WC14 EXCLUSIVE: Dysart Closes the Book on "Harbinger"

[jmatt]

I'm not worried about the characters or content. They're not going anywhere. (Except Torque, he's dead for sure)

But I think I'm gonna have to get comfortable with VEI chasing an endless parade of #1 issues, which is what this is really all about.

On its surface, it doesn't sit well with me because it is such an obvious marketing gimmick. I hate the notion that cheap hucksterism trumps tradition and numbering continuity.

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72. It also allows for some dramatic climaxes as one maxi ends and another begins.

I would prefer it if VEI just came out and announced that this was going to be the paradigm for the entire universe. I'll take a series of maxis over Birthquake and Acclaim any day.

[icefan13]

We are all on this board because we love Valiant. Many of us waited years for their return. The business of publishing comics is difficult. DC and Marvel are so profitable because of the money they make off their characters in areas other than comics. Valiant is hoping to be able to do that in the future, however that day has not yet arrived.

Valiant therefore needs to come up with ways to increase cash flow and more #1 issues is a way to do that. If you are a Valiant fan and love the books than you should not care what number is on the cover, only that we have books to read.

On top of that I believe in the Valiant management team and believe they have huge plans that will excite us and hopefully many new readers.

[kjjohanson]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

So you're saying that Marvel Comics Presents should have been relaunched with BWS's Weapon X?

[grendeljd]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

So you're saying that Marvel Comics Presents should have been relaunched with BWS's Weapon X?

I actually thought of that book too when I read his post!

[jmatt]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

So you're saying that Marvel Comics Presents should have been relaunched with BWS's Weapon X?

As much as I stare at that sentence, I don't know how to respond. I guess I don't know enough about either property to put it in context.

[lorddunlow]

First of all, jmatt and kjjohanson are both wrong - Faith is dying.

Secondly, my theory is looking more likely every day.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

[grendeljd]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

So you're saying that Marvel Comics Presents should have been relaunched with BWS's Weapon X?

As much as I stare at that sentence, I don't know how to respond. I guess I don't know enough about either property to put it in context.

You know MCP was a comic made up of regular rotating short stories featuring various Marvel characters, right? With the exception of it retaining a long-running overall number, it kind of fits into the mold of your idea above. And you just happened to pick out #72 as a random example of "any ol' issue", which in MCP happens to be the first part of BWS's legendary 12 part maxi-series of Weapon X, the first time we got a serious story of a part of Wolverines origin...

[grendeljd]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

I kind of agree with your thinking, but I would take it one step further. I'd keep track of the longterm issue numbers elswhere in the book.

I really think it was successful in a title like Hellboy or BPRD, which are both a series of mini-series. They each maintained a long-running consecutive numbering system by just keeping track of it on the inner cover page. No big deal if you don't care about that, and nice for those that do. Hellboy has [mostly] had a large number placed beside the inner title page, and BPRD was even more subtle by putting it in the fine print near the bottom of the inner title page[before it just embraced its numbering with #100].

I am far more concerned with good storytelling, but I like long term numbering too. I have been reading Walking Dead each month since #18, and Invincible since #30 - they are both well over issue 100 now, I'm a long-term reader. Numbers didn't stop me from getting into comics as a kid, I would just go find as many back issues as I could if I liked something that I tried out. I feel like I am in the minority now, I suppose younger comic fans are growing up in an era without that numeric 'stability' & thus are less attached to the idea.

As I said, its more important that a comic has good storytelling - if it does I will still follow it through re-numbering. But I feel like excessive re-numbering is a bad, short sighted solution for the industry.

There is a parallel between modern comics as an entertainment medium & television now, I think. TV shows have changed over the years [for the better] to a point where many of them have an overall storyline over a season [or seasons, like Game Of Thrones] that requires you to see each episode to follow along. People don't want to watch shows like that partway through, and because they can buy whole seasons on disc or stream off Netflix or the internet, they want to start at the beginning & marathon watch. I think that perception has filtered into comic reading as well, which may partly explain the trend we see now.

[nycjadie]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

So you're saying that Marvel Comics Presents should have been relaunched with BWS's Weapon X?

+1! I'm not sure I buy the mini/maxi series is better for marketing. I think it can be good for books that can't support a series. For strong books, the neverending #1s give a temporary blip of sales. However, in both cases, it creates continuity confusion.

[bribri]

Dysart post on Facebook:

Joshua Dysart
Changes. Everything ends. Nothing ever ends. To all the readers of Harbinger, you have my sincerest, deepest gratitude for your enthusiasm and commitment over these last two years. Thank you, a thousand times. Next: Chapter 2 in the epic saga of Peter, Harada and all those who would pick a side between the two. Much love.

[brucehartshorn]

We are all on this board because we love Valiant. Many of us waited years for their return. The business of publishing comics is difficult. DC and Marvel are so profitable because of the money they make off their characters in areas other than comics. Valiant is hoping to be able to do that in the future, however that day has not yet arrived.

Valiant therefore needs to come up with ways to increase cash flow and more #1 issues is a way to do that. If you are a Valiant fan and love the books than you should not care what number is on the cover, only that we have books to read.

On top of that I believe in the Valiant management team and believe they have huge plans that will excite us and hopefully many new readers.

+!

[bygranddesign]

Dysart post on Facebook:

Joshua Dysart
Changes. Everything ends. Nothing ever ends. To all the readers of Harbinger, you have my sincerest, deepest gratitude for your enthusiasm and commitment over these last two years. Thank you, a thousand times. Next: Chapter 2 in the epic saga of Peter, Harada and all those who would pick a side between the two. Much love.

this FB post removed my worry and made me excited again for the future of Harbinger

The things I worried about
1) The title ending and some superficial change just to relaunch the title
2) Dysart not excited about the future and reluctant to embrace a new direction
3) I want change ... but I also want the main premise to be intact. Peter Vs. Harada and the future of Psiot's and the world in the balance

All 3 of those worries are not dissipating .. there will be significant change's but the main premise will stay intact. Dysart looks geniune in his excitement and has a lot more planned for Harbinger.

[Intrepidxc]

But there's also a big part of me that has believed since the nineties that a series of maxi-series is a smart way to keep things fresh, allow for some continent shifting plot changes and give readers a better jumping on point than any ol' issue #72.

I kind of agree with your thinking, but I would take it one step further. I'd keep track of the longterm issue numbers elswhere in the book.

I really think it was successful in a title like Hellboy or BPRD, which are both a series of mini-series. They each maintained a long-running consecutive numbering system by just keeping track of it on the inner cover page. No big deal if you don't care about that, and nice for those that do. Hellboy has [mostly] had a large number placed beside the inner title page, and BPRD was even more subtle by putting it in the fine print near the bottom of the inner title page[before it just embraced its numbering with #100].

I am far more concerned with good storytelling, but I like long term numbering too. I have been reading Walking Dead each month since #18, and Invincible since #30 - they are both well over issue 100 now, I'm a long-term reader. Numbers didn't stop me from getting into comics as a kid, I would just go find as many back issues as I could if I liked something that I tried out. I feel like I am in the minority now, I suppose younger comic fans are growing up in an era without that numeric 'stability' & thus are less attached to the idea.

As I said, its more important that a comic has good storytelling - if it does I will still follow it through re-numbering. But I feel like excessive re-numbering is a bad, short sighted solution for the industry.

There is a parallel between modern comics as an entertainment medium & television now, I think. TV shows have changed over the years [for the better] to a point where many of them have an overall storyline over a season [or seasons, like Game Of Thrones] that requires you to see each episode to follow along. People don't want to watch shows like that partway through, and because they can buy whole seasons on disc or stream off Netflix or the internet, they want to start at the beginning & marathon watch. I think that perception has filtered into comic reading as well, which may partly explain the trend we see now.

I could get behind renumbering if series were broken up into numerous mini-series (basically the arcs) like BPRD, assuming there was some way to track the actual chronological order of the series such as a number on the 1st page or inner cover. I just want something to distinguish the true 1st issue of a series from the 1st issue of a mini-series or new arc. If valiant did something like that I could get behind the mini-series idea a bit more.

As I mentioned earlier I will continue to read Valiant because they are quality books with great stories. I'd hope that Valiant chooses a path that doesn't ruin a part of comic collecting for me (yes, I know how I view collecting is completely my own doing).

[Phoenix8008]

As a fan of the books I don't like that VEI feels they need to do this. As a fan of the company and someone who wants to see them succeed so I can be reading their books for years to come I'm glad to see them taking a proactive approach to the current state of the industry. They have not sat on their hands since the relaunch saying we've done our best, but it's just too challenging. They instead continue to come up with ideas to survive in the market and make a name for themselves.

Whether we read Harbinger #26 or Harbinger Volume 6 #1, as long as we are reading the book I'm happy.

Bah, but I'll have to stop collecting CGC 9.8 copies of the Valiant #1 titles if they keep relaunching. I really like my slabs and don't want to stop collecting them, but the numerous variants (really Unity and Rai) and the relaunching are driving me to that point. One could argue that slab sales are secondary market sales and thus don't directly benefit Valiant. However, some one has to purchase the initial issues that get slabbed and it often takes many issues to find 9.8 candidates. If people stop collecting CGC 9.8 copies then there is likely to be some impact on demand for Valiant issues .

I'm ok with a break in a series to run mini-series then restart with the original numbering. I'm not ok with continually relaunching titles. In fact if Valiant does that I may stop collecting them all together and focus on other publisher titles that I enjoy. Those publishers don't feel the need to keep relaunching their books.

Let me ask you a question, do you read Valiant because of their quality or do you only buy them to collect? If you buy them because of their quality then why does the number on the cover of the book matter? If there is a new book to read next month who cares if it #10 or Volume 2 #1?

I know this is from a page back, but I'm catching up on the thread.

So basically, this either/or choice bothers me. Can't I want steak AND lobster? Can't I want chocolate AND peanut butter? What it really comes down to is prioritizing and prerequisites, but I can want multiple things and be partially disappointed if I don't get some of it. I WANT long running consecutive numbering. Why? Because I grew up with Spider Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers, Action Comics, and Detective Comics all running into the multi-hundreds of issues and that was a sign of excellence to me. I WANT great organic storytelling about compelling characters with flaws and foibles. I also WANT VEI to succeed and prosper. So when you put all those in the blender and sort them out via priority it comes down like this for me:

Want #1 - VEI success and prosperity (because if the company fails, then all other wants are impossible).
Want #2 - Great organic storytelling with compelling characters (this supports Want #1).
Want #3 - Long term consecutive numbering. (If I have to give this up to have #1 and #2 I will, but I reserve the right to still be bummed about it not happening).

Ideally, after the various mini's they go back to Harbinger #26. I can hope for that, but I can't say I fully expect it. If not that, then maybe Harbinger, volume 2, #1? Part of me just doesn't want to have 10 different sections and dividers in my comic box for what should be one series. If the market and the company can't survive without restarting with #1's then at least they're doing it at an organic story ending/starting point. I do like the idea others have put out there of doing what Hellboy does and keeping the big consecutive numbering on the inside front cover. That would probably satisfy me. Then I could just keep it all behind the 'Harbinger' divider in my box together instead of alphabetically separated.

The tweets/Facebook posts from Dysart relieve what little worry I had for the story continuing in a good way. At this point it's just the possible loss of long term consecutive numbering that bugs me, but I'll live with it if necessary.

[nscc]

Change is good for all of us, it shakes us up, keeps us on our toes

Re: impacting collecting the issues, THAT is something I made my peace with awhile ago. I have changed my collecting methodology several times. First I wanted EVERYTHING, then to only cover priced issues, now to thinking I might start getting into slabs for the first issues/keys. I will probably change my mind several more times as finances/other interests/etc come up in the future.

I do feel for you guys who collect and this messes them up, as it forces a difficult decision if you are already invested in a certain collection type.


The renumbering/events/etc all started bugging me at first. I actually stopped coming here for a week or 2, as I didn't want to think about it. The feeling that they are using cheap marketing ploys to sell more really got my goat.

After some thought, I don't really care how they publish these stories as long as they are as great as they have been. Good quality stories, characters who feel real that I care about making their way in the world, where the decisions the characters make matter!

I am past the hype, past the marketing, past the worrying, all in the past.

Looking forward to the future of VEI, and seeing where these great creators will take things from here!!

To VEI I would now say: You do whatever you have to so you can be competitive and protect and grow your market share so we can enjoy for years to come. More variants, more events, mini/maxi series, team-ups, shake-ups, deaths.... whatever! Bring it



To steal a quote I've read on here before...

"In Dinesh, we trust"

[Intrepidxc]

As a fan of the books I don't like that VEI feels they need to do this. As a fan of the company and someone who wants to see them succeed so I can be reading their books for years to come I'm glad to see them taking a proactive approach to the current state of the industry. They have not sat on their hands since the relaunch saying we've done our best, but it's just too challenging. They instead continue to come up with ideas to survive in the market and make a name for themselves.

Whether we read Harbinger #26 or Harbinger Volume 6 #1, as long as we are reading the book I'm happy.

Bah, but I'll have to stop collecting CGC 9.8 copies of the Valiant #1 titles if they keep relaunching. I really like my slabs and don't want to stop collecting them, but the numerous variants (really Unity and Rai) and the relaunching are driving me to that point. One could argue that slab sales are secondary market sales and thus don't directly benefit Valiant. However, some one has to purchase the initial issues that get slabbed and it often takes many issues to find 9.8 candidates. If people stop collecting CGC 9.8 copies then there is likely to be some impact on demand for Valiant issues .

I'm ok with a break in a series to run mini-series then restart with the original numbering. I'm not ok with continually relaunching titles. In fact if Valiant does that I may stop collecting them all together and focus on other publisher titles that I enjoy. Those publishers don't feel the need to keep relaunching their books.

Let me ask you a question, do you read Valiant because of their quality or do you only buy them to collect? If you buy them because of their quality then why does the number on the cover of the book matter? If there is a new book to read next month who cares if it #10 or Volume 2 #1?

I know this is from a page back, but I'm catching up on the thread.

So basically, this either/or choice bothers me. Can't I want steak AND lobster? Can't I want chocolate AND peanut butter? What it really comes down to is prioritizing and prerequisites, but I can want multiple things and be partially disappointed if I don't get some of it. I WANT long running consecutive numbering. Why? Because I grew up with Spider Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers, Action Comics, and Detective Comics all running into the multi-hundreds of issues and that was a sign of excellence to me. I WANT great organic storytelling about compelling characters with flaws and foibles. I also WANT VEI to succeed and prosper. So when you put all those in the blender and sort them out via priority it comes down like this for me:

Want #1 - VEI success and prosperity (because if the company fails, then all other wants are impossible).
Want #2 - Great organic storytelling with compelling characters (this supports Want #1).
Want #3 - Long term consecutive numbering. (If I have to give this up to have #1 and #2 I will, but I reserve the right to still be bummed about it not happening).

Ideally, after the various mini's they go back to Harbinger #26. I can hope for that, but I can't say I fully expect it. If not that, then maybe Harbinger, volume 2, #1? Part of me just doesn't want to have 10 different sections and dividers in my comic box for what should be one series. If the market and the company can't survive without restarting with #1's then at least they're doing it at an organic story ending/starting point. I do like the idea others have put out there of doing what Hellboy does and keeping the big consecutive numbering on the inside front cover. That would probably satisfy me. Then I could just keep it all behind the 'Harbinger' divider in my box together instead of alphabetically separated.

The tweets/Facebook posts from Dysart relieve what little worry I had for the story continuing in a good way. At this point it's just the possible loss of long term consecutive numbering that bugs me, but I'll live with it if necessary.

Well said!

As I've stated numerous times I will continue to support Valiant, but I'll be upset if they don't keep series running and are constantly rebooting.

[String]

As a fan of the books I don't like that VEI feels they need to do this. As a fan of the company and someone who wants to see them succeed so I can be reading their books for years to come I'm glad to see them taking a proactive approach to the current state of the industry. They have not sat on their hands since the relaunch saying we've done our best, but it's just too challenging. They instead continue to come up with ideas to survive in the market and make a name for themselves.

Whether we read Harbinger #26 or Harbinger Volume 6 #1, as long as we are reading the book I'm happy.

Bah, but I'll have to stop collecting CGC 9.8 copies of the Valiant #1 titles if they keep relaunching. I really like my slabs and don't want to stop collecting them, but the numerous variants (really Unity and Rai) and the relaunching are driving me to that point. One could argue that slab sales are secondary market sales and thus don't directly benefit Valiant. However, some one has to purchase the initial issues that get slabbed and it often takes many issues to find 9.8 candidates. If people stop collecting CGC 9.8 copies then there is likely to be some impact on demand for Valiant issues .

I'm ok with a break in a series to run mini-series then restart with the original numbering. I'm not ok with continually relaunching titles. In fact if Valiant does that I may stop collecting them all together and focus on other publisher titles that I enjoy. Those publishers don't feel the need to keep relaunching their books.

Let me ask you a question, do you read Valiant because of their quality or do you only buy them to collect? If you buy them because of their quality then why does the number on the cover of the book matter? If there is a new book to read next month who cares if it #10 or Volume 2 #1?

I know this is from a page back, but I'm catching up on the thread.

So basically, this either/or choice bothers me. Can't I want steak AND lobster? Can't I want chocolate AND peanut butter? What it really comes down to is prioritizing and prerequisites, but I can want multiple things and be partially disappointed if I don't get some of it. I WANT long running consecutive numbering. Why? Because I grew up with Spider Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers, Action Comics, and Detective Comics all running into the multi-hundreds of issues and that was a sign of excellence to me. I WANT great organic storytelling about compelling characters with flaws and foibles. I also WANT VEI to succeed and prosper. So when you put all those in the blender and sort them out via priority it comes down like this for me:

Want #1 - VEI success and prosperity (because if the company fails, then all other wants are impossible).
Want #2 - Great organic storytelling with compelling characters (this supports Want #1).
Want #3 - Long term consecutive numbering. (If I have to give this up to have #1 and #2 I will, but I reserve the right to still be bummed about it not happening).

Ideally, after the various mini's they go back to Harbinger #26. I can hope for that, but I can't say I fully expect it. If not that, then maybe Harbinger, volume 2, #1? Part of me just doesn't want to have 10 different sections and dividers in my comic box for what should be one series. If the market and the company can't survive without restarting with #1's then at least they're doing it at an organic story ending/starting point. I do like the idea others have put out there of doing what Hellboy does and keeping the big consecutive numbering on the inside front cover. That would probably satisfy me. Then I could just keep it all behind the 'Harbinger' divider in my box together instead of alphabetically separated.

The tweets/Facebook posts from Dysart relieve what little worry I had for the story continuing in a good way. At this point it's just the possible loss of long term consecutive numbering that bugs me, but I'll live with it if necessary.

I feel the same way. Being a long-time comic reader, I believe that titles with large consecutive numbering are signs of stability and success. But in recent years, with changes in marketing strategies by the Big Two and other publishers, I've had to come to terms with the fact that if I enjoy the stories then the number on the outside cover shouldn't matter.

The most recent example, Daredevil. Same exact creative team yet relaunching the title again. It may irritate me, but since I have enjoyed the run so far by that same creative team, I can look past the numbering change.

Valiant though may have come across a unique solution, a fluid title line-up. If they remain committed to telling great stories with these characters, then the numbering or even title name themselves shouldn't matter. They seem willing to mold their line-up to the needs of the story and overall cohesiveness of their universe, which I think shows remarkable dedication on their part. Bloodshot merges with the HARD Corps, then loses his own title yet is set to appear in Unity to perhaps a later point where he receives his own title again.....all part of his ongoing progressive story and characterization. That's a wild marketing idea if you think about it.

Plus, such a set-up would help new fans. Having specific titles and minis for certain events would help new readers find those and catch up on them without having to say "Did I need #137-#141 of Harbinger or #246-#250 of X-O Manowar?"

The industry is constantly evolving in today's over-saturated media world and Valiant, to remain successful and competitive, has to evolve with it. Along as their commitment to excellent storytelling remains intact, I'll keep reading the changing titles.

In that respect, looking forward to Harbinger Vol. 2.

[nycjadie]

I can tell you how not to do it. X-Men. I grew up on X-Men. I loved the title. I came back to comics after a hiatus only to find a million X titles and the continuity of where to begin was mind boggling. Which is the main title, which stories go first, etc.

Or Swamp Thing. There's a title that has several volumes, all different in quality. Swamp Thing probably can't sustain a monthly forever. I get it. However, there you have multiple reboots with little in the way of continuity.

I don't think that continuity is necessary. Return of the Dark Knight is my favorite book. I think DC's Crisis was unnecessary. However, I also think that Valiant's universe is based on continuity and the fans want that. A Harbinger series volume 2 (or 4 depending on how you look at it), might bring in new readers for a short period of time. However, it may also alienate older readers. It's a cost/benefit analysis, I think.

[kjjohanson]

I don't think that continuity is necessary. Return of the Dark Knight is my favorite book. I think DC's Crisis was unnecessary. However, I also think that Valiant's universe is based on continuity and the fans want that. A Harbinger series volume 2 (or 4 depending on how you look at it), might bring in new readers for a short period of time. However, it may also alienate older readers. It's a cost/benefit analysis, I think.

I think publishing stories outside of continuity (such as the Dark Knight minis) is fine. But If you're publishing multiple books that are all supposed to be part of the larger continuity but they contradict each other, that's a problem.

[Shadowman99]

It appears to me that basically, whilst we've already been given Harbinger, next up we're going to get a Harbinger:Omegas miniseries, and then whatever comes next will likely be Harbinger:****. Basically it's all just Harbinger.

Sure there's renumbering, but at the moment it looks like that despite different titling, we're only going to be getting one version of each story at any given time, so it's not going to be confusing having to go into the comic shop every month and picking up two titles of one book (a la X-Men stylee) just to stay abreast of the continuity, which is what some people are worried about?

Personally, having all these miniseries to keep track of is a pain in the arse for me, considering that it complicates the process by which I have to handle my comic ordering at the comic shop. They're not the most 'on the ball' guys, so I'm probably going to have to end up mail ordering a load of comics because it'll all go wrong at the shop, which is just hassle.

But basically the way I see it is that the company are providing lots of new jumping on points for new readers and aren't simply rebooting series: They're just continuing series under these new titles, such as they did with Bloodshot and HC.

[jmatt]

I kind of agree with your thinking, but I would take it one step further. I'd keep track of the longterm issue numbers elswhere in the book.

I had considered that and agree: keep the numbering traditional in the masthead.

You know MCP was a comic made up of regular rotating short stories featuring various Marvel characters...you just happened to pick out #72 as a random example of "any ol' issue"...

It's frightening that you guys know that off the top of your head. You need a hobby. Oh, wait...

I can tell you how not to do it. ... I came back to comics after a hiatus only to find a million X titles and the continuity of where to begin was mind boggling. Which is the main title, which stories go first, etc..

Same here. When Valiant got me reading comics again, I figured I'd start reading Marvel again too. But when I looked at the bewildering array of titles on the wall I couldn't make sense of it. And that was that.

[erwinrafael]

I don't think that continuity is necessary. Return of the Dark Knight is my favorite book. I think DC's Crisis was unnecessary. However, I also think that Valiant's universe is based on continuity and the fans want that. A Harbinger series volume 2 (or 4 depending on how you look at it), might bring in new readers for a short period of time. However, it may also alienate older readers. It's a cost/benefit analysis, I think.

Why will it alienate older readers?

Many of my favorite series have done this chunking up into different volumes. WILDCATS (which I followed up to 3.0) and Grant Morrison's The Invisibles are some examples.

[dornwolf]

I'm okay with this. I can sort of see what they are trying to do. It's a number one relaunch thing everyone is chasing. Marvels really made that a staple of their publishing with All New Marvel now and DC is slowly copying that approach. So I don't mind if it's Six issue mini for this arc then new arc and it starts at number 1 again.

[dornwolf]

Sorry to double post but this needs to be posted. In Bleeding Cools article it has the solicits. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/04/19/ ... er-omegas/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From Valiant…

Clocking in at a massive 48 pages, HARBINGER #25 will also feature the return of original series artist Khari Evans (Archer & Armstrong) – plus all-new stories and artwork from an incredible cast of talents, including Barry Kitson (Adventures of Superman), Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode), Lucy Knisley (Relish: My Life in the Kitchen), Riley Rossmo (Bedlam), Ron Wimberly(Prince of Cats), and many, many more.

Then, in August – out of the ashes of HARBINGER #25‘s devastating climax – find out what happens next to the most powerful players in the Harbinger universe as Joshua Dysart and heat-seeking artistRafa Sandoval (Red Hood and the Outlaws) pick up of the pieces with an all-new, three-issue mini-series – HARBINGER: OMEGAS #1 (of 3) – that closes the door on one generation of Harbinger Renegades…and prepares the foundation for another.

HARBINGER #25 (ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART with JUSTIN JORDAN, LUCY KNISLEY, and MORE!
Art by KHARI EVANS, BARRY KITSON, LUCY KNISLEY, RILEY ROSSMO, RON WIMBERLY, and MORE!
Covers by MICO SUAYAN and JENNY FRISON
Variant Cover by LUCY KNISLEY
Throwback Cover by SEAN CHEN
Variant Cover by BARRY KITSON
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
COMING IN JULY!

HARBINGER: OMEGAS #1 (of 3)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by RAFA SANDOVAL
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA
Variant Cover by GLENN FABRY
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
COMING IN AUGUST!

So Omega is a mini like Shadowman End Times. And much like Shadowman End Times no idea what happens to the title afterwards. So...we might see a number 26

[Blood of Heroes]

If you are a Valiant fan and love the books than you should not care what number is on the cover, only that we have books to read.

What else needs to be said?