Is VEI dead or dying?

[Draco]

I wonder exactly what role Bill Jemas filled with VEI. The fact he was there for awhile made me feel they were still pushing ahead with comics. I wonder if we'll ever find out what he did for VEI.

I did wonder myself many times

[leonmallett]

And yes, I do think this relaunch could have happened 2-3 years ago if they (VEI) had the focus they have shown circa the past 12-18 months.

Put out comic books? Sure. Put out good comic books? The kind that will attract new readers and reward the long time fans for their patience and support? Not on your life. If VEI had rushed to put out books the board would be filled with everyone b!tching and moaning about how bad they suck instead of people bursting at the seams with excitement.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

I agree with Blood here.

And Leon, I mean nothing harsh here, just discussing, but unless you have worked in comic book publishing, you thinking that VE could have relaunched 2-3 years ago is just opinion and speculation. Could they have gotten out a comic book with words and pictures, maybe (I honestly have NO idea how long this stuff takes), but could they have relaunched Valiant comic books. My opinion is no. I have only been privy to a micro-glimpse into what is coming...... but they have long term plans and views for the universe that have not developed over night. (I'm biased) but Valiant is different from anyone else; the tight continuity, the world outside your window, the rich layered settings....... I'd imagine this take a bit of time to develop. And from what I have gleaned, they have developed it.

VE has all along had plans to publish new Valiant comic books. Now they are. From what I have personally seen and heard from them makes it obvious to me that they have been working on this for a long time.

(not trying to antagonize at all)

No antagonism detected mate.

However, it is not pre-requisite to have worked in publishing to understand the layers of process, is it?

Or else the argument follows that no-one can express a valid opinion unless they are in that sector themselves; or to put it another way, all those critics, sports commentators and so on who have never been directly immersed in their fields should never pass comment? Granted, I am extrapolating your point to the extreme, but I hope you see my point?

[Blood of Heroes]

And yes, I do think this relaunch could have happened 2-3 years ago if they (VEI) had the focus they have shown circa the past 12-18 months.

Put out comic books? Sure. Put out good comic books? The kind that will attract new readers and reward the long time fans for their patience and support? Not on your life. If VEI had rushed to put out books the board would be filled with everyone b!tching and moaning about how bad they suck instead of people bursting at the seams with excitement.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right.

I agree with Blood here.

And Leon, I mean nothing harsh here, just discussing, but unless you have worked in comic book publishing, you thinking that VE could have relaunched 2-3 years ago is just opinion and speculation. Could they have gotten out a comic book with words and pictures, maybe (I honestly have NO idea how long this stuff takes), but could they have relaunched Valiant comic books. My opinion is no. I have only been privy to a micro-glimpse into what is coming...... but they have long term plans and views for the universe that have not developed over night. (I'm biased) but Valiant is different from anyone else; the tight continuity, the world outside your window, the rich layered settings....... I'd imagine this take a bit of time to develop. And from what I have gleaned, they have developed it.

VE has all along had plans to publish new Valiant comic books. Now they are. From what I have personally seen and heard from them makes it obvious to me that they have been working on this for a long time.

(not trying to antagonize at all)

No antagonism detected mate.

However, it is not pre-requisite to have worked in publishing to understand the layers of process, is it?

Or else the argument follows that no-one can express a valid opinion unless they are in that sector themselves; or to put it another way, all those critics, sports commentators and so on who have never been directly immersed in their fields should never pass comment? Granted, I am extrapolating your point to the extreme, but I hope you see my point?

That is very well put. I still don't agree that they could've relaunched (successfully) 2-3 years ago, but I guess you are welcome to. We're all just going to have to wait another 38 days, 16 hours, 6 minutes...

[yardstick]

At the end of the day, Dinesh and Co. don't owe anyone *SQUEE*. They bought the characters and they can do whatever the *SQUEE* they want with them. It's not like this board is full of stockholders.

True statements... However this board is full of stakeholders....

[StarBrand]

I had a lot of discussions on the phone with a friend of mine over the last couple years about whether VEI was serious about publishing comics or not. He said they weren't. I always said they were. I always felt they were, in part because Dino is a huge fan of Valiant Comics, in part because Valiant had brought in Bill Jemas, presumably to consult relative to getting the launch up and running. What else was Jemas doing there? They also showed they were serious when they brought Shooter aboard. That didn't work, but it was a big sign they were pushing forward with publishing comics. They have been all along. It always added up to the new Valiant publishing comics.
It seems the new Valiant has done a good job of bringing aboard people who know how to actually make comics and publish comics. It's important in any company to have people running it who know what they're doing, and allow them to do what they know best, which is what it seems to me Valiant has done.

[Blood of Heroes]

At the end of the day, Dinesh and Co. don't owe anyone *SQUEE*. They bought the characters and they can do whatever the *SQUEE* they want with them. It's not like this board is full of stockholders.

True statements... However this board is full of stakeholders....

Maybe, but worrying about Valiant's return to comic books has never kept me up at night. Paying the mortgage has, but not comic books.