Bloodshot Volume 1 hardcover review

[kjjohanson]

Oh and anyone saying they cant be glossy at a $25 price point is crazy. Go crack open a buffy season 8 library edition that costs 29.99 and tell me it cant be done. Those are oversized super glossy super thick paged perfection and only $5 more.

I'd be interested in comparing the print run of each book. A basic tennant of retail is the more you make, the less each individual unit costs.

This is usually true, but its not as linear as most people think. I know where I work going from a production run of 25,000 to 100,000 is a big deal, but going from 100,000 to 2-300,000 doesn't really help that much (since the small quantity means its probably being made on a machine designed to job change frequently), but going over 1,000,000 or more can be another big leap (order is now big enough to go on to a machine designed for high volume and few job changes). Just an FYI.

Another consideration (maybe not so much for collections, but certainly for regular comic issues) is that overhead for creators gets split over more books, so there's a lower per-book cost on large print runs (or more profit). While the content has already been paid for, there are still production costs that go into this. But still, you'd notice the change more in a jump from 25K to 100K than you would from 100K to 200K

[Donovan]

Oh and anyone saying they cant be glossy at a $25 price point is crazy. Go crack open a buffy season 8 library edition that costs 29.99 and tell me it cant be done. Those are oversized super glossy super thick paged perfection and only $5 more.

I'd be interested in comparing the print run of each book. A basic tennant of retail is the more you make, the less each individual unit costs.

This is usually true, but its not as linear as most people think. I know where I work going from a production run of 25,000 to 100,000 is a big deal, but going from 100,000 to 2-300,000 doesn't really help that much (since the small quantity means its probably being made on a machine designed to job change frequently), but going over 1,000,000 or more can be another big leap (order is now big enough to go on to a machine designed for high volume and few job changes). Just an FYI.

I may be off base on this, but I'm pretty sure that DH would be buying paper for ALL their books in one batch, not just for each volume. So due to the sheer number of books they print, those numbers would push them up to a price break.

Valiant is printing ONE volume at the moment. At a lower print run.

That being said, I've also heard that since newsprint isn't being used any more, it is technically more expensive as there is less demand for it.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I've been getting.

[lorddunlow]

I prefer the non-glossy, I wish all comics were non-glossy (not pulp, just Nonglossy) I find the glossy paper a bit harder to read, you have to have the lighting just right to prevent glare.

I definitely agree.

[greg]

Got mine and that is what it looks like. Mine was #18 of 50 I believe.

They're all #18.

This is the 18th book plate that DCBS has created, and the 1st for Valiant.

There is no numbering on the plates. I'm sure there are more than 50.

[BugsySig]

Got mine and that is what it looks like. Mine was #18 of 50 I believe.

They're all #18.

This is the 18th book plate that DCBS has created, and the 1st for Valiant.

There is no numbering on the plates. I'm sure there are more than 50.

[dhudson1]

Oh and anyone saying they cant be glossy at a $25 price point is crazy. Go crack open a buffy season 8 library edition that costs 29.99 and tell me it cant be done. Those are oversized super glossy super thick paged perfection and only $5 more.

I'd be interested in comparing the print run of each book. A basic tennant of retail is the more you make, the less each individual unit costs.

This is usually true, but its not as linear as most people think. I know where I work going from a production run of 25,000 to 100,000 is a big deal, but going from 100,000 to 2-300,000 doesn't really help that much (since the small quantity means its probably being made on a machine designed to job change frequently), but going over 1,000,000 or more can be another big leap (order is now big enough to go on to a machine designed for high volume and few job changes). Just an FYI.

I may be off base on this, but I'm pretty sure that DH would be buying paper for ALL their books in one batch, not just for each volume. So due to the sheer number of books they print, those numbers would push them up to a price break.

Valiant is printing ONE volume at the moment. At a lower print run.

That being said, I've also heard that since newsprint isn't being used any more, it is technically more expensive as there is less demand for it.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I've been getting.

Newsprint is cheaper, but they are NOT using newsprint. It is a pulp paper, but it is not newsprint.

And comic publishers generally do not buy the paper, the printer does, and buys it in quantity to get the best price.

[Aram]

So I got my 2nd copy from dcbs and cracked it open today. The pulp paper is this but seems high quality. Very white. If it is acid free then I am perfectly happy with it. I guess I dont acrually prefer gloss, I just want paper and inks that will withstand time and not yellow like most of the old cheap paper used in the 80s and 90s.

Love the signed scbs plate, though I wish it was signed on the front like Eds.

[x-omatic]

I bought this last week and didn't know about the paper until I opened the shrink wrap. I thought it made the book feel cheaper. I would have liked a "stiffer" paper for the hard cover. If the book was a soft cover tpb it wouldn't have bothered me as much.

[kevinbastos]

I don't know about this.

I can understand both sides of the coin here.

My first read, I think I was disappointed... But then really started to return to it. I can understand the retro intent of the book. I don't think the pages bothered me a ton. The art was an interesting throwback, too. Sort of a fish out of water thing. Think I might be adding a review to the next podcast...

[greg]

Got mine and that is what it looks like. Mine was #18 of 50 I believe.

They're all #18.

This is the 18th book plate that DCBS has created, and the 1st for Valiant.

There is no numbering on the plates. I'm sure there are more than 50.

No worries, you didn't pay any extra for the book plate... so... FREE SIGS!

[Matesamo]

A couple quick notes about the article.

It really wasn't a review, I only got to flip through it for a few minutes which was just enough time to get my impressions of it. I thought it was looked and felt great although it was pricey, in my opinion.

In regards to the paper issue, I was told that they paid extra for that type of paper which they felt would give it the feel of the original issues. It was not a cost saving measure by any means.

-Matthew

[drmirage]

I finally looked at the HC last night. I thought it was cool! I totally understand why VEI made this book and reading about the how Bloodshot was created back in the days of Valiant. Its really like a nice throwback which I have enjoyed. While I do not think its that important to own this book, but it would make a nice addition to someone's collection especially for those diehard Bloodshot fans.

In terms of pricing. I know paying for full retail without sketches or print with signatures is a pricey. I took advantage of the DCBS Valiant Deal. It was a too good of deal to pass up.

For $27.42 ... the price included everything below including shipping.
1 BS Hardcover w/ signed plate, 1 A&A #3 Reg, 1 BS #4 Reg, 1 Harby #5 Reg, 1 X-O #6 Reg and 2 Free copies Cyberforce #1

I did end up getting an extra copy from my LCS. (Since I'm ordering 1 copy whatever VEI makes with a 25% discount). The one from my LCS cost about $20 OTD w/o any signature plates or sketches. (So I averaged at $16.50 per copy) So its like buying 2 books for the price of 1 in the end.

If VEI said they paid extra $ to print this book in this type of premium paper, thats totally fine. I believe that the quality is there. Also to read VanHook's letter and seeing new story pages in a HC. I'm all for it.

Again, I have the 3 HC's VEI has published.. (Harby, X-O and A&A... so this was a no brainer) I know if VEI makes a HC for Rai, Eternal Warrior and Shadowman I would be getting them for sure.

[Newton]

Still waiting on my copy thanks to Hurricane Sandy.

I will throw in my vote for non glossy as a general preference. I'm a graphic designer and when people have me do print jobs they always want glossy, but I have always preferred non-gloss.

[DK2]

Yeah that is the main thing with the books today the glossy paper. That glare does suck in todays comics and trades/hc's.

[Aram]

I usually read my books in indirect light in a vacuum with 0 gravity wearing gloves.. So glare is not an issue for me...

[Dr. Solar]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

[Paradigm38]

Finally picked mine up today. LOVE IT! Backup story printed a little dark, but then, that's the tone of the story. Rereading and remembering everything from 20yrs back...

[Chiclo]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

[iggy101us]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

He's Dr. Solar . . . he radiates sunlight . . .

[Dr. Solar]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

In rooms with lights.

[MarkRoseHFX]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

In rooms with lights.

Agreed...I find the new Marvel Waid DD HC's to be like that. I personally get any of the complaints about the HC's I only have the A&A one out of the previous ones and the new Bloodshot and I love 'em both I think they're great.

[Carson]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

In rooms with lights.

Or outdoors with trees and squirrels and sunlight :-0

[kjjohanson]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

In rooms with lights.

Or outdoors with trees and squirrels and sunlight :-0

What is this "outdoors" of which you speak?

[MarkRoseHFX]

What is this "outdoors" of which you speak?

I think that might be somewhere near the comic book store maybe?

[lorddunlow]

I think the paper is really nice. It's not newsprint. It's just not glossy.

It's fantastic. I can read the book without having to constantly shift it around to move the giant glare reflecting off the page.

Where are you reading comics to have to deal with constant glare?

In rooms with lights.

Maybe I'm just tired today, but this post has me literally laughing out loud in my office. Most deadpan sarcastic remark that is totally true that I've heard/read in a while.