Number of variants per month

[maraxusofkeld]

Hey Everyone, I know this has been mentioned in various threads here and there, but what does everyone think about all the monthly variants that are continuing to come out? I mean I love the covers, but looking at when they finally launch all the titles, a 1/20 or 1/25 variant for each book is going to start to get very expensive very fast. I do think the amount of variants are getting a bit out of hand and should be reserved for launch #1's or super key apperances or start of epic story arcs, etc. Anyone else's take?

[etos45]

Honestly, I don't even look at variants anymore. They lost me before the #1s finished because I saw all of the ones coming. I will try to get the 1:20 A&A #1 eventually if it's cheap enough as well as the black Shadowman #1. It does look like they start to thin out around X-O #6 or #7 (I forget which). So maybe they're running most of them to 4 or 5 and then only using them for key issues?

[dhudson1]

No different than Marvel or DC

[maraxusofkeld]

Just because the big two do it, it does not mean it's a good idea.

[BugsySig]

Honestly, I don't even look at variants anymore. They lost me before the #1s finished because I saw all of the ones coming. I will try to get the 1:20 A&A #1 eventually if it's cheap enough as well as the black Shadowman #1. It does look like they start to thin out around X-O #6 or #7 (I forget which). So maybe they're running most of them to 4 or 5 and then only using them for key issues?

As far as we know the Shadowman Blackout cover is a pullbox variant and should be easy for you to find

I feel the same way about the 1:20s for the #1s as you. If I can find them for under $20, I will buy them because I like them.

Otherwise, I don't have a problem with them. Marvel, DC and, more importantly, all the Indy publishers do the same thing.

[kevinbastos]

Is the Harbinger variant a 1:1 variant next week? My LCS has it listed differently. The X-O are all listed separately:

The X-O Manowar covers are listed individually and in ratio:

X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #1 100 COPY INCV RIBIC GOLD CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 20 COPY INCV ZIRCHER CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 50 COPY INCV ZIRCHER CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 PULLBOX TAN CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 REG SUAYAN CVR

The Harbingers are listed like this:

HARBINGER (ONGOING) #4 BRAITHWAITE CVR
HARBINGER (ONGOING) #4 ZIRCHER CVR

It would be the first comic without an incentive variant, right?

But no comic has been released without a variant.

[etos45]

As far as we know the Shadowman Blackout cover is a pullbox variant and should be easy for you to find

I feel the same way about the 1:20s for the #1s as you. If I can find them for under $20, I will buy them because I like them.

Otherwise, I don't have a problem with them. Marvel, DC and, more importantly, all the Indy publishers do the same thing.

I thought the Shadowman #1 was... so all the better!

The problem I originally had with the variants was coming to terms that I wasn't going to be able to "collect" Valiant. I'll never have a complete set and that frees me up to decide to pass on things like 2nd, 3rd, and 4th prints as well as hard covers and cover price variants that I don't love. It's actually a good thing for my wallet.

[carter3175]

I like limited print runs, 1 cover! I also like being a collector as well as enjoying great stories.

[arghh!]

I was charged 1:1 price on my invoice for the Harbys.

Is the Harbinger variant a 1:1 variant next week? My LCS has it listed differently. The X-O are all listed separately:

The X-O Manowar covers are listed individually and in ratio:

X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #1 100 COPY INCV RIBIC GOLD CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 20 COPY INCV ZIRCHER CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 50 COPY INCV ZIRCHER CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 PULLBOX TAN CVR
X-O MANOWAR (ONGOING) #5 REG SUAYAN CVR

The Harbingers are listed like this:

HARBINGER (ONGOING) #4 BRAITHWAITE CVR
HARBINGER (ONGOING) #4 ZIRCHER CVR

It would be the first comic without an incentive variant, right?

But no comic has been released without a variant.

[Zaphod]

It goes against everything Shooter was trying to do with the Original Valiant. I think it screams desperate to inflate sales figures and you can only inflate those figures so long before the bubble bursts.

I wanted to be an "all in" Valiant fan for VEI's reboot. I can't support their sales tactics (regardless of what other companies) because originally, Valiant was the alternative. It was built by comic fans, for comic book fans.

Of course that is why Shooter was kicked out before he could do "fan friendly" things such as lower monthly pamphlet prices when the print run was raised enough to allow for it.

VEI isn't friendly to the completists (nor the completionists) wallet.

[GGSAE]

I like the variants with the covers that look nice, but there's a lot of mediocre variants that leave me unimpressed (some of the bloodshot covers). I don't think there should be anymore than one variants/issue, then it just cheapens all the rest of the covers. I liken multiple variants to a car manufacturer like GM with multiple lines....at one point GM had 100 different vehicles, but when you looked at their lineup, they had several vehicles that were almost identical to each-other. I thought, why not do what some of the other companies do, and instead of making 3 mediocre, very similar car, combine those efforts to make one decent one. If you're putting out 3-10 covers/book, the quality is obviously diluted.

[jmatt]

I think it screams desperate to inflate sales figures and you can only inflate those figures so long before the bubble bursts.

VEI isn't friendly to the completists (nor the completionists) wallet.

While I'm a little tepid on the variants, I think the idea is to entice retailers to put more copies on the shelf which will theoretically bring more readers into the fold. The retailer gets a variant for the regular issue price, (two bucks?). He can turn around and sell that variant for, say, $18. That enables him to put 8 regular issues on the shelf for free (9 @ $2 = $18 minus the $2 for the variant = 8 "free" copies).

In essence, Valiant is using its ability to issue limited numbers of variants to help retailers take a chance on a new line in an era of declining readership and economic hardship. The hardcore collectors are subsidizing the average Joe reader. And since variants are optional for the buyer, I have no problem with it.

[erwinrafael]

Just because the big two do it, it does not mean it's a good idea.

why is it not a good idea if it creates a bump in sales? nobody's requiring anybody to collect all variants. it's just fun to have choices.

[400yrs]

Just because the big two do it, it does not mean it's a good idea.

why is it not a good idea if it creates a bump in sales? nobody's requiring anybody to collect all variants. it's just fun to have choices.

And that bump in sales means more paycheck(s) they can pay out. I complained at first as well, but I think at this point, the only complainers are those who feel the need to scratch the completist itch. Get over yourselves, girlfriends. Get the ones you like and can afford and leave the rest to be picked up later on the cheap.

[caniac]

I lost the variant urge after the #1s. I only get the 1:20s if they're under $15 and I like the cover. It feels good and plus I'll have things to constantly look for as my needs list grows.

[MarkRoseHFX]

I don't sweat the variants at all. Would it be cool to have them all? yeah why not. Can I afford them at them at the moment? hell no.

I've managed to buy a few at cover price and I don't think i'd buy any for much more than that even if i did have the expendable cash. I think they're more fun to try to find deals on or to try to win for free. That's how i've been approaching them and i'm missing a bunch but i've gotten some sweet ones too. As long as I can get a regular version that is cover price that I can read and the books stay awesome i'm cool with that.

If anything I can't wait for TPB's to start coming out

[tchalla8]

I was one button click away from buying an X-O Gold on ebay, and I just couldn't make myself do it. Too much $$$. I'm going to try to win one the fun way.

[Aram]

There were too many for me. If it's continuous then it loses it's appeal to me. I will save my $ for the tpbs and hcs with an occassional exception. Of course if VEI stopped the variants... I'd probably do a 180 and track them all down again.

[tchalla8]

The trick is....by the time they stop releasing them for the current titles, they'll be releasing variants for the newer titles. There will always be variants.

[ShadowTuga]

I think it's nice to have the option to get'em. I'm only getting the pullbox variants and the different printing ones, so i'm not spending that much, since I bought'em all at cover price. I especially like the idea for the design covers.
If I ever come across a 1:20 or 1:50 variant that I really like and can get for less than 20 euros (right...), I'll buy it. If not, I'm cool with that because all I really need is the stories, the other stuff is just secondary.

[dave]

I think we all became completists after the crash of Valiant. It makes it hard to take now; but imagine having all the variants in say 1993...woah.

[greg]

I think we all became completists after the crash of Valiant. It makes it hard to take now; but imagine having all the variants in say 1993...woah.

That's the point that I agree with... being a completist in 1993 was impossible. IMPOSSIBLE. You simply couldn't find some books.

Being a completist in 2012 is possible... not cheap, but possible. EVERY book is available on Ebay.

No one was expected to be a completist in 1993, so why would anyone be expected to be a completist in 2012?

I agree with everyone so far who has said that we should collect the ones we like.

I don't have the Adams variant. No sweat. Someday I'll get it for $25... and I'm prepared to wait.

[depluto]

I had 'em all in 1993.

[greg]

I had 'em all in 1993.

You bought 'em on pre-Ebay, right?

[400yrs]

I had 'em all in 1993.

Naughty favors for a baseball card shop / comic store owner?