New Valiants cheap printing quality?

[arghh!]

I am thinking my copy was beat up some where in shipping. Not sure if different cover stock would have saved it. I am waiting to hear back from the company but I doubt they can swap it out. It's just frustrating to spend 35 bucks on a new book and get it looking well used. Any other company and I don't even think twice about variants. I buy these because I love Valiant. I have the got to have them all sickness.....

[jmatt]

What if the Valiant "month 3" books are already being printed with the same paper?

If it is a standard contract then it could be for the next 6 months to a year on that type of paper

Any printer would happily amend that contract to supply better cover stock at an increased price.

[DK2]

Well IDW Publishing, like last year, ceased the cardstock covers as well on their comics. So its not a surprise this is happening. I must admit in my mind that the current Valiant comics do seem cheaper in paper quality compared to other publishers. Its good enuff to reproduce the modern coloring of todays comics but it seems so thin and light overall.

[BruceReville]

What if the Valiant "month 3" books are already being printed with the same paper?

If it is a standard contract then it could be for the next 6 months to a year on that type of paper

Any printer would happily amend that contract to supply better cover stock at an increased price.

Hence Valiant would probably cut costs elsewhere

[betterthanezra]

I'm not happy about the cover stock either but not enough to stop buying the books

I'm sure this is something VEI is familiar about they read these boards a lot. They know this is there core readership (Hardcore) but if these issues are bothering us then as a whole it's an issue that is effecting most other readers.

-Brian

[Zaphod]

I'm a reader, not a collector so this doesn't bother me all that much.

The one thing I will note is that the FCBD Valiant release is a heavier stock, less flimsy cover than the Harbinger #1 release.

[MoonChild]

Yea, FCBD stock would be so perfect!!

[jmatt]

What if the Valiant "month 3" books are already being printed with the same paper?

If it is a standard contract then it could be for the next 6 months to a year on that type of paper

Any printer would happily amend that contract to supply better cover stock at an increased price.

Hence Valiant would probably cut costs elsewhere

No doubt. But unless they have some wild overhead we're unaware of, I'm guessing that the cover price could/should still cover it.

[BruceReville]

What if the Valiant "month 3" books are already being printed with the same paper?

If it is a standard contract then it could be for the next 6 months to a year on that type of paper

Any printer would happily amend that contract to supply better cover stock at an increased price.

Hence Valiant would probably cut costs elsewhere

No doubt. But unless they have some wild overhead we're unaware of, I'm guessing that the cover price could/should still cover it.

I don't think they would have a big overhead, but a cautious one - even returning as a fan loyal comic base we have seen a few relaunches over the past few years that started good but faded fast. They could be providing themselves with a buffer in case anything unforeseen happens.