John Taddeo question

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:38 pm

Is there anyone other then John that's going to bid?

Or is Marvel or DC interested?

DJSpecter · Post by **DJSpecter** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 4:42 pm

:cloud9: wrote:
DJSpecter wrote:And I hate to be mean about these things, but can DB use a different avatar? I keep thinking greg.

I like memories of greg... but seeing the avatar is a constant false hope that greg may, one day, return to the boards... but who am I trying to kid? Even if greg did return, he'd probably hide away after he saw what a mess I'd made of the message boards...
what happened to greg? last thing i read he was in vegas??? am i thinking of the right greg???

sorry, i try to read as much as i can...

It was a joke. Based on the comments we made when he dissappeared... it was an extension claiming that greg had abandoned us.

some's good (I'd say all's good, but I think that'd be a lie.)

Back on topic, though... I'm all in favor of more info regarding this auction.

BodaZoffa · Post by **BodaZoffa** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 6:34 pm

I'm guessing 3 million for the rights, at the high end. $200,000 at the low end if Taddeo does'nt get any competition.

Boda

dino · Post by **dino** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 7:54 pm

BodaZoffa wrote:I'm guessing 3 million for the rights, at the high end. $200,000 at the low end if Taddeo does'nt get any competition.

Boda

3 million!! without solar, magnus, turok! without a published book in YEARS! wthout accliam ever being successful after the purchase of valiant! How would anyone make that kind of money back on these characters? Lets be honest, no way is a movie deal coming out of this for at least 10 years. and if it does that would require these properties to be as popular as they were. If no movie deal came about from thier crazy success in the 90s its not going to happen now. video games were not a success except for turok and hes back with western. I the bidding will be very limited. If crossgen went for 1mil valiant (or valiant minus solar magnus and turok) will go for less than half.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 9:35 pm

dino wrote:
BodaZoffa wrote:I'm guessing 3 million for the rights, at the high end. $200,000 at the low end if Taddeo does'nt get any competition.

Boda
3 million!! without solar, magnus, turok! without a published book in YEARS! wthout accliam ever being successful after the purchase of valiant! How would anyone make that kind of money back on these characters? Lets be honest, no way is a movie deal coming out of this for at least 10 years. and if it does that would require these properties to be as popular as they were. If no movie deal came about from thier crazy success in the 90s its not going to happen now. video games were not a success except for turok and hes back with western. I the bidding will be very limited. If crossgen went for 1mil valiant (or valiant minus solar magnus and turok) will go for less than half.

I guess we will find out next week. Without three of the Major players from the Valiant Universe though, I think Dino is right.

COMICKINGS · Post by **COMICKINGS** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:14 pm

I give it up to Mr.Taddeo for wanting to make a splash in the comics market by buying making a bid at these characters.But as a retailer that is out here trying to sell these books after all is said and done,if he wins the rights,I think the company name "Assassination Comics" is a terrible choice.And on his company website we see 3 variant covers previewed for issues #1 & 2 of Zoom Suit,and the book hasn't even been solicited yet.How much of this practice will we see for evey book he publishes?Marvel & DC can get away with the variant cover gimmicks,but for a new company to come out and try to pull it off,I think it's a bad decision.I'm sure most of us here on these boards wouldn't mind the different covers,but the majority of people that might want to buy it,will see 3 different covers for a new X-O #1 and figure it's the same old '90's BS formula to sell books and probably kick it to the curb.
I believe the main Valiant created characters have a better chance of making it with another company,than any of the Crossgen characters,and I think there will be some stiff competition in the bidding.I would be totally surprised if this auction doesn't bring out all of the big boys.And I hope that the father of Valiant (Jim Shooter) ends up as the winner so he can have total control,and take these characters on the journeys we all have wondered that they would have taken,had he been at the helm more than their first 2 years. Joey

John Taddeo · Post by **John Taddeo** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:32 am

COMICKINGS wrote:I give it up to Mr.Taddeo for wanting to make a splash in the comics market by buying making a bid at these characters.But as a retailer that is out here trying to sell these books after all is said and done,if he wins the rights,I think the company name "Assassination Comics" is a terrible choice.And on his company website we see 3 variant covers previewed for issues #1 & 2 of Zoom Suit,and the book hasn't even been solicited yet.How much of this practice will we see for evey book he publishes?Marvel & DC can get away with the variant cover gimmicks,but for a new company to come out and try to pull it off,I think it's a bad decision.I'm sure most of us here on these boards wouldn't mind the different covers,but the majority of people that might want to buy it,will see 3 different covers for a new X-O #1 and figure it's the same old '90's BS formula to sell books and probably kick it to the curb.
I believe the main Valiant created characters have a better chance of making it with another company,than any of the Crossgen characters,and I think there will be some stiff competition in the bidding.I would be totally surprised if this auction doesn't bring out all of the big boys.And I hope that the father of Valiant (Jim Shooter) ends up as the winner so he can have total control,and take these characters on the journeys we all have wondered that they would have taken,had he been at the helm more than their first 2 years. Joey

Joe - I'm responding mostly b/c you signed your name. I respect that. I only sign on as my real name to post as well. I think it speaks volumes of a persons legitimacy if they'll put thier real name on a post. Next time include your store name. Is it comic kings? I'd be interested to check it out.

Well spoken opinions. BTW - I was a comic retailer in the early nineties, so I know it's a tough gig, and although that was the time of milk and honey for retailers it was tough in NYC where a new shop was opening every week selling new comics at 40% off. There were a few times I thought about sending cousin Vito over to "Talk" to the guy. jk

The attractive part of the CG deal was there was about 50k worth of original art, another 50k of hard assets, 20k key employee insurance to cash in (or I could have had Mark murdered and got the whole million - but that's a whole other story). Additionally, there were two solid film deals in place and one very close. Three books were ready for print (most CG books were selling 5k-10k copies an issue). Also one of those three completed issues ended a 5 issue arc, so there was the opportunity to go right to TPB on that title (I think it was KK BB).

The ancillary benefit was the entire library was digital, which keeps much better than printing films.

Valiant comes with nothing, not even the films. Even to print a backlist you would have to reshoot and most likely re-touch and recolor. It could be done to maintain the original pencils, inks and colors, but it's still a tedious and expensive process.

These are fairly relevant details that you weren't privy to having not been involved. Maybe they help formulate a better informed opinion, or maybe not.

Although I really liked Sojourn (although I think it should have been named Arwyn), overall I like the Valiant library better myself as well.

That said, I've made no secret I'm a huge fan of Marvel comics. I've been since about age 5 or 6. I'm 36 (two weeks ago).

On the name Assassination- You agree with Dino. I had some fun with him during our chat . . .until he tried to feel me. Can't please everyone. I've gotten just as much bad as good - which is cool. I don't expect to be all things to all people. Check out the books when they're solicited. We're putting alot of work into them. The level of detail in Billy Dallas Patton's pages is sick and hopefully you'll like the story. We also made an animated short to help get the word out. In fact, ZOOM SUIT was just accepted to the palm beach film festival.

All I can really do is make the kind of books I'd like to read. I'd really enjoy seeing shooter and layton on limited series. I'd dig a Shooter / BWS limited too. I'm sure if I do get the company - and that's a giant IF - you'll like some stuff and you'll hate some stuff. It's a very brief magical moment when the stars align and EVERYTHING is loved by EVERYONE.

As far as the covers, I know how vocal some people are about "Enhanced" covers and multple covers. At Marvel we received truckloads of mail about how much people hated them. It was so strange b/c we would sell two to ten times normal sales with a cover enhancement, yet some fans wanted to kill us (although they rarely had the sack to sign those letters . . .like we were going to pay them a visit, roll up a forceworks and beat them. (notice I didn't roll up an Amazing S-M) They'd be in their moms basement with a sticky victoria secret catalog, name tage from their job sitting on the nighttable and sign the letters in crayon. Most of these letters were signed "Valiant Dude".

What oxymoronic initials . . .you actually have to have sex WITH SOMEONE to get VD.

Bet he's still in the same rug stained basement . . .firing opinions out of his a$$ on books he's never seen.

but I digress . . .

My take on the covers and enhance ment is this, Silver foil on the silver surfer is cool as sh*t (greg, this no swearing thing is killing me). Metallic claws or a ripped cover on Wolverine is awesome . . .even ghost rider's head glowing is kinda cool . . .this stuff makes sense. Slapping foil for nothing is . . .well nothing.

Tell me the FF white hot cover that's all embossed and Johnny Storm melting the logo isn't cool. You can't. It was great. But just slapping down foil is kinda dumb.

May not mean much to you, or maybe you didn't catch it, but the Z S covers are all from Fan Favorite Armored hero artists. The three covers to number 1 are by Bob Layton, Gene Colan and Bart Sears. All did homage covers to their previous popular works. (they'll aslo be a retailer edition I'm going to try to get you guys at least two weeks early).

I feel that this concept - The Legendary armor guys doing the New Armored Kid - is cool. That's something as a fan I would dig. Of course you are free to disagree.

I'm also going to try to get a DVD to every shop before the launch.

Thanks for the Post.

JT

BTW - -Do you guys find that most stores have a television playing that customers can view? If so, what are they usually playing?

Greg - this was really long . . .I should get like 1000 post credits for this. I wrote all that and now some idiot will post a smiley and we both get credit for one post.

depluto · Post by **depluto** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:39 am

Nice post. Good luck with the auction. It would be great if a fan of good comics had control over these characters. And your assessment of the special covers is dead on.

My real name? You can call me Mr. Depluto.

dino · Post by **dino** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:40 am

I'm sorry but that was a great post. I actually really enjoyed reading a long post (no zeph you don't count).

I did disagree with one thing. A glow in the dark ghost rider cover is not kinda cool, its *SQUEE* awesome! Imagine a wall full of them!!

btw, none of the stores I visit in L.A. have tv's that I have noticed.

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 12:44 am

(why should I dissapoint JT?)

-Brian

Mr.V · Post by **Mr.V** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 2:22 am

I would say that about half of the stores in my area (approx. 20 or so) have tvs running throughout the day. Mostly Star Wars films/Robotech cartoons, etc.
I think the DVD in a good idea, along with retailer incentives;1:50/1:100 etc... Hooking us up here on the boards would be fabulous, and in turn we could spread the word on just how good the A.C. material really is.

John, if you need any sales reps to promote in the Chi-town area, let me know.

Mr.V

John Taddeo · Post by **John Taddeo** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 2:28 am

Mr.V wrote:I would say that about half of the stores in my area (approx. 20 or so) have tvs running throughout the day. Mostly Star Wars films/Robotech cartoons, etc.
I think the DVD in a good idea, along with retailer incentives;1:50/1:100 etc... Hooking us up here on the boards would be fabulous, and in turn we could spread the word on just how good the A.C. material really is. John, if you need any sales reps to promote in the Chi-town area, let me know.

Mr.V

Someone (who I will go back and give credit to correctly) suggested that very idea during / in our chat and I will work out how to hook up the board. I think I'm going to ask you all to send me an envelope with postage and I'll get someone to stuff em with a limited edition comic. Hopefully it will be Valiant . . .we'll see tuesday.

Thanks for the help with Z S. I can use it!

JT

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 6:02 am

Good luck on Tuesday JT

Man the anticpation, it's like you'r a kid wating for Christmas morning.

COMICKINGS · Post by **COMICKINGS** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:27 am

John,thanks for taking time with the post and all the info.If you do or don't get the Valiant rights,I'll still support your line.It seems you are doing this because you really do like comics,and it's not all about money,money,money.I appreciate you coming on these boards and responding to alot of people,instead of showing up here to promote your company and split.I have been a fan of Bob Layton's forever and he's always seemed to be a down to earth person that isn't on a ego trip,and Bart Sears is one of my favorite artists,and another guy that has contributed discussion to this site.I will support guys like that all the time.
The variant cover ideas are cool when they work,and you pointed out a couple of the best ones.As a retailer,I do like seeing them,as long as it's not 3-4 different covers for every issue.With Zoom Suit #1,2,I'm assuming being the flagship titles of the company,I can take the multiple covers,but I believe if you overkill it too early,you might only hurt yourself.With the Marvel & DC variant fad going on now..The majority of feedback from the customers,is that they are over it.I think the only reason,they have been getting away with this for these lately,has been that they are doing the Variants as 2nd,3rd,4th,etc printings and are being shipped as time goes on,and not jamming out 3 different covers to the customers on the intial release day.
I'm just one of thousands of guys out here trying to make a living selling this stuff,and comics probably only make up a 3rd of my business.I carry mainly the mainstream books that I know will sell,and don't take too many chances on new companies with gimmicks.I'm sure if I was a full on comic shop,and had hands on,or read every comic that comes out,my sales on comics would be alot better.But,for me,this is my livelihood.I don't have the chance to enjoy the books as much as I used to,or as much as I'd like to.I gotta pay the bills,and if it means cutting out space that is being taken up by 10-15 independent comic publishers,with slow selling books,to make room for more Magic or Yu-gi-oh cards,I gotta go with the items that are selling.
Good luck with the auction!This is pretty exciting to see what's going to happen. Joey

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:48 am

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us again John. Good luck on the auction!

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:53 am

GOOD LUCK on Tuesday, John! May the Valiant Gods shine their face upon you! And don't forget to bring back The GOAT, one of the most underated Valiant/Acclaim characters of all time!

---Steve

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 10:01 am

Another thought...if you are in contact with Jim Shooter, ask him about the original properties he created for DARING COMICS.

This is a line of Shooter comics which were never published in 1999. I have read descriptions of a few of the titles, & they were VERY interesting. I don't know if Jim still owns the rights or not, but it's WORTH checking into, IMO!

Especially if the Valiant auction doesn't work out, please check into this!

--Steve

davidb · Post by **davidb** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 1:50 pm

Don't know how I missed this, but I just wanted to wish you the best of luck tomorrow, Mr. Taddeo. I know the level of your interaction with us on these boards has really been promising if things do work out with the auction. If nothing else, your mentioning the size of the Zoom Suit definitely has me looking forward to that book now!

David B.

Sect · Post by **Sect** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 2:04 pm

wow wow wow

can you believe it, the fate of the Valiant universe (sans Turok, Solar, and Magnus) will change tomorrow.

wow wow wow

elyhekrue · Post by **elyhekrue** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 2:06 pm

I also wanted to join those that wish you the best of luck John.

Is there any way those of us interested can monitor/view/hear the auction as it progresses? What time is the auction as well, so I don't sit next to the refresh button all day.

Thanks!

Kyle

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 2:15 pm

I was reading up on the reversion of the Turok rights to Classic Media. Apparently, Acclaim failed to pay royalties to Classic pursuant to the licensing agreement originally executed by Voyager and Western back in 1990. Classic brought suit against Acclaim alleging non-payment of royalties from 1998 to 2002, seeking about $500,000.

The lawsuit was put on hold when Acclaim filed for bankruptcy last year. It was finally resolved with the bankruptcy court earlier this year and the Turok rights finally reverted to Classic. So I don't think it'll be long until we see a similar hardcover series coming from Darkhorse with the old Dell/Gold Key Turoks, much the same as Magnus and Solar.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 2:39 pm

Wow, half a million? That seems like a lot of royalties just for Turok in a four-year period. The Turok video games must be weighing heavy in that figure.

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:06 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:Wow, half a million? That seems like a lot of royalties just for Turok in a four-year period. The Turok video games must be weighing heavy in that figure.

Sure, plus the usual 'inflate your lawsuit damages when you sue' is a regular tactic.

dino · Post by **dino** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:10 pm

mrwoogieman wrote:I was reading up on the reversion of the Turok rights to Classic Media. Apparently, Acclaim failed to pay royalties to Classic pursuant to the licensing agreement originally executed by Voyager and Western back in 1990. Classic brought suit against Acclaim alleging non-payment of royalties from 1998 to 2002, seeking about $500,000.

The lawsuit was put on hold when Acclaim filed for bankruptcy last year. It was finally resolved with the bankruptcy court earlier this year and the Turok rights finally reverted to Classic. So I don't think it'll be long until we see a similar hardcover series coming from Darkhorse with the old Dell/Gold Key Turoks, much the same as Magnus and Solar.

Where did you read that?

mrwoogieman · Post by **mrwoogieman** » Mon Apr 11, 2005 3:17 pm

dino wrote:
mrwoogieman wrote:I was reading up on the reversion of the Turok rights to Classic Media. Apparently, Acclaim failed to pay royalties to Classic pursuant to the licensing agreement originally executed by Voyager and Western back in 1990. Classic brought suit against Acclaim alleging non-payment of royalties from 1998 to 2002, seeking about $500,000.

The lawsuit was put on hold when Acclaim filed for bankruptcy last year. It was finally resolved with the bankruptcy court earlier this year and the Turok rights finally reverted to Classic. So I don't think it'll be long until we see a similar hardcover series coming from Darkhorse with the old Dell/Gold Key Turoks, much the same as Magnus and Solar.
Where did you read that?

I read the original documents off of the bankruptcy website. Sometimes being a lawyer has its privileges (but it's all public info, nothing confidential would be posted by the court that the public wouldn't be permitted to access).