VEI Reading Order?

[DantePD]

Okay, so my brother finally caved and got into Valiant. By going out and buying every individual issue. But, he's a bit of a continuity nut and is asking for a recommended reading order for the entire VEI Universe up to this point. Any suggestions folks? I'd really appreciate the help.

[Phoenix8008]

Simplest and probably best would be just reading them in release order. Just don't let him read #0 issues first like Bleeding Monk & Goat before reading the regular series! Try this on for size unless something better is found: http://valiantguide.com/quickview

[bamaphilosopher]

I never did get them in release order, because I only started collecting VEI about 6-8 months ago. I just read what I liked first: X-O Manowar, Harbinger, and Archer and Armstrong is what I started out with, then I read Bloodshot. I saved Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and finally Q&W for last, since they don't seem to affect the rest of the universe as much as the other titles do. Then, I started reading them in sequential order as I got them. That seemed to work really well for me: start with what you like. The first things I read were the first 8-10 XOs, then the first 8-10 Harbingers. Then I read the first 8-10 A&A. That worked really well.

I think the "foundation" issues that should probably be read first are the first 8-10 issues of: XO, then Harbinger, then A&A, then Bloodshot. I think if he begins with those, he'll get a pretty solid feel for the continuity of the universe.

Loosely, when I reread everything, I'll probably follow a pattern like this: I'll read X-O to Planet Death, Harbinger to the beginning of Harbinger Wars, Archer and Armstrong to the zero issue, then Bloodshot to the beginning of Harbinger Wars, then read Harbinger Wars in sequential order, then continue with XO to the beginning of his tussle with the Eternal Warrior, then read Harbinger up to that point, and then start reading XO and Unity in release order. Maybe throw in the first ten Shadowman plus the Shadowman 0 at that point. And then read the rest of Harbinger, Bloodshot/Hard Corps, and A&A, and then Eternal Warrior. Maybe something like that. That strategy will change as new stories come out, I'm sure.

By then, someone, if they followed a similar strategy, would get a feel for what they like and could continue whichever title they wish.

I personally think it'd be more rewarding to read eight straight Harbingers and eight straight X-Os than trying to read everything in release order. (The exception being I think you have to alternate XO and Unity once Unity starts, and crossovers like Harbinger Wars and the recent Bloodshot/A&A crossover.) But, maybe that's just me.

[ShadowTuga]

I never did get them in release order, because I only started collecting VEI about 6-8 months ago. I just read what I liked first: X-O Manowar, Harbinger, and Archer and Armstrong is what I started out with, then I read Bloodshot. I saved Shadowman, Eternal Warrior, and finally Q&W for last, since they don't seem to affect the rest of the universe as much as the other titles do. Then, I started reading them in sequential order as I got them. That seemed to work really well for me: start with what you like. The first things I read were the first 8-10 XOs, then the first 8-10 Harbingers. Then I read the first 8-10 A&A. That worked really well.

I think the "foundation" issues that should probably be read first are the first 8-10 issues of: XO, then Harbinger, then A&A, then Bloodshot. I think if he begins with those, he'll get a pretty solid feel for the continuity of the universe.

Loosely, when I reread everything, I'll probably follow a pattern like this: I'll read X-O to Planet Death, Harbinger to the beginning of Harbinger Wars, Archer and Armstrong to the zero issue, then Bloodshot to the beginning of Harbinger Wars, then read Harbinger Wars in sequential order, then continue with XO to the beginning of his tussle with the Eternal Warrior, then read Harbinger up to that point, and then start reading XO and Unity in release order. Maybe throw in the first ten Shadowman plus the Shadowman 0 at that point. And then read the rest of Harbinger, Bloodshot/Hard Corps, and A&A, and then Eternal Warrior. Maybe something like that. That strategy will change as new stories come out, I'm sure.

By then, someone, if they followed a similar strategy, would get a feel for what they like and could continue whichever title they wish.

I personally think it'd be more rewarding to read eight straight Harbingers and eight straight X-Os than trying to read everything in release order. (The exception being I think you have to alternate XO and Unity once Unity starts, and crossovers like Harbinger Wars and the recent Bloodshot/A&A crossover.) But, maybe that's just me.

I agree, at this point, jumping from issue to issue in order of release, you kinda might not get the "whole picture of each book".
I can't phrase it better, sorry.

[bamaphilosopher]

I agree, at this point, jumping from issue to issue in order of release, you kinda might not get the "whole picture of each book".
I can't phrase it better, sorry.

Yeah, exactly how I feel.

[Phoenix8008]

Sorry, let me clarify.

I meant: Read them in release order FOR EACH TITLE. Meaning, don't read Harbinger 0, then Bleeding Monk 0, then Harby 1-22. Read Harby 1-8, then Harby 0 (Harada origin), then Harby 9-21, then Bleeding Monk 0, then Harby 22, etc.

[kjjohanson]

Reading them in full arcs based on the release date of the first issue of the arc could be a decent way to go. But reading multiple arcs of a title works too, as long as you stop before crossovers. With the latter in mind, the only things you really need to watch out for are:

• Harbinger Wars (read the first 2 arcs each of Harbinger and Bloodshot before proceeding to the third arc of either, or the HW mini. I'd probably read Harbinger first since Bloodshot flows more fluidly into HW, from what I remember
• Unity (read X-O through 18 before starting Unity, and then read individual issues of those titles back and forth for those arcs)
• Mission Improbable (read all issues of A&A and Bloodshot up to that point before starting)

Q&W and Shadowman haven't crossed over with anything yet, so you can fit those in pretty much anywhere

[DantePD]

Well, I've told him to go ahead with X-O up to the Prelude to Planet Death, Harbinger and Bloodshot up to Harbinger Wars, Archer & Armstrong up to Mission Improbable to wrap up a Phase One. Does that sound decent?

[kjjohanson]

Well, I've told him to go ahead with X-O up to the Prelude to Planet Death, Harbinger and Bloodshot up to Harbinger Wars, Archer & Armstrong up to Mission Improbable to wrap up a Phase One. Does that sound decent?

Pretty good. Following that I'd go ahead and read the Harbinger Wars arcs and Bloodshot through Mission Improbable as well. It's not exactly clear how Harada's appearances in Unity and Harbinger fit together, although the Harbinger Perfect Day arc makes sense before Unity. Everything Harbinger post-Unity is flowing together into the current books.