New Titles By Year's End

[ManofTheAtom]

Kothari's group bought the Valiant library last year after Acclaim filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Its plan is to republish its best titles and begin generating new issues by year's end.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

"begin generating" leaves open a lot of room for interpretation. Are we thinking new books will be out by the end of this year? That seems pretty quick to me.

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

[Ryan]

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

On the other hand, there are a lot of small things that go into creating a 'new' universe and comics publishing venture that can take some time, both on the business and creative ends.

My guess is that 'by the end of the year' is an optimistic projection. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'll be happy if we at least know the direction they're going by the end of the year.

[ManofTheAtom]

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

On the other hand, there are a lot of small things that go into creating a 'new' universe and comics publishing venture that can take some time, both on the business and creative ends.

My guess is that 'by the end of the year' is an optimistic projection. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'll be happy if we at least know the direction they're going by the end of the year.

Let's not forget that they have been working on this for quite some time already.

[Ryan]

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

On the other hand, there are a lot of small things that go into creating a 'new' universe and comics publishing venture that can take some time, both on the business and creative ends.

My guess is that 'by the end of the year' is an optimistic projection. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'll be happy if we at least know the direction they're going by the end of the year.

Let's not forget that they had been working on this for awhile already.

that's a good point. I'm optimistic it could happen this year, but let's see some plans and art before getting tooooo excited....

awww *SQUEE* it, let's have a party for this great news

[400yrs]

Kothari's group bought the Valiant library last year after Acclaim filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Its plan is to republish its best titles and begin generating new issues by year's end.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

"begin generating" leaves open a lot of room for interpretation. Are we thinking new books will be out by the end of this year? That seems pretty quick to me.

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

No, no. I agree there is plenty of time to get books out by year end provided they have staff in place soon.

Going back and rereading the release again, I think I misread it / read to much into it. The phrase "begin generating new issues" is just odd in regards to comics. I've never seen the term "released" or "put out comics" worded that way and it read funny to me for some reason.... probably because I'm friggin tired.

[ManofTheAtom]

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

On the other hand, there are a lot of small things that go into creating a 'new' universe and comics publishing venture that can take some time, both on the business and creative ends.

My guess is that 'by the end of the year' is an optimistic projection. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'll be happy if we at least know the direction they're going by the end of the year.

Let's not forget that they had been working on this for awhile already.

that's a good point. I'm optimistic it could happen this year, but let's see some plans and art before getting tooooo excited....

awww *SQUEE* it, let's have a party for this great news

[Byrneout]

Hopefully they can emulate the failed WS revamp - poach great talent like Morrison and co. - but not fall short where Jim Lee did (by only having two or three issues of the two flagship titles come out in three years).

Regardless of anyone's feelings on V2 I would kill to see another Valiant book by Ellis or Waid. And for God's sake, Priest!

Argh, no.

No Morrison, no Waid.

I hope that VEI considers looking outside comics for talent. The current "talent" was raised with Silver Age crap comics, so that's the only way they understand comics.

Last thing we need is for Morrison to go to VALIANT and start his crap about sibilings who want to have sex with each other and a VALIANT multiverse.

I thought that was Loeb?

[Geomancer]

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

On the other hand, there are a lot of small things that go into creating a 'new' universe and comics publishing venture that can take some time, both on the business and creative ends.

My guess is that 'by the end of the year' is an optimistic projection. I'm not saying it's not possible, but I'll be happy if we at least know the direction they're going by the end of the year.

I agree.

Unless they have an answer to the Gold Key characters question, then they have to develop 2 game plans.

Releasing a single title within an established universe takes less time than releasing the title or titles that relaunch a pre-existing one. That is if they plan on having the universe move forward as a comprehensive entity.

[StarBrand]

Let's face it, it would sure be great if Shooter does more work for VEI.

[*SQUEE*]

I feel like I am being teased. It has been so long...

[leonmallett]

Kothari's group bought the Valiant library last year after Acclaim filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Its plan is to republish its best titles and begin generating new issues by year's end.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

"begin generating" leaves open a lot of room for interpretation. Are we thinking new books will be out by the end of this year? That seems pretty quick to me.

How so?

Even if they started working on the new comics today, they would have enough time to create material for six months or more that they could release in December.

I remember that when VH 2 came out, Nicieza was singing Maguire's praises for being on time with Trinity Angeles #2 barely two or so months before issue 1 came out.

VEI has, at best, seven more months worth of time to create a line of titles that they could release in November or December.

No, no. I agree there is plenty of time to get books out by year end provided they have staff in place soon.

Going back and rereading the release again, I think I misread it / read to much into it. The phrase "begin generating new issues" is just odd in regards to comics. I've never seen the term "released" or "put out comics" worded that way and it read funny to me for some reason.... probably because I'm friggin tired.

I think those that have picked out the 'generating' phrase are correct to identify that this is different to staing that publication will be occurring by year's end.

Also, and not in response to this quote, but a broader comment following earlier posts, perhaps people shouldn't get too enthusiastic that the same model of creative talent will be as last time - what would the capital investment be to re-create something like 'knob row' alongside existing talent? With comic book sales in the initial phases in 1991-2 being circa 35,000 to 90,000 or thereabouts, that is not necessarily a realistic expectation of sales in the current market. Thus income and profit margins are going to be tighter, and VEI will likely need to be leaner as a corporate entity than Voyager. Look at current sales numbers for books not published by the big two, what level do the bigger successes sell at? And those big successes, are they linked to big name creators or to companies that have found their feet through establishing a niche? For January 2008 Superpowers #0 sold at 113k with Alex Ross attached, as well as Jim Krueger, creators that have a fan-base through the Earth X series and Justice, as well as being a book that seemed to be hyped a lot, had multpile covers, and perhaps should be seen very much an exception. Buffy tVS is the next book outside of the big two publishers at 88k - a licensed property (not something we are aware that VEI will be publishing). Following that is Angel: After the Fall (at 44k another licensed book), Star Wars: Legacy (31k). So for non-licensed material without the Ross/Krueger marquee (which will be seen in future issues if the numbers can be sustained) Umbrella Academy Apocalypse Suite (at 29k and presumably with Gerard Way fans built into the audience to some extent) and the Boys at 28k. Between 2 and 15k sales we see a lot of publications outside of the big two. Some of these have some big names attached to work alongside new and emerging talent. I just encourage a semblence of reasonable expectation - to expect things to be as they were, and a brand-new knob row in the mode of the original, is to wish for something that worked in different conidtions in a differnet era, and how often does that work out? If the choice is quality or nostalgia, I favour quality.

That said, I am very excited to see what VEI do. Good luck to them, and they will certainly have some number of readers waiting with expectations here.

[ManofTheAtom]

I thought that was Loeb?

No, it was Morrison in his 1234 mini series, and he helped bring the multiverse back in 52.

[ManofTheAtom]

Also, and not in response to this quote, but a broader comment following earlier posts, perhaps people shouldn't get too enthusiastic that the same model of creative talent will be as last time - what would the capital investment be to re-create something like 'knob row' alongside existimg talent? With comic book sales in the initial phases in 1991-2 being circa 35,000 to 90,000 or thereabouts, that is not necessarily a relaistic expectation of sales in the current market. Thus income and profit margins are going to be tighter, and VEI will likely need to be leaner as a corporate entity than Voyager. Look at current sales numbers for books not published by the big two, what level do the bigger successes sell at? And those big successes, are they linked to big name creators or to companies that have found their feet through establishing a niche? For January 2008 Superpowers #0 sold at 113k with Alex Ross attached, as well as Jim Krueger, creators that have a fan-base through the Earth X series and Justice, as well as being a book that seemed to be hyped a lot, had multpile covers, and perhaps should be seen very much an exception. Buffy tVS is the next book outside of the big two publishers at 88k - a licensed property (not something we are aware that VEI will be publishing). Following that is Angel: After the Fall (at 44k another licensed book), Star Wars: Legacy (31k). So for non-licensed material without the Ross/Krueger marquee (which will be seen in future issues if the numbers can be sustained) Umbrella Academy Apocalypse Suite (at 29k and presumably with Gerard Way fans built into the audience to some extent) and the Boys at 28k. Between 2 and 15k sales we see a lot of publications outside of the big two. Some of these have some big names attached to work alongside new and emerging talent. I just encourage a semblence of reasonable expectation - to expect things to be as they were, and a brand-new knob row in the mode of the original, is to wish for something that worked in different conidtions in a differnet era, and how often does that work out? If the choice is quality or nostalgia, I favour quality.

So they should focus on hiring ultra-popular names instead of talented creators?

Sure... third time might be the charmed, right?

Just because that tactic failed twice before with Birthquake and VH 2, it doesn't mean it won't fail now.

[xodacia81]

They need to have both talented AND reknowned creators aboard. It also wouldn't hurt to have guys around that are "good soldiers" who could move up. Every company has a development program, whether it is overt or not. Any business that does well allows for advancement. VEI will likely follow this pattern.

Now, do I want to see Joe Blow from Oxnard writing and drawing the new Harbinger or XO? NO. Do I want to see see John Byrne, Jim Shooter or Bob Hall? Yes. Could I live with an Eric Luke/Ivan Reis combination? Sure I could. (though in that case, I think they would be better working on Shadowman if HALL isn't available) I trust VEI to do well, because so far they have been very careful, very smart and are not rushing into anything. Let's see where things go before we get all worked up over potentially nothing.

[ManofTheAtom]

They need to have both talented AND reknowned creators aboard. It also wouldn't hurt to have guys around that are "good soldiers" who could move up. Every company has a development program, whether it is overt or not. Any business that does well allows for advancement. VEI will likely follow this pattern.

Now, do I want to see Joe Blow from Oxnard writing and drawing the new Harbinger or XO? NO. Do I want to see see John Byrne, Jim Shooter or Bob Hall? Yes. Could I live with an Eric Luke/Ivan Reis combination? Sure I could. (though in that case, I think they would be better working on Shadowman if HALL isn't available) I trust VEI to do well, because so far they have been very careful, very smart and are not rushing into anything. Let's see where things go before we get all worked up over potentially nothing.

If Joe Blow from Oxnard turns out to be a talented writer and penciller, then I want to see him do Harbinger or XO.

I'd prefer a talented Joe Blow from Oxnard to someone like Kevin Maguire, Andy Kubert, or Joe Quesada, who can't meet deadlines, or Nicieza, Jurgens, Morrison, or Waid, who don't understand the characters.

Popularity does not equal talent.

For example, who was Gonzalez compared to Ron Marz, right?

Ron "Silver Surfer/Green Lantern" Marz was an ultra-popular writer with much more experience than any Gonzalez ever had.

Did that make his X-O stories better than Gonzalez's?

Was Crescendo better than Wolfbridge?

[xodacia81]

Again, the point isn't that Joe Blow CAN NOT have talent. The point is, I want talen, whether it IS Joe Blow or an ESTABLISHED name. If JOE BLOW can do a good job, hire him. If he sucks, keep him away.

[ManofTheAtom]

Again, the point isn't that Joe Blow CAN NOT have talent. The point is, I want talen, whether it IS Joe Blow or an ESTABLISHED name. If JOE BLOW can do a good job, hire him. If he sucks, keep him away.

We already know that most established names that have worked at VALIANT have brought with them their DC/Marvel sensibilities and lack of understanding of the VALIANT Universe.

They think that all superheroe comics have to be done with cookie cutters.

Busiek wanted Ninjak to rip off Spider-Man and Flash.

Marz thought that a female villain with giant boobs = good storytelling

Jurgens used Solar as a tool to introduce his own characters from "Earth 2" and then tried to convince readers that a gay super villain who wanted to have sex with Solar was a good character.

There are countless examples of how "established names" spelled doom for the VALIANT universe, just like there are countless examples of how unknown names (Lapham, Chen, Chang, and others) made great stories.

[xodacia81]

The thing is, VEI must find the RIGHT people. Ignoring either new or established talent because of what did or did not work in the past is not going to win a NEW company much. You seem to be fearing a repeat of VH2 BECAUSE of the POSSIBILITY of established names. It was not BECAUSE they were established that things did not work out, just like it was not because LAPHAM and the rest WERE NOT KNOWN that they DID work out. It was because the original creators, well, THEY were the RIGHT PEOPLE for THOSE BOOKS. I want my books back, I want them done right and I don't care who does them as long as the stories and art are up to my expectations.

[ManofTheAtom]

The thing is, VEI must find the RIGHT people. Ignoring either new or established talent because of what did or did not work in the past is not going to win a NEW company much. You seem to be fearing a repeat of VH2 BECAUSE of the POSSIBILITY of established names. It was not BECAUSE they were established that things did not work out, just like it was not because LAPHAM and the rest WERE NOT KNOWN that they DID work out. It was because the original creators, well, THEY were the RIGHT PEOPLE for THOSE BOOKS. I want my books back, I want them done right and I don't care who does them as long as the stories and art are up to my expectations.

Right, which means focusing on talent, not on whether someone is established or popular.

So far, however, established and popular names have NOT fit in with this universe, mostly because they want to turn it into a copy of DC or Marvel.

[xodacia81]

The editorial dictate must be NOT to turn it into Marvel or DC. I think the main failure with the ACCLAIM era was a lack of solid vision and authority from the editorial top. Nobody cared as much about maintaining the integrity of past stories and respecting at least the tone of what came before, so things fell apart. Strong editors who believe in the material could really be the key to avoiding a repeat of what went wrong last time.

[ManofTheAtom]

The editorial dictate must be NOT to turn it into Marvel or DC. I think the main failure with the ACCLAIM era was a lack of solid vision and authority from the editorial top. Nobody cared as much about maintaining the integrity of past stories and respecting at least the tone of what came before, so things fell apart. Strong editors who believe in the material could really be the key to avoiding a repeat of what went wrong last time.

And do you really think that primma donna established, uber popular names will let an editor tell them what they can or can't do?

Look at how they behave at DC and Marvel.

We're talking about the same people who cost Marvel editor Mark Powers his job because they accused him of being too controlling, as well as the same people who turned Shooter into a pariah for demanding that they don't suck.

Assume that VEI were to hire Shooter-like minded editors whose goal is to ensure that their writers and pencillers don't suck.

How long until those same primma donnas go to Wizard, Newsarama, or other outlets to whine over how the "evil" VEI editors won't let them do a multiverse because it contradicts the VALIANT Universe? Or they won't let them crossover with the Legion because they're "fictional" in the VALIANT Universe?

Lately at DC and Marvel the line of thought has been "let writers do whatever they want", which has resulted in some of the worst and most oudated stories ever done in comics.

Do we really need that at VALIANT?

[xodacia81]

When the glass is half full, it is empty. When it is empty, it is shattered. There is nothing to be done for anything, apathy and chaos reign. Let us all give in to despair and not try for a modicum of professional behavior, but assume that the worst is destined to occur. Screw that. What is needed is absolutely people who are going to work well as part of a company, whether raw talent or established. Not every person with credits are the hindquarters of a donkey, nor is every person with no credits the next Lapham. You do not PUSH people around, you do not BULLY them when you are in an editors position or you will lose all credibility and THEN the problems begin. BEFORE you hire them to write, you work out all the details that you can. It is also rather fanboyish to assume that the editors are sitting there going "oh my god, I can't turn this down, what am I going to do? please don't make me do my job. I don't want a multiverse but you are making me do this." Trust me, it was a corporate decision to bring back the Multiverse. You simply have a personal grudge against multiverses. Fine. I don't care for them much myself but for the love of god, it's not chaos until after more is known.

[ManofTheAtom]

but assume that the worst is destined to occur.

It is not an assumption, it is a conclusion arrived to using previous examples, like Birthquake, VH 2, and the behavior of established, uber popular names at DC and Marvel over the last 20 years.

What is needed is absolutely people who are going to work well as part of a company, whether raw talent or established.

Right... the only downside is that, twice before, established talent that did not understand the VALIANT Universe tried to turn it into a carbon copy of the DC and Marvel universe.

Why have that happen a third time?

Not every person with credits are the hindquarters of a donkey, nor is every person with no credits the next Lapham.

Then why is it that every established, uber popular name that worked on the VALIANT characters a decade ago tried to turn them into carbon copies of DC and Marvel characters so they could understand them, while those with no names told much better stories that followed the rules of the universe?

You do not PUSH people around, you do not BULLY them when you are in an editors position or you will lose all credibility and THEN the problems begin. BEFORE you hire them to write, you work out all the details that you can.

Do you really think that even after those discussions that the writers and pencillers will automatically not suck without editorial guidance?

Here's an interesting story that's right on point.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13

I’m told Grant Morrison turned in the issue one script back in November. However, it was not exactly what has been previously discussed and didn’t bounce off from the end of “Countdown" as intended. It also goes off on what can only be described as Morrisonian tangents. You know, what readers call “the good bits."

So Dan DiDio flew to Scotland after Thanksgiving to discuss possibilities further. I understand the script is unchanged, but it was from those discussions that the 50 cent “DC Universe" #0, shipping the week after Free Comic Book Day, emerged. Co-written with Geoff Johns, it will keep any "Countdown" continuity issues out of the “Final Crisis" series and prepare the way... very much the John The Baptist of comic books.

Instead of telling Morrison to rewrite the story and stick with what was discussed, Didio, in an effort not to bruise the prima donna's ego, let him get away with dismissing the previously-agreed editorial/writer discussions and comissioned new comics to fix Morrison's mistakes.

Is that what you want?

I don't.

It is also rather fanboyish to assume that the editors are sitting there going "oh my god, I can't turn this down, what am I going to do? please don't make me do my job. I don't want a multiverse but you are making me do this." Trust me, it was a corporate decision to bring back the Multiverse. You simply have a personal grudge against multiverses. Fine. I don't care for them much myself but for the love of god, it's not chaos until after more is known.

Given the above story, in which Morrison pretty much rammed his hand up Didio's butt and played him for a puppet, I'm gonna go with yes, I really do think that the writers are running the show, not the editors.

[xodacia81]

The answer is that you avoid the prima donnas and go for the good solidiers, plain and simple.

[ManofTheAtom]

The answer is that you avoid the prima donnas and go for the good solidiers, plain and simple.

Best way to do that is not to make the same mistakes as before and avoid the inbred Silver Age-fanboy-turned-writers pool.