Ranking the VALIANT titles (again)

[leonmallett]

I know there have been other threads, but we are now up to 7 ongoing titles, so how do members rank each of the titles now?

For me in order:
1. Archer & Armstrong: My favourite VEI book, consistently, month after month. I just enjoy it so much as a read. It ranks as one of my two favourite books right now from any publisher (alongside Astro City).
2. Bloodshot and HARDCorps: Bloodshot has been another cosnsitent title for me; the only drop off perhaps being the HW arc. The relaunch feels like a very strong change in direction.
3. Eternal Warrior: Two issues in and this is another book that I really enjoy already. Gilad already has a complexity that I like, and the flashbacks work very well so far.
4. Shadowman: Some momentum has been lost recently, which is odd because I like done-in-one issues and we have had a couple back to back. I hope the new team respects the etsablished mythos and works in a way to compliment and build upon that.
5. Harbinger: I am not sure why I don't like this more. It is not a bad book, and when ranking, something has to come lower down, but something just does not quite click for me. That said, Harada has been possibly the most compelling character in the whole VALIANT relaunch for me, so that is certainly no bad thing. I would love to see Chronos (spelling?) added to the team.
6. X-O Manowar: The decision to found a new Dacia is the most interesting thing for me since the Ninjak arc. I think a bit of stability in location/base of operations and supporting cast would be welcome.
Quantum and Woody.
7. Quantum and Woody: What is my least favourite is many people's favourite I am sure, which shows that VEI is catering to many tastes - a good thing in my opinion.

[leonmallett]

So how would you rank the books right now?

[bribri]

1. Harbinger
2. Archer & Armstrong
3. X-O Manowar
4. Bloodshot
5. Eternal Warrior
6. Quantum & Woody
7. Shadowman

[kjjohanson]

1. Archer & Armstrong (It may have gotten even better with #14)
2. Harbinger (consistently solid)
3(tie). Bloodshot & H.A.R.D.Corps / Eternal Warrior (still kinda early to tell on both of these, with only 2 issues of EW and the revamp of B&H)
5. X-O Manowar (I'm liking the new Dacia concept, but Planet Death was a let-down)
6. Shadowman (I expect this will require a re-evaluation after the new team starts on #13.
7. Quantum & Woody (Woody isn't likeable and I feel as if they're trying to sell him as a sympathetic character. It isn't working)

[Tim]

Favorite to least favorite:

1. Harbinger
2. X-O Manowar
3. Bloodshot (got a serious bump after #14)
4. Quantum and Woody (but it's starting to lose something for me after the first couple of issues)
5. Archer and Armstrong (last couple of issues were pretty good though)
6. Shadowman (but I look for it to get a bump when Milligan comes on board)

To early to rank Eternal Warrior because I've only seen one issue, but I get the feeling it's going to rank high.

[comicsyte95]

X-O Manowar
Archer and Armstrong
Harbinger
Bloodshot
Eternal Warrior
Quantum And Woody
Shadowman

[jmatt]

Harbinger
a&A
X-O
EW
Bloodshot
Q&W
Shadowman

[Jac13]

1. Quantum And Woody (Loved everything so far and each issue has gotten better)
2. Archer and Armstrong (This has been my my number one since the start and only Q&W has bumped it)
3. X-O Manowar (This was my number two but it slipped a little since Planet Death)
4. Harbinger (Love this book but not my favorite story line at the moment)
5. Bloodshot (Need to read more since the revamp but I like where it is going)
6. Eternal Warrior (Only read the first issue so far and wasn't blown away like i was with Q&W, but i Think this will be moving up soon)
7. Shadowman (Only title I'm disappointed with. Looking forward to what happens with issue 13)

It will be fun to see where Unity gets slotted in!

[hawkeyeps]

Bloodshot and HARD Corps
Harbinger
XO Manowar
Eternal Warrior
Shadowman
Quantum and Woody
Archer and Armstrong

[Peter]

1. Archer & Armstrong
2. Eternal Warrior
3. X-O Manowar
4. Harbinger
5. Shadowman
6. Bloodshot

[kevinbastos]

Harbinger
Quantum And Woody
Bloodshot
Eternal Warrior
Archer and Armstrong
X-O Manowar
Shadowman

Wow. That was tough. Especially since my 'two at the top' have been not as good lately.

Bloodshot, though, has been MUCH better. Its ranking may simply lie in JUST the last issue.
Eternal Warrior 2, I thought was fantastic.

X-O has been better, too.

Really, anywhere from 1-6 could slide easily around. And Shadowman has had some of the best comics in Valiant run - 0 and 10.

[lorddunlow]

1. Bloodshot / Harbinger (tie) - I have a feeling Bloodshot is going to overtake Harby - we shall see
3. Archer and Armstrong
4. Eternal Warrior
5. Shadowman (if I pretend #11 never existed)
6. X-O

[krylox]

1. Harbinger
2. Archer & Armstrong
3. Bloodshot

(haven't read Eternal Warrior, yet)

[BugsySig]

Harbinger (future generations will refer to this run as a classic)
A&A (most consistent in story and art every issue)
Quantum & Woody (maybe the single most enjoyable read and strongest first arc)
XO (has had its ups and downs for me)
Eternal Warrior (#2 was fantastic, but it's still early)
Bloodshot (I'll save judgement on BS&HC for now, but Bloodshot on his own fell flat about halfway through the 2nd arc)
Shadowman (just too many problems across the board since the beginning)

The best news? My bottom two just got new creative teams and concept overhauls that make them must reads. I also have a feeling Unity will be fantastic.

[Chiclo]

X-O Manowar
Harbinger (to be fair, it is better than X-O but I like X-O better)
Eternal Warrior
Archer & Armstrong
Quantum and Woody
Bloodshot and HARD Corps
...
...
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Shadowman

[leonmallett]

X-O Manowar
Harbinger (to be fair, it is better than X-O but I like X-O better)
Eternal Warrior
Archer & Armstrong
Quantum and Woody
Bloodshot and HARD Corps
...
...
...
Shadowman

You are REALLY not liking Shadowman there I guess?

[Chiclo]

X-O Manowar
Harbinger (to be fair, it is better than X-O but I like X-O better)
Eternal Warrior
Archer & Armstrong
Quantum and Woody
Bloodshot and HARD Corps
...
...
...
Shadowman

You are REALLY not liking Shadowman there I guess?

I would have dropped it were I not on a podcast. I think the last time we discussed Shadowman, I was even an issue behind.

[leonmallett]

X-O Manowar
Harbinger (to be fair, it is better than X-O but I like X-O better)
Eternal Warrior
Archer & Armstrong
Quantum and Woody
Bloodshot and HARD Corps
...
...
...
Shadowman

You are REALLY not liking Shadowman there I guess?

I would have dropped it were I not on a podcast. I think the last time we discussed Shadowman, I was even an issue behind.

For me the book 'on the cusp' is Quantum and Woody. While VEI continues to grow, I feel I want to support them as much as possible, and I think buying (for example) Q&W does that more than me buying an additional variant for a book I enjoy more (although the odd variant does sneak into the comics collection...). But it is an informed choice, for those reasons, and no-one can be faulted for dropping any book they do not like. The fact that there is an array of books each offering a different tone and set-up is a cool thing by VEI, and I feel that compared to a publisher like DC as an example, there feels a more considered depth of tone even across just 7 books. Even if according to each individual taste some could be better.

[Chiclo]

X-O Manowar
Harbinger (to be fair, it is better than X-O but I like X-O better)
Eternal Warrior
Archer & Armstrong
Quantum and Woody
Bloodshot and HARD Corps
...
...
...
Shadowman

You are REALLY not liking Shadowman there I guess?

I would have dropped it were I not on a podcast. I think the last time we discussed Shadowman, I was even an issue behind.

For me the book 'on the cusp' is Quantum and Woody. While VEI continues to grow, I feel I want to support them as much as possible, and I think buying (for example) Q&W does that more than me buying an additional variant for a book I enjoy more (although the odd variant does sneak into the comics collection...). But it is an informed choice, for those reasons, and no-one can be faulted for dropping any book they do not like. The fact that there is an array of books each offering a different tone and set-up is a cool thing by VEI, and I feel that compared to a publisher like DC as an example, there feels a more considered depth of tone even across just 7 books. Even if according to each individual taste some could be better.

Quantum and Woody is slowly sliding down my list. I have only read one Dysart Bloodshot issue yet but if the second issue is as good, Q&W drops another spot. I doubt it will overtake Shadowman for dead last, though.

[leonmallett]

X-O Manowar
Harbinger (to be fair, it is better than X-O but I like X-O better)
Eternal Warrior
Archer & Armstrong
Quantum and Woody
Bloodshot and HARD Corps
...
...
...
Shadowman

You are REALLY not liking Shadowman there I guess?

I would have dropped it were I not on a podcast. I think the last time we discussed Shadowman, I was even an issue behind.

For me the book 'on the cusp' is Quantum and Woody. While VEI continues to grow, I feel I want to support them as much as possible, and I think buying (for example) Q&W does that more than me buying an additional variant for a book I enjoy more (although the odd variant does sneak into the comics collection...). But it is an informed choice, for those reasons, and no-one can be faulted for dropping any book they do not like. The fact that there is an array of books each offering a different tone and set-up is a cool thing by VEI, and I feel that compared to a publisher like DC as an example, there feels a more considered depth of tone even across just 7 books. Even if according to each individual taste some could be better.

Quantum and Woody is slowly sliding down my list. I have only read one Dysart Bloodshot issue yet but if the second issue is as good, Q&W drops another spot. I doubt it will overtake Shadowman for dead last, though.

So will you keep on with Shadowman?

[MarkRoseHFX]

Harbinger
Archer & Armstrong
X-O Manowar
Quantum and Woody
Eternal Warrior
Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps
Shadowman

[swtor1091]

For me it would be:

Harbinger: Just a consistent read that has kept me on my toes since i read the first issue online and was the reason why i am collecting Valiant as I am now. Plus the characters are amazing and I can identify with them so much.

Quantum and Woody: Again the characters are just so well written and I can't help but to care for them and the story that is being told is a great one and I am looking forward to the future.

Eternal Warrior: A comic i wasn't sure that I wanted but I know that I do know. The second issue was so perfect and hit all the right notes. I had a huge smile plastered on my face as I read it.

X-O Manowar- A great comic but as some have said on the boards it just isnt shocking but its good also the first valiant comic I read online.

Archer & Armstrong: An epic comic that deserves are praise and gets me with the cliffhangers more often than not. I just feel that the comic could go down hill quickly if they bring in something too weird or crazy. I have faith that Fred won't do this however

Bloodshot and the Hardcorps: A comic which was on my top three list maybe seven or six months ago but during the third arc it went down in quality fast and its going to take a lot of work for it to get out of that slog. Saying that Justin Jordan and Christos Gage are off on a very good start.

Shadowman: Terrible comic if i didn't want to give valiant money I would drop it and never read it again and Peter Milligan has a lot for work in store to get me on board with anything shadowman. At the moment that comic is done for me. When I read an issue i always have a bad taste in my mouth. THough zero and ten were fine...

[MarkRoseHFX]

For me it would be:

Harbinger: Just a consistent read that has kept me on my toes since i read the first issue online and was the reason why i am collecting Valiant as I am now. Plus the characters are amazing and I can identify with them so much.

Quantum and Woody: Again the characters are just so well written and I can't help but to care for them and the story that is being told is a great one and I am looking forward to the future.

Eternal Warrior: A comic i wasn't sure that I wanted but I know that I do know. The second issue was so perfect and hit all the right notes. I had a huge smile plastered on my face as I read it.

X-O Manowar- A great comic but as some have said on the boards it just isnt shocking but its good also the first valiant comic I read online.

Archer & Armstrong: An epic comic that deserves are praise and gets me with the cliffhangers more often than not. I just feel that the comic could go down hill quickly if they bring in something too weird or crazy. I have faith that Fred won't do this however

Bloodshot and the Hardcorps: A comic which was on my top three list maybe seven or six months ago but during the third arc it went down in quality fast and its going to take a lot of work for it to get out of that slog. Saying that Justin Jordan and Christos Gage are off on a very good start.

Shadowman: Terrible comic if i didn't want to give valiant money I would drop it and never read it again and Peter Milligan has a lot for work in store to get me on board with anything shadowman. At the moment that comic is done for me. When I read an issue i always have a bad taste in my mouth. THough zero and ten were fine...

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the old stuff: I don't read it

Fixed

[Dallow Spicer1]

1) XO
2) Harby
3) Quantum & Woody
4) Bloodshot
5) Eternal Warrior (only read issue 1 so far, looks promising though)
6) Shadowman (dropped but will give #13 a try)
7) A&A (dropped..could be great...but frustratingly isn't!)

[ShadowTuga]

Harbinger
X-O
Archer & Armstrong
H.A.R.D.Corps & Bloodshot (based in one issue, "Bloodshot" alone would be under EW and Q&W)
Eternal Warrior (issue 2 was insanely good- can easily become my 2nd favourite book if it keeps going like that. )
Quantum & Woody (never imagined liking it this much, really)
Shadowman (I'm confident that Milligan and RDLT will change this, though)