RAI #1 - Cover info

[bobby97801]

Where is the QR cover? Is it going to be a #1?

[bamaphilosopher]

I think I might just start getting one cover on new books ... I've always gone for a pullbox when available but I don't really need a ton of extra covers.

I don't blame you! I get annoyed when they come out with so many different covers to one issue. That's something Jim Shooter spoke out against in his original columns, and I tend to agree with him.

That said, I'm a sucker and I'll get all the ones that are regularly-priced, probably. And that's mainly because I don't want to tell my comic shop, "put all the covers in my box, and then I'll pick the best one and give the others back to you." So, I just take all the regular covers so that I don't miss on the one cover I like.

But when they come out with this many, it really annoys me. I don't mind so much when it's a first issue, like Rai 1 or Unity 1. But five covers of Unity 5, that kinda made me mad, because that basically forced a completist like me to buy five copies of a single issue.

If they do that too much, I think that could alienate some of the fans. It already annoys me to some degree.

At least some of the alternate Unity 5 covers were cool. If they hadn't been, I would've really been ticked.

But again, since this is a first issue, I'll do it.

But if they keep doing like they did with Unity 5, I may adopt your policy, and only buy one of the covers.

Then again, if they do as promised and keep the line around 9-10 titles, and don't expand beyond that, I suppose I can live with it for now.

If they blow up to 16 or more titles, and still do multiple covers? Then I'll have to reassess where I stand with Valiant and start dropping titles. Even now I get Quantum and Woody just because, but I don't really like it all that much (I hope it will grow on me). If they blow up too much and keep up the multiple cover crap, then I'll just start dropping titles, like Q and W.

[bamaphilosopher]

Where is the QR cover? Is it going to be a #1?

I haven't seen any mention of a QR cover. Did I miss something?

[bamaphilosopher]

Those covers are all awesome and will all be bought by me. I'm such a sucker.

Well, as I said above, I am a little annoyed when they put out so many covers.

That said, though, I guess I'm ultimately with you. I'll be buying them all, the regularly-priced ones anyway (probably not the 1 in 20, and definitely not the 1 in 75 - it's not cool enough to pay the ridiculous price I'd have to pay my comic shop for it, or whatever I'd have to pay on ebay).

[ShadowTuga]

Those covers are all awesome and will all be bought by me. I'm such a sucker.

Well, as I said above, I am a little annoyed when they put out so many covers.

That said, though, I guess I'm ultimately with you. I'll be buying them all, the regularly-priced ones anyway (probably not the 1 in 20, and definitely not the 1 in 75 - it's not cool enough to pay the ridiculous price I'd have to pay my comic shop for it, or whatever I'd have to pay on ebay).

Last Saturday I went to my LCS to pick up my comics. As soon as the owner saw me he said he wanted to have a word with me.
He just wanted to warn me that I had a buttload of covers on my pull, due to Unity #5. He seemed genuinely concerned that I might just said "screw it, it's too much" and got one cover and that's it.
I then told him I was already expecting it to be as big as it was, no probs, and he gave me that "it is a LOT of variants, you sure you want to keep doing this?"* as we flipped through the Previews catalog.

I'm getting only one cover for each book after Rai arrives, with the occasional variant I happen to like. Don't let the sheer number of variants make you resent VEI in any way. For a completist, it is hard. But DO buy every book, even if you don't like it.
Really, it is our fault that we want them all.

*I have my Valiant titles officially in my pull list, but the "every cover you can get me for 3.99" was an unwriten rule.

[vaevictis]

I found another cover for Rai #1

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/n ... =APR149998



BTW, they also have an exclusive X-O Manowar #25 cover

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/n ... =APR149997



Both are limited to 750 copies.

[kjjohanson]

I found another cover for Rai #1

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/n ... =APR149998



BTW, they also have an exclusive X-O Manowar #25 cover

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/n ... =APR149997



Both are limited to 750 copies.

Pretty sure that first one is the preview edition that's being sent to stores.

[vaevictis]

Pretty sure that first one is the preview edition that's being sent to stores.

Are you referring to this? Its the only preview I am aware of:

[kjjohanson]

Pretty sure that first one is the preview edition that's being sent to stores.

Are you referring to this? Its the only preview I am aware of:

I looked back at where I saw that info and I was misreading it. On Facebook there was a comment "Looks like my retailer was able to get a store exclusive for Rai #1, limited to 750 copies," and I assumed that that was a preview being sent to stores a la Shadowman Black.

[bygranddesign]

I found another cover for Rai #1

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/n ... =APR149998

Cool. Thanks for posting this. I saw this on FB also but I forgot to add it.

I'm not a huge fan of this cover tho. Is Rai supossed to have the rising sun on his back?

[The Noto]

Can the Mile High cover be purchased from them directly?

[nycjadie]

$14.95?

[The Noto]

Thanks, I didn't notice this thread went to two pages. On Mile High's site a search only brought up the VH1 Rai.

Mile High's site really sucks.

[kjjohanson]

I found another cover for Rai #1

http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/n ... =APR149998

Cool. Thanks for posting this. I saw this on FB also but I forgot to add it.

I'm not a huge fan of this cover tho. Is Rai supossed to have the rising sun on his back?

There are other illustrations I've seen where he doesn't.

[bamaphilosopher]

Yeah, I'm not going to get the Mile High one. I only get an expensive cover variant if it's really, totally cool. That one doesn't do it for me. Pass.

As a completist with a full VH1 collection (minus Bloodshot platinum error and three Deathmate golds I don't want), it's tough for me, but no way I can afford to pay above regular price for all their 1 in 20, 1 in 50, 1 in 75, etc., variants. I get the ones that are just totally awesome, from ebay because I can usually find them cheaper there than my local shop will sell them to me, and pass on the rest.

One day I'd love to have every cover. "But not I think today."

Someone above posted not to get bitter over 5-6 regular priced covers. I'm not, really...if it helps their business then more power to them. I just hope they don't do it too often. Unity 5 was over the top, IMO. But, then again, I always have the choice not to buy them if it gets too bad.

[David_Cody]

I think I might just start getting one cover on new books ... I've always gone for a pullbox when available but I don't really need a ton of extra covers.

I am seriously starting to get to that point. I don't typically buy anything past the pullbox variants, but...

[jmatt]

Personally I'm not all that crazy about the Birthquake look of the cover dress.

[bygranddesign]

Personally I'm not all that crazy about the Birthquake look of the cover dress.

I agree

You have this beautiful artwork, why have it crowded it out? Let it cover every inch of the cover

I would market this title as our Saga ... Let the beautiful crain artwork tell the story. I can live with all the variant covers but you don't need fancy trade dress. Make the trade dress look clean and classy with all eyes focused on the amazing art.

The covers are still great .. but would rather not see that empty space on the right side

[Dr Noel]

Dammit! I hate having to buy from Mile High Comics. It's almost guaranteed the comics will be bent nearly in half.

And how am I going to get the SDCC variant? Anyone going?

[bygranddesign]

Here's the final version of the SC Comiccon cover. No changes to the art just needed the cover dress.



I definitely would like to get this cover. Looks very cool. The cover dress actually looks nice with this art. The red-white-black motif - looks like Jack white designed it.

[nycjadie]

I'm not a fan of the new trade dress format. Plus, putting your logo sideways is very rarely a good design idea. When you're scanning the aisle, it's difficult to read, and it will be hidden in many comic book displays. There's a reason why the logo is always at the top of the comic cover. You need to see it in the rack.

I work with brands and would have loved to be a fly on the wall on this conversation. I'm not saying it was the wrong decision, but it's not obvious why this format was chosen (e.g. logo is not optimized, artwork is not optimized, lots of blank space on the page, etc.).

[bygranddesign]

Seems like only Rai has that trade dress

Maybe they just want to differentiate that title from the rest of the line (4001 title)

Also I see a lot of Japanese writing go from top to bottom so maybe its also a cultural nod to Japan?

[bamaphilosopher]

Good point about the large area to the side - I couldn't stand that when the original Valiant did that. Hopefully, this will not be a regular feature of the Rai covers as the title progresses, and is just for this one special issue.

But, good point about a cultural nod to Japanese writing. That makes sense.

[kjjohanson]

Midtown has an exclusive cover:

http://www.midtowncomics.com/store/dp.a ... dt_1342057" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[bygranddesign]

Midtown has an exclusive cover:

http://www.midtowncomics.com/store/dp.a ... dt_1342057" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

awesome, thanks KJ!

Looks good. I might need to get this one.