Quantum & Woody #6

[leonmallett]

I really did not enjoy this.

The plotting in this book is just driven along by contrivance at times (the password cracking by Woody, Eric finding the uniform this issue; plenty of examples in the last arc); the targets for the 'humour' just seems too easy and obvious; I haven't found it funny in 6 issues other than once or twice. And the art this issue had some major flaws - I did not mind the character renditions, but the guns, cars and plane were all poorly rendered; in fact I am struggling to think of a book that had that kind of deficiency.

Right now I am buying this to support VEI, but this book is the weakest of VEI's slate by far for me, and I think it may be time for me to drop my first VEI book. I may give it until issue 1 of the next arc, but if this was a book from DC or Marvel, I would have stopped getting it by now. I am only persevering in order to support the overall VALIANT line.

I can see that some seem to love it, but except for the covers (like those) this is just a poor package all around on my reading.

[lorddunlow]

Right now I am buying this to support VEI, but this book is the weakest of VEI's slate by far for me, and I think it may be time for me to drop my first VEI book. I may give it until issue 1 of the next arc, but if this was a book from DC or Marvel, I would have stopped getting it by now. I am only persevering in order to support the overall VALIANT line.

+1 to all of this. I'm officially placing this book on the chopping block - like leonmallet, I'm giving this until the first issue of the next arc before I make a final decision, but there are too many good books by other publishers that I'm passing on, in part because I'm wasting my money on this book. My support of VEI is the only reason I am still buying this book. I really did enjoy the first arc, so maybe it will return, but it's not just the art that is less than stellar in this second arc. The first arc was funny and beautifully drawn. This arc has art that is literally nauseating to me and the writing is stale and clichéd (and not that funny).

[leonmallett]

Right now I am buying this to support VEI, but this book is the weakest of VEI's slate by far for me, and I think it may be time for me to drop my first VEI book. I may give it until issue 1 of the next arc, but if this was a book from DC or Marvel, I would have stopped getting it by now. I am only persevering in order to support the overall VALIANT line.

+1 to all of this. I'm officially placing this book on the chopping block - like leonmallet, I'm giving this until the first issue of the next arc before I make a final decision, but there are too many good books by other publishers that I'm passing on, in part because I'm wasting my money on this book. My support of VEI is the only reason I am still buying this book. I really did enjoy the first arc, so maybe it will return, but it's not just the art that is less than stellar in this second arc. The first arc was funny and beautifully drawn. This arc has art that is literally nauseating to me and the writing is stale and clichéd (and not that funny).

Call me Leon, mate!

Thing is, there is not even another book I would add in if I do drop Quantum and Woody; VEI's loss would simply be that, no-one else's gain.

[BugsySig]

I'll usually give a book through its third arc before I cut it. With more books coming out soon, though, some will end up on the chopping block.

Honestly, Q&W, Eternal Warrior and Bloodshot/HARD Corps would all be getting cut pretty soon if they weren't VALIANT, or if they don't turn things around soon. Shadowman only got a reprieve with the new creative team, or that might be on the block too as Rai and other books come out.

[jmatt]

+1 to all of this. I'm officially placing this book on the chopping block - like leonmallet, I'm giving this until the first issue of the next arc before I make a final decision, but there are too many good books by other publishers that I'm passing on, in part because I'm wasting my money on this book. My support of VEI is the only reason I am still buying this book. I really did enjoy the first arc, so maybe it will return, but it's not just the art that is less than stellar in this second arc. The first arc was funny and beautifully drawn. This arc has art that is literally nauseating to me and the writing is stale and clichéd (and not that funny).

Eh, this arc had a few good moments. But I was thinking today that this could be the first title Valiant gives the ax. It's tough enough to do a funny super-hero book, but giving readers another reason to lose interest with weak art isn't helping.

I think it would be interesting to let someone like Seth Green have a run at it. His Robot Chicken parody stuff is hilarious and would be a good treatment for the title. I have no idea if he can write a comic or keep to a schedule, but someone like that would probably be interesting.

[Shadowman99]

The new artist on this book is really spoiling it for me

So far, Q+W has never been my favourite comic of the month or the one that I most looked forward to reading, but I've always thoroughly enjoyed it. But the art on the original arc was where half the humour came from for me, and reading these last two issues, I keep looking for the character's expressions and physical expression and... any kind of visual joke... and they're just not there I regard Q+W as a comedy book, so if it's not providing gags, then there's a problem.

I'm sure this new artist is trying their best, but the way I feel about the comic since issue #5 is that half the quality of the comic has just disappeared I'm afraid that until a new artist takes over that can provide these missing elements at least as well as the original artist did, then I think Quantum and Woody is going to start plunging toward dangerous territory.

The only laugh I had whilst reading these two issues was the car that Eric was driving: As a friend of mine says: "If you don't laugh, you'll only cry". Given the choice, I had to laugh at that godawful attempt at a car.

[Big Red]

I seem to have enjoyed this issue much more than others.

Issue 5 was disappointing but I liked this issue.

I do miss Tom Fowler though.

[mateo107]

I don't really have a problem with Ming's art, but after some re-reading I think her art doesn't quite pop because the colors on this arc have been more bland compared to the previouis arc. there's absolutely no shading, so characters look flat. I initially wasn't a big fan of Tom Fowler's art, but his art was still better imbellished because characters had 2-3 shades of color in each panel. personally, I've thought the coloring on Q&W has been weaker than the rest of the Valiant books, and reading the Acclaim series lately really makes me wish that would improve.

[Shadowman99]

I don't really have a problem with Ming's art, but after some re-reading I think her art doesn't quite pop because the colours on this arc have been more bland compared to the previous arc. there's absolutely no shading, so characters look flat. I initially wasn't a big fan of Tom Fowler's art, but his art was still better embellished because characters had 2-3 shades of color in each panel. personally, I've thought the colouring on Q&W has been weaker than the rest of the Valiant books, and reading the Acclaim series lately really makes me wish that would improve.

You're right about the flat and bland colouring. She just isn't drawing the characters with the expression, facially or physically, that Fowler's capable of either. The backgrounds are generally flatter and more bland even than the characters, so like SJS4 said, the art is really hurting this title

Need I mention the car again?

[leonmallett]

...Need I mention the car again?

<shudder> Thankfully not yet...waitaminute, you just did...<shudder>

And don't forget the 'plane'.

[lorddunlow]

I didn't notice the car, but it was probably due to the crippling nausea. I would say I would go back to see what everyone was talking about, but... again with the crippling nausea.

[hawkeyeps]

Oh yes you did

[Shadowman99]

Oh yes you did

[BugsySig]

I think he drives a Hugo.

[coachjamie]

I have not purchased issue #5 & 6 yet. I really liked the art of issue #1-4 that I have. I just started a pull box and not sure I would want to keep it going based on what I ahve read about #5 and #6. Issue #7 comes out this week I think right?

[ShadowTuga]

The art in this current storyline is not working for me, aswell.
I understand that VALIANT wanted to do something different with this boook, but IMHO right now it's just not appealing (in places, almost "ugly"), in therms of visuals. And storywise, it kinda lost a bit of momentum, but I'm willing to wait. The 1st arc was *SQUEE* hillarious, this one not so much, despite it's moments.
I have laughed hard due to this book in the last year and I'm still on board, but mostly - at this point- out of loyalty to the Big V.

I really miss Fowler's art- it was like peanut butter to Asmus' jelly.

[Shadowman99]

...storywise, it kinda lost a bit of momentum...

Yeah, this hadn't occurred to me actually, but this is probably the thing that made me think (when I read both issues in one sitting) "this story isn't as exciting as the previous one". The first story was pretty fast-paced in terms of all the stuff that happened, whereas this one seems to have slowed to snail's pace in comparison. It's taken two issues for Quantum to even get to the front door of the 'enemy' base

[Carson]

The book still has funny moments, but the plot isn't as loaded as the first arc.

The art is not working for me. It takes me out of the story. I don't mind the people and the expressions, but I end up looking at guns and cars and wondering why the heck they're drawn so poorly.

Also, Fowler drew a lot of hilarious body language that complimented Asmus' writing. I just don't see that chemistry in this arc.

Valiant, if you are reading, I hate to diss anyone's art, but please don't do another arc with this artist.

Looking forward to Fowler on #0 and the new artist on the third arc!

[ShadowTuga]

The book still has funny moments, but the plot isn't as loaded as the first arc.

The art is not working for me. It takes me out of the story. I don't mind the people and the expressions, but I end up looking at guns and cars and wondering why the heck they're drawn so poorly.

Also, Fowler drew a lot of hilarious body language that complimented Asmus' writing. I just don't see that chemistry in this arc.

Valiant, if you are reading, I hate to diss anyone's art, but please don't do another arc with this artist.

Looking forward to Fowler on #0 and the new artist on the third arc!

Word!