My VALIANT (all capitals, all the time and all that) story

SnotDrip · Post by **SnotDrip** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:19 pm

X-O HoboJoe wrote:
SnotDrip wrote:
X-O HoboJoe wrote:
Brother J wrote: stupid Paris Hilton...
Kinda redundant.
You mean Oxymoron
Uhhhhh . . . not really.

X-O HoboJoe · Post by **X-O HoboJoe** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:40 pm

SnotDrip wrote:
X-O HoboJoe wrote:
SnotDrip wrote:
X-O HoboJoe wrote:
Brother J wrote: stupid Paris Hilton...
Kinda redundant.
You mean Oxymoron
Uhhhhh . . . not really.

The funniest part of that is that I did the same exact damn thing about two weeks after joining up and got that same response.
Welcome to the Dark Side.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:37 am

SnotDrip wrote:
X-O HoboJoe wrote:
SnotDrip wrote:
X-O HoboJoe wrote:
Brother J wrote: stupid Paris Hilton...
Kinda redundant.
You mean Oxymoron
Uhhhhh . . . not really.

So you can speak French but you can't speak English?

How would I ever guess you're from Canada!

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:02 am

Third gold added to collection - X-O #0. Did I need it? No, as had regular edition. But still going to be on the lookout for more.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:05 am

Have been bidding on a CGC 9.8 Chaos Effect Omega Gold, but have given up as I don't know if I can justify more than 15 GBP (circa nearly $30 US?), incl post and packing. And that assumes I don't end in abidding war. You guys are welcome to convince me otherwise.

On the plus side I have just received some Bloodshots (1-20), the first 5 issues of Armorines, the Shadowman GN with Darque Passages (bought for the latter admittedly) and the 4 Unity GNs slipcased (the latter for about 7 GBP so am quietly pleased).

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 6:47 am

I said I would update this thread from time to time to give my thoughts on 'discovering' VALIANT in 2006. So here are my thoughts on Psi-Lords: I read issues 1-10 over the last couple of days (I have about 200-250 VALIANTS awaiting reading and I am trying to save the cream of the crop until later), and I thought issues 1-5 were not so bad. I liked the design of the costumes (although the orange suits on the gunners appeared identical to the bastion red colouring...) and the premise appeared a little LoSH with a VALIANT perspective, as well as a nod to VALIANT history. I also really enjoyed the Leeke/Giordano art which I thought was right for the series. There was definitely some clunky stuff in there, such as Bedard's pseudo-future tech speak (Molmachs - uggghh!), and some ideas needed to be fleshed out further, but there is potential for a non-Magnus future book to complement Rai if MRF is unavailable should the relaunch happen (which hopefull it will). The series was let down with Howard Simpson's style IMHO which I found to be a little cartoony. Overall I'd give 1-5 6 out of 10, and 6-10 I'd give 5.

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:38 pm

leonmallett wrote:and the premise appeared a little LoSH with a VALIANT perspective, as well as a nod to VALIANT history.

This is probably a dumb questiuon but,

What does that mean ???

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:38 pm

double post

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:53 pm

siren3-4 wrote:
leonmallett wrote:and the premise appeared a little LoSH with a VALIANT perspective, as well as a nod to VALIANT history.
This is probably a dumb questiuon but,

What does that mean ???

I believe it stands for Legion of Super Heroes.

-slym

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:52 am

Sorry, used acronym as was feeling a bit lazy!

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:19 am

leonmallett wrote:Sorry, used acronym as was feeling a bit lazy!

Same goes for this post, eh?

-slym ("Sorry, I used an acronym, as I was feeling a bit lazy!")

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:08 am

Yep lzy...can't be bothered writing in full, even.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:59 am

Latest update:

I have just yesterday finished reading Armorines (VH 1). Overall I really enjoyed the concept, and found it more plausible than HARDCorps as I struggled to accept a really well-equipped, powerful, technologically advanced private security force (although that doesn't mean i didn't enjoy the book, because I did). For me the weakest issue was Armorines 0, but mainly due to the art not being up to the same standard as most of the rest of the series. I thought the pilot/co-pilot thing was a cool concept, and the design of the suits was very cool also, but a few too many gizmos just right for the job appeared to be creeping in - this would lead to a potential writing pitfall as a deus ex machina in some ways if not reigned in. Including political shenanigans into the mix was a good idea to diversify the story, and allowed Sirot to have a noble element within his generally unlikable character. After reading issue 12 I felt "that's it?", wanting to read more, which is a good sign. I hope the Armorines find a way into a new VALIANT universe. Overall a satisfying read.

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:56 am

leonmallett wrote:Latest update:

I have just yesterday finished reading Armorines (VH 1). Overall I really enjoyed the concept, and found it more plausible than HARDCorps as I struggled to accept a really well-equipped, powerful, technologically advanced private security force (although that doesn't mean i didn't enjoy the book, because I did). For me the weakest issue was Armorines 0, but mainly due to the art not being up to the same standard as most of the rest of the series. I thought the pilot/co-pilot thing was a cool concept, and the design of the suits was very cool also, but a few too many gizmos just right for the job appeared to be creeping in - this would lead to a potential writing pitfall as a deus ex machina in some ways if not reigned in. Including political shenanigans into the mix was a good idea to diversify the story, and allowed Sirot to have a noble element within his generally unlikable character. After reading issue 12 I felt "that's it?", wanting to read more, which is a good sign. I hope the Armorines find a way into a new VALIANT universe. Overall a satisfying read.

I liked the concept too, but the characters and stories were mediocre at best. I would rather see the new VU concentrate on the main titles and leave Armorines to a guest shot every now and then.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:11 am

Agreed that they shouldn't be a core title by any stretch, but the odd one-shot or mini-series might be cool.

tarheelmarine · Post by **tarheelmarine** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:01 pm

leonmallett wrote:Agreed that they shouldn't be a core title by any stretch, but the odd one-shot or mini-series might be cool.

Agreed.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:03 am

The vote on what I am to read next is complete (from registered members section), and the winner is convincingly Shadowman (Shadowman vote). Which I had wanted to savour by leaving to last, but I will honour the vote and read no other VALIANTs until I have read the series. Thanks again for voting.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:39 am

If you have read my story you know that I didn't catch on with VALIANT really until happening across X-O Manowar 0 about a year or so ago. That intrigued me and I started collecting fro there. At a rough guess I imagine in the last year or thereabouts since reading that book I have managed to pick up about 80% or more of the VH1 books (haven't sat down to work it out precisely yet). I have also begun the task of uprgrading some of the books that I have whilst adding to the collection.

Anyhoo, a few months ago I posted a poll as to what to read next and the convincing winner was Shadowman. Okay I had wanted to save the set to last as the few issues I had read (late teens early 20's issues) I had really been taken with in terms of cast, story and art. So following the result of the vote, I read Shadowman 0-43 (but not the Yearbook, I overlooked my missing that, but that should resolve itself in due course) over a period of a few weeks recently. I have taken in the last couple of years to reading comics in chunks or runs and have found this to be very satisfying, especially with relation to longer plot lines and in the face of ever mounting lateness amongst all publishers (can you remember when almost no comic books were late? - aaahh, good days). With that in mind I thought I'd share some thoughts with you guys (most, if not all, of whom were there the first time around). This isn't a synopsis, but my overview of the series' development.

The series began in a reasonably promising way. Having read later issues already, the beginning felt different, and not quite right. One factor in that was the spandex - it just didn't look right to my mind when compared to the leather jacket. Another element I preferred late was the modification to the mask. The initial art by Lapham suited the book however, and the stories I found intriguing, and certainly not typical superhero fare. Reading that early stuff though made me feel that those repsonsible for the book knew they had a solid idea but didn't quite know what to do with it. That feeling was compounded for me by the myriad writers the book had. Between issues 1 and 6 there are 9 people given story or writing credits. Not the way to find a 'voice'. To me the voice of a book is the tone, the rhthym of the storytelling, the dialogue, the pacing and all those things. With the arrival of Bob Hall I think the book found it's voice. When Bob took on the art (especially with tom Ryder's inking), the book takes off for me in terms of direction, story focus, character development, seeing the world(s) that Shadowman and Jack Boniface inhabit and so on. The cast grew and grew, with seemingly minor characters coming back time and again. A larger picture developed, but as it did so the style of the book changed subtly. Pick an issue in the late teens and compare the art to the early 40's issues. The art bcemoes more expressive in the time between. the story increasingly highlights that Shadowman and Jack Boniface may share the one body, but they are not one in the same. As the book progresses Shadowman (the character) becomes wilder, increasingly atavistic. We are guided through a nightmarish world of this fictionalised New Orleans with crazy voodoo mixing with vigilantism and Jack Boniface's gradually splintering and fragmenting sense of himself and his alter ego. It is a great, dark, ride. Silly at times, yes. Removed from the pseudo-science of the majority of the rest of line? Undoubtedly. But it feels true to the creative vision behind it, although I felt a sense of self-parody towards the end as issues hurtle along at break-neck pace until we are left with that cliffhanger. I am still wondering what Bob Hall intended with this - to leave the audience wanting more? To send a message to the owners regarding the changes that had occurred at VALIANT? Had he written himself into a corner he felt unable to get out of? Was he poking fun at the '1999 prophecy' which effectively acted to limit any real sense of peril for the character? Was he trying to communicate an essential truth of the character of Jack Boniface as he (Hall) perceived him? To be honest, I don't know. All I can say is that it was an exhilarating ride. One which I can't wait to take again.

Zero · Post by **Zero** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:53 am

leonmallett wrote:I am still wondering what Bob Hall intended with this - to leave the audience wanting more? To send a message to the owners regarding the changes that had occurred at VALIANT? Had he written himself into a corner he felt unable to get out of? Was he poking fun at the '1999 prophecy' which effectively acted to limit any real sense of peril for the character? Was he trying to communicate an essential truth of the character of Jack Boniface as he (Hall) perceived him? To be honest, I don't know. All I can say is that it was an exhilarating ride. One which I can't wait to take again.

All great points! This is actually a discussion I've always want to have with Mr. Hall. If ever I get the opportunity at a panel I will ask this very question.

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:54 am

Great review !!!

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:00 am

Zero wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still wondering what Bob Hall intended with this - to leave the audience wanting more? To send a message to the owners regarding the changes that had occurred at VALIANT? Had he written himself into a corner he felt unable to get out of? Was he poking fun at the '1999 prophecy' which effectively acted to limit any real sense of peril for the character? Was he trying to communicate an essential truth of the character of Jack Boniface as he (Hall) perceived him? To be honest, I don't know. All I can say is that it was an exhilarating ride. One which I can't wait to take again.
All great points! This is actually a discussion I've always want to have with Mr. Hall. If ever I get the opportunity at a panel I will ask this very question.

Please do. I'd love to hear the answer.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:01 am

siren3-4 wrote:Great review !!!

Cheers.

I am thinking about what my next chunk of VH1 will be...

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:07 am

leonmallett wrote:
siren3-4 wrote:Great review !!!

Cheers.

I am thinking about what my next chunk of VH1 will be...

If you decide to read X-O, I have invented a device that will help you . . .

It's a small black piece of paper that you can place over the X-O Bike panels while you read . . . It may just save your life . . .

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:12 am

siren3-4 wrote:
leonmallett wrote:
siren3-4 wrote:Great review !!!

Cheers.

I am thinking about what my next chunk of VH1 will be...
If you decide to read X-O, I have invented a device that will help you . . .

It's a small black piece of paper that you can place over the X-O Bike panels while you read . . . It may just save your life . . .

Except...having seen glimpses of the bike posted on these forums...I am quitely looking forward to seeing how the heck there is an X-O bike....

The shame, the shame...

I may do another vote. I have some more books arriving soon and will see what runs are the most complete before deciding what to approach next. I am trying to save the best until last (that said I have read most of Harbinger 1-25 already; Eternal Warrior up to the late teens; similar with Archer and Armstrong so I will - as with Shadowman - be re-reading some stuff I am familar with).

myron · Post by **myron** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:49 am

leonmallett wrote:

Except...having seen glimpses of the bike posted on these forums...I am quitely looking forward to seeing how the heck there is an X-O bike....

the Hoar, the Hoar...