Is VEI dead or dying?

[leonmallett]

Would explain a lot. I really wouldnt mind buying it (if the whole, me having money thing were part of the equation) and trying to continue on the stories right where unity left off. I'd even start the numbering scheme back up from the end of unity.

Would be a lot of fun, even if you did take a loss for the first year or so, i imagine with quality stories, you would eventually break even. Hopefully.

i think if money werent an issue even disgruntled former empolyees would could be persuaded to come back as i beleive they say everyone has a price right.

I like the idea of continuing the numbers from Unity, that would be an idustry first to igoner and re do.
Although on that note, im unsure how many books that were put out immediateley after Unity were still Shooter books?

This provokes what may be a couple, or three, of interesting questions:

1) Many members clamour for a return to Unity as the start of new ongoing material; this is fine for existing readers but can be off-putting for newcomers. If doing so would alienate potential new readers (by setting a new line in the past for example, or worse having a convoluted time compression at the outset), which course would you take?

2) Was all really better before/during Unity than after? I'd say no, since personally I feel Shadowman was better under Bob Hall than under the many hands that started the book. What do others think about the various titles pre/during- and post- Unity?

3) Would simply returning to Unity work without the GK3 for the VALIANT Universe going forwards? Or does it create more problems than it solves?


Time for a new thread.

[400yrs]

I would imagine pretty much anyone on this board would buy the rights and ownership to all and everything Valiant if they won the lottery

If you are talking about a $10-15M lottery, then hell no. You could sink yourself pretty quick with these comic characters.

If you are talking the $96M powerball from last night, then yeah, I'd buy it for $1.5M. I'd be doing the VEI guys a huge favor by overpaying by about $1.3M, but it would be worth it to give it to Shooter. I'd say, "Here you go, Big Jim. Here's an extra Mil for you too and you've got a budget of $4-5M to work with. Have a ball."

Of course, that's in a dream world. In reality, I'd probably put out a few Hardcovers with about 8 pages of new stuff and then I'd try to skip out on paying the creators and I'd DEFINITELY try to offend the old Valiant peeps in any way I can.

or had rich parents, in fact i think thats exactly what happened with the current owners isnt it?

No, no, no. These guys are business men with decades upon decades on business experience behind them. How dare you!?!

That, or they are Monks. No, they can't be monks. They aren't even as silent as VEI.

Maybe they are The Promise Keepers of the comic world. They are waiting until VEI is 80 years old before publishing anything.

[xodacia81]

SNAP!

[tmcneil82]

Oooh... sick burn.

As for the direction of books for pre-post unity...

Shadowman? Always thought it was terrible, even under Hall. Better, yes. But i think this has a lot to do with Shooter making the other pre unies super badass. Id even take the old shadowman quality stories back if it meant pre unity quality Solar, Harbinger, Magnus, X-O, and Rai. That is a trade i would make any day.
Of what value was he as a character anyway? He had like 2 panels in Unity where he jumped out screamed something then faded away. Even the creators thought he was worthless. And what was his super power? Insomnia? Sick saxophone skills?

[chisumwomack]

At the risk of getting yelled at here, I am in total agreement on Shadowman. Never felt like he lived up to his potential.

[tmcneil82]

That's right.

All you Musak and Jazz lovers take that.

[Daniel Jackson]

I liked Shadowman better in the early days with the original blue costume.

[Brother J]

Of what value was he as a character anyway? He had like 2 panels in Unity where he jumped out screamed something then faded away.

Well, he did play a crucial role in Unity, if only because he was confused when he arrived in the Lost Land and attacked Solar, which distracted him long enough for Erica Pierce to be able to catch Solar in her "cincture wormhole". If not for Shadowman, Solar would have easily defeated Pierce and there wouldn't have been the extended war we are all familiar with.

[tmcneil82]

Of what value was he as a character anyway? He had like 2 panels in Unity where he jumped out screamed something then faded away.

Well, he did play a crucial role in Unity, if only because he was confused when he arrived in the Lost Land and attacked Solar, which distracted him long enough for Erica Pierce to be able to catch Solar in her "cincture wormhole". If not for Shadowman, Solar would have easily defeated Pierce and there wouldn't have been the extended war we are all familiar with.

I'm not sure i would call that a crucial role. He pretty much got the job of a lackey or animal sidekick. Isn't that always the job they seem to land when they aren't of any real importance to a story? Just saying.

[Elveen]

SM was one of my most favorites.

I loved the New O setting, the voodo vibe, the entire thing.

I loved the Blood running arc, I like that he got beat up a lot. Without SM, would there have been an Darque?

[Daniel Jackson]

Of what value was he as a character anyway? He had like 2 panels in Unity where he jumped out screamed something then faded away.

Well, he did play a crucial role in Unity, if only because he was confused when he arrived in the Lost Land and attacked Solar, which distracted him long enough for Erica Pierce to be able to catch Solar in her "cincture wormhole". If not for Shadowman, Solar would have easily defeated Pierce and there wouldn't have been the extended war we are all familiar with.

I'm not sure i would call that a crucial role. He pretty much got the job of a lackey or animal sidekick. Isn't that always the job they seem to land when they aren't of any real importance to a story? Just saying.

I got the vibe that he was a fish out of water in the Unity environment, but still managed to play a vital role anyhow. I thought it presented a unique angle to the story instead of just having all the good guys lined up on one side. I really didn't look at his role as being any less significant than any of the others, just different.

[ian_house]

Of what value was he as a character anyway? He had like 2 panels in Unity where he jumped out screamed something then faded away.

Well, he did play a crucial role in Unity, if only because he was confused when he arrived in the Lost Land and attacked Solar, which distracted him long enough for Erica Pierce to be able to catch Solar in her "cincture wormhole". If not for Shadowman, Solar would have easily defeated Pierce and there wouldn't have been the extended war we are all familiar with.

I'm not sure i would call that a crucial role. He pretty much got the job of a lackey or animal sidekick. Isn't that always the job they seem to land when they aren't of any real importance to a story? Just saying.

I got the vibe that he was a fish out of water in the Unity environment, but still managed to play a vital role anyhow. I thought it presented a unique angle to the story instead of just having all the good guys lined up on one side. I really didn't look at his role as being any less significant than any of the others, just different.

I agree. Shadowman was sent into the wrong place at the wrong time. But still managed to be a hero.

I definitely think Shadowman was crucial to Unity and the Valiant Universe. No Shadowman... no Master Darque.

[X-O Dudeowar]

SM was one of my most favorites.

I loved the New O setting, the voodo vibe, the entire thing.

I loved the Blood running arc, I like that he got beat up a lot. Without SM, would there have been an Darque?

I concur. I liked ShadowMan a lot, and I preferred him post-Unity as well.

[Draco]

....but is VEI dead or dying?

[leonmallett]

....but is VEI dead or dying?

Honestly? My opinion? Dying. Dying slowly and painfully before our eyes despite the murmurs of protestation.

[Draco]

....but is VEI dead or dying?

Honestly? My opinion? Dying. Dying slowly and painfully before our eyes despite the murmurs of protestation.

[tmcneil82]

I'd vote that they have pretty much given up. They are likely waiting on the lawsuit with Shooter to be over, in the wild hopes that they win even a fraction of the damages they are going for. I guess maybe if they get some of that, there might be some hope of new books getting published. Or more likely, another graphic novel with 1 or 2 new pages.

[ian_house]

Hey we'll have comics by the end of some year!

[superman-prime]

maybee centurys end

[Draco]

maybee centurys end

I think there is no chance of anything now until the legal issues are wrapped up and that as we know could take as long as piece of string.

The idea that they are putting forward a case so they can recoup and get out is a possible scenario.

[ian_house]

maybee centurys end

I think there is no chance of anything now until the legal issues are wrapped up and that as we know could take as long as piece of string.

The idea that they are putting forward a case so they can recoup and get out is a possible scenario.

good thinking bat-face!

[UnknownTales]

With the shocking news of Shooter's NON-announcement and then departure, VEI should not miss the opportunity to list a book to be out by Comi-con in JULY. 4 day passes without preview night sold out this weekend---9 months early. The buzz and excitement of this EVENT should not be missed. Get a table, sell books, link with artist alley and send backwasher's looking for 90's issues of VH1 in the bins on the north side of the con, if there are any comic dealers left.

DO NOT MISS THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY VEI!

[tmcneil82]

DO NOT MISS THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY VEI!

I'm not sure they would use it right given my little understanding of their little history. They will likely use it to promote Uwe Boll's adaption (or some other terrible director that has no business making movies, IE Bret Ratner) of a comic book that hasnt even been printed yet.

Im afraid the only honorable thing they can do now is drop the ridiculous lawsuit, unless they legitamitly have a claim to it (which i doubt) and sell the rights to a company or group who actually has a passion for comics, balanced with their goal of making money as a company.

[StarBrand]

SM was one of my most favorites.

I loved the New O setting, the voodo vibe, the entire thing.

I loved the Blood running arc, I like that he got beat up a lot. Without SM, would there have been an Darque?

Plus one on this, man!

[StarBrand]

With the shocking news of Shooter's NON-announcement and then departure, VEI should not miss the opportunity to list a book to be out by Comi-con in JULY. 4 day passes without preview night sold out this weekend---9 months early. The buzz and excitement of this EVENT should not be missed. Get a table, sell books, link with artist alley and send backwasher's looking for 90's issues of *VALIANT (1991-1996)* in the bins on the north side of the con, if there are any comic dealers left.

DO NOT MISS THIS MARKETING OPPORTUNITY VEI!

First VEI will hit a marketing home run, then an American League pitcher will hit a home run in an American League park.