Dark Horse reviving Doctor Solar, Magnus and Turok

[Phantom..]

Worst case sinerio.

They do the first page of each of the gold key charactors.

Each one comming out of a shower, like that man in the tv series Dallas.

It was all a dream.

Valiant was a dream. o we will all have to go back downtairs to Knights section in the DU ~ see you their

[magnus20009]

Really? Given their (Dark Horse's) publication of Gold Key-based story archives, I would say that the Gold Key era is their touchstone, not the VALIANT-era.

You miss the point entirely. If it were not for the Valiant run do you think there would be 3 Magnus Archives, 3 Solar Archives or 4 Turok Archives or they would have sold as well as they did without so many people loving the characters from their Valiant Days.

Look at most of the obsure (meaning non-Timely, DC, Barks or EC) stuff that gets reprinted from the GA/SA and the Magnus/Solar/Turok Archives sold extremely well and I bet it is because many people were like me loved the characters because of their Valiant days and that's why they bought the archives.

Valiant made the characters more valuable to DH by far regardless whether they are reconting the characters (which it sounds like they are) or following the GK or Valiant versions.

[StarBrand]

I AM SO HAPPY 4 SHOOTER RIGHT NOW

+1

[StarBrand]

VEI does not need to come up with knock-off characters and that is very cheezy. They own Phil [His alter ego-Solar was only in respect to his favorite comic book] problem solved. Magnus would be missed but could easily crossover from time to time as well as turok [however I dont think turok will be missed by many].

It's going to be a much tougher hill for VEI to climb now, that's for sure.

I hope someday they begin that climb.

[superman-prime]

it will happen sooner or later

[ian_house]

Interesting... very interesting.

I do feel that Solar is a MAJOR loss, hes basically the Superman of the Valiant universe.

[Daniel Jackson]

Interesting... very interesting.

I do feel that Solar is a MAJOR loss, hes basically the Superman of the Valiant universe.

Exactly. Solar basically was the entire reason the Valiant Universe existed in the first place. Jim really tied him to Valiant in a way that will be very awkward for VEI to try and proceed without a major reboot.

[Second_Death]

Jim Shooter, who revived Turok, Magnus, and Solar for the Valiant Universe in the 1990s, will be plotting and overseeing all four of the new series based on the Gold Key characters for Dark Horse.

I'm in!

[leonmallett]

Really? Given their (Dark Horse's) publication of Gold Key-based story archives, I would say that the Gold Key era is their touchstone, not the VALIANT-era.

You miss the point entirely. If it were not for the Valiant run do you think there would be 3 Magnus Archives, 3 Solar Archives or 4 Turok Archives or they would have sold as well as they did without so many people loving the characters from their Valiant Days.

Look at most of the obsure (meaning non-Timely, DC, Barks or EC) stuff that gets reprinted from the GA/SA and the Magnus/Solar/Turok Archives sold extremely well and I bet it is because many people were like me loved the characters because of their Valiant days and that's why they bought the archives.

Valiant made the characters more valuable to DH by far regardless whether they are reconting the characters (which it sounds like they are) or following the GK or Valiant versions.

I don't think I missed the point - I think I simply disagree with the relevance of VALIANT to the success of the Dark Horse archives as there is no VALIANT material included.

The most obvious comparison of data would be from Dark Horse's own archives publication: ie look at Nemesis, Magicman and the Herbie archives as a comparison.

To say that this is because of VALIANT's success 15-plus years ago is a position of fallacy; with each year that fanbase that existed will naturally degrade, as will remembrance of any but the most avid of fans. Some VALIANT books may have sold in the millions, but that does not mean they were read in the millions.

Back issues do not influence current publication as you seem to assert, certainly not back issues whose strongest peaks were 15 years ago. What is influential is what is hot now, or what catches an audience now.

[MoonChild]

check out what they're saying about this here: http://forums.comicbookresources.com/sh ... p?t=279719

coming out under DH presents first?

[vikingspawn]

The latest CBR article mentions that too:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page ... e&id=22235

The final announcement was the return of a paper version of "Dark Horse Presents." Many new projects will premiere through that medium, including Classic Media characters Doctor Solar, Magnus: Robot Fighter, Turok and Mighty Samson. "We're going to start from scratch and reinvent them," Richardson said, meaning that continuity from Valiant and other publishers would be wiped clean – but Dark Horse has tapped former Valiant publisher Jim Shooter to oversee the line.

"I have a long history with these characters," Shooter told the audience. "I'm gonna give it my best shot. I hope it works out well, and with Mike's help, all things are possible."

[Draco]

This does make me wonder even more now about the people who maybe knew something was happening in the background at VEI.

This deal must have been done some time ago i would imagine and the perfect time to announce it obviously at the Con.

So if DH can keep this quiet then VEI too can have stuff happening without letting slip. I hope.

But Dark Horse haven't kept this quiet - they have been clear about their plans for a long time, as seen in these links:

Link

Link

Dark Horse appear to have clearly kept to their plan, whereas the VEI plan as it appears doesn't seem to be about new comic books (and no, I don't count the bonus material in the HC's).

I am all for optimism, but I think in terms of comic books (not in terms of multi-media exploitation of the VEI properties), VEI are trading on a lot of optimism and good faith.

Indeed they didnt hide their intent to publish new material, but i was meaning working with JM.

Now go put some clothes on man.

[SolarGod]

Maybe Dark Horse is planning a superhero universe with Shoooter at the helm ? That would be cool beans !!

[Fanboy375]

I will say that I am done with ANY new material that VEI releases. I would rather spend my money on Shooter's DHP stuff.

I don't think creative wise VEI can match anything that would make me want to buy a comic they produce. Additionally their lack of presence at SDCC with a movie or comic & Dino's lack of appearance on this board, makes me think VEI is a sinking ship!!!

[Draco]

Maybe Dark Horse is planning a superhero universe with Shoooter at the helm ? That would be cool beans !!

I thought that was the whole point of this discussion.

[Second_Death]

For sure the big news is that Jim is involved. This is great news for DH and even better news for Jim's "legion" of fans.

Congratulations, Jim!

[Knightt]

It was all a dream.

Valiant was a dream. o we will all have to go back downtairs to Knights section in the DU ~ see you their

Actually it was... if you look at 'the end' of the Valiant universe. Aric (X-O Manowar) wakes up from a dream, a dream of the Valiant universe. And seeing as how Aric predates Phil/Solar, Harbingers... the whole universe is null and void.

THIS is why VEI could pick it up where ever they wanted to... Bob Layton wrote that issue to cancel out everything that had happened (at least in the X-O Manowar book) and went wrong, ergo leaving a brand new universe to play with. You could very well start the series over from scratch with Aric being picked up by the spider aliens again and going from there. The way I look at it, X-O Manowar #68 wiped out all continuity in the Valiant universe (as he pre-dates Solar) and opens it up to a brand new interpretation, YES it was essentially a JR/Dallas ending.

[Knightt]

Maybe Dark Horse is planning a superhero universe with Shoooter at the helm ? That would be cool beans !!

I thought that was the whole point of this discussion.

I don't think that is going to happen at all... Jim is just being hired to write books that were former GK and Valiant properties. I would bet the house that he re-writes them to bring them up to current times and they will have no bearing or connection with VEI. (IMO)

I don't think anything in the interview even eluded to this idea of somehow being connected to a new universe or connection with VEI. I kind of base that off from DKs recent Conan series. They retold a few of the OLD stories and went off into the unknown with new stories.

[MoonChild]

VEI Owns some amazing Property, hopefully they will let them see the light of day sometime soon. Praise the powers that be for Dark Horse and Jim Shooter. Greatness recognized and utilized.

[leonmallett]

Maybe Dark Horse is planning a superhero universe with Shoooter at the helm ? That would be cool beans !!

I thought that was the whole point of this discussion.

I don't think that is going to happen at all... Jim is just being hired to write books that were former GK and Valiant properties. I would bet the house that he re-writes them to bring them up to current times and they will have no bearing or connection with VEI. (IMO)

I don't think anything in the interview even eluded to this idea of somehow being connected to a new universe or connection with VEI. I kind of base that off from DKs recent Conan series. They retold a few of the OLD stories and went off into the unknown with new stories.

You are right, Knightt, as Mike Richardson and Shooter have made it clear that it is blank slate - Shooter has stated he plans to retain the core elements that work but not feel obliged to retian everything form the past, and they will not tie into past continuity.

[Draco]

Maybe Dark Horse is planning a superhero universe with Shoooter at the helm ? That would be cool beans !!

I thought that was the whole point of this discussion.

I don't think that is going to happen at all... Jim is just being hired to write books that were former GK and Valiant properties. I would bet the house that he re-writes them to bring them up to current times and they will have no bearing or connection with VEI. (IMO)

I don't think anything in the interview even eluded to this idea of somehow being connected to a new universe or connection with VEI. I kind of base that off from DKs recent Conan series. They retold a few of the OLD stories and went off into the unknown with new stories.

I meant as in the characters he is rebooting for DH are superheroes if you like, so it makes sense that if they are successful to add to them just liek they did back in the day at Valiant.
DH must have more in mind than just a reboot given the success of the first attempt?

What do you think?

[leonmallett]

I imagine that they won't want to over-extend themselves at first, so if that is the case there is no presssing need for masses of characters.

I also suspect that Shooter won't want to repeat himself, and adding the GK properties (GK4 in this case) to the CGW characters may seem a bit too much like what he led with VALIANT.

[Crow331]

Awesome news! I'm bummed I missed this panel. I didn't see Jim on the schedule so I'm not sure if I missed it or what. Seems like there were a lot more unannounced surprises this year than usual.

Great news though! Can't wait. I feel like VEI really has dropped the ball here or is it just me?

[Knightt]

Maybe Dark Horse is planning a superhero universe with Shoooter at the helm ? That would be cool beans !!

I thought that was the whole point of this discussion.

I don't think that is going to happen at all... Jim is just being hired to write books that were former GK and Valiant properties. I would bet the house that he re-writes them to bring them up to current times and they will have no bearing or connection with VEI. (IMO)

I don't think anything in the interview even eluded to this idea of somehow being connected to a new universe or connection with VEI. I kind of base that off from DKs recent Conan series. They retold a few of the OLD stories and went off into the unknown with new stories.

I meant as in the characters he is rebooting for DH are superheroes if you like, so it makes sense that if they are successful to add to them just liek they did back in the day at Valiant.
DH must have more in mind than just a reboot given the success of the first attempt?

What do you think?

I DO think it would be a GREAT idea, Draco...

That is definately a possibility but it would make DH really seem like they are doing a Dark Horse/Valiant revival, only with new characters. That should would be a kick in the ankle if DH used the GK characters and then started up a whole new universe supporting those GK characters just like Jim did back in the day and it be a huge success. Leaving VEI standing in the corner with their finger up their butt.

I don't think a new universe will spring up from this... my take is that Shooter is just going to write about the GK characters and put his spin on them (which he is VERY good at... I can't wait to see what he does with them).

It would be a cool idea though... then Jim could have had things the way he wanted back in the early 90s, but he would not be in total control sorry to say.

I mean Shooter writing Solar, Magnus and Turok !!! Wow this is BIG for me and I REALLY hope it does have 'some' Valiant flavor to it. I mean look at what we have here... it is just like back in the early 90s with Valiant. He is starting with the same core characters as he did with Valiant back in the day. You could not ask for more. I would have liked it MUCH better if he was working on Valiant characters and it confounds me as to why VEI didn't snatch him up and get Valiant off the ground again. I mean Lord above, Jim Shooter is going to be writing SOLAR and MAGNUS AGAIN !!! (I am not sure but did Jim write anything Turok related ?) It is SO deja vu and really exciting and sad at the same time... Jim working on original Valiant characters (Solar CREATED the Valiant universe HELLO !!) and yet, Valiant born characters are just sitting there.

I could cry.

[Daniel Jackson]

I feel like VEI really has dropped the ball here or is it just me?

I would bet that VEI did their best to acquire the rights, but it was Classic Media's decision and they decided to go with Dark Horse.