Rai #1 Discussion

[hkupo]

Hey guys,

I didn't see a topic on this issue so I thought I might get the ball rolling. As mentioned in the "my valiant story" thread, I'm pretty new to this company so I really have no background knowledge of Rai. With that said, this is an amazing issue. The story and characters were written incredibly well without leaving me clueless as to what was going on. I don't know if it was the art but the world building in this small issue completely swallows you up and the real world fades away as you start the book.

Speaking of art. CLAYTON CRAIN!!!!!!! The guy is a freaking bad @$$!. Every sector had it's own style and was completely believable as a futuristic city/state/country. His art made such sweet tender love to my eyes. I'm dying to see what this series has to offer.

All in all Valiant First is off to a great start. What do you guys think?

[Elveen]

Rai #1 = best VEI #1 issue.

[Elveen]

Also, the extra map in the pullbox is..... Cray to the Zee!

[spiderland]

I read this on my tablet on the train on the way to work this morning & it made me feel so excited and futuristic. I was late for work stopping at my LCS to buy physical copies. This issue is stunning!

[Elveen]

I can't wait for everyone to comment on the map..... there is as much: questions / points / facts / crazy things / on that map. I mean, wow!

Just wow!

Kindt has created a crazy interesting world in 2 splash pages.

[ShadowTuga]

Just finished reading my digital copy. 10/5 whatever, it's better than I ever expected it to be. This comic kills any doubt about the line and it's future (no pun intended). It's THAT *SQUEE* AWESOME!!!!!

I can't wait to get my hands on the comic itself.

Standing ovation. To Matt Kindt and Clayton Crain and ALL THE VEI Staff- thanks for caring that much about your books.

[BugsySig]

So awesome. Crain art is incredible and the story felt rich even with the massive world building and underlying plots that Kindt was developing. One of e best VEI issues to date all around. Can't wait to hit FCBD and pick up the Plus edition to check out the extras. There was one page of Spylock's vid summaries added to the digital version, which was sweet.

[hkupo]

This was a pretty slow week for me in comics so I'm hoping Valiant gets a nice bump with this issue. They really nailed it with the phenomenal writing and art.

[Phoenix8008]

Can't wait to read this issue. Too bad I have about a month to wait before May's comics (and the last week of April's since it was a 5 week month) get delivered from DCBS. I can't wait to read the issue while wearing my Rai t-shirt!

[Donovan]

The extra content is not polybagged.

I don't know whether to applaud those who cared enough to comment and possibly affect change? Or roll my eyes at how much time was wasted complaining about a polybag.

[cdgodin]

Wow. That was an amazing read. Clayton Crain's art---words cannot describe how beautiful it was. My only sad point was, as a digital reader, that I cannot access the Pullbox Plus edition extra content. Otherwise, this story was amazing.

[Tim]

Can't wait to read this issue. Too bad I have about a month to wait before May's comics (and the last week of April's since it was a 5 week month) get delivered from DCBS. I can't wait to read the issue while wearing my Rai t-shirt!

I'm in the same boat as you are. My excitement at getting my shipment from DCBS was short lived when I realized there would be no Rai #1.

[SJS4]

I thought art was very good. Haven't seen Crain do a whole comic before, but was definitely impressed. Concerned whether he will be able to do the whole arc though.

Story was not bad, but not great IMHO. Just enough to whet the appetite. I see a lot of Magnus influence, and the general plot is very reminiscent of the first Rai series.

[Paradigm38]

THE BEST... read it... love it... the most pleasurable experience I've had cracking open a new VEI book!

[Elveen]

THE BEST... read it... love it... the most pleasurable experience I've had cracking open a new VEI book!

Not my favorite single VEI issue, but we are in close agreement.

Rai #1 = best VEI #1 issue.

[ShadowTuga]

Already re-read it. Had to, this reeks of Instant Classic. I feel like both Kindt and Crain are fighting for my attention throughout the entire comic- for every nugget of world-building/intriguing storyline there's a panel that grabs your soul on the spot. Anyone, and I do mean ANYONE who likes comics will be amazed by this. If there's anything as a perfect debut issue of a series, RAI is a prime example of it. I want to read issue 2, yesterday! I can honestly say, I WAS NOT EXPECTING it to be as AWESOME as it iwa. Rai is such a cool character (literally), it's easy to put him in a bright spot- but nothing in this story is there for the sake of being there. The way that the main character is brought into the story (through another character's POV) REALLY will make you feel like you are experiencing it- RAI is awesome, period. Like myth-awesome level. A LEGEND. As an aside, I would bet that Matt Kindt is a huge RPG dude, such is the attention to every bit of this brand-new universe. One can see the miles of potential storytelling in these pages. Spylocke's adventures? Bring it ON!!! Viva Valiant, indeed!

[bygranddesign]

9/10

Matt Kindt does a brilliant job introducing us to his imaginative take on 4001 Japan. The attention to detail is amazing! He and artist Clayton Crain must have spent an incredible amount of time working on the look and feel of this futuristic environment and its people - and it was well worth it (!) because you felt transported into this world. It was also a nice touch to unveil the world through the equally awestruck eyes of a teenage girl. I'm wondering if she was just a plot device to introduce the world or if she has some importance to the bigger story..?

The story itself was intriguing - Kindt allowed us to nibble on different plot points but didn't really want to give us a full taste. It was the world itself - this transformed future version of Japan that was the most important character and plot point of this stunning opening issue.

And bringing this world to life was the brilliant art of Clayton Crain. I bow before Mr. Clayton Crain - this is an artistic comic masterpiece!

[Shade]

9/10

Matt Kindt does a brilliant job introducing us to his imaginative take on 4001 Japan. The attention to detail is amazing! He and artist Clayton Crain must have spent an incredible amount of time working on the look and feel of this futuristic environment and its people - and it was well worth it (!) because you felt transported into this world. It was also a nice touch to unveil the world through the equally awestruck eyes of a teenage girl. I'm wondering if she was just a plot device to introduce the world or if she has some importance to the bigger story..?

The story itself was intriguing - Kindt allowed us to nibble on different plot points but didn't really want to give us a full taste. It was the world itself - this transformed future version of Japan that was the most important character and plot point of this stunning opening issue.

And bringing this world to life was the brilliant art of Clayton Crain. I bow before Mr. Clayton Crain - this is an artistic comic masterpiece!

I too gave this a 9/10. I'm not entirely sure what to expect going forward, but this issue was definitely high-end.

And, yes, Crain is the man. (Man crush wednesday is a thing right?)

[Dr. Solar]

I read this issue twice via advance review copies, and I still went out to a local shop today to pick up a hard copy, because I didn't want to wait for my DCBS box to arrive.

This was a phenomenal issue.

[jmatt]

Great issue and a really good start for the title. Art is fantastic and the world is fleshed out -- but not so much as to be confusing (I'm looking at you, EW). Although I will say I'm curious to find out why that one Raddie came to the aid of the PT being bullied by her companion, since they purport to hate technology.

With Rai apparently falling toward Earth, perhaps he will learn something of the rest of the world outside of Japan before returning to unravel the rest of the mysteries presented in this issue.

The additional content was okay but nothing spectacular, apart from the map. Japan seems to have levels or areas dedicated to artificially reproducing other cultures and timelines. A constant re-enactment of WW2? I'm sure these areas are there for future plotlines, but they seem a little out of place.

But wow, what a great start.

[MarkRoseHFX]

this is everything i'd ever hoped for in a new Rai book and more. Matt Kindt is doing such a killer job on the Valiant books, i'm dreading voting for best writer in any year end polls this year..in a good way of course Clayton Crain's art is astonishing. It is just so perfect for the feel and the tone of this book. i'm going to give this one 5/5 holy*SQUEE*raiwasawesometaimos. I agree 100% with Elveen it's the best #1 issue they've put out yet. And it's almost right up there with my fav single VEI issues as well.

[ShadowTuga]

Don't want to be that guy, but this:
http://www.comicosity.com/review-rai-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

En-*SQUEE*-rages me.
No disrespect. I understand that not everyone sees the same things when looking at such a subjective matter such as art, but...

I will not quote that review, but it is like I (and apparently) a LOT of people read another Rai #1.

[jmatt]

Don't want to be that guy, but this:
http://www.comicosity.com/review-rai-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*SQUEE* me.
No disrespect. I understand that not everyone sees the same things when looking at such a subjective matter such as art, but...

I will not quote that review, but it is like I (and apparently) a LOT of people read another Rai #1.

Mmm, while I disagree with his overall conclusion, some of his points have a tad of validity. While I didn't find it confusing, the narrative does jump around a bit. And the art is dark. Neither of which bothered me (as it seems it did him), but I think those are debatable observations.

[Elveen]

Don't want to be that guy, but this:
http://www.comicosity.com/review-rai-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*SQUEE* me.
No disrespect. I understand that not everyone sees the same things when looking at such a subjective matter such as art, but...

I will not quote that review, but it is like I (and apparently) a LOT of people read another Rai #1.

I added a comment. I'm pretty sure that is the 1st time I've ever done something like that... but I believe in this book so much I just had to.

[ShadowTuga]

Don't want to be that guy, but this:
http://www.comicosity.com/review-rai-1/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

*SQUEE* me.
No disrespect. I understand that not everyone sees the same things when looking at such a subjective matter such as art, but...

I will not quote that review, but it is like I (and apparently) a LOT of people read another Rai #1.

Mmm, while I disagree with his overall conclusion, some of his points have a tad of validity. While I didn't find it confusing, the narrative does jump around a bit. And the art is dark. Neither of which bothered me (as it seems it did him), but I think those are debatable observations.

"The artwork from Clayton Crain, sadly, does not do much to sell the story, either. "
This I don't understand, but like I said, I get that art is subjective.