BREAKING NEWS (04/27/2005)... VALIANT SALE FINALIZED!

[jedimarley]

There's a loop?

There's always a loop...

[magnusr]

oh you didn't know that?..... looking VERY foreward to that

-Brian

Wow! Wow! Should have brought more signing-fodder!

/Magnus

[John Taddeo]

well I guess we now know why there was complete silence from Taddeo since it all went down. Can't wait to find out the background on the new owners.

Initially I could not speak about the deal because there was still negotiation between myself and the trustee on the details of the auction and the closing. I would have LOVED to post daily and keep this board in every step of the way. However, I'm sure the members of this board will clearly realize how that could have worked against me in the negotiations.

[dellamorte]

Initially I could not speak about the deal because there was still negotiation between myself and the trustee on the details of the auction and the closing. I would have LOVED to post daily and keep this board in every step of the way. However, I'm sure the members of this board will clearly realize how that could have worked against me in the negotiations.

Welcome back John, sorry things didn't work out for you. Is there anything that you can tell us?

[John Taddeo]

WHAT THE *SKREE*?!?!

so taddeo DIDN'T end up with the characters??

*SKREE* it...this sucks sweaty donkey nuts.

I'm sure you know this at this juncture, but very sadly, no I did not.

Shame too b/c I really wanted that stuff.

[John Taddeo]

Initially I could not speak about the deal because there was still negotiation between myself and the trustee on the details of the auction and the closing. I would have LOVED to post daily and keep this board in every step of the way. However, I'm sure the members of this board will clearly realize how that could have worked against me in the negotiations.

Welcome back John, sorry things didn't work out for you. Is there anything that you can tell us?

Anything I can I will. Post up whatever questions you like and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

[ManofTheAtom]

You can always try to get Defiant or Broadway

[dellamorte]

Anything I can I will. Post up whatever questions you like and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

What happened between being declared the winner and not ending up with the properties? Was it the involvement of the infamous V.I.P.?

[John Taddeo]

The name "Shamdasani" sounds familiar...

Dino?

Any connection?

One of the partners is a young man named Dino. I asked him outright at the sale if he was the Dino I knew from the Valiant boards. He flashed a puzzled look and said, "No". I had / have no reason to believe he was lying.

On the upside, they seem very energetic and they do claim to love the Valiant Universe.

[John Taddeo]

I assume the issue still remains for the copyright or trademark or whatever of the names? Or is this the valiant group?

Yes. THESE considerable issueS remain.

I use the plural because VIP created a domino effect of sorts where quite a few people began laying claim to characters that were ignored for years.

It was like, "Oh Really! You mean we could do that?!?!?" . . .and the bandwagon started filling up fast. In some cases I guess I agree. In others . . .shadey.

Personally the CREATORS issues were not a major hurdle for me b/c as a creative guy I'm obviously a big believer in creator rights. First TPB off the presses would have paid royalties to the creative teams. I also would have paid on films and television based upon previous written works.

Same went for crossgen, IN FACT - the CG deal was even more strange b/c technically Disney was too late with their depsoit. The bidding list was closed Friday at 5:00. I spent the weekend online with a CG expert breaking down royalties on Trade Paperbacks. I hadn't even closed yet and we were already figuring out how to pay the creators. (although those guys really needed the cash. Some hadn't been paid in months, so we were really stepping on it for them)

So maybe I'm naive, but I think the creators would have been happy to be treated well. Keep in mind it's never been about money, so I could have been generous.

Funny, I just spoke to Mark Bright this afternoon and Quantum and Woody came up.

[xoken]

Did something happen all of a sudden? Why break your silence?

[John Taddeo]

i believe these are the VIP, LLC people...

my head hurts...

I asked Jason Khatari directly if he was V. I. P. the day after the sale. He strongly denied having any relationship whatsoever with VIP.

Jason and I spent a few hours in San Diego together where he asked me for advice on how to handle that matter.

I don't believe these guys are VIP. If they are, they're FANTASTIC liars and should quit comics immediately and get into acting.

However, I believe Jason when he says they have nothing to do with VIP.

Besides - If I'm being honest I have a good idea who is - but I can not say until I am absolutely sure b/c obviously there will be a considerable backlash to these people by the fans . . .and in some sense, rightfully so.

[John Taddeo]

Wow, this is all very strange. I thought all John had to do was wait for a few details to be worked out. What an odd turn of events.

The death is in the details. It just wasn't going anywhere . . .and besides, I didn't want to get into a legal quagmire (SP?). I just want to write comics, direct some films and have fun. The idea of 2 years of legal wasn't appealing.

[xoken]

Wow, this is all very strange. I thought all John had to do was wait for a few details to be worked out. What an odd turn of events.

The death is in the details. It just wasn't going anywhere . . .and besides, I didn't want to get into a legal quagmire (SP?). I just want to write comics, direct some films and have fun. The idea of 2 years of legal wasn't appealing.

I don't mean to offend but I saw the zoot suit short and I have to ask, please don't direct anything every again. Sorry if that offends you.

[John Taddeo]

Wellllllllll....I hate to say this publically, cause I like John, but...his vision of only publishing one book a year wasn't going to fly.

We'll see.

I like you too but . . .I never said one book a year. It was one limited series in the first year.

My opinion stands that trying to resurrect a 6-8 issue a month "Line" in the current marketplace is suicide. I get e-mails filled with comic company pitches about twice a month. I've yet to see one plan with even a REMOTE degree of realism.

My exact plan was either a 4 issue x-o LS that tied in some other characters . . .

OR . . .my favorite idea was kind of like a Rai #0 set of books called - THE END. I played with the idea of getting Jim Shooter and Barry Windsorsmith to do 2 48 page books - solid black covers, the words THE END in white

and

Bob Layton and David Michieline to do 2 as well solid white covers The words THE END in black


Each team has 100% total freedom and autonomy to use the 96 pages anyway they want to tell the last valiant story . . .

I figured let's settle this from jump Shooter and Layton together, but not . . .if you guys can make nice great. If you can't, well then lets settle this once and for all for the undisputed Championship.

You both get the co-creator of your choice, total freedom for ANYTHING . . .and the fans decide with their dollars. Team A gets a third, Team b gets a third and the last third I give to a "No Kill" shelter (just so they know it's only about the books)

The book with the better sales is the true END . . .the other was just an elseworlds type.

We even mocked up a few ads that said,
"The New Beginning of the Valiant Universe Starts with THE END."
SHOOTER LAYTON
THE END

lol . . .too bad the only thing that ended was me

Final note on this, not to upset anyone, but the trustee asked me if we cam come to an agreement would close "Right Now"?

My answer back was "F%$#K yeah right now, I got a door to knock on while I'm up here".

Greg - don't erase that F%$#k, it's an industry term.

[xoken]

Im not trying to be rude. Im really not. I think he would have made a great new owner of valiant but I didn't like the shorts at all. sorry.

[John Taddeo]

Wow, this is all very strange. I thought all John had to do was wait for a few details to be worked out. What an odd turn of events.

The death is in the details. It just wasn't going anywhere . . .and besides, I didn't want to get into a legal quagmire (SP?). I just want to write comics, direct some films and have fun. The idea of 2 years of legal wasn't appealing.

I don't mean to offend but I saw the zoot suit short and I have to ask, please don't direct anything every again. Sorry if that offends you.

So much for your career as a film critic because it's won 1/3 of the festivals it's been screened at, AND was selected to the San Diego Comic Con Festival as one of 20 animated shorts out out hundreds of entries.

There's always beauty school.

And besides, stop breaking my stones, do I come around your job and say, "I've tasted your burgers and please go back to washing lettuce"



(ouch, that'll leave a mark)

[xoken]

Wow, this is all very strange. I thought all John had to do was wait for a few details to be worked out. What an odd turn of events.

The death is in the details. It just wasn't going anywhere . . .and besides, I didn't want to get into a legal quagmire (SP?). I just want to write comics, direct some films and have fun. The idea of 2 years of legal wasn't appealing.

I don't mean to offend but I saw the zoot suit short and I have to ask, please don't direct anything every again. Sorry if that offends you.

So much for your career as a film critic because it's won 1/3 of the festivals it's been screened at, AND was selected to the San Diego Comic Con Festival as one of 20 animated shorts out out hundreds of entries.

There's always beauty school.

And besides, stop breaking my stones, do I come around your job and say, "I've tasted your burgers and please go back to washing lettuce"



(ouch, that'll leave a mark)

I was just stating my opinion, I think thats still legal. I even said it was my opinion and that I didnt want to offend. I didnt know your job was making movies, I thought it was comics.

[John Taddeo]

This is very interesting. I'd thought that everything was locked up since Newsarama announced that the sale had been finalized to Mr. Taddeo on the 22nd. I'd be very interested in hearing what happened to cause things to fall apart at the 11th hour.

David B.

I answered this above.

If anyone hasn't noticed i started on page 1 answering every question that I could.

[John Taddeo]

Honestly, if this is the VIP group and they got it because of their going after the trademarks, that's pretty *SKREE*. As if we need more shady scumbags getting hold of the Valiant properties.

WTF! Everyone I give you the DFPotD..congrats and it is only 9:30 EST...

I don't know what that even means, but I just feel that registering for the trademarks when the auction was coming up was a shady move on VIP's part.


Oh, and also, I thought Taddeo's ideas were bunk from the beginning and it never really sat well with me. If this group is going to print books again, I'm all for it.

I think it was shadey too. I'll ignore the bunk part . . .lol

[John Taddeo]

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm....

All I can say is WOW - what a strange turn of events. I thought JT had won the auction, but it appears I am wrong. As long as the characters I love are done right I will gladly support whoever publishes them, ya know?

Congrats to the new owners - Hopefully you are on board in some way, shape or form Dino - that last name does look familiar...

Chris

Me too

[ManofTheAtom]

Sounds interesting, but I would have liked something with a little direction.

Seeing ego-stroke comics from time to time is ok, but I was really hoping for comics that were more about the character and less about the creators.

[John Taddeo]

if they come out with books i hope they choose a place and pick up from there, no re-telling,, i don't want to see 'ultimate harbinger'!

The "Ultimate" treatment would probably spell disaster. The VU isn't like the MU.

Besides, wasn't acclaim sort of "Ultimate"

[John Taddeo]

hey, its Monday. Any updates on this? Why is John T. so quiet? I'm sure he can cough up a few hints...
Besides, if he lost, why can't he tell us why and when? What are they going to do, award it to someone else...duh, if he lost, he lost; so speak up.

Answered above . . .hope it makes more sense now.

[depluto]

One of the partners is a young man named Dino. I asked him outright at the sale if he was the Dino I knew from the Valiant boards. He flashed a puzzled look and said, "No". I had / have no reason to believe he was lying.

On the upside, they seem very energetic and they do claim to love the Valiant Universe.

So Dino has nothing to do with the Valiant purchase? Who the heck are the people who bought it then?