The Loss of Solar: Revamp or Original Character?

[BugsySig]

Personally, I can live with the Gold Key characters no longer being a part of the Valiant Universe...mostly. Magnus and Turok--and please don't take offense fans of those characters--are pretty simple concepts (Robot Fighter, Dinosaur Hunter) and can more or less be replaced by characters such as Rai (if he ends up in the future or a technologically advanced past) or XO (as a man out of time concept). I do think, as many others have said, that the new Valiant may need a Solar-type archetypal character down the line to fill out the roster. So how should this void be filled, or should it at all?

One thing that struck me from an interview with Fred Pierce and Warren Simons the other day was Warren saying they would only launch new original titles if the character(s) are better than what they already have in their library (such as Dr. Mirage or HARD Corps). So if they could relaunch/reimagine a current Valiant character, they would. I think there are a few options in the Valiant library of characters who could fill the void left by Solar:

One would be to give a major power upgrade to Doctor Mirage, who could still explore his connection to/lost humanity, while making him more than just the Yin to Master Darque's Yang. There are some similar inter-personal relationship issues to the Valiant Solar, as well as an archetypal "accident/ancient artifact" origin story.

The other would be to reintroduce The Visitor. Originally, The Visitor was a future version of Pete Stanchek who had fully realized his powers and travelled to the past. Perhaps he could follow Ivar, the Timewalker back to the present time in this version? That character (even if it was someone other than Pete) could also serve in the Solar/Superman/Dr. Manhattan role. Plus it's a cool name, "The Visitor."

[cjv]

You forgot The Destroyer - Solar level power, but not Solar.

Chris

[caniac]

New original character for me. Of course I would not mind seeing Solar again, I just don't think it's gonna happen, and I'm cool with that

[Dr. Solar]

There is no void left by Solar.

[MarrowMan]

I voted for a new Character, VEI has obviously moved on, so should we.

[Heath]

There is no void left by Solar.

I agree.

[dbngaa]

There is no void left by Solar.

Except in Deathmate.

[xodacia81]

There is no void left by Solar.

I agree.

As do I. In so many ways, Solar was both the greatest strength and weakness of the first incarnation of this universe.

[magnusr]

There is no void left by Solar.

Except in Deathmate.

Good catch

/Magnus

[BugsySig]

There is no void left by Solar.

Except in Deathmate.

Good catch

/Magnus

should have seen that

And by the loss of Solar, I just mean the "archetype" Solar represented. For the record, I voted for the ice cream man because I don't even know if they should look to do it. Marvel never had that type of character playing a major role, so it is not a necessity for a superhero universe.

[cjv]

I think it really depends on what they plan to do with the universe.

In VH1 - Solar was integral. He was the reason the universe existed. He was the one who could ultimately change reality. Without Solar, there is no VH1.

In this universe, we don't know how/why it is here. Is there going to be some "event" the caused it to diverge from our universe, the way VH1 did? Or is it simply "here", and it exists, just as any universe does. If it is the former, then there may be some sort of "Solar"-like character to cause it all (although it isn't required). If it is the latter, than there is no need for a character powerful enough to have caused it all.

Chris

[FormerReader]

I think it really depends on what they plan to do with the universe.

In VH1 - Solar was integral. He was the reason the universe existed. He was the one who could ultimately change reality. Without Solar, there is no VH1.

In this universe, we don't know how/why it is here. Is there going to be some "event" the caused it to diverge from our universe, the way VH1 did? Or is it simply "here", and it exists, just as any universe does. If it is the former, then there may be some sort of "Solar"-like character to cause it all (although it isn't required). If it is the latter, than there is no need for a character powerful enough to have caused it all.

Chris

Good points. I would still like to see a new character though.

[Chiclo]

There is no void left by Solar.

Except in Deathmate.

Beat me to it.

So did Solar, I guess...

[Ross2]

New character called Phil Seleski.

[hulk181man]

There is no void left by Solar.

I agree.

[grendeljd]

There is no void left by Solar.

Except in Deathmate.

Beat me to it.

So did Solar, I guess...

I voted new & original, but that's if they want to bring in someone to fill that void (not THAT Void ). I still say this new VU will be very strong without any of the GK 3, or even some variation of those character concepts.

I could also see an updated 'Visitor' concept working... Oh and by the way, BugsySig... THANKS FOR SPOILING THE VISITOR FOR ME, I'VE NEVER READ IT AND I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO CHECKING THAT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Just kidding!! I haven't read it yet, but I kind of suspected it was Stanchek.

[betterthanezra]

There is no void left by Solar.

I agree I have personally NOT missed the characters as much...Like I thought I might.

-Brian

[jmatt]

For me, the Solar archetype just adds so many more possibilities for the new universe. And while I'm sure we'll never see him, Magnus gave the VH1 universe an extra storytelling dimension, a world pretty much disconnected from the current timeline we have with the other characters.

[vaevictis]

I too would like to see an over powered archetype like Phil Seleski. Would lend to either a great hero or fantastic villain. Someone that is aware of his power and is rather indifferent at times to humanity... by choice. I agree it would make for the posibility of larger stories and VALIANT eventually will need to branch out to the cosmic level beings. Not saying it has to be in the next few years but eventually it needs to grow outwards.

[Newton]

I'm a bit indifferent about this one. Solar was not ever a favorite of mine.

It makes sense to me that a revamped Doctor Mirage could fill this void if it suited the storytelling. I don't feel a need to have Solar just to have Solar though.

[MarkRoseHFX]

Me personally I don't give a rat's *SQUEE* about VH1 continuity and the Gold Key characters being missing from the new Valiant. VH1 is long dead. This is a different and better universe so far imo. i'm all good.


So I voted for the Ice Cream Man of course

[Newton]

Is Ice Cream Man the Spawn villain?

[MarrowMan]

Is Ice Cream Man the Spawn villain?

Billy Kincaid?

[MarkRoseHFX]

Is Ice Cream Man the Spawn villain?

oh *SQUEE* i hope not I wouldn't have voted for anything Spawn

[MarrowMan]

Is Ice Cream Man the Spawn villain?

oh *SQUEE* i hope not I wouldn't have voted for anything Spawn

His "professional" name was actually Mr. Chill -eee