Another Valiant Free View! *UPDATE with FCBD results!*

[Phoenix8008]

First, some background

So, last year my LCS went out of business at around this time. Right after I had started a Valiant Free View with some trade paperbacks. Sad days. But this year, my local gaming store, Battlezone, upgraded and moved into the mall nearby where they've got a ton of exposure and seem to be doing pretty good with the players of RPG's (Dungeons & Dragons mostly) and card games (Magic, etc). A month or so ago, they started selling new comics there as well. So now they are my new LCS! After my lull in buying Valiant comics (since the middle of Armor Hunters this summer) I'm happy to have started up a subscription again just in time for Valiant Next in the coming year! They aren't yet carrying any Valiant titles (of course) but they did accidentally get a delivery of some Unity #0's and some One Dollar Debut reprints of Harbinger #1. I bought up all the $1 Harbinger #1 reprints (after securing myself a Unity #0!) with the intention of giving them away at work or something. There were only 11 of them sadly. Then I had another idea. Maybe the new LCS would let me gift them to people who had comic subscriptions with them to try and spread the word on Valiant once more!

So I emailed the owner and described what I wanted to do and he said "Let's do it!" Soon after that, I found myself of Midtown comics website, ordering a few issues to at least get to the end of some of the stories I had been stuck in the middle of from when I had to stop during the summer (finishing Omegas 2 & 3, getting AH:Harby 3 and AH:BS 3, etc.) when in my Valiant searches I found $1 Debut issues of the 2014 Valiant Handbook! Then I found Valiant Next Preview issues that were FREE! I ordered 11 of each!! Got them in just before Christmas and had a happy time assembling the new and improved Valiant Free View that I'll be dropping off with the LCS this coming Wednesday:



So I got all these into one bag/board with the Harbinger issue showing on one side and the Handbook showing on the other side, with the Preview tucked in behind it. Also included a small half page printout from me describing why I love Valiant comics and why I think they should give them a try now that they're armed with an issue from the past, a handbook to catch them up to the present, and a teaser preview of what's coming in the future!

[jeremycoe]

Great job!

[Daniel Jackson]

Neat idea.

[Ramses818]

well done yet again good sir!

[greg]

[drmirage]

Gold book worthy!

[Dr Noel]

[ilzuccone]

[Phoenix8008]

Thanks for the thumbs up, folks! It was fun to put together and I can't wait to see if I can grow the Valiant readership at this new LCS! I love that the Handbook has pages at the back showing all the omnibus editions and trade paperbacks as well. I'll be dropping these off with the store tomorrow on the way home from work, so I'm looking forward to what reaction the store owner/comic book specialist there have to my packets.

[grendeljd]

Glad to hear you have an LCS again, sir! Great job on the freeview - give this man a Gold!

[Phoenix8008]

So I turned my packets over to the LCS Wednesday and explained/showed to them what was in them all. They liked what they saw and said they would offer them to regular comic buying customers to try and spread the Valiant word. The owner was really excited about it and said that they would push Valiant via these and just in general. I told them they could look through a packet themselves if they wanted to get exposure to it as well in case customers had any questions. I also told them about the recent Comic Book Resources poll where Valiant beat Image and Marvel and DC for comics that fans were most thankful for. That seemed to impress them some. As I was leaving, the owner asked me a funny question. Something like: "Do you work with Valiant in the area or something, or are you like, just a fan?" I assured him that I was not employed by Valiant, and that I am just a fan who is doing this for the love of their comics and wanting to see them succeed and prosper.

I look forward to hearing about any buzz generated by these packets in the next month or two when I'm in picking up my Valiant comics! I'll keep asking them if anyone else is ordering Valiant comics besides me. The guy that does the ordering already told me that he was going to order 1 of each of their titles in February, though I don't know if that was just going to be for himself to read or to actually put one copy of each on the shelf. Or maybe both if he doesn't mind reading it and then shelving it. I bet March or April will see them ordering at least a few of each title if my packets have the desired effect.

[Phoenix8008]

Got an update for anyone that cares concerning my latest Free View. I got an email today from the owner of the gaming/comic store which reads as follows:

"Mike:

Just wanted to thank your again for you project with Valiant comics and your dedication to the art is commendable.

I have just 5 of the bundles left, but the ones I did pass out were encouraging.

I do want you to be involved in the event we are planning for "free comic book day" on Sat. May 2nd. The plans are in development still, but I'll keep you up to date. Let me know if you can make the day, and any thoughts you might have about an event.

Thanks again,

Ed"

So, I've been invited to help/plan/participate in their FCBD event there! I'm giddy with anticipation! Does anybody have any cool ideas that I could use for a FCBD event? I could go in full on cosplay of Armstrong like in my youtube video! Not that (m)any people would recognize that character, but it would be cool if I had some A&A books or TPB's to give away. I know VEI did a Valiant Handbook for FCBD last year, I hope they do another this year as well that the store will have some copies of to give away! Let me know if you have any ideas I can consider/propose to the store to help make it a great Free Comic Book Day for the readers and hopefully bring in some more Valiant readers to the fold.

And the person ordering the comics has gotten extra issues (beyond what I'm ordering) for everything starting 2 weeks ago, so they now have on their shelves at least 1 copy of all Valiant titles going forward from this point. He says if that/those issue/s sell, then he'll order 2 for the next month and 3 the month after that if the 2 issues sell, etc. They are being very particular about who they were giving out my Valiant bundles to. Regular customers that buy many comics on a normal basis, not just any Joe Schmoe. That gives pretty good odds that one or two of them will now see some VEI issues on the shelves and pick some up. I hope at least. Time will tell.

[mkb28]

Got an update for anyone that cares concerning my latest Free View. I got an email today from the owner of the gaming/comic store which reads as follows:

"Mike:

Just wanted to thank your again for you project with Valiant comics and your dedication to the art is commendable.

I have just 5 of the bundles left, but the ones I did pass out were encouraging.

I do want you to be involved in the event we are planning for "free comic book day" on Sat. May 2nd. The plans are in development still, but I'll keep you up to date. Let me know if you can make the day, and any thoughts you might have about an event.

Thanks again,

Ed"

So, I've been invited to help/plan/participate in their FCBD event there! I'm giddy with anticipation! Does anybody have any cool ideas that I could use for a FCBD event? I could go in full on cosplay of Armstrong like in my youtube video! Not that (m)any people would recognize that character, but it would be cool if I had some A&A books or TPB's to give away. I know VEI did a Valiant Handbook for FCBD last year, I hope they do another this year as well that the store will have some copies of to give away! Let me know if you have any ideas I can consider/propose to the store to help make it a great Free Comic Book Day for the readers and hopefully bring in some more Valiant readers to the fold.

And the person ordering the comics has gotten extra issues (beyond what I'm ordering) for everything starting 2 weeks ago, so they now have on their shelves at least 1 copy of all Valiant titles going forward from this point. He says if that/those issue/s sell, then he'll order 2 for the next month and 3 the month after that if the 2 issues sell, etc. They are being very particular about who they were giving out my Valiant bundles to. Regular customers that buy many comics on a normal basis, not just any Joe Schmoe. That gives pretty good odds that one or two of them will now see some VEI issues on the shelves and pick some up. I hope at least. Time will tell.

You should reach out to Atom! at VEI and see if they can send you some extra books to pass out or see if they have any ideas to help you get the word out.

Mkb28

[atombang]

This is AMAZING! Can you drop me a line at atomf@valiantentertainment.com? We'd love to follow up with your new LCS and help build off of your amazing effort!

-A!

[FormerReader]

Congrats Phoenix8008 on your continued hard work getting the Valiant name out there!

[grendeljd]

That's great to hear, well done Phoenix!!

You should absolutely dress up like Armstrong at the very least! I remember seeing pics of you - you're a dead ringer for him in your costume!

[Phoenix8008]

This is AMAZING! Can you drop me a line at atomf@valiantentertainment.com? We'd love to follow up with your new LCS and help build off of your amazing effort!

-A!

Wow! This kind of thing is yet another example of how great VEI is. Their engagement with their fan base is the best. Thanks for the interest Atom!. I'm emailing the LCS owner and you currently. I'll leave it up to the LCS if they will want/allow me to dress up as Armstrong. Maybe they could have an extra promotion that anybody that showed up in comic character costume could get extra comics or something? I dunno, just a random idea.

I'm also wondering now how legal it would be to copy various Youtube videos of comic book trailers (like VEI has done with Rai and some others) from VEI and from Marvel or DC or others (in the interest of balance for the LCS as a whole, and because just the few Valiant trailers that there are would be too short of a total run time to have on repeat constantly in the background), and make a DVD that could just play on repeat on a small table near the free comics to advertise multiple companies/titles.

Anyway, I'll let everybody know what comes of all this in the future, and I thank you all for your support!

[Phoenix8008]

So, new update. It appears that my LCS is going to have multiple tables set up with their free comic book issues divided out by company and have a person at each table as a 'spokesman' for that company. Somebody knowledgeable in it's comics and willing to talk to people about them. I am going to be the spokesperson for Valiant!

I'm building a list of 'talking points' that I can cover with people and was hoping for input from others for what they thought might be important info to include. So what I'd like to ask of you reading this is for any bullet points you would use to describe VEI, the Valiant Universe, and their comics to people who know nothing about it. What do YOU think I should tell people about Valiant?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

[Nameless7]

You are doing such an awesome job!! My first post in these boards had to be to congratulate your dedication and your awesomeness. Additionally you inspired me to do the same thing here at my LCS. I am putting together a similar free gift package made up of dollar reprints as well as regular issues (lot deals on ebay) along with the preview from valiant and the preview for Timewalker.

I hope everything continues to go well for you and know that your successes are very encouraging!

[mkb28]

First off, send this man an Ivar #1 Gold book for all his efforts!

You might visit VEI's website and click on the "Comics" header and there you will find a brief summary of every title. Here is the link:

http://www.valiantentertainment.com/com ... armstrong/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe Atom can get you a stack of the One Dollar Debut #1 issues to pass out too.

Good luck and again, great job promoting Valiant.

Michael
Mkb28

[Phoenix8008]

You are doing such an awesome job!! My first post in these boards had to be to congratulate your dedication and your awesomeness. Additionally you inspired me to do the same thing here at my LCS. I am putting together a similar free gift package made up of dollar reprints as well as regular issues (lot deals on ebay) along with the preview from valiant and the preview for Timewalker.

I hope everything continues to go well for you and know that your successes are very encouraging!

Wow! I'm honored that your first post is to congratulate me, and even more so that I've inspired you to do likewise with the Valiant intro packets! Be sure to post later when you get stuff together later and give it to the LCS, and let us know how it goes!

First off, send this man an Ivar #1 Gold book for all his efforts!

You might visit VEI's website and click on the "Comics" header and there you will find a brief summary of every title. Here is the link:

http://www.valiantentertainment.com/com ... armstrong/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Maybe Atom can get you a stack of the One Dollar Debut #1 issues to pass out too.

Good luck and again, great job promoting Valiant.

Michael
Mkb28

Actually, I just recently received a Bloodshot #1 gold for this effort, so I've been well rewarded! I thank you for your good wishes and advice though. Luckily, I've got some time to prepare my 'sales pitch'.

And as an additional update, when I was in the shop last night picking up my Rai #7 and my Divinity #1, the LCS folks had not heard from Atom as of yet, but he also hadn't checked his email still to be sure. Hopefully they'll get talking to each other soon.

On a side note, I'm also gonna brag a little bit here. My LCS is in kind of a unique position. The comics side of it is run by a guy that has 4-5 other stores in the mall or around the area (cell phone store for one). So he doesn't have the usual overhead. He pays a little in rent to the Game store owner for the floor space he's taking up, but not much else in expenses. Due to this situation, he's planning on trying an experiment starting next week. He's going to sell all his comics for 1/2 of cover price! He's planning on undercutting all the competition anywhere near our area and making enough money on selling the higher numbers of variant covers he's expecting to get due to the increased sales of general issues. So if you're anywhere near Sebring Florida, you might consider if it would be worth the drive for half price comics at The Battlezone in Sebring Mall!

[mkb28]

You are doing such an awesome job!! My first post in these boards had to be to congratulate your dedication and your awesomeness. Additionally you inspired me to do the same thing here at my LCS. I am putting together a similar free gift package made up of dollar reprints as well as regular issues (lot deals on ebay) along with the preview from valiant and the preview for Timewalker.

I hope everything continues to go well for you and know that your successes are very encouraging!

Yes, terrific first post!

mkb28

[jmatt]

Great effort, Phoenix! Well done!

[Magnus9178]

[Nameless7]

Following the footsteps of Phoenix8008 I have put these together so far. Originally my LCS guy said that it would be a great idea to give these packages away at their anniversary (sometime in MAY) but now that I have thought about it more I think these will be given out now and (again thanks to Phoenix for the inspiration) I will do some trade paperback giveaways during the store's anniversary which will also coincide with the FCBD valiant 25th anniversary special and the new 2015 handbook. I hope I can get enough copies of those 2 items so that I may bundle them with the tpb's.

I think that will be an awesome way to get VEI noticed at my LCS - their anniversary is usually a big deal with lots of giveaways etc; so having half a dozen or so tp giveaways that day should get people to notice VEI; people that might have otherwise not paid attention before.

I can't say this enough Phoenix you have set an incredible example and I hope I the same luck following your lead.

Cheers!