Spoiler from Bleedingcool ** WARNING - FCBD SPOILER IN HERE

[nonplayer]

Ninjak?

[caniac]

Ninjak?

I agree

[greg]

I'd love to send them out, but I can't.
Diamond might overlook a book or two being released early, but strictly speaking, no one but Diamond retailers should have these books before FCBD.

I can't send them until the right date.

Be sure to get a Valiant FCBD (normal version) on FCBD because the ValiantFans.com exclusives will take a while.

[grendeljd]

i looked

i'm sorry, i'm very weak

Me too.

For the ones that already looked, am I going to regret looking? Or is it just as awesome finding out through the grapevine as it would have been in the actual book?

Also, I'm amazed I've posted 3 times here without accidentally seeing/spoiling anything. I've even read all of the post except the first.

You should probably go ahead and look to surprise yourself on your own terms.
I just got an email notification that the "secret word" that is being revealed is IN the title of a new article on CBR.
You won't be able to avoid seeing it for much longer, so you might as well choose the time to look for yourself.
The Bleeding Cool link in this topic is as good as any... hold your breath like bygranddesign said, and click away.
(The first photo you'll see is a bit of a spoiler, but the second photo is the formerly-super-secret inside back cover.)

Good advice, Greg - I was going to hold out until I saw a copy of the FCBD issue in my hands... But chances are I'd hear about it before then at this rate, if Bleeding Cool is blowing the cover off the big secret already.

I'm glad I looked now, that's a whole lotta good news to get excited about.

[grendeljd]

Do you kids remember this thread about the birdie?

viewtopic.php?f=33&t=39479&hilit=Birdie" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I, as well don't know nothin'.

Nor have I sorta not really had it confirmed.

The 'birdie' was the only one who was a little worried.

You and I will be excited - I just won't reveal it here.

Unless someone really bribes me, of course.

Now, look at the first letters, kids.

I
N
T
Y
U


Gotcha.

Clever monkey! I don't know how you held that one in for so long, good job!

[FormerReader]

Yep, that's what it says in the 2,850 copies sitting in my kitchen.

Greg, you must have an incredibly understanding wife.

[KXXX]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, I really do, but is anyone worried about this? Worried that it might not live up to its name? Worried that this is a premature marketing ploy? Worried that this may be the proverbial shark-jump?

[bygranddesign]

OK, so obviously everyone is excited over the inside back cover, but what about the "Who will lead the HARD Corps" teaser? I think this will be another crossover appearance and not a new title, but with who? Bloodshot is the logical choice, though if they start hunting Vine Plantings maybe XO or Ninjak make sense (even though I'd prefer Ninjak leading Secret Weapons). Or could it be someone not on that board like Livewire (who is also prefer with the Secret Weapons)?

Since you took the first step in speculating ... i'll follow your lead

I think the picture is interesting from a bunch of different standpoints. (I'll assume its going to be a monthly title and not a mini-series/crossover)

Firstly, I think its a good idea to give HARD Corps title some extra juice by having them led by an already established popular character. But from a continuity and character development standpoint, i don't like the idea of characters who already have their own title and are evolving month to month to now be part of another title that might over-extend the character and not develop them the same way as the main title. Dr. Mirage might make a lot of sense in that respect because you can develop this popular character (that may not be popular enough to have her own book) in another book.

Another idea ... would be to have a revolving door of leaders. If HARD Corps is battling a Demon-God, they would recruit Shadowman to be their leader for the extent of one story arc. Shadowman already has the abetters to help fight supernatural foes and I prefer him to be solo but for one story arc leading HARD Corps would be sweet. Similarly if they were facing the Vine - they would recruit X-O to help them. An out of Control Psiot - perhaps they get help from Harada or Bloodshot.

The idea of revolving door would add extra juice to each story arc and would be a pretty cool concept - I think.

The Vine character is interesting? Was that someone they were thinking to be their leader and they crossed him/her off the list? A Vine character that would be one of the "Superheroes" in the universe would be an interesting angle.

[BugsySig]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, I really do, but is anyone worried about this? Worried that it might not live up to its name? Worried that this is a premature marketing ploy? Worried that this may be the proverbial shark-jump?

In terms of the crossover event, no I'm not worried. VEI has shown me they will not do anything just as a ploy, but only as a well conceived, planned out and executed concept. This winter is also approximately when the original Unity took place in VH1.

In terms of the name...Yes, I am worried that they are giving themselves some mighty big shoes to fill and setting some very lofty expectations. Those who know and loved the original will be hard pressed to find anything up to that standard.

However, I am already seeing on other forums how many new readers of VALIANT have no idea what the original Unity was all about. For those new readers (which could be as much as 80% of VALIANT readers today) there is no comparison to make, so that is a positive.

Oh, and, ummm... ...anyone think the first issue of said crossover may be free ...

[kevinbastos]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, I really do, but is anyone worried about this? Worried that it might not live up to its name? Worried that this is a premature marketing ploy? Worried that this may be the proverbial shark-jump?

In terms of the crossover event, no I'm not worried. VEI has shown me they will not do anything just as a ploy, but only as a well conceived, planned out and executed concept. This winter is also approximately when the original Unity took place in VH1.

In terms of the name...Yes, I am worried that they are giving themselves some mighty big shoes to fill and setting some very lofty expectations. Those who know and loved the original will be hard pressed to find anything up to that standard.

However, I am already seeing on other forums how many new readers of VALIANT have no idea what the original Unity was all about. For those new readers (which could be as much as 80% of VALIANT readers today) there is no comparison to make, so that is a positive.

Oh, and, ummm... ...anyone think the first issue of said crossover may be free ...

It was the reason for hesitation at my LCS. Great potential. But a high standard.

Before vs after? This place could and should be the place to solidify itself for the future.

[FormerReader]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, I really do, but is anyone worried about this? Worried that it might not live up to its name? Worried that this is a premature marketing ploy? Worried that this may be the proverbial shark-jump?

I'm with you. I'm excited, but nervously excited. Not what I expected.

[myron]

Interesting

[manga4life]

Awesome.

I do kind of wish they chose a different name to separate themselves from the Valiant of old, but all in all the teases and the upcoming proposed crossover seems like it will be cool. I hope it's kind of a quick crossover though, I don't want some long and drawn out line wide event that really accomplishes nothing in the end.

[MarkRoseHFX]

I hate to be a stick in the mud, I really do, but is anyone worried about this? Worried that it might not live up to its name? Worried that this is a premature marketing ploy? Worried that this may be the proverbial shark-jump?

I look at this way: i'm quite happy with everything they've put out so far. even my least favorite valiant book is still pretty good to me. so that gives me every reason to believe that they won't screw it up.

[manga4life]

As most people know by now, I have NO knowledge or connection to the Valiant of old so I have no expectations whatsoever. Also, I know a huge chunk of VEI's readers are actually brand new to the properties and have no expectations either. I personally think that VEI should have chosen a different name to separate themselves from the Valiant of old and to make it so old readers won't have something to complain about for the sake of complaining because they feel it didn't match up to the Unity of old. But what the hell, let them run with it and tell a great story in the process.

Who's excited?
This guy!

[grendeljd]

OK, so obviously everyone is excited over the inside back cover, but what about the "Who will lead the HARD Corps" teaser? I think this will be another crossover appearance and not a new title, but with who? Bloodshot is the logical choice, though if they start hunting Vine Plantings maybe XO or Ninjak make sense (even though I'd prefer Ninjak leading Secret Weapons). Or could it be someone not on that board like Livewire (who is also prefer with the Secret Weapons)?

I like the look of that HARD Corps ad - if memory serves, wasn't that a tagline for an issue in the original run?

I'm starting to wonder if some of those names on the list of three from the article aren't perhaps just going to be further appearances in existing titles. For example, Eternal Warrior is showing up in XO for #15 & 16... which are coming in July & August...

[drmirage]

I looked! Whoa!!! I love HARD Corps!!!

[dornwolf]

. I personally think that VEI should have chosen a different name to separate themselves from the Valiant of old and to make it so old readers won't have something to complain about for the sake of complaining because they feel it didn't match up to the Unity of old. But what the hell, let them run with it and tell a great story in the process.

Also speaking as a new guy. The old name is simply brand recognition the same as DC's

[Keith]

At the very least, this should satisfy those folks questioning/concerned if this is a shared universe or not. Who was involved in the last one? Everybody. If they stay true to the name, who will be involved in this one? Everybody.

[betterthanezra]

I think we might know that super secret Project Cary Nord was working on

-Brian

[lorddunlow]

I love the news, just wish RAI was around though! Can't wait to see what happens with Unity.

Something tells me he'll be introduced in Unity.

[Dr. Solar]

Your preconceptions about what Unity is going to be are probably wrong.

...and they promise it is something neither new nor old Valiant attempted

[MoonChild]

I love the news, just wish RAI was around though! Can't wait to see what happens with Unity.

Something tells me he'll be introduced in Unity.

That'd be cool. He died in the original, so him being introduced in this one would rule. I hope they use Mothergod for this as well

[blujay]

Unity? Yeah I'm down, I still need to read through the original I do have all the issues. Still wondering what happened to "Rai Spring 2013" though

[BugsySig]

Unity? Yeah I'm down, I still need to read through the original I do have all the issues. Still wondering what happened to "Rai Spring 2013" though

Still a month and a half left of Spring