A new phase? (Dem post Imperium feels!)

[GammaJosh]

So I realize I am months behind, but I just shotgunned Imperium #13-#16 last night. I thought they were excellent, and I would expect nothing else from that title. But when I got to the last page of #16 and realized nothing was really resolved re: Harada's larger plans, and that there was no new Dysart book or continuation of this series or story line announced, I got kinda sad. Then I thought about X-O ending with #50 and came to a realization. For me, X-O and Harada, have been the dual tent poles holding up the larger continuity and story of the VEI universe, creating an interconnected feel and sense of forward motion as they both progressed and occassionally crossed over. I would even throw Livewire in there as a third cornerstone character to a lesser degree.

So now I'm staring down the barrel of a VEI universe with no X-O book, no Unity book, and possibly no Harada, not to mention no Dysart or Venditti. What is going to happen to these story lines? Do they just sit in stasis until a new series is announced? Which books will create the overall sense of a shared universe? Shadowman is my favorite Valiant character, and he's already been on ice for a couple years. After Shadowman, my next favorite thing about Valiant was the ongoing stories of Harada and X-O, and now the rug has been pulled on those as well.

We're four years in and I'm still pulling all the VEI titles religiously, and enjoying all of them. I have no doubt that there is great material in the pipeline, but I feel like taking these characters out of the limelight and ending both Venditti and Dysart's runs so close together marks a real turning point and we are entering an all new phase for this line. I'm sure I will enjoy all the new books to some degree, but I hope by mid to late next year we get to see either a new X-O book, a new title featuring Harada (or he turns out to be a fixture in The Renegades, although I doubt that for some reason), or a new team book ala Unity (Secret Weapons?). And then that dang Shadowman relaunch...

[DirtbagSailor]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

[Dallow Spicer1]

So I realize I am months behind, but I just shotgunned Imperium #13-#16 last night. I thought they were excellent, and I would expect nothing else from that title. But when I got to the last page of #16 and realized nothing was really resolved re: Harada's larger plans, and that there was no new Dysart book or continuation of this series or story line announced, I got kinda sad. Then I thought about X-O ending with #50 and came to a realization. For me, X-O and Harada, have been the dual tent poles holding up the larger continuity and story of the VEI universe, creating an interconnected feel and sense of forward motion as they both progressed and occassionally crossed over. I would even throw Livewire in there as a third cornerstone character to a lesser degree.

So now I'm staring down the barrel of a VEI universe with no X-O book, no Unity book, and possibly no Harada, not to mention no Dysart or Venditti. What is going to happen to these story lines? Do they just sit in stasis until a new series is announced? Which books will create the overall sense of a shared universe? Shadowman is my favorite Valiant character, and he's already been on ice for a couple years. After Shadowman, my next favorite thing about Valiant was the ongoing stories of Harada and X-O, and now the rug has been pulled on those as well.

We're four years in and I'm still pulling all the VEI titles religiously, and enjoying all of them. I have no doubt that there is great material in the pipeline, but I feel like taking these characters out of the limelight and ending both Venditti and Dysart's runs so close together marks a real turning point and we are entering an all new phase for this line. I'm sure I will enjoy all the new books to some degree, but I hope by mid to late next year we get to see either a new X-O book, a new title featuring Harada (or he turns out to be a fixture in The Renegades, although I doubt that for some reason), or a new team book ala Unity (Secret Weapons?). And then that dang Shadowman relaunch...

VDitti is still writing Wrath of Eternal Warrior, you might not have gotten there yet? The first arc is a little slow but the 2nd arc is Eternal Warrior written at its best!

[GammaJosh]

I actually did read the first arc as it was released and loved it. The art on the second arc was amazing although I'll be damned if I can remember the story right now. I haven't read Labyrinth yet. But even though it's Vditti, it's not Vditti on the big lynch pin universe - driving book. Maybe Gilad and his book will assume that role, but I doubt it with the sales as they are now. It was just nice having that long continuous run on cornerstone character's book keeping everything centered. Will we ever see another 50 issue run from VEI? I hope so!

[Phoenix8008]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

Dysart is still my favorite Valiant writer, but I will also give Rafer Roberts a chance on the new series, even though I really wish Dysart had gotten the gig. Based on what he said in his AMA on Reddit, him and editorial just couldn't agree on where the story was going to go...

I was slated to do the return of the Harbinger book, which is now being written by Rafer.

Ultimately two things derailed that book.

1. I had just returned from Iraq and was overwhelmed by material that I needed to get out which was slowing down my productivity (though this really wasn't an issue, since we see now how long it took for the new book to hit).

2. Editorial and I were not seeing eye to eye on the future direction of the book. Personally, I think we were seeing eye-to-eye, and they just weren't trusting me on it, but that's how it goes. We ended totally amicably, obviously, and in all fairness, it's probably best that someone else took over instead of branding me as the only guy to ever write that book.

I don't think you'll ever get to see the end of my Peter story, his arc of redemption, because it's not my story to tell anymore. And it wouldn't be fair to the current creative team. It's theirs now. I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job.

But I won't lie. Spending all of those years building up the Peter story with the intention of turning him into a good, likable character who had found his way, only to have the story yanked out from under me right as we were in the final stretch, so that all I got to tell was "disaffected *SQUEE* Peter" stories. It did change my relationship with the publisher a great deal. I still love Valiant, but I've been decreasing my workload for them ever since. I'll be back in the fold eventually, but that's the one event that really made me think how much better it is to do your own thing than to work for someone else.

Very sad to hear this. I wish they had trusted his vision for the book.

[Dallow Spicer1]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

Dysart is still my favorite Valiant writer, but I will also give Rafer Roberts a chance on the new series, even though I really wish Dysart had gotten the gig. Based on what he said in his AMA on Reddit, him and editorial just couldn't agree on where the story was going to go...

I was slated to do the return of the Harbinger book, which is now being written by Rafer.

Ultimately two things derailed that book.

1. I had just returned from Iraq and was overwhelmed by material that I needed to get out which was slowing down my productivity (though this really wasn't an issue, since we see now how long it took for the new book to hit).

2. Editorial and I were not seeing eye to eye on the future direction of the book. Personally, I think we were seeing eye-to-eye, and they just weren't trusting me on it, but that's how it goes. We ended totally amicably, obviously, and in all fairness, it's probably best that someone else took over instead of branding me as the only guy to ever write that book.

I don't think you'll ever get to see the end of my Peter story, his arc of redemption, because it's not my story to tell anymore. And it wouldn't be fair to the current creative team. It's theirs now. I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job.

But I won't lie. Spending all of those years building up the Peter story with the intention of turning him into a good, likable character who had found his way, only to have the story yanked out from under me right as we were in the final stretch, so that all I got to tell was "disaffected *SQUEE* Peter" stories. It did change my relationship with the publisher a great deal. I still love Valiant, but I've been decreasing my workload for them ever since. I'll be back in the fold eventually, but that's the one event that really made me think how much better it is to do your own thing than to work for someone else.

Very sad to hear this. I wish they had trusted his vision for the book.

Interesting to hear Dysart's view point and a little disappointing that VEI didn't let him write his story, given Harbinger and Imperium were amongst the best books ever to come out of Valiant (any era). I think he's more than earned that opportunity.

[jeremycoe]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

Dysart is still my favorite Valiant writer, but I will also give Rafer Roberts a chance on the new series, even though I really wish Dysart had gotten the gig. Based on what he said in his AMA on Reddit, him and editorial just couldn't agree on where the story was going to go...

I was slated to do the return of the Harbinger book, which is now being written by Rafer.

Ultimately two things derailed that book.

1. I had just returned from Iraq and was overwhelmed by material that I needed to get out which was slowing down my productivity (though this really wasn't an issue, since we see now how long it took for the new book to hit).

2. Editorial and I were not seeing eye to eye on the future direction of the book. Personally, I think we were seeing eye-to-eye, and they just weren't trusting me on it, but that's how it goes. We ended totally amicably, obviously, and in all fairness, it's probably best that someone else took over instead of branding me as the only guy to ever write that book.

I don't think you'll ever get to see the end of my Peter story, his arc of redemption, because it's not my story to tell anymore. And it wouldn't be fair to the current creative team. It's theirs now. I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job.

But I won't lie. Spending all of those years building up the Peter story with the intention of turning him into a good, likable character who had found his way, only to have the story yanked out from under me right as we were in the final stretch, so that all I got to tell was "disaffected *SQUEE* Peter" stories. It did change my relationship with the publisher a great deal. I still love Valiant, but I've been decreasing my workload for them ever since. I'll be back in the fold eventually, but that's the one event that really made me think how much better it is to do your own thing than to work for someone else.

Very sad to hear this. I wish they had trusted his vision for the book.

Interesting to hear Dysart's view point and a little disappointing that VEI didn't let him write his story, given Harbinger and Imperium were amongst the best books ever to come out of Valiant (any era). I think he's more than earned that opportunity.

Not knowing the situation completely, it's hard to say on this. VEI have to do what's best for them and their properties for the long term. While Dysart deserves a certain amount of trust, I think VEI does as well.

[hawkeyeps]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

Dysart is still my favorite Valiant writer, but I will also give Rafer Roberts a chance on the new series, even though I really wish Dysart had gotten the gig. Based on what he said in his AMA on Reddit, him and editorial just couldn't agree on where the story was going to go...

I was slated to do the return of the Harbinger book, which is now being written by Rafer.

Ultimately two things derailed that book.

1. I had just returned from Iraq and was overwhelmed by material that I needed to get out which was slowing down my productivity (though this really wasn't an issue, since we see now how long it took for the new book to hit).

2. Editorial and I were not seeing eye to eye on the future direction of the book. Personally, I think we were seeing eye-to-eye, and they just weren't trusting me on it, but that's how it goes. We ended totally amicably, obviously, and in all fairness, it's probably best that someone else took over instead of branding me as the only guy to ever write that book.

I don't think you'll ever get to see the end of my Peter story, his arc of redemption, because it's not my story to tell anymore. And it wouldn't be fair to the current creative team. It's theirs now. I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job.

But I won't lie. Spending all of those years building up the Peter story with the intention of turning him into a good, likable character who had found his way, only to have the story yanked out from under me right as we were in the final stretch, so that all I got to tell was "disaffected *SQUEE* Peter" stories. It did change my relationship with the publisher a great deal. I still love Valiant, but I've been decreasing my workload for them ever since. I'll be back in the fold eventually, but that's the one event that really made me think how much better it is to do your own thing than to work for someone else.

Very sad to hear this. I wish they had trusted his vision for the book.

Interesting to hear Dysart's view point and a little disappointing that VEI didn't let him write his story, given Harbinger and Imperium were amongst the best books ever to come out of Valiant (any era). I think he's more than earned that opportunity.

Hearing this ripped my guts out however Dysart said that he would return to resolve the Imperium story so I am holding out hope for that. The one thing that bothers me most was the motto "best story wins", I find it hard to believe that the story Dysart had been crafting for years was not "the best story". Something else is at play here and it worries me greatly.

[Shadowman99]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

Dysart is still my favorite Valiant writer, but I will also give Rafer Roberts a chance on the new series, even though I really wish Dysart had gotten the gig. Based on what he said in his AMA on Reddit, him and editorial just couldn't agree on where the story was going to go...

I was slated to do the return of the Harbinger book, which is now being written by Rafer.

Ultimately two things derailed that book.

1. I had just returned from Iraq and was overwhelmed by material that I needed to get out which was slowing down my productivity (though this really wasn't an issue, since we see now how long it took for the new book to hit).

2. Editorial and I were not seeing eye to eye on the future direction of the book. Personally, I think we were seeing eye-to-eye, and they just weren't trusting me on it, but that's how it goes. We ended totally amicably, obviously, and in all fairness, it's probably best that someone else took over instead of branding me as the only guy to ever write that book.

I don't think you'll ever get to see the end of my Peter story, his arc of redemption, because it's not my story to tell anymore. And it wouldn't be fair to the current creative team. It's theirs now. I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job.

But I won't lie. Spending all of those years building up the Peter story with the intention of turning him into a good, likable character who had found his way, only to have the story yanked out from under me right as we were in the final stretch, so that all I got to tell was "disaffected *SQUEE* Peter" stories. It did change my relationship with the publisher a great deal. I still love Valiant, but I've been decreasing my workload for them ever since. I'll be back in the fold eventually, but that's the one event that really made me think how much better it is to do your own thing than to work for someone else.

Very sad to hear this. I wish they had trusted his vision for the book.

Interesting to hear Dysart's view point and a little disappointing that VEI didn't let him write his story, given Harbinger and Imperium were amongst the best books ever to come out of Valiant (any era). I think he's more than earned that opportunity.

Hearing this ripped my guts out however Dysart said that he would return to resolve the Imperium story so I am holding out hope for that. The one thing that bothers me most was the motto "best story wins", I find it hard to believe that the story Dysart had been crafting for years was not "the best story". Something else is at play here and it worries me greatly.

Y'know, that does seem a bit strange when you put it that way.

Thing I'm wondering is that VEI simply pulled the plug because of the falling sales on Imperium. I guess maybe the 'best story' isn't the one that isn't selling comics, that follows business logic if nothing else. Saddens me though because I've loved Imperium since issue #1 and it sucks that, although we didn't know it until now, Dysart was coming toward the end of his overall Harbinger story and that's something I would've loved to have seen resolved, start to finish as intended.

Maybe VEI didn't want Peter 'fixed up' yet, maybe VEI want to do more with him in his current state Who knows, we can only guess.

[Shadowman99]

Onto the main topic, which I'd forgotten about...

So, no XO, no Harada, no Unity, and Bloodshot's knee-deep in his own trouble right now and is clearly too busy to get involved in other corners of the VU. So what does that leave us with as 'pillars'?

Ninjak and Eternal Warrior are doing their own things at the moment and Faith's only just got started so she'll need time to wear her new boots in before she goes off to play in other parts of the VU yard. Divinity, although has good potential to cross over across the entire VU, won't be doing that to any length in miniseries format...

A+A: May be some potential for building itself as a new VU pillar, but that's probably six months away at the very least, if it even aims to fulfill that goal.

And everything else is either ending/ended or only just starting, which leaves the VU with very little room for interconnectivity for the next six months by my reckoning.

I'm not too bothered by interconnectivity or lack thereof myself as long as I'm enjoying what the company is putting out, but although I don't really know how to express it, right now the universe feels a bit... empty(?) in a way whilst all the characters are off playing in their own back yards.

Still happy with VEI comics all in all, always lots of potential and quality to look forward to, interconnectivity or not Always looking forward to more Bloodshot, and still looking forward to more Shadowman (one day, lol!).

[Keith]

There will be more to come.

I'm a huge fan of Dysart's writing, however, there are indeed reasons for everything as they say.

I will certainly give Rafer Roberts a chance. Truth is someone has to write, and if it's not Dysart it's someone else who will either do better or worse to some degree. I (personally) would have much preferred that Dysart take Harbinger/Imperium as FAR as his vision could see; that this story (to include the redemption of Pete) would be potentially amongst the very best of the decade (and it still might be, who knows?).

Just be happy that Ales Kot isn't writing Harbinger lol! I suspect had that occurred, there would have been fan riots in the streets!

Dysart is still my favorite Valiant writer, but I will also give Rafer Roberts a chance on the new series, even though I really wish Dysart had gotten the gig. Based on what he said in his AMA on Reddit, him and editorial just couldn't agree on where the story was going to go...

I was slated to do the return of the Harbinger book, which is now being written by Rafer.

Ultimately two things derailed that book.

1. I had just returned from Iraq and was overwhelmed by material that I needed to get out which was slowing down my productivity (though this really wasn't an issue, since we see now how long it took for the new book to hit).

2. Editorial and I were not seeing eye to eye on the future direction of the book. Personally, I think we were seeing eye-to-eye, and they just weren't trusting me on it, but that's how it goes. We ended totally amicably, obviously, and in all fairness, it's probably best that someone else took over instead of branding me as the only guy to ever write that book.

I don't think you'll ever get to see the end of my Peter story, his arc of redemption, because it's not my story to tell anymore. And it wouldn't be fair to the current creative team. It's theirs now. I'm sure they'll do a bang-up job.

But I won't lie. Spending all of those years building up the Peter story with the intention of turning him into a good, likable character who had found his way, only to have the story yanked out from under me right as we were in the final stretch, so that all I got to tell was "disaffected *SQUEE* Peter" stories. It did change my relationship with the publisher a great deal. I still love Valiant, but I've been decreasing my workload for them ever since. I'll be back in the fold eventually, but that's the one event that really made me think how much better it is to do your own thing than to work for someone else.

Very sad to hear this. I wish they had trusted his vision for the book.

Interesting to hear Dysart's view point and a little disappointing that VEI didn't let him write his story, given Harbinger and Imperium were amongst the best books ever to come out of Valiant (any era). I think he's more than earned that opportunity.

Not knowing the situation completely, it's hard to say on this. VEI have to do what's best for them and their properties for the long term. While Dysart deserves a certain amount of trust, I think VEI does as well.

+1

[chriskay99]

The one thing that bothers me most was the motto "best story wins", I find it hard to believe that the story Dysart had been crafting for years was not "the best story". Something else is at play here and it worries me greatly.

I stopped believing the "best story wins" thing around Shadowman, but definitely after Shadowman 12. Sucks that Dysart won't be back for the time being. I wonder if his exclusive contract has run out then?

[Psiot X]

In that same rededit interview, Dysart mentioned that no Imperium wasn't resolved and YES he is working up something to continue that story with Valiant in the future. We will just have to wait and see what comes of that.

[grendeljd]

In that same rededit interview, Dysart mentioned that no Imperium wasn't resolved and YES he is working up something to continue that story with Valiant in the future. We will just have to wait and see what comes of that.

Yeah, he has been saying that for a few months, there will be more Imperium - and I'm chomping at the bit to hear any more details about it!

[ShadowTuga]

Ok...

Just my honest 2 c€nts here (really had to say something about the Dysart situation):
I HOPE that one day JD will be back to tell the rest of his tale. He more than deserves the opportunity, even if his books were always low-selllers due to being - sorry - too smart for some people in the comic book fandom. He is one of the top writers in the business right now, imho. I haven't read a group book as good as Harbinger since the days of Claremont's X-Men or Wolfman's TT in the Bronze Age. Kindt created Divinity, but IMHO it was JD who used the guy better. He made me laugh, cry and raise my fists while reading his stories. Needless to say, he is my favourite VEI scribe since day 1. I love the dude's work to death. VEI without a Dysart book is NOT "my" VEI.

As for the OP, I feel the pain of some fans: no X-O, no Shadowman (*SQUEE*, WHEN??????) and no JD for a while.
I never been so close to just call it a day and quit Valiant. I look at books like Renegades (from the premise, sounds like X-Men to the rescue), A+A (not serious enough, not the VEI mood) , Faith (too "cute" but I've only read the mini and the ongoing debut) and Gen Zero (X-Men to the rescuue of other X-Men) and I find myself thinking that this is not for me. A "Turok 2.0" ( yeah, sure, it's not the same thing... they just hunt dinosaurs for coolness sakes) on the way to please the chants ( ) of the 90's V fanboys? Not for me. Britannia? Looks really super cool and different, but as far from the universe as possible- this could esasily and probably better be read in trade.

I have Wrath, Ninjak, Rai and Bloodshot Reborn as "my" VEI books right now. Everything else I think I could drop that easy. But I won't because I have some faith that thing will get better.

[Shadowman99]

Ok...

Just my honest 2 c€nts here (really had to say something about the Dysart situation):
I HOPE that one day JD will be back to tell the rest of his tale. He more than deserves the opportunity, even if his books were always low-selllers due to being - sorry - too smart for some people in the comic book fandom. He is one of the top writers in the business right now, imho. I haven't read a group book as good as Harbinger since the days of Claremont's X-Men or Wolfman's TT in the Bronze Age. Kindt created Divinity, but IMHO it was JD who used the guy better. He made me laugh, cry and raise my fists while reading his stories. Needless to say, he is my favourite VEI scribe since day 1. I love the dude's work to death. VEI without a Dysart book is NOT "my" VEI.

As for the OP, I feel the pain of some fans: no X-O, no Shadowman (*SQUEE*, WHEN??????) and no JD for a while.
I never been so close to just call it a day and quit Valiant. I look at books like Renegades (from the premise, sounds like X-Men to the rescue), A+A (not serious enough, not the VEI mood) , Faith (too "cute" but I've only read the mini and the ongoing debut) and Gen Zero (X-Men to the rescuue of other X-Men) and I find myself thinking that this is not for me. A "Turok 2.0" ( yeah, sure, it's not the same thing... they just hunt dinosaurs for coolness sakes) on the way to please the chants ( ) of the 90's V fanboys? Not for me. Britannia? Looks really super cool and different, but as far from the universe as possible- this could esasily and probably better be read in trade.

I have Wrath, Ninjak, Rai and Bloodshot Reborn as "my" VEI books right now. Everything else I think I could drop that easy. But I won't because I have some faith that thing will get better.

I've got a bit of a weird attitude toward the current VEI universe too, in a way. Yeah, it's exciting to have all these interesting new properties all at once like Savage, Divinity and Gen 0, but to me XO, Bloodshot, Shadowman and Harbinger are like the foundation of the VU and should basically be ever-present. Sure, I know that's not really what's going on but that's just how it feels the VU *ought* to be to me. These four books, or at least some version of them, should *always* be on the shelves, with other comics revolving around them. To take 3 of these four books off the shelves at the same time for me leaves me feeling like the VEI I'm reading now isn't the VEI that I originally got interested in.

I am enjoying everything VEI have got on the shelves at the moment so I'm not really complaining, but I'm definitely already feeling the loss of these three titles even if Imperium only ended recently and XO is ending soon.

I also consider Rai to be the 'foundation' of the 4001 universe, so my feelings are the same with that book in most ways.

[Sheikhaljabal]

The future Valiant universe is lacking without X-O Manowar and Shadowman (Jack). I guess and wish both characters will be relaunched in 2017, maybe after those already hinted Psi-Lords and War Mother things. I would also argue for frequent guest starrings by Timewalker in his brothers' titles and the Armorines (as G.A.T.E.'s agents) in books like Bloodshot, Eternal Warrior or Ninjak.
But they lack their mais Villains more: Harada and Master Darque are VUni's most evil psiot and magician, respectfully, while the Immortal Enemy and Dr. Silk have been quite underused. The Shadow Seven (especially Roku), Imperium, Deathmate and the Dying One are all good additions but I keep waiting on Adams' crew to come out as Mothergod and Dr Eclipse. Sondria Darque and the Outcast would also be good 'grey area' characters.
I would also like a Unity Redux (with important bookless characters such as Divinity, Livewire, Savage and Q&W) or a magical supergroup (Secret Weapons?), featuring people like the new Geomancer, Dr(s) Mirage, Punk Mambo, Gilad's progeny, etc).
The 4001 sub set seems alright: Rai is going to continue and both the previously mentioned War Mother and Psi-Lords seem good expansions.

[Shadowman99]

The 4001 sub set seems alright: Rai is going to continue and both the previously mentioned War Mother and Psi-Lords seem good expansions.

I think the 4001 universe looks like it's shaping up nicely. Rai, Dr. Silk, 'Old Gilad', 'Red Bloodshot'... Good start.