Newest Rian Hughes Design teases...

[cavemold]

I would like the power switching of a revamped H.a.r.d. Corps if there were some limitations and horrible side effects of the process so it seems less like they hit the power lottery and more like a steep cost for power. I could totally buy a newer version of the Hammerhead/Flatline dynamic if they made Flatline a first or second generation North Korean or Afghan immigrant.

H.A.R.D. Corps could offer an interesting look at the Valiant universes military-industrial complex from the inside. Maybe even have a corporation with a military arm that isn't evil. I think it has a lot of potential as a new title. Other than a Rai title with a Vine version of Spylocke a new Hard Corps title is what I'd like to see the most. Wait. Also a Livewire and Stronghold book. Hmm. The more I think the more stuff I'd like to see come out so I'll just shut up now.

Something akin to Nick Spencer's THUNDER Agents, where the powers/technology will kill you if used too much, or takes away your humanity in some way I could deal with that quite well. In fact, lets get Nick Spencer to write it!

HELL NO. Go read iron man 2.0

[BugsySig]

I would like the power switching of a revamped H.a.r.d. Corps if there were some limitations and horrible side effects of the process so it seems less like they hit the power lottery and more like a steep cost for power. I could totally buy a newer version of the Hammerhead/Flatline dynamic if they made Flatline a first or second generation North Korean or Afghan immigrant.

H.A.R.D. Corps could offer an interesting look at the Valiant universes military-industrial complex from the inside. Maybe even have a corporation with a military arm that isn't evil. I think it has a lot of potential as a new title. Other than a Rai title with a Vine version of Spylocke a new Hard Corps title is what I'd like to see the most. Wait. Also a Livewire and Stronghold book. Hmm. The more I think the more stuff I'd like to see come out so I'll just shut up now.

Something akin to Nick Spencer's THUNDER Agents, where the powers/technology will kill you if used too much, or takes away your humanity in some way I could deal with that quite well. In fact, lets get Nick Spencer to write it!

HELL NO. Go read iron man 2.0

Marvel lured him away from DC, then proceeded to run him into the ground with their *SQUEE* editorial. Thunder Agents, Morning Glories, Thief of Thieves, Infinite Vacation...and Bedlam is supposed to be pretty good. Dude is talented and I'm a fan.

[Keith]

Dino posted another one!! I can't access Twitter at work to post it here, hoping someone posts it soon! I have noooo clue on this one...

[MarrowMan]

I have a feeling it may be Quantum + Woody

[BugsySig]

I have a feeling it may be Quantum + Woody

Good call...I can definitely see that. Wasnt this around the time last year when we started getting Summer of Valiant teases? Are we in stoe for a full fledged Phase-2?

[Keith]

I have a feeling it may be Quantum + Woody

Good call...I can definitely see that. Wasnt this around the time last year when we started getting Summer of Valiant teases? Are we in stoe for a full fledged Phase-2?

Agreed, totally seeing it now.

Bugs - I wasn't around the forums at the start of SoV, were they doing similar teases then, too?

[lorddunlow]

definitely seeing a "tum" and a W in that graphic

[BugsySig]

I have a feeling it may be Quantum + Woody

Good call...I can definitely see that. Wasnt this around the time last year when we started getting Summer of Valiant teases? Are we in stoe for a full fledged Phase-2?

Agreed, totally seeing it now.

Bugs - I wasn't around the forums at the start of SoV, were they doing similar teases then, too?

Sort of. There was the "Man of War" tumblr that posted random partial pics from the VEI offices. Now they have twitter, so perhaps they will be using it in a similar way.

Once XO was announced, they started announcing a new series once a week (I think...it may have been a few days in a row instead) via the news sites.

It was around the time I joined the forum last year that the official announcements were made. The tumblr started earlier.

[hawkeyeps]

Rai would be my first choice for the next title, but a well-conceived HARD Corps is a close second! This is very cool - wonder if it is just going to be an appearance instead of a new title though... Correct me if I am wrong but I believe Rian designed the Ninjak logo as well...

Yes. Me thinks this will be a tease for an appearance (a la Ninjak) followed by a new series announcement for Rai (a la Shadowman). At least that's what I'm hoping for

Or perhaps the tease for Rai was the same as the tease for Eternal Warrior and that would be the guest first appearance?

I think I'm guessing HARD Corps with Livewire as a major player, it would make sense evolving out of the Harbinger Wars as that is when I think we'll see a lot about PRS and Harada's group.

Livewire can control machines and was Harada's right hand, PRS has nanotech and she knows a lot about Harbingers. I think it's even possible she is(was) a PRS mole in Harada's organization, she may have figured out how to download power sets and has been scooping them from the Harbinger foundation this whole time.

I think Ninjak, Hard Corps (with Livewire) and Rai (if the whole Bleeding Monk thing pans out) are well set for debuts.

Eternal Warrior hasn't had enough character development for me to care much about him up to this point, hopefully that is rectified with the rest of the arc and the upcoming #0 issue.

Or maybe it's all a huge psyche and were getting Quantum and Woody

Noooooooo

[BugsySig]

Rai would be my first choice for the next title, but a well-conceived HARD Corps is a close second! This is very cool - wonder if it is just going to be an appearance instead of a new title though... Correct me if I am wrong but I believe Rian designed the Ninjak logo as well...

Yes. Me thinks this will be a tease for an appearance (a la Ninjak) followed by a new series announcement for Rai (a la Shadowman). At least that's what I'm hoping for

Or perhaps the tease for Rai was the same as the tease for Eternal Warrior and that would be the guest first appearance?

I think I'm guessing HARD Corps with Livewire as a major player, it would make sense evolving out of the Harbinger Wars as that is when I think we'll see a lot about PRS and Harada's group.

Livewire can control machines and was Harada's right hand, PRS has nanotech and she knows a lot about Harbingers. I think it's even possible she is(was) a PRS mole in Harada's organization, she may have figured out how to download power sets and has been scooping them from the Harbinger foundation this whole time.

I think Ninjak, Hard Corps (with Livewire) and Rai (if the whole Bleeding Monk thing pans out) are well set for debuts.

Eternal Warrior hasn't had enough character development for me to care much about him up to this point, hopefully that is rectified with the rest of the arc and the upcoming #0 issue.

Or maybe it's all a huge psyche and were getting Quantum and Woody

Noooooooo

Don't forget we got two huge Rai teasers in the FCBD book nearly a year ago and haven't seen him yet.

There is also the possibility that this is for trade dress for a Valiant Masters collection, or those unpublished Q&W books.

If this continues, though, we may be getting the first glimpse at Summer of Valiant 2.0...or they are just having Rian redesign all their IP logos and Dino is just being a jerk

[jmatt]

You're all wrong. See that plus sign? It's a button from D-Pad controller.

Video Game Ninjak is back!

[MarrowMan]

You're all wrong. See that plus sign? It's a button from D-Pad controller.

Video Game Ninjak is back!

you die now

[Phoenix8008]

I'd have to agree with those saying it's Quantum + Woody. Looks like the image is the 'N, T, and first part of the U' in Quantum. With a capital U and M that make 6 vertical spaces for them to work with and it looks like they are putting one letter of Woody in each of those spaces.

I never read the originals, so I don't know the characters other than something about them needing to be near each other or touching to have their powers work, right? And it's a slapstick buddy (or anti-buddy) comedy type thing? I wonder how well that would work as it's own title when we already have A&A kinda filling that role. Knowing VEI, they'd have something big to make it different, or it's just a logo for the reprints, not a new title. Then again, we've already seen Woody in Harby #7...

[Phoenix8008]

You're all wrong. See that plus sign? It's a button from D-Pad controller.

Video Game Ninjak is back!

you die now

Ninjak had a video game? I know about the X-O / Iron Man game (I owned it), and that Turok had several games and even Shadowman had one, but never heard about a Ninjak game.

[Keith]

I never read the originals, so I don't know the characters other than something about them needing to be near each other or touching to have their powers work, right? And it's a slapstick buddy (or anti-buddy) comedy type thing? I wonder how well that would work as it's own title when we already have A&A kinda filling that role. Knowing VEI, they'd have something big to make it different, or it's just a logo for the reprints, not a new title. Then again, we've already seen Woody in Harby #7...

The original concept was that the quantum bands their fathers created were accidentally perma-bonded on to Eric and Woody. While this granted them each a power (think Eric had a stun ram or the like), they had to clang the bands together every 24 hours, or they'd start to dissipate. Naturally, comedic hijinks ensue, and Woody get's a goat.

[Keith]

You're all wrong. See that plus sign? It's a button from D-Pad controller.

Video Game Ninjak is back!

you die now

Ninjak had a video game? I know about the X-O / Iron Man game (I owned it), and that Turok had several games and even Shadowman had one, but never heard about a Ninjak game.

No, no actual game out there. The Acclaim version of Ninjak was a young boy granted powers, a la Shazam, from... you guessed it... a video game.

[MarrowMan]

You're all wrong. See that plus sign? It's a button from D-Pad controller.

Video Game Ninjak is back!

you die now

Ninjak had a video game? I know about the X-O / Iron Man game (I owned it), and that Turok had several games and even Shadowman had one, but never heard about a Ninjak game.

There was no actual game, it was the concept of the craptacular comic that was Acclaim Ninjak

[jmatt]

You're all wrong. See that plus sign? It's a button from D-Pad controller.

Video Game Ninjak is back!

you die now

Hee hee! Couldja imagine? I think I'd have Dino committed.

[cavemold]

We know they have 4 books per year

[BugsySig]

We know they have 4 books per year

I think we will see 3 new books this year, for a total of 8. HARD Corps makes sense spinning out of Harbinger Wars if that is one. Quantum & Woody would make sense if only because it has a cult following and is one of the most well known of VEI's IPs. Then I would think Rai if only because VEI has been Shadowman-like in their silence on him. I'd probably prefer Eternal Warrior (and maybe even Ninjak/Secret Weapons) before all but Rai, but I also can't complain about any of VEIs decisions thus far if that is the direction they take.

If they can maintain close to the current level of sales per book with 2 titles released each week, then I think we will see another 3-4 books, plus the occasional mini, each year for the foreseeable future. If they are really serious about becoming a top 5 publisher, then 25 titles/month has to be the goal at minimum. That's the only way to move into Dark Horse/IDW territory unless they start selling Big 2 type numbers.

[jmatt]

If they are really serious about becoming a top 5 publisher, then 25 titles/month has to be the goal at minimum.

Minimum? I hope not. Or if they do, a seriously long time frame like 10 years.

Cranking out titles so they seem like one of the "big players" will simply end up with a lot of crummy titles that die after 24 months. And that would result in a lot of uncertainty about VEI as a publisher thus hurting overall sales numbers.

Marvel and DC can get away with it (sorta) because there is so much pop culture momentum behind them; that is, Marvel can get away with an Avengers title and each member of the group having his own title simply because there is such a huge fanbase and name recognition that they can afford a lot of spin-off and splinter titles. It will be many, many years until there are enough fans that Flamingo could warrant her own book.

Moreover, that many titles would certainly dissipate the tight cohesion of the Valiant universe which, for me, is a big draw.

[FormerReader]

If they are really serious about becoming a top 5 publisher, then 25 titles/month has to be the goal at minimum.

Minimum? I hope not. Or if they do, a seriously long time frame like 10 years.

Cranking out titles so they seem like one of the "big players" will simply end up with a lot of crummy titles that die after 24 months. And that would result in a lot of uncertainty about VEI as a publisher thus hurting overall sales numbers.

Marvel and DC can get away with it (sorta) because there is so much pop culture momentum behind them; that is, Marvel can get away with an Avengers title and each member of the group having his own title simply because there is such a huge fanbase and name recognition that they can afford a lot of spin-off and splinter titles. It will be many, many years until there are enough fans that Flamingo could warrant her own book.

Moreover, that many titles would certainly dissipate the tight cohesion of the Valiant universe which, for me, is a big draw.

I agree with them staying smaller until they have the demand to justify the growth. I really don't see more than 12 titles that could stand on their own at this point (as they continue to reintroduce characters though this number could change for me. I never thought I would say Ninjak should have his own title, but they did a great job with him so far).

A&A
Bloodshot
Eternal Warrior
Geomancer
Harbinger
Hard Corps
Ninjak
Rai
Secret Weapons
Shadowman
Timewalker
X-O

I hope the growth comes naturally. Keeping the continuity, bringing in top talent, meeting deadlines, writing intriging stories, all these things can be difficult if the company grows too fast. We all saw this with Valiant in the 1990's. I would rather this Valiant is a consistent top 10 publisher and last then force titles out like Psi-Lords, the Visitor and such. I am incredibly excited for the future of Valiant and think this company has a chance to do something that many companies have not been able to do.

[vaevictis]

I am definitely of the opinion that the two snippets we have been shown are two separate logos for two separate titles.

[jmatt]

I agree with them staying smaller until they have the demand to justify the growth. I really don't see more than 12 titles that could stand on their own at this point...

I hope the growth comes naturally.

I suppose any of those titles could be viable if done right. But just based on the VH1 attempts, Hard Corps, Secret Weapons and Geomancer were dispensable.

Hard Corps' first year was nothing more than them attacking or being attacked by X-O and the Armorines and having it end as "oh, it was all a misunderstanding" kind of thing. The rest of it was them fighting Harbinger... how many Harbinger-based titles did we need? Or mixing it up with Spider Aliens... but again, didn't we get enough of that in X-O and Solar? The only original villain they brought to the party was Otherman. Meh.

So many titles were predicated on existing titles and they all fought the same 4 bad guys. The universe needed the titles to go off in their own direction but it was all too circular. They all scrapped with each other or fought the same bad guys.

Which brings me to my next concern, that Dino has said that they won't be looking to introduce titles or characters other than what is already in the Valiant intellectual property library. Do they really need to tie their hands like this? Look at how well Chainsaw was received in Bloodshot.

Keep the pillars, ditch the rest and don't be afraid to introduce new title concepts.

[SJS4]

Which brings me to my next concern, that Dino has said that they won't be looking to introduce titles or characters other than what is already in the Valiant intellectual property library. Do they really need to tie their hands like this? Look at how well Chainsaw was received in Bloodshot.

Did he really say that?

I thought the they have said they want re-launch with their existing IP, but that they DO plan on introducing new characters (Bleeding Monk, Darpan, Kay McHenry). Whether we see those new characters in their own titles will probably be organic (ie: if they are really popular and a good idea is pitched, they will get a title).

Going back to some prior posts, if VEI does plan on becoming a large publisher with a scope as large as Dark Horse, Image, or IDW (not to mention Marvel and DC) they will have to introduce new characters at some point. The Valiant library is solid, but there isn't enough there to support 20+ books a month.