does the licensing to get the movies, t-shirts, et-al, and DH does the publishing of the new stories?

[xodacia81]

Great post Jay Tomio!

I agree that the characters are in great hands with Dark Horse.

At the risk of sounding like a heretic again, could VEI license characters to Dark Horse as well?

Why not? Valiant does the licensing to get the movies, t-shirts, et-al, and DH does the publishing of the new stories?

Not sure how I feel about that, but it also has potential for movies, as well, since DH has a presence in the movie business.

[leonmallett]

I think the speculation is getting into the realms of wishful thinking again, with this talk of hypothetical licencing from VEI to DH. It could happen, but theroretically anything could, I would simply argue it to be very unlikely.

Dark Horse have had limited success with superheroes, so to plunge fully into a new superhero universe such as VALIANT seems redundant when they have their own stable of currently unused properties. That said, the article seems to suggest usage of the GK properties as a shared universe from Dark Horse.

The points that make me think a VEI licencing to DH deal to be very unlikely are:
1. DH reprinted the GK material, so any continuation seems likely to stem from that interation of the properties.
2. To strike a secondary deal with VEI would require greater expense on Dark Horse's part that is in no way necessary if they see the properties as a simple or lightly rebooted continuation of the GK iterations - why spend more money when it it is not required.
3. There was no discussion from Richardson of properties beyond the GK ones in the reported conversation.

I think members here are understandably upset, but i don't think wildly speculative wishful thinking is helpful in the absence of any firm commitments from VEI (other than the HC's).

[yardstick]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

I like GH better "GOLD HORSE"

[yardstick]

Has VEI ever stated that they would be "publishing" their new stories by the end of the year or simply "releasing" their new stories by the end of the year?

Is a distribution deal between VEI and Dark Horse an outside possibility? Because if so, and VEI licenses their characters out for use by Dark Horse, and Dark Horse produces the books under VEI's direction, then this could be very good news.

Or at least, better news then what it currently appears...

[yardstick]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DH. Valiant was a force to be reckoned with for a short while. I imagine they would rather not have that kind of competition again. I'm sure they know that taking Solar and Magnus out of the picture for Valiant is a great way to the throw a monkey wrench in the works for them.

Like I said earlier, I had a bad feeling that DH would try to take the characters when those hardback GK reprints started coming out.

I'm not sure that Dark Horse is one of the non-big two companies that has to care about competition from VE. Dark Horse is insulated in a way others are not; not because of properties in general (as Boom and IDW have those as well) but specifically because of what properties. They carry Buffy and Star Wars and there is no VE related work that's stopping those trains and if you look at titles like The Goon and Hellboy - those are really books with built-in bases that probably aren't competing with a new superhero product. Nobody is going to stop getting BPRD to grab a new VE book (or vice versa).

While I'm not saying DH doesn't know VE was interested in securing those rights I have to believe spite is a secondary, at best (if at all) motivation. Now, it could have sped up their process, certainly, but I think we time get Shooter-syndrome and think everybody is out to get us! It's certainly possible - and reasonable - they just wanted the rights to make quality comics and VE's presence made them make a move sooner rather than later.

DH has developed a lot of niche market share sans competition...
DH has built a reputation of being THE independent comic publisher....

[yardstick]

Great post Jay Tomio!

I agree that the characters are in great hands with Dark Horse.

At the risk of sounding like a heretic again, could VEI license characters to Dark Horse as well?

Why not? Valiant does the licensing to get the movies, t-shirts, et-al, and DH does the publishing of the new stories?

As said before, DH does have a good reputation for storytelling...


Not sure how I feel about that, but it also has potential for movies, as well, since DH has a presence in the movie business.

[Daniel Jackson]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

Hahaha...yeah, I think I just inadvertently invented a new company....

[yardstick]

I think the speculation is getting into the realms of wishful thinking again, with this talk of hypothetical licencing from VEI to DH. It could happen, but theroretically anything could, I would simply argue it to be very unlikely.

Dark Horse have had limited success with superheroes, so to plunge fully into a new superhero universe such as VALIANT seems redundant when they have their own stable of currently unused properties. That said, the article seems to suggest usage of the GK properties as a shared universe from Dark Horse.

The points that make me think a VEI licencing to DH deal to be very unlikely are:
1. DH reprinted the GK material, so any continuation seems likely to stem from that interation of the properties.
2. To strike a secondary deal with VEI would require greater expense on Dark Horse's part that is in no way necessary if they see the properties as a simple or lightly rebooted continuation of the GK iterations - why spend more money when it it is not required.
3. There was no discussion from Richardson of properties beyond the GK ones in the reported conversation.

I think members here are understandably upset, but i don't think wildly speculative wishful thinking is helpful in the absence of any firm commitments from VEI (other than the HC's).

Not wishful thinking on my part. What I try to do is think of possibilities where the best possible outcome is preferred. A DH / VEI agreement, where DH and VEI "share" universes in terms of the GK characters, is not such a bad thing, IMHO. I would rank that preferentially above DH publishing new GK stories (which is what is implied in the article) and VEI sans the GK characters, trying to make a revamped VH1 work.

[yardstick]

BTW, how many different "Solars" were in the VH1, VH2, VH3 universes?

Dr Eclipse, Solar: Destroyer, Dr. Phil, who else?

And who's to say that the 41st century wouldnt have Solar in it, rather than use him in the current time? Heroes could include:

Eternal Warrior
Rai
Solar (new/revamped)
Psi-Lords
Timewalker (intermittently)
Magnus's son (?)
XO Commando (?)

VEI doesn't need Solar in the current timeline. But he could be helpful to flesh out the 41st C. timeline.

Aside: Wasn't there a rather sparse group of villains in the 41st C. ?

What issue after the Harbinger Wars and Chaos Effect issues shows Magnus back in the 41st Century? I forget

[leonmallett]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

Hahaha...yeah, I think I just inadvertently invented a new company....

Not so new:

DK link

[yardstick]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

Hahaha...yeah, I think I just inadvertently invented a new company....

Not so new:

DK link

got one for GOLD HORSE ?

[leonmallett]

I think the speculation is getting into the realms of wishful thinking again, with this talk of hypothetical licencing from VEI to DH. It could happen, but theroretically anything could, I would simply argue it to be very unlikely.

Dark Horse have had limited success with superheroes, so to plunge fully into a new superhero universe such as VALIANT seems redundant when they have their own stable of currently unused properties. That said, the article seems to suggest usage of the GK properties as a shared universe from Dark Horse.

The points that make me think a VEI licencing to DH deal to be very unlikely are:
1. DH reprinted the GK material, so any continuation seems likely to stem from that interation of the properties.
2. To strike a secondary deal with VEI would require greater expense on Dark Horse's part that is in no way necessary if they see the properties as a simple or lightly rebooted continuation of the GK iterations - why spend more money when it it is not required.
3. There was no discussion from Richardson of properties beyond the GK ones in the reported conversation.

I think members here are understandably upset, but i don't think wildly speculative wishful thinking is helpful in the absence of any firm commitments from VEI (other than the HC's).

Not wishful thinking on my part. What I try to do is think of possibilities where the best possible outcome is preferred. A DH / VEI agreement, where DH and VEI "share" universes in terms of the GK characters, is not such a bad thing, IMHO. I would rank that preferentially above DH publishing new GK stories (which is what is implied in the article) and VEI sans the GK characters, trying to make a revamped *VALIANT (1991-1996)* work.

To discuss possiblities can include anything, and is ultimately about wishful thinking on the most part. The DH report seems pretty clear, even if details are scant. To talk of link-ups when VEI have made no announcements regarding any new material outside of that in the HC's is at best speculative, isn't it?

[yardstick]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

Hahaha...yeah, I think I just inadvertently invented a new company....

Not so new:

DK link

*BUZZ* nope!

DK = DORLING KINDERSLEY

[yardstick]

...is at best speculative, isn't it?

Isnt that one of the things the people on this board do best?

[leonmallett]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

Hahaha...yeah, I think I just inadvertently invented a new company....

Not so new:

DK link

got one for GOLD HORSE ?

Maybe...

[leonmallett]

Even though the announcement was not official, it makes a lot sense from a business standpoint on the part of DK.

DK = Dark Key???

Works for me...

Hahaha...yeah, I think I just inadvertently invented a new company....

Not so new:

DK link

got one for GOLD HORSE ?

Or maybe this one...

[leonmallett]

...is at best speculative, isn't it?

Isnt that one of the things the people on this board do best?

Fair comment.

[leonmallett]

BTW, how many different "Solars" were in the *VALIANT (1991-1996)*, *Acclaim (1997 series)*, *Acclaim (1999 series)* universes?

Dr Eclipse, Solar: Destroyer, Dr. Phil, who else?

And who's to say that the 41st century wouldnt have Solar in it, rather than use him in the current time? Heroes could include:

Eternal Warrior
Rai
Solar (new/revamped)
Psi-Lords
Timewalker (intermittently)
Magnus's son (?)
XO Commando (?)

VEI doesn't need Solar in the current timeline. But he could be helpful to flesh out the 41st C. timeline.

Aside: Wasn't there a rather sparse group of villains in the 41st C. ?

What issue after the Harbinger Wars and Chaos Effect issues shows Magnus back in the 41st Century? I forget

I think any usage of anything relating to Solar/Dr Solar?Man of the Atom/ the Solar costume and derivatives is pretty much going to be off-limits.

Thus we may see a radically different looking Destroyer, Dr Eclipse should be okay (I think), Phil Seleski may be okay, but it will be tricky.

This news makes me think that a soft reboot may well be the best. Keep Seleski (if possible), start in media res, a few years (in relative terms) after the VH1 universe was establsihed and keep the backstory slightly 'fuzzy' to account for differences around the absence of the GK3 as was. But then I'm speculating really...

[yardstick]

BTW, how many different "Solars" were in the *VALIANT (1991-1996)*, *Acclaim (1997 series)*, *Acclaim (1999 series)* universes?

Dr Eclipse, Solar: Destroyer, Dr. Phil, who else?

And who's to say that the 41st century wouldnt have Solar in it, rather than use him in the current time? Heroes could include:

Eternal Warrior
Rai
Solar (new/revamped)
Psi-Lords
Timewalker (intermittently)
Magnus's son (?)
XO Commando (?)

VEI doesn't need Solar in the current timeline. But he could be helpful to flesh out the 41st C. timeline.

Aside: Wasn't there a rather sparse group of villains in the 41st C. ?

What issue after the Harbinger Wars and Chaos Effect issues shows Magnus back in the 41st Century? I forget

I think any usage of anything relating to Solar/Dr Solar?Man of the Atom/ the Solar costume and derivatives is pretty much going to be off-limits.

Thus we may see a radically different looking Destroyer, Dr Eclipse should be okay (I think), Phil Seleski may be okay, but it will be tricky.

This news makes me think that a soft reboot may well be the best. Keep Seleski (if possible), start in media res, a few years (in relative terms) after the *VALIANT (1991-1996)* universe was establsihed and keep the backstory slightly 'fuzzy' to account for differences around the absence of the GK3 as was. But then I'm speculating really...

It occurred to me, that maybe Dr Eclipse could successfully pull off a sneak attack on Dr Phil, and force some kind of merger, where VEI could then have a new Dr Jekyl/Mr Hyde version of Solar...

Say, sort of a black Solar suit with the Destroyer glasses and with the Eclipse symbol on it instead of the