The Death-Defying Doctor Mirage!

[MoonChild]

Really enjoyed the original, now that I know its sticking to the original concept im juiced for this one.

[mateo107]

agreed, MoonChild. when first introduced, this new Dr. Mirage seemed so radical of a departure that she was just Dr. Mirage in name only, and I think it's awesome how they've incorporated the original concept back into it.

[kjjohanson]

I have to admit, while i am kind of bummed by the gimmicks, i like the look of this series. The "switch" of having "Dr. Mirage" a female makes a lot more sense now that we know Hwen is dead (or in Deadside). Really interesting concept IMHO.

I am kind of disappointed to see RDLT handling art on this series. His style was PERFECT for Shadowman. I am sure i will dig his art here as well, but again IMHO Dr. Mirage as a concept seems like it would be fine even with a more traditional style of art.

Anyway, will keep my fingers crossed and will definitely be adding this title to my pull list.

Edit: PS. Why do people keep posting ghat Dr Mirage should be lesbian? Don't get it.

The lesbian thing is because she at first seemed to be a sex-swapped version of Hwen, which many (myself included) meant she'd be with Carmen Ruiz and be ghostly. What they're doing is interesting and surprising, but I would really have liked the other take too. I hope Carmen still shows up in the series somehow...

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

[Shadowman99]

I have to admit, while i am kind of bummed by the gimmicks, i like the look of this series. The "switch" of having "Dr. Mirage" a female makes a lot more sense now that we know Hwen is dead (or in Deadside). Really interesting concept IMHO.

I am kind of disappointed to see RDLT handling art on this series. His style was PERFECT for Shadowman. I am sure i will dig his art here as well, but again IMHO Dr. Mirage as a concept seems like it would be fine even with a more traditional style of art.

Anyway, will keep my fingers crossed and will definitely be adding this title to my pull list.

Edit: PS. Why do people keep posting ghat Dr Mirage should be lesbian? Don't get it.

The lesbian thing is because she at first seemed to be a sex-swapped version of Hwen, which many (myself included) meant she'd be with Carmen Ruiz and be ghostly. What they're doing is interesting and surprising, but I would really have liked the other take too. I hope Carmen still shows up in the series somehow...

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

[xodacia81]

I have to admit, while i am kind of bummed by the gimmicks, i like the look of this series. The "switch" of having "Dr. Mirage" a female makes a lot more sense now that we know Hwen is dead (or in Deadside). Really interesting concept IMHO.

I am kind of disappointed to see RDLT handling art on this series. His style was PERFECT for Shadowman. I am sure i will dig his art here as well, but again IMHO Dr. Mirage as a concept seems like it would be fine even with a more traditional style of art.

Anyway, will keep my fingers crossed and will definitely be adding this title to my pull list.

Edit: PS. Why do people keep posting ghat Dr Mirage should be lesbian? Don't get it.

The lesbian thing is because she at first seemed to be a sex-swapped version of Hwen, which many (myself included) meant she'd be with Carmen Ruiz and be ghostly. What they're doing is interesting and surprising, but I would really have liked the other take too. I hope Carmen still shows up in the series somehow...

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

[kjjohanson]

I have to admit, while i am kind of bummed by the gimmicks, i like the look of this series. The "switch" of having "Dr. Mirage" a female makes a lot more sense now that we know Hwen is dead (or in Deadside). Really interesting concept IMHO.

I am kind of disappointed to see RDLT handling art on this series. His style was PERFECT for Shadowman. I am sure i will dig his art here as well, but again IMHO Dr. Mirage as a concept seems like it would be fine even with a more traditional style of art.

Anyway, will keep my fingers crossed and will definitely be adding this title to my pull list.

Edit: PS. Why do people keep posting ghat Dr Mirage should be lesbian? Don't get it.

The lesbian thing is because she at first seemed to be a sex-swapped version of Hwen, which many (myself included) meant she'd be with Carmen Ruiz and be ghostly. What they're doing is interesting and surprising, but I would really have liked the other take too. I hope Carmen still shows up in the series somehow...

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

It's a tongue-in cheek joke that he finds funny because he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.

[leonmallett]

Looking forward to this; very much so!

[Aram]

The lesbian thing is because she at first seemed to be a sex-swapped version of Hwen, which many (myself included) meant she'd be with Carmen Ruiz and be ghostly. What they're doing is interesting and surprising, but I would really have liked the other take too. I hope Carmen still shows up in the series somehow...

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

It's a tongue-in cheek joke that he finds funny because he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.

Apparently anyone who understands the concept of polyamory and that sex sells is immature?

I guess Bob Layton only had the maturity of the average 13 year old male when he wrote the first 13 issues of Dr Mirage, filling them with frequent sexual innuendo and references?

I stand behind my comment, though it was also tongue in cheek. It is in fact the first place my mind went with reading people
s comments about Dr. Mirage being gay. The mere fact that My favorite original Valiant Book of which I am arguably one of the world's biggest fans(if not the biggest).. has been completely twisted around for the VEI universe and 50% of what made that book (Carmen Ruiz and the love\relationship shared with Hwen) is now changed. Dr. Mirage is NOT Carmen.

I don't see any first string characters getting their names and characters swapped around like this which tells me one of two things.. either she will end up changed (second life) into Carmen Ruiz.. or Carmen is gone. Polyamory or "Dr Mirage" having a second life as Carmen Ruiz.. are the only logical answers that I could think of to bring Carmen in at this point without diminishing her character from VH1.

Now add in the fact that I recall that in issue 13 there is a bit of a love triangle involving Carmen, Hwen and a "close friend" (Walt Willey) who is Hwen's old college roommate, though things happened at different times with Carmen. A polyamorous love triangle from the college days would actually throw a nod back to the original story, provide a intriguing means to bringing Carmen back AND tackling a current hot topic issues of personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it.

But I guess that makes me immature?

[xodacia81]

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

It's a tongue-in cheek joke that he finds funny because he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.

Apparently anyone who understands the concept of polyamory and that sex sells is immature?

I guess Bob Layton only had the maturity of the average 13 year old male when he wrote the first 13 issues of Dr Mirage, filling them with frequent sexual innuendo and references?

I stand behind my comment, though it was also tongue in cheek. It is in fact the first place my mind went with reading people
s comments about Dr. Mirage being gay. The mere fact that My favorite original Valiant Book of which I am arguably one of the world's biggest fans(if not the biggest).. has been completely twisted around for the VEI universe and 50% of what made that book (Carmen Ruiz and the love\relationship shared with Hwen) is now changed. Dr. Mirage is NOT Carmen.

I don't see any first string characters getting their names and characters swapped around like this which tells me one of two things.. either she will end up changed (second life) into Carmen Ruiz.. or Carmen is gone. Polyamory or "Dr Mirage" having a second life as Carmen Ruiz.. are the only logical answers that I could think of to bring Carmen in at this point without diminishing her character from VH1.

Now add in the fact that I recall that in issue 13 there is a bit of a love triangle involving Carmen, Hwen and a "close friend" (Walt Willey) who is Hwen's old college roommate, though things happened at different times with Carmen. A polyamorous love triangle from the college days would actually throw a nod back to the original story, provide a intriguing means to bringing Carmen back AND tackling a current hot topic issues of personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it.

But I guess that makes me immature?

No. But...it was all in jest. Poking fun at perceptions of comic fans. Not any one person or viewpoint in particular.

[lorddunlow]

But I guess that makes me immature?

Yup. Come Google "continuity porn" with me!

[kjjohanson]

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

It's a tongue-in cheek joke that he finds funny because he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.

Apparently anyone who understands the concept of polyamory and that sex sells is immature?

I guess Bob Layton only had the maturity of the average 13 year old male when he wrote the first 13 issues of Dr Mirage, filling them with frequent sexual innuendo and references?

I stand behind my comment, though it was also tongue in cheek. It is in fact the first place my mind went with reading people's comments about Dr. Mirage being gay. The mere fact that My favorite original Valiant Book of which I am arguably one of the world's biggest fans(if not the biggest).. has been completely twisted around for the VEI universe and 50% of what made that book (Carmen Ruiz and the love\relationship shared with Hwen) is now changed. Dr. Mirage is NOT Carmen.

I don't see any first string characters getting their names and characters swapped around like this which tells me one of two things.. either she will end up changed (second life) into Carmen Ruiz.. or Carmen is gone. Polyamory or "Dr Mirage" having a second life as Carmen Ruiz.. are the only logical answers that I could think of to bring Carmen in at this point without diminishing her character from VH1.

Now add in the fact that I recall that in issue 13 there is a bit of a love triangle involving Carmen, Hwen and a "close friend" (Walt Willey) who is Hwen's old college roommate, though things happened at different times with Carmen. A polyamorous love triangle from the college days would actually throw a nod back to the original story, provide a intriguing means to bringing Carmen back AND tackling a current hot topic issues of personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it.

But I guess that makes me immature?

It was more the presentation:

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

that I found somewhat sophomoric (or should I say "sapphomoric"? ). I certainly don't think an exploration of "personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it" is immature in and of itself. It all comes down to how it's presented.

[Aram]

I agree. There was nothing explicit about my comment, I for one lived the subtlety of vh1. Perhaps how a little skin, characters make a few comments, set the stage and move on. As much as I love Saga, I was rather shocked on first read through. No subtlety in that book.

[Spylocke]

I was on the fence until it finally clicked in my brain where I knew the name Jen Van Meter from. Hopeless Savages. I loved that series from Oni.
I'm not Rai-level excited but I'm interested.

[Shadowman99]

You're saying that Valiant should focus on fulfilling your personal sexual fantasies?

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

It's a tongue-in cheek joke that he finds funny because he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.

Apparently anyone who understands the concept of polyamory and that sex sells is immature?

I guess Bob Layton only had the maturity of the average 13 year old male when he wrote the first 13 issues of Dr Mirage, filling them with frequent sexual innuendo and references?

I stand behind my comment, though it was also tongue in cheek. It is in fact the first place my mind went with reading people's comments about Dr. Mirage being gay. The mere fact that My favorite original Valiant Book of which I am arguably one of the world's biggest fans(if not the biggest).. has been completely twisted around for the VEI universe and 50% of what made that book (Carmen Ruiz and the love\relationship shared with Hwen) is now changed. Dr. Mirage is NOT Carmen.

I don't see any first string characters getting their names and characters swapped around like this which tells me one of two things.. either she will end up changed (second life) into Carmen Ruiz.. or Carmen is gone. Polyamory or "Dr Mirage" having a second life as Carmen Ruiz.. are the only logical answers that I could think of to bring Carmen in at this point without diminishing her character from VH1.

Now add in the fact that I recall that in issue 13 there is a bit of a love triangle involving Carmen, Hwen and a "close friend" (Walt Willey) who is Hwen's old college roommate, though things happened at different times with Carmen. A polyamorous love triangle from the college days would actually throw a nod back to the original story, provide a intriguing means to bringing Carmen back AND tackling a current hot topic issues of personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it.

But I guess that makes me immature?

It was more the presentation:

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

that I found somewhat sophomoric (or should I say "sapphomoric"? ). I certainly don't think an exploration of "personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it" is immature in and of itself. It all comes down to how it's presented.

Yep, I'm afraid it was indeed in the way that you presented your initial idea. Your more indepth explanation of your thought process was much more eloquent, and infinitely easier to take more seriously.

As for your actual idea itself, I think that exploring a love triangle isn't a bad idea at all, especially when one considers that doctor Mirage could meet a living person that attracts her interest somewhat. The temptation to take an alternative that's considerably easier to access than her dead lover give this idea some weight. But I'm not convinced that it necessarily needs to be a character called 'Carmen' that echoes the old VH1 days.

I know you said you're a huge fan of 'the old stuff', but VEI isn't about 'the old stuff', it's about creating exciting NEW stories. I'm fine if VEI want to update and reintroduce this character, but I'm simply pointing out that there isn't strictly a need for it. There's absolutely no point in VEI simply retelling previously published stories. Those comics are out there to find for people that want to find it already. VEI is about telling new stories. And on that note, when Dr. Mirage hits the shelves I sincerely hope you like them as much, if not more, than 'the old stuff'

[Aram]

Methinks that Aram was making a tongue-in cheek joke

Either that or he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.


I'm looking forward to this. I'm very pleased to see an expansion of Shadowman's little corner of the universe, and I'm digging the tragic romance thing that's set to be going down here. Definitely checking it out when it hits the rack.

He's a comic book fan. Couldn't it be both?

It's a tongue-in cheek joke that he finds funny because he genuinely has the maturity of the average 13-year old male.

Apparently anyone who understands the concept of polyamory and that sex sells is immature?

I guess Bob Layton only had the maturity of the average 13 year old male when he wrote the first 13 issues of Dr Mirage, filling them with frequent sexual innuendo and references?

I stand behind my comment, though it was also tongue in cheek. It is in fact the first place my mind went with reading people's comments about Dr. Mirage being gay. The mere fact that My favorite original Valiant Book of which I am arguably one of the world's biggest fans(if not the biggest).. has been completely twisted around for the VEI universe and 50% of what made that book (Carmen Ruiz and the love\relationship shared with Hwen) is now changed. Dr. Mirage is NOT Carmen.

I don't see any first string characters getting their names and characters swapped around like this which tells me one of two things.. either she will end up changed (second life) into Carmen Ruiz.. or Carmen is gone. Polyamory or "Dr Mirage" having a second life as Carmen Ruiz.. are the only logical answers that I could think of to bring Carmen in at this point without diminishing her character from VH1.

Now add in the fact that I recall that in issue 13 there is a bit of a love triangle involving Carmen, Hwen and a "close friend" (Walt Willey) who is Hwen's old college roommate, though things happened at different times with Carmen. A polyamorous love triangle from the college days would actually throw a nod back to the original story, provide a intriguing means to bringing Carmen back AND tackling a current hot topic issues of personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it.

But I guess that makes me immature?

It was more the presentation:

How about as a "very" close "mutual" friend.. From their "experimental" college years? With flahbacks! You know what I'm sayin'! tell me that wouldn't sell a SQUEE-load of books!

that I found somewhat sophomoric (or should I say "sapphomoric"? ). I certainly don't think an exploration of "personal choice of love, sexual identity and society's acceptance/rejection of it" is immature in and of itself. It all comes down to how it's presented.

Yep, I'm afraid it was indeed in the way that you presented your initial idea. Your more indepth explanation of your thought process was much more eloquent, and infinitely easier to take more seriously.

As for your actual idea itself, I think that exploring a love triangle isn't a bad idea at all, especially when one considers that doctor Mirage could meet a living person that attracts her interest somewhat. The temptation to take an alternative that's considerably easier to access than her dead lover give this idea some weight. But I'm not convinced that it necessarily needs to be a character called 'Carmen' that echoes the old VH1 days.

I know you said you're a huge fan of 'the old stuff', but VEI isn't about 'the old stuff', it's about creating exciting NEW stories. I'm fine if VEI want to update and reintroduce this character, but I'm simply pointing out that there isn't strictly a need for it. There's absolutely no point in VEI simply retelling previously published stories. Those comics are out there to find for people that want to find it already. VEI is about telling new stories. And on that note, when Dr. Mirage hits the shelves I sincerely hope you like them as much, if not more, than 'the old stuff'

Uhm, have to differ in opinion in this one because VEI has clearly shown they value history in all the other titles. I'm open to change in stories, but like I said.. What other characters have been changed so much? (Assuming Carmen is gone)
I'm not worried at all about it either way. I know from multiple conversations with Dinesh at the cons that He has had really great stuff lined up and he's been specifically really been wanting to let this one loose! He wouldnt say a thing about what they were though.