Valiant Comics Relaunch Question

SJS4 · Post by **SJS4** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:31 pm

I think the biggest thing that will matter to me, as a fan, is which characters they start out with. I don't think its possible (or even advantageous) for them to immediately begin publishing a series for all the main characters, so they will have to decide which ones to launch with.

I had my favorites of course, just like most people. It should be interesting to see which characters they "lead with" on the initial launch.

StarBrand · Post by **StarBrand** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 2:39 pm

kevinbastos wrote:
StarBrand wrote:
kevinbastos wrote:Sorry - forgot the Might Samson line

Perhaps not that surprising...

17 books.

In total.
A few more to come, still.
Planned to come, perhaps?

Dr Solar 7 just came out last week, and I believe they'll put out issue 8 so they can do a TPB. I believe they'll also finish four issues of Mighty Samson and Turok.

iwantvaliant · Post by **iwantvaliant** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 4:36 pm

I would also just like to say how important it is to get the books out on time. Turok #1 was their best selling book and it took 5 months for issue two to come out. GET THE BOOKS OUT ON TIME!!

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:03 pm

Heath wrote:I think they'll do well too. As much time as they have spent planning and preparing, there shouldn't be any issues with late books. And the DK books failing might even help them out. The absence of those characters from the new Valiant won't be as big of a deal. They were given a chance and couldn't stand on their own.

I thought I had a good point here and nobody is going to comment?

But to expound on it a bit... it wasn't long ago that Valiant relaunch discussions revolved around how important getting the GK characters were. When VEI didn't secure those characters, and they went to Dark Horse, I think there were a few comments that VEI was doomed for that.

But look at the situation now. Because the GK character line failed at Dark Horse, VEI is more free than ever to build their universe without them. VEI not having those characters is not as big of a deal as it once was thought it would be - all thanks to the failure of Dark Horse.

dhudson1 · Post by **dhudson1** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:14 pm

iwantvaliantcomics wrote:I would also just like to say how important it is to get the books out on time. Turok #1 was their best selling book and it took 5 months for issue two to come out. GET THE BOOKS OUT ON TIME!!

This is a must

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:33 pm

FormerReader wrote:It could be a good lesson learned for Valiant seeing what happened to the DH line. This could just as easliy happen to them if they don't plan ahead of time.

I was just thinking the same thing. I would never have guessed that Dark Horse would do such a lame job with the DK books. They should have just stuck with reprinting old trades and let VEI have the other rights.

IanAlexavier · Post by **IanAlexavier** » Thu Jul 21, 2011 8:11 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:
FormerReader wrote:It could be a good lesson learned for Valiant seeing what happened to the DH line. This could just as easliy happen to them if they don't plan ahead of time.
I was just thinking the same thing. I would never have guessed that Dark Horse would do such a lame job with the DK books. They should have just stuck with reprinting old trades and let VEI have the other rights.

I wonder if allowing VEI to use the characters is still an option? Too bad DH didnt try their line 5 years ago LOL. Not sure how using the properties works... is it a set amount of time?

StarBrand · Post by **StarBrand** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 11:58 am

Heath wrote:
Heath wrote:I think they'll do well too. As much time as they have spent planning and preparing, there shouldn't be any issues with late books. And the DK books failing might even help them out. The absence of those characters from the new Valiant won't be as big of a deal. They were given a chance and couldn't stand on their own.
I thought I had a good point here and nobody is going to comment?

But to expound on it a bit... it wasn't long ago that Valiant relaunch discussions revolved around how important getting the GK characters were. When VEI didn't secure those characters, and they went to Dark Horse, I think there were a few comments that VEI was doomed for that.

But look at the situation now. Because the GK character line failed at Dark Horse, VEI is more free than ever to build their universe without them. VEI not having those characters is not as big of a deal as it once was thought it would be - all thanks to the failure of Dark Horse.

My understanding is The New Valiant (I like calling them that!) is taking measures to make sure their books are on time, which I think speaks to your point about time planning and preparing.

wrunow · Post by **wrunow** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 6:51 pm

StarBrand wrote:
Heath wrote:
Heath wrote:I think they'll do well too. As much time as they have spent planning and preparing, there shouldn't be any issues with late books. And the DK books failing might even help them out. The absence of those characters from the new Valiant won't be as big of a deal. They were given a chance and couldn't stand on their own.
I thought I had a good point here and nobody is going to comment?

But to expound on it a bit... it wasn't long ago that Valiant relaunch discussions revolved around how important getting the GK characters were. When VEI didn't secure those characters, and they went to Dark Horse, I think there were a few comments that VEI was doomed for that.

But look at the situation now. Because the GK character line failed at Dark Horse, VEI is more free than ever to build their universe without them. VEI not having those characters is not as big of a deal as it once was thought it would be - all thanks to the failure of Dark Horse.
My understanding is The New Valiant (I like calling them that!) is taking measures to make sure their books are on time, which I think speaks to your point about time planning and preparing.

This was brought up at the Poker game last night, the reply was from Fred Pierce that the number of late books printed in his career as a publisher is 0, and as far as he is concerned VEI will be planned out so that tradition continues.

Triumphant Serial Number · Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:31 pm

have to agree with everyone else, the books have to be on time.

Better to not even solicit without two complete issues in the can if that's what it takes.

And please, pay for inkers. Unless the artist is long established as being a guy who can do great work on his own inks, get a real inker. And whatever you do, don't have one guy do pencils, inks, AND colors like the hatchetjob Dark Horse screwed themselves with for Dr Solar #1 and Calero.

12 months into the re-launch there should be at least one title that has 12 issues out, and none of them featuring scratchy-"I'm forced to ink my own pencils and don't know how" artwork.

400yrs · Post by **400yrs** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 7:58 pm

Jay Tomio wrote:From a personal standpoint (not business) I couldn't care less if the books are on time because I only buy hardcovers to begin with. So it looks like my wait is probably 2 years minimum

At least, but if they company is going to be able to succeed to make hardcovers, the singles have to be on time.

rjrjr · Post by **rjrjr** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:14 pm

iwantvaliantcomics wrote:I would also just like to say how important it is to get the books out on time. Turok #1 was their best selling book and it took 5 months for issue two to come out. GET THE BOOKS OUT ON TIME!!

I think Solar #1 was the best selling book, followed by Magnus #1, and then Solar #2. I don't remember the exact number, but I believe Turok #1 came in around 12,000 copies IIRC.

Regardless, I agree with your sediments about getting the books out on time. I'm frustrated with the way Dark Horse handled the line since I was really looking forward to Dr. Spektor and loved Mighty Samson. Now we probably won't see Dr. Spektor. Maybe someday I guess.

rjrjr · Post by **rjrjr** » Fri Jul 22, 2011 8:20 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:
FormerReader wrote:It could be a good lesson learned for Valiant seeing what happened to the DH line. This could just as easliy happen to them if they don't plan ahead of time.
I was just thinking the same thing. I would never have guessed that Dark Horse would do such a lame job with the DK books. They should have just stuck with reprinting old trades and let VEI have the other rights.

I'm not surprised by Dark Horse's fumbling of the ball with regards to lateness. Randy Stradley has mentioned at least once on the Star Wars forums that getting comic books out on time was not a priority at Dark Horse. They have been doing this lateness dance on many of their titles, so doing it with the Gold Key characters is par for the course for them.

I'm disappointed sales kept creeping down on the Gold Key hero titles regardless of the lateness. While I wasn't keen on the first Solar arc, I was enjoying the second arc and really enjoyed Magnus, Turok, and Samson.

Phoenix8008 · Post by **Phoenix8008** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:03 am

Sadly, I never got to check out the DH Gold Key comics. Were they any good? I get the impression that they've been cancelled, is that right?

I'm just glad that I completed my Valiant collection over the last few years before this news hit. If Valiant succeeds in bringing back some great comics, the prices for the old stuff would surely go up. Glad I got much of it for 20 cents a piece and most of the remainder from members here on these boards.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:55 am

Phoenix8008 wrote:Sadly, I never got to check out the DH Gold Key comics. Were they any good? I get the impression that they've been cancelled, is that right?

They are supposedly on "hiatus".

Phoenix8008 · Post by **Phoenix8008** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:08 am

Daniel Jackson wrote:
Phoenix8008 wrote:Sadly, I never got to check out the DH Gold Key comics. Were they any good? I get the impression that they've been cancelled, is that right?
They are supposedly on "hiatus".

Oh yeah, "hiatus". I've heard that before. Like how NewUniversal:Shockfront went on hiatus and was never heard from again.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:27 am

Phoenix8008 wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
Phoenix8008 wrote:Sadly, I never got to check out the DH Gold Key comics. Were they any good? I get the impression that they've been cancelled, is that right?
They are supposedly on "hiatus".
Oh yeah, "hiatus". I've heard that before. Like how NewUniversal:Shockfront went on hiatus and was never heard from again.

Exactly.

BruceReville · Post by **BruceReville** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 1:22 pm

Jay Tomio wrote:I'm wondering what the over/under is on how long until an event/crossover occurs. Will be interesting to see in terms of model.

Hopefully at least a year or even better 18 months. The new titles need to get themselves established first before rushed headlong into a crossover event. Anytime sooner than that would hamper the writers in story developing and force them into possibly sidetracking too soon into an event that could wait.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:14 pm

Yeah, crossovers can wait for a couple of years (if not more). That would definitely be a distraction and they need to focus on building a solid new universe.

StarBrand · Post by **StarBrand** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 3:55 pm

rjrjr wrote:
iwantvaliantcomics wrote:I would also just like to say how important it is to get the books out on time. Turok #1 was their best selling book and it took 5 months for issue two to come out. GET THE BOOKS OUT ON TIME!!
I think Solar #1 was the best selling book, followed by Magnus #1, and then Solar #2. I don't remember the exact number, but I believe Turok #1 came in around 12,000 copies IIRC.

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oneescalante · Post by **oneescalante** » Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:05 pm

wrunow quote......This was brought up at the Poker game last night, the reply was from Fred Pierce that the number of late books printed in his career as a publisher is 0, and as far as he is concerned VEI will be planned out so that tradition continues.[/quote]