To all those saying they are thinking of quitting Valiant...

[WrathOfArmstrong]

The house he built did not need reinvention, it was doing just fine. 2017 was by FAR the biggest year for VEI's sales and so much of their stuff got signed to media projects.

That was my impression too. And I think not supporting what is currently slated would only cause DMG to make actual changes. Right now, I am buying other comics just to fill the hours between a new VEI release.

I'd hope now that DMG might see the light and Dino could be brought back on more official terms. But with the new characters he helped greenlight, I'd be all for seeing him start up his own...

Thank you for posting, Ed!

[markie7235]

Dinesh did a great job of bringing Valiant back, and i hope no one takes this as an attack, but Valiant is not the house Dinesh built. Jim Shooter created valiant. It was his house first. Dinesh did a fantastic job of taking the existing IPs, modernizing them, breathing new life into them, and making them relevant again. He did a fantastic job.

That said, for a company to be successful, it has to have survivability beyond its creative charismatic founders. Valiant survived the departure of Shooter, and it will survive the departure of Dinesh. That doesn't take away from the accomplishments of either. Here we are 25 years later still talking about Jim Shooter and the world he created.

For valiant to have long term relevance and survivability, it has to expand, not just in print and pages, but to other forms of media. To live on it needs to attract new fans, and tv and movies will do that. Valiant ca not survive off of people like me who grew up with it 25 years ago. It constantly needs new blood, like Marvel and DC. I originally grew up on Spiderman and abandoned Marvel for Valiant because I didn't like the direction Marvel was going in. And yet people growing up on Spiderman since think they are the best stories. My point is what we all feel about valiant now or past valiant is what every generation of readers go through. The next generation will remember this moment differently. But for there to be a next generation, a company has to expand its borders.

Dinesh was working on that, unfortunately for DMG it wasn't fast or aggressive enough. That unfortunate, but not necessarily a bad thing. DMG probably has their own vision, and it could ve great. I am certainly weary, but also excited at seeing valiant show up more mainstream sooner. With the popularity of super hero franchises currently, the time to strike is now

[possumgrease]

https://thechicocomicspage.com/2018/01/ ... ua-dysart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[WrathOfArmstrong]

https://thechicocomicspage.com/2018/01/ ... ua-dysart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome read. I don't normally tear up, but when Dysart pours out a bit of his soul...(how come there's no single tear emoticon?)Respect for both men.

[markie7235]

I like Dysarts story, and I think it's a testament to what Dinesh accomplished. That said, sometimes stories outgrow the visionary. Shooter started valiant, but after Unity it was clear he wasn't really sure where to go next, nor did he get a chance either. With Dinesh, I don't think his vision ran it's course yet, but Valiant needed growth beyond where it had gone over 5 years. I dont know much about DMG, but I'm willing to give them a chance if they can help elevate Valiant in a positive way to attract new fans.

I'm not trying to detract from Dinesh or his accomplishments, nor justify DMG, just provide an alternate view of what this change could offer. A great example is Star Wars....Lucas created an amazing franchise, but it's clear even from his own shifting memory and changes to his original trilogy that Star Wars had grown beyond his original vision and he didn't really know what to do with it. The original three movies were perfect, they needed nothing more. But to carry Star Wars into the future, Lucas did the hardest and most necessary thing to continue its relevance and legacy...he sold it to a company full of visionaries and creative minds...he sold it to Disney. Love or hate the direction it's gone, the fact is Star Wars has a future now that it probably wouldn't have had otherwise. My hope is 10 years from now we can say the same about Valiant. If it does, it only further cements both Shooter and Dineshs legacies as the creative minds that gave rise to a whole new universe of beloved characters.

[Keith]

Thanks for this topic, Ed, and thanks for giving us the insight into Dino's current mindset. It gave a much needed kick in the seat for this fan saddened by the recent turn of events.

[grendeljd]

https://thechicocomicspage.com/2018/01/ ... ua-dysart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome read. I don't normally tear up, but when Dysart pours out a bit of his soul...(how come there's no single tear emoticon?)Respect for both men.

BIG +1.

I read that story on Facebook the other day when Joshua posted it on his feed. Glad to see it got picked up & shared beyond that.

[grendeljd]

If you continue to buy Valiant comics, it feels like you're supporting the decision to get rid of him - that your personal entertainment is more important than treating a human being fairly.

You are also supporting his vision for Valiant Heroes in print and doing well. That is the reason to do it.

Oh yeah - essentially I agree with you. I was just trying to illustrate how making the decision to continue supporting them has been tainted by this dick move from DMG.

I've said it elsewhere - I have arrived at the decision to continue supporting the books I like from Valiant so long as I continue enjoying what they're doing with them. I will just be a little more alerted & sensitive to a shift in tone or presentation from here on out.

As a personal rule of thumb, I do not ever enjoy comics that feel driven by heavy handed marketing strategies over story quality. It is my sincerest hope that we don't see that happen at VEI in the near future.

[lorddunlow]

If you continue to buy Valiant comics, it feels like you're supporting the decision to get rid of him - that your personal entertainment is more important than treating a human being fairly.

You are also supporting his vision for Valiant Heroes in print and doing well. That is the reason to do it.

Oh yeah - essentially I agree with you. I was just trying to illustrate how making the decision to continue supporting them has been tainted by this dick move from DMG.

I've said it elsewhere - I have arrived at the decision to continue supporting the books I like from Valiant so long as I continue enjoying what they're doing with them. I will just be a little more alerted & sensitive to a shift in tone or presentation from here on out.

As a personal rule of thumb, I do not ever enjoy comics that feel driven by heavy handed marketing strategies over story quality. It is my sincerest hope that we don't see that happen at VEI in the near future.

I keep relating this DMG thing with Disney, but I think it's a good comparison. I love Disney properties. They ended up buy ing a lot of my favorite properties and making more stuff with those properties. I love it. I am a Disney fanatic. I am not under any illusions that Disney is a good company. They are a huge corporate piece of *SQUEE*. But they manage well the properties they have (for the most part). I am very critical of a lot their business decision in a lot of areas. They are not creators. They stifle creativity while paradoxically paying creators well to make wonderful things. They enable, but restrict. It's the nature of the beast in a corporate system, but we have to live with it.

I hope DMG puts out quality. I don't have high hopes. My only consolation is Warren. I met the guy. He's not gonna be pushed around. He'll be fired before he lets DMG screw these characters up. He's not a guy to two the company line. But he'll work within it to make it the best he can. When he's gone, I fear that means Mintz decide ot screw things up and Warren put his foot down. That's likely when I'll be out.

[corey]

However, I basically stopped buying Valiant months a couple years back when initial titles began getting cancelled. I just can't support the mini-series nor constant reboot method of publishing anymore. I still buy the Deluxe editions though, because the uniformity helps keep my interest.

And THAT right there is the reason DMG was involved with VEI. All the people who quit collecting the books because they could not just enjoy the books, they had made up excuses (interrupted runs, multiple covers, ratio variants....) that it put VEI into a situation where they needed that investment to operate. The wait for the trade, or HC trends have not helped either. What happened later was a different story, but it all started with the fickle fans that did not care to support the publisher that they were all waiting for to come back.

Sorry if I am a bit blunt, but I am in no mood to mince words right now. Just imagine if Dinesh actually sees this post. It's wrong.

Sorry if what I'm about to write ends up getting a few backs up because it's contrary to other opinions, but blaming consumers for purchasing products or NOT purchasing products in a way that best works for them seems a little crass to me. At the end of the day we all know that consumers have certain limitations in which they can or are willing to purchase product, and telling them that they're wrong for doing so because their ultimate goal isn't total altruistic support of a company just appears a little removed from sense.

Moving on, total honesty now: I've loved Valiant comics and the company in a general sense since I picked up my first issue of Shadowman back in December '12. Since then I've supported the company by purchasing a single copy of every floppy they've put out, to achieve two purposes:
- To further my enjoyment of the Valiant Universe
- To support the company and aid further publishing of creative endeavours as a small part of a wider socio-economic endeavour
Buying all floppies monthly is about as far as my spending power toward VEI is able to stretch, generally speaking, so in that respect I belive it's fair to say that I've done about all I can to support the company, not to mention taking the time to review a load of trades across three Amazon domains and Barnes & Noble websites. So, whilst I understand some folks' notions of supporting 'the other people of Valiant' (not just Dinesh) by spending on Valiant comics, I care less about this now that DMG, with their abundant cash reserves, have taken over the company. It won't be the hardcore fan that supports the company in the near future, it'll be the wider audience on the recieving end of non-household name films that will be responsible.

On the other hand, it's also been suggested that we should continue buying Valiant comics to support the 'original vision' (in part, for the benefit of others)... Sure, that'd be wonderful if the comics remain within some idiosyncratically-defined parameters of 'quality', so how long should a consumer continue doing that before they decide that they can't support the company any more by buying comics that they're no longer enjoying? Some of us here have already wrestled with that question in the past and made purchasing decisions based on their feelings, but now we're back to square one where it's suggested that those people are 'to blame' for driving the eventual DMG acquisition, so is this option really acceptable if that's the case? Of course it is. You're the consumer, you do what works for you on a personal level.

I'm currently feeling that my current stance on Quitting Valiant is this:
- Buy comics whilst I'm enjoying them
- Stop buying comics when I'm no longer enjoying them
- Stop buying comics if/when reboots occur

At the end of the day, I love Valiant comics and want to continue enjoying them as far into the future as I can, but at the end of the day the world is a big place, full of all manner of weird and wonderful things to experience, become involved with and enjoy, and should I one day stop buying Valiant or the company goes under, I'll simply occupy my time with other pursuits. Life goes on and the presence of Valiant comics in my life, with regard to the grand reality of it all, simply isn't vital.

Anyway, apologies if that irriates a few folk. I'm just trying to put the whole affair into the perspective of how Valiant fits into my life, both now and in the future.

Perfectly said imo

[greg]

Reading these discussions all week, and being so focused on Valiant, I thought of something from another universe that might help with perspective.

[lorddunlow]

Reading these discussions all week, and being so focused on Valiant, I thought of something from another universe that might help with perspective.

Perfection, greg.

[Elveen]

I can 100% tell you from talking to Dino that he loves Valiant and does not want the characters to go away.

He and / they spent so much time building it.

[greg]

Reading these discussions all week, and being so focused on Valiant, I thought of something from another universe that might help with perspective.

Perfection, greg.

Flip that combadge on the captain's chest and it looks like a V logo.

[Elveen]

Dysart for the win

[nonplayer]

Every organization has to evolve, although I would definitely guess that Dinesh took the payout because the house he built was at it's pinnacle before needing a reinvention beyond his first revitalization. I don't resent that.

However, I basically stopped buying Valiant months a couple years back when initial titles began getting cancelled. I just can't support the mini-series nor constant reboot method of publishing anymore. I still buy the Deluxe editions though, because the uniformity helps keep my interest.

Who knows what will happen to the Deluxe sets now though.

I also had to stop buying everything once they started putting out stuff I didnt like and cancelling the titles I did like. Im much more picky now. And I dont like one shots or minis.

[Blood of Heroes]

https://thechicocomicspage.com/2018/01/ ... ua-dysart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome read. I don't normally tear up, but when Dysart pours out a bit of his soul...(how come there's no single tear emoticon?)Respect for both men.

Seriously. I fcking love Dysart.

[JCP]

I read Valiant to be entertained and temporarily escape from the trials of life. As long as the product remains high quality, I’ll keep reading. They’ve shown a good track record to this point. Unless and until that changes, I’ll keep dropping money down on monthlies. I’d have comic book void without them. Marvel, DC and even Image aren’t the answer.

[geocarr]

https://thechicocomicspage.com/2018/01/ ... ua-dysart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome read. I don't normally tear up, but when Dysart pours out a bit of his soul...(how come there's no single tear emoticon?)Respect for both men.

Ditto. Thanks for the link WrathOfArmstrong.

[myron]

https://thechicocomicspage.com/2018/01/ ... ua-dysart/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Awesome read. I don't normally tear up, but when Dysart pours out a bit of his soul...(how come there's no single tear emoticon?)Respect for both men.

Ditto. Thanks for the link WrathOfArmstrong.

+1

thanks also Ed for your post...

[paradise]

I also had to stop buying everything once they started putting out stuff I didnt like and cancelling the titles I did like. Im much more picky now. And I dont like one shots or minis.

Hey maybe soon you won't have to worry about their product at all. That will make it easier

[FormerReader]

Nice post Ed! I hope in time DMG sees how important Dinesh is to Valiant and maybe bring him in as the face of the company.

[paradise]

Nice post Ed! I hope in time DMG sees how important Dinesh is to Valiant and maybe bring him in as the face of the company.

LOL not likely

[Shadowman99]

I also had to stop buying everything once they started putting out stuff I didnt like and cancelling the titles I did like. Im much more picky now. And I dont like one shots or minis.

Hey maybe soon you won't have to worry about their product at all. That will make it easier

Dude, stop attacking people that are making purchases that suit their desires/needs

Consider this: would you buy a pair of pants that didn't fit? These people aren't buying comics that 'don't fit' and it's okay. Sure, Valiant are doing their best to please as many consumers as possible, but of course it's not possible to please everybody and so the company is inevitably losing a certain amount of $$$ due to this, but nobody should be made to feel guilty because they're not supporting the company to your standards

I know everyone's tension is high at the moment, but seriously, drop it.

[onearmedwampa3000]

Every organization has to evolve, although I would definitely guess that Dinesh took the payout because the house he built was at it's pinnacle before needing a reinvention beyond his first revitalization. I don't resent that.

THAT right there is what I am talking about when I mention selling out. This statement (obviously from lack of understanding) makes it seem like he was offered money and decided to take it. The reality of the situation is SOOOOOOO Far from that, it's not even the opposite. I won't discuss the details but most people have been able to read between the lines and see that it's not the case. The house he built did not need reinvention, it was doing just fine. 2017 was by FAR the biggest year for VEI's sales and so much of their stuff got signed to media projects. Sorry but stuff like that really puts salt on already a giant wound that a lot of people who know what's up have.

However, I basically stopped buying Valiant months a couple years back when initial titles began getting cancelled. I just can't support the mini-series nor constant reboot method of publishing anymore. I still buy the Deluxe editions though, because the uniformity helps keep my interest.

And THAT right there is the reason DMG was involved with VEI. All the people who quit collecting the books because they could not just enjoy the books, they had made up excuses (interrupted runs, multiple covers, ratio variants....) that it put VEI into a situation where they needed that investment to operate. The wait for the trade, or HC trends have not helped either. What happened later was a different story, but it all started with the fickle fans that did not care to support the publisher that they were all waiting for to come back.

Sorry if I am a bit blunt, but I am in no mood to mince words right now. Just imagine if Dinesh actually sees this post. It's wrong.

All this Valiant news aside, I've never been a fan of how you address people on this board, like you know what's best. You can be very self righteous and condescending. And you dangle your "connections" in front of people like a carrot on a stick. I'm not trying to be rude, it's just very tiresome and dramatic at times.

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