Valiant MAY 2014 Solicitations

[Donovan]

Seems a really odd decision to me.

One possible, and not very odd scenario could be as follows... Now that Kindt has arrived in the sandbox, they're holding up EW because they've found a way to integrate the 4001's of both Rai and EW.

The other option would be to continue doing Eternal Warrior for a few months with 'filler' stories.

And we all saw how much fun Shadowman was for those few months...

[lorddunlow]

Info on Eternal Warrior from Greg Pak via Twitter

@comedianviet @manafmk @conspiracycamel Thanks for the interest in EW, y'all! Yes, we're going on hiatus for a few months as RAI rolls out.

Seems a really odd decision to me.

To be honest,there seems a few odd things about the new approach that seems to have been heralded by the VALIANT Firsts initiative.

So do they return from hiatus (or, if they do) with a new #1? #9? If the latter, I can see sales dwindling a lot on return.

The only thing about these changes that might bite them in the butt is that the less motivated retailers are going to just not order any of the new books. They'll be like "I don't know what the hell is going on. Screw it."

Other than that, I like that they are shaking things up a bit. I do wonder if the hiatus is strategic due to story positioning/maneuvering or because of delays from the creative teams.

[mateo107]

makes me wonder if they have a big event lined up for when all these books return...

still, I'd rather we had an Armor Hunters: Eternal Warrior mini or something in the meantime.

[lorddunlow]

makes me wonder if they have a big event lined up for when all these books return...

This is exactly what I was thinking when I mentioned it might be strategic story positioning. They want it to line up just right and they don't want lower quality filler stories for a few months.

At least that's what I'm optimistically telling myself.

[iwantvaliant]

Again, Q2 is not solicited, and it wasn't listed in the Valiant Firsts. Why would they announce in October and not have it come out by the following October?

[mateo107]

since Q2 wasn't announced in the Valiant Firsts, I wouldn't expect that until after September anyway. they might be waiting until it's finished to start it? or else there just hasn't been any room on the slate?

[bygranddesign]

Even with EW missing

May might be the most eventful month in the history VEI

Every title has some extra juice this month except maybe Q&W
Rai #1
X-O #25
Harbinger #23 - death of a renegade
Bloodshot VS Hardcorp
New A&A arc
SM END Times - return of Master Darque
Unity #7 - conclusion of Webnet

[SJS4]

Wow, cannot put in to words how *SQUEE* i am EW is "on hiatus." Not gonna do something extreme yet, but i am seriously considering canceling all VEI purchases. So disappointed in VEI right now.

[Tannerman]

The hyperbole-filled reactions in this thread are amusing.

Step back, breathe.

[jedimarley]

Second highest selling book for the month of January goes on hiatus.

[bygranddesign]

Wow, cannot put in to words how *SQUEE* i am EW is "on hiatus." Not gonna do something extreme yet, but i am seriously considering canceling all VEI purchases. So disappointed in VEI right now.

EW is one of the main characters of Unity so he'll still be around.

And he is supposedly going to show up in the Rai series

I'm sort of miffed myself that its going on hiatus. I feel like there are THOUSANDS of years of stories to tell with EW yet its being put on hold after only 8 issues? It makes me feel like not all their ducks were in a row when it comes to the character. Like perhaps Matt Kindt's version of 4001 EW will be different than the one established in the Eternal Emperor arc..

I enjoy Pak's writing style for the most part - he gets to the emotional core of a character and a story - but I don't get the feeling that all of his blood, guts and enthusiasm are behind the stories.

[mero19]

There is definatly some weird decisions going on ( no EW, witch is one of the few valiant books my LCS actually gets shelf copies for ). I can go along with most of this and I've been waiting for a Rai announcement since I heard of the VEI launch, but polybagging an issue for no discernible reason makes me not even bother with it. Hopefully there's not 5 different cards inserted drawn by Leifeld....

[FormerReader]

Lots of great stuff coming up. Like everyone else said I'm also disappointed about Eternal Warrior. I hope we get some info. on the future plans soon.

I re-read the first arc the other night and found I liked it much more than I did on the first read. I'm looking forward to the third arc.

[jedimarley]

Polybagged?

Oh good god.

[jedimarley]

There is definatly some weird decisions going on ( no EW, witch is one of the few valiant books my LCS actually gets shelf copies for ). I can go along with most of this and I've been waiting for a Rai announcement since I heard of the VEI launch, but polybagging an issue for no discernible reason makes me not even bother with it. Hopefully there's not 5 different cards inserted drawn by Leifeld....

It's Polybagged for a reason. At $4.99, it could be very expensive for someone who wants every variation.

[TheFallen]

I buy VEI in digital and TPB. How am I supposed to read the extra 15 pages of Rai?

[SJS4]

I buy VEI in digital and TPB. How am I supposed to read the extra 15 pages of Rai?

I have to admit i have never heard of a company putting out a comic with an explicit promise that they would NOT include it as part of later collections. Considering how important tpb sales are nowadays it seems particularly puzzling.

[Donovan]

I buy VEI in digital and TPB. How am I supposed to read the extra 15 pages of Rai?

I have to admit i have never heard of a company putting out a comic with an explicit promise that they would NOT include it as part of later collections. Considering how important tpb sales are nowadays it seems particularly puzzling.

Your honour, as evidence, I present Image's Fatale, by Brubaker and Phillips: "And don't forget all the back page extras you can only find in FATALE's single issues every month!"

https://www.imagecomics.com/comics/series/fatale

[SJS4]

Huh, go figure. Still seems like a strange way to do business, as it discourages tpb sales down the line and make it that much less user friendly for new readers. The only Image book i read is Saga though, ao i am not familiar with their other series.

[SJS4]

So i clicked on the link, and this is from their HC collection solicit:

This beautiful oversized edition contains all the extras that BRUBAKER and PHILLIPS fans have come to expect from their deluxe hardbacks, including behind-the-scenes art and stories, sketches and layouts, back page illustrations, and several of Jess Nevins' historical essays, as well.

Sometimes i am glad i don't collect that many different series. I am sure they aren't lying in their single issue solicit and there is something in each issue that isn't reprinted, but it seems at least a little disingenuous to then solicit "extras that...fans have come to expect..." In the hardcover, considering they are advertising int their single issues that they won't put THOSE extras in the collected editions.

Seems way too complicated. I have been buying the VEI hardcovers up until now, but will definitely stop bothering with them going forward since this is the "clever" new direction they are going.

[mero19]

It's Polybagged for a reason.

What is this reason? Both pages I read only said 15 extra pages.

[SJS4]

It's Polybagged for a reason.

What is this reason? Both pages I read only said 15 extra pages.

Presumably so everyone that wants to actually read the extra pages is forced to buy two copies...one to read and one to store in pristine unopened condition. Hm....why does this sound like a familiar tactic...

[jmatt]

Polybagged?

Oh good god.

Did I step into a time machine? Is it 1995 again?

I honestly don't know how to feel about all of this.

[xodacia81]

The hyperbole-filled reactions in this thread are amusing.

Step back, breathe.

I've learned to go a step further. Maybe two. I step back, point and laugh and keep on reading and enjoying the books. Life is too short to take every decision so personally.

[Donovan]

Presumably so everyone that wants to actually read the extra pages is forced to buy two copies...one to read and one to store in pristine unopened condition. Hm....why does this sound like a familiar tactic...

Do the people who would want to keep an unopened polybag still exist?! I mean, what's the point?

We need to let 1994 go!