What type of Valiant Universe would you prefer?

[Todd Luck]

A reboot that starts all over? A retcon that keeps some of the old? Or just keep all the messes of those who came before?

[Mozz]

Can't really decide which one... some of the original Valiant universe was amazing, but to continue right where it was left off? Then again, a ten year gap... Plus I don't know too much of the Acclaim versions besides Shadowman (since that was the only one I picked up - albeit for only 4 issues)... tough call from my view.

[Daniel Jackson]

I'm sure VH1 will probably win hands down. However, I really liked a few aspects of Acclaim, such as Quantum & Woody, VH2 & 3 Shadowman and Troublemakers. So I would want a way to add these characters to the new Universe as well.

[davidb]

It's really hard to call. The VH1 stuff was great, but we've agreed in another thread that there were points where almost every book jumped the shark. Add in to that the fact that most of the VH1 books wrapped things up in a haphazard fashion (and Bob Layton's statement that his final issue of X-O was done to destroy the character's usefulness to Acclaim) and it doesn't look good.

Also, strict VH1 would leave out books like Quantum & Woody. I know that Acclaim put out a lot of bad stuff, but there were some good books, too. Do you really want to throw all of that out as well?

I'd be happy with a complete retcon in the same style as VH1 (not the Acclaim cool and edgy style). Shadowman is Jack Boniface. X-O is Aric. The Harbinger kids are the VH1 versions - not the Acclaim Image wannabes. Start from scratch and work to build the universe up again. Add in Quantum & Woody and Troublemakers. We've got a whole, unified universe again and nothing has to be forced to fit in.

Acclaim's been completely gone for 5 years now. It's been nearly 10 since any of the VH1 heroes showed up (not counting Unity 2000). This is the best chance to do a reboot and do it well.

David B.

[DawgPhan]

I cant wait for the new valiant so I dont have to see these types of polls anymore.

[Todd Luck]

I don't see any reason to be "strict" about VH-1 (certainly the writer weren't when they were making it ). It's a became a big place with very loose rules on the science (especially if you count ALL of it). Their's no reason some slightly altered VH-2 characters couldn't be reintroduced into the old universe. Give the VH-2 Shadowman a different name (so we can keep the original) and even I wouldn't mind seeing him published.

[Daniel Jackson]

I don't see any reason to be "strict" about VH-1 (certainly the writer weren't when they making it ). It's a became a big place with very loose rules on the science (especially if you count ALL of it). Their's no reason some slightly altered VH-2 characters couldn't be reintroduced into the old universe. Give the VH-2 Shadowman a different name (so we can keep the original) and even I wouldn't mind seeing him published.

I could live with that. I just don't want to see some of these characters go by the wayside because Acclaim, for the most part, left such an awful legacy.

[myron]

I'm passing on this poll....a "no" vote....

[SolarFan777]

I never really got into any of the VH2 stuff with the exception of my recent dip into Q&W. I think some sort of reboot of VH1 would be cool. Even if some of my favs can't be resurrected.

[Ryan]

tough question, but I have to agree with the majority here. Too much time has passed and too many things got messed up for a strict continuation to happen.

In a perfect world I would say bring back Shooter, reprint Unity but change the end so that all the characters are transported to 2005 for some mysterious unknown reason, then let Shooter continue the stories of all the original characters.

In the real world I'll be happy with some stories that bring back the VH1 characters, but leave out a lot of the murky continuity.

[Todd Luck]

I'm passing on this poll....a "no" vote....

You're saying "no" to new Valiants? How could you?

[cjv]

I was debating between the VH-1 options. I don't want a continuation where it left off - in XO everything was a dream? But at the same time, I am not sure if I want stuff retconned out. So it came down to VH-1 in 2005, or a reboot faithful to VH-1. The problem with the reboot is that things that I liked would never have happened. So I was thinking of something sort of like a continuation AFTER Unity 2000. So that it is a combination of a reboot, and a continuation of VH-1. Stuff in VH-1 might have happened, but the whole universe is really dead, and we are starting over.

Chris

[Strannik]

Personally, I would to see a reboot of the original Valiant Universe, with the rules that defined it at the very beginning intact. The pre-Unity stories would stay simular, but not quite identical, to the originals. After Unity, it can deviate further. I think that there is no reason that, somewhere down the line, some of the later VH-1 and VH-2 concepts (such as Timewalker, Ninjak and Troublemakers) couldn't be added, so long as they obey the early rules (No ghosts in ski boots, no necromatic/geomansic energy crap, etc). I would prefer to have less costumes and more practical uniforms. The Harbinger Resistance would have something akin to uniforms X-Men wore during Morrison's run. Shadowman would wear a combination of his original costume and his later, more down-to-earth outfit. And, between you and me, I think Magnus should get a more practical outfit. Solar and Zephyr can keep old-fashioned costumes because, in Solar's case, it symbolises his commitment to preserving the universe he accidently created, and, in Zephyr's case, because you can't keep a rapid fangirl down

Also, I would hope that they'd get some experienced writers to do the dialogue. While Shooter can plot pretty well, some of his dialogue (especially in Harbinger) was painful at times.

[400yrs]

I'd prefer a Valiant Universe that wasn't dead, but wasn't crap either.

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

I like ice cream.

[Todd Luck]

Old continuity in some form and the reboot are neck and neck. I'm always surprised by the results of these polls.

And poor VH-2 doesn't even get a sympathy vote. It's the little orphan nobody wants .

[ManofTheAtom]

What I'd like to see is a VH 1 Universe that picks up years later in 2005.

We can see a new Harbinger resistance made up of new teens so as to not loose that series' theme and flavor.

We can see Hwen and Carmen's child, who could be the VALIANT Universe's dark side's version of an Omega Harbinger, an extremely powerful magical-based being.

I'd also like to see characters and some ideas from VH 2 make an apperance in this new series, like Donovan Wylie as an Orb employee, or Deadside as an mystical realm.

What would be important is that these ideas are presented in a very VH 1 way, which means that they have to work as they would in the real world, not the DC or Marvel universe.

[k_c_collectibles]

We could also see the Valiant Universe rebooted from the Chaos Effect with a different ending. Call it an alternate reality if you want, but then Jack could still be Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong could still be together and Quantum and Woody could be "merged" into VH1.

Or you could take the Dallas approach - have Sue Ellen, err... Nettie wake up and hear a shower running. When she checks out who is there Jack looks at her and says "You look confused, whats wrong?"
Same as it never was and all that jive, ya know?

The possibilities are really endless... if it were me I would use the following scenario for re-launching the Valiant Universe:

Have a big earth shattering post-Chaos effect mini-series where EVERYBODY gets warped to 2005 and end up fighting Master Darque.

Then I would re-launch titles on a bi-monthly basis until 6 ongoing titles are up and running after a year. That way the market is not flooded with Valiant relaunch books and you can hype the new ones for 2 months each.

The titles I would print are:

1) Eternal Warriors with Archer & Armstrong, Ivar, the Eternal Warrior and the Geomancer all being integral parts. Hopefully BWS would take part on this book along with some other Valiant Alumni like John Ostrander and Don Perlin. You could also focus a whole issue on one of them alone as well.

2) Bloodshot with Kevin VanHook! I am HOPING he could squeeze 1 monthly title into his very busy schedule! He was AWESOME on that book! This could also be the main book Ninjak does guest appearances on.

3) Harbinger - Bring back the original team of Zeph, Sting and Flamingo as teens. Jim Shooter could work on this baby along with David Lapham. This could be the main launching pad for new heroe and villans as the team tries to add to their ranks and goes up against Toyo's boys and girls. This could be the main book that the HARD Corps do guest appearances in.

4) Shadowman - Jack as the man again!! Hopefully done by Bob Hall! You could have this be the main book Dr. Mirage does guest appearances in.

5) X-O Manowar - Bring back Aric with Bob Layton and Bart Sears!!! You could incorporate the Armorines in this title as the main guest stars.

6) Quantum and Woody!!! The BEST from Acclaim with Priest and Bright at the helm. That would be SUPER COOL!!! They would being some humor to the Valiant Universe.

I never really liked the Visitor or the Secret Weapons teams, but I guess they could guest star once in a while in other titles.

Like I said - if I had bought the company this is what I would do... but it isn't my dime.

Chris

[ManofTheAtom]

I really don't like the idea of moving the characters forward in time, it's not necessary and it's way too similar to what Alan Moore is doing with the Terra Obscura characters.

Let's look at a breakdown of the VALIANT characters and where we last saw them.

Archer & Armstrong:

Last time we saw them they were trapped in the Lost Land, where time is meaningless.

They could come out in 2005 and it be like time never passed for them.

Armorines:

Last time we saw them it was a completely new team as Gunny Lewis had been washed out of the program.

We can see them make a comeback as a reorganized group in 2005.

Bloodshot:

Last seen under a pile of snow. We can see him back in 2005 years after that or some kind of resolution to that story.

Eternal Warrior:

Status quo was unchanged. He's still fighting the good fight.

Geomancer:

Restored sight for Clay, Geoff's in the Lost Land with A&A. Geoff could have returne before 99 and grown older over the last six years.

HARD Corps:

Original team went renegade, Omen comissioned a new team.

This can still be an issue today.

Harbinger:

Pete Stanchek got his memory back. The Corporate Wars began two years ago. The last renegade team left the Corporation.

The fight is still ongoing to this day.

Magnus:

Lost in the time stream at the end of issue 64. Could make an apperance in 2005 and for him it'll be like only a few seconds had passed.

There's also another Magnus still in the present day, the one that Solar sends to the future.

Ninjak:

Mundane ending, he's still out there doing his spy stuff.

Psi-lords:

Dealing with the fall out of their outing in the 41st Century. Being a future book, time can have stood still for them.

Rai:

Mundane ending, he's still out there in the 41st Century. Same rules as Psi-Lords apply here.

Dr. Mirage:

Carmen was pregnant, Hwen was a being made of Darque Power. Shadowman died ridding the world of that power, so Hwen should be dead while Carmen is raising their child alone.

Shadowman:

Moot point, it's 2005, he died in 1999. To ignore that then this wouldn't be VALIANT, it might as well be VH 400, where Jack didn't die.

Solar:

Merged with a sun, can unmerge any time he likes and for him it'll be like time stood still.

Timewalker:

MEGA moot point. Ivar is not bound to any era.

Turok:

Last seen in the Lost Land, where time is meaningless. Goes in in 1997 can come out in 2005.

Visitor:

See Harbinger.

X-O Manowar:

Two endings.

One he's about to face off against the X-O Manowar armor.

Two he discovers that his entire existance in the VALIANT Universe was a dream.

Picking up from any point other than from where the universe left off might feel like a huge let down.

What separates the VALIANT U from DC and Marvel is that this is supposed to be heroes outside our window, heroes like real people.

The comics can't end with a 1996/7 calendar date and then resume with a 2005/6 and have it be like time never moved forward, and moving the characters themselves forward in time is too repetitive of what Moore's doing, as I said above.

The best thing to do is just resume things from where they left off, as if the last decade had been a nap that the VALIANT Universe took.

Time always moved forward at VALIANT, from 91 to 96, time was an important issue there.

Characters grew older, characters were born and aged, etc.

And just look at Rai 0 to know how important the passage of time is.

To jump over the last 10 years would be too cheap... except for Ivar

[k_c_collectibles]

OK - we go with your premise for the future of the comics. What do you think about my idea of only 6 monthly titles total? The necromatic energy could always come back and then bring another Shadowman around as well as Darque. He is such a COOL villan!

Chris

Also - Quantum and Woody are a MUST if they are available - at least in my opinion,,,

[ManofTheAtom]

OK - we go with your premise for the future of the comics. What do you think about my idea of only 6 monthly titles total? The necromatic energy could always come back and then bring another Shadowman around as well as Darque. He is such a COOL villan!

Chris

Also - Quantum and Woody are a MUST if they are available - at least in my opinion,,,

I like the idea of keeping the line down to a handful of titles.

For me, those titles would be

X-O Manowar
Harbinger
Eternal Warriors (rotating arcs about the different brothers)
Bloodshot
Rai (the Blood of Heroes legacy is awesome).

And in a perfect world, we'd also have Solar and Magnus.

The reason why I don't think we should have a Shadowman title is because it nullifies Jack's sacrifice.

Jack Boniface died in 1999 to rid the world of the Darque Power (aka magic).

This was done so that the present day VALIANT Universe could become Magnus' era from the Gold Key books, an era that didn't have magic.

The original Shadowman, that is, pre Unity Jack, didn't have magical powers, this was a post Shooter idea.

If there is to be a Shadowman (if for nothing else than to keep the trademark and copyright alive) then why not make him a vigilante without magical powers?

He could even be Michael Leroi.

IF there is to be magic present, then make it something other than the Darque Power, make it a different source of magic.

The literal reading of the prophecy is that Jack died ridding the world of the Darque power but not magic as a whole.

A second source of magic (and a second Shadowman) is something that can be done.

Keeping Jack alive post 1999, however, isn't.

He can be a spirit in Deadside.

Hell, it could even be that Jack's spirit inhabits Michael's body.

Michael by day, Jack by night.

Alive but not alive, dead but not dead.

That could work.

As for Master Darque, he's dead, more so than Jack, but his influence could still be felt.

Nature abhors a void, so once Darque falls someone else would take his place.

Look at Stargate SG-1 as an example.

Every time they kill a Gou'ld, a more powerful one takes his place.

So Jack could have killed Darque in 99 and rid the world of the Darque power, but a more powerful source of energy took its place, and a more powerful wielder manages it.

As for Q&W, I just don't see much of a point for it within VALIANT, but the new owners could publish it as taking place in a separate continuity, one lone title to keep the VH 2 trademarks alive, a la Ultimate Marvel or All-Ego DC.

[k_c_collectibles]

Still no mention of the class clowns - Quantum and Woody. I think they are worthy of a title... Am I alone in that belief???

[ManofTheAtom]

Still no mention of the class clowns - Quantum and Woody. I think they are worthy of a title... Am I alone in that belief???

Check again

[ZephyrWasHOT!!]

Just get Alan Moore to do it.

It'd be perfect.

[ManofTheAtom]

Just get Alan Moore to do it.

It'd be perfect.

Moore should stay away from it.