Alien looking to sell direct to consumer

[nycjadie]

https://www.instagram.com/share/BAJjWwkFBi

[RyanMcLelland]

I don’t think this is a good idea.

I’m not a retailer. I don’t own a comic company. I don’t have a business degree. So maybe people a lot smarter than me will say why this is a good idea.

But I don’t think selling direct to comic stores (and consumers) will bring that much needed money in to run this 12 month Valiant Beyond. I mean - maybe it’s better than doing nothing. Maybe they have to bring in money somehow?

But there are already alternatives. Maybe they look into the alternatives and they weren’t good. I dunno.

At least they aren’t asking for money from fans yet. I saw one indie comic company doing that. I know it’s the best intentions but it’s still kind of sad.

Diamond put everyone in a big bind.

[nycjadie]

To pick on words, which is unfair, I'm not so sure that Diamond is responsible. Comic shops and publishers created Diamond, and consumers were OK with it. Takes two. When some publishers weren't OK with it, they created an imbalance. DC and Marvel's decisions are essentially direct to consumer by a different name. Bad Idea moving to Kickstarters is essentially direct to consumer. If it were me as a small publisher, I'd be doing the same, maybe in a slightly different way.

I have so many ideas on where small publishing could go that is not digital. It's easy to put out print copies, digital copies, variant copies. It's a lot more difficult to put out experiences, blind bags, choose your own adventure, etc.

[GammaJosh]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

[ManofTheAtom]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

[Chiclo]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

[ManofTheAtom]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

[Chiclo]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

[ManofTheAtom]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

[Chiclo]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

[ManofTheAtom]

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

[Chiclo]

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

[ManofTheAtom]

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

The ignorant stubborn ones.

[Chiclo]

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

The ignorant stubborn ones.

So, the human human humans.

[ManofTheAtom]

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

The ignorant stubborn ones.

So, the human human humans.

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

[syzhang28]

Cannot tell the difference or do not care enough to consider the difference? Very few people care. Many of the same potential customers for a direct to consumer model of comic book sales recently linked the name Valiant to the bungled Kickstarter, either directly as customers or having heard from disgruntled customers. Alien leased that same name. It is not fair or sensical to blame Alien for DMG's failure but it is all Valiant.

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

The ignorant stubborn ones.

So, the human human humans.

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

[ManofTheAtom]

VALIANT is a brand, not people. It was the people at DMG that bungled the KS, not the ones at Alien.

Blaming Alien for the KS makes as much sense as blaming Dinesh for ousting Shooter from Voyager.

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

The ignorant stubborn ones.

So, the human human humans.

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

[Cyberstrike]

This is when that botched Eternal Warrior Kickstarter is really going to bite them in the *SQUEE*. Maybe they overdeliver with the Bloodshot Kickstarter and build some enthusiasm. But I don't think it's going to shake out that way with the rewards shipping in phases and the story already being spoiled by the direct market release. I think Kickstarter *could have* been a really viable option to get Valiant Beyond direct from Alien via Kickstarter. But I think if they go that route now it will bring in a lot less than it could have if the Kickstarter thing had been done well from the start. It's a shame because Alien is not to blame for DMG botching the EW Kickstarter.

That being said I think everyone and their mother is probably going to look to Kickstarter to get through the distribution shakeup this year. There's going to be stiff competition for readers' dollars.

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

If humans were smart then life on this planet would be a whole lot better.

[Chiclo]

Once again, your claim is based on the presumption that customers will behave sensibly. The commentors on this very board are as aware as any comic customers could be about these differences and still, how many linked Alien to DMG's failure?

The ignorant stubborn ones.

So, the human human humans.

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

The companies are different, yes. How similar are their mistakes?

[ManofTheAtom]

The ignorant stubborn ones.

So, the human human humans.

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

The companies are different, yes. How similar are their mistakes?

Not sure what you mean by "mistakes".

[ManofTheAtom]

Alien had nothing to do with the EW Kickstarter, though. That predated them.

How many comic buyers are going to be considerate enough of that distinction so as to not hold current Valiant responsible for Valiant’s past high-profile blunders? Few care enough to know that this is a different Valiant, especially without a prolonged cessation of publication.

They might as well blame current VALIANT for PunX or VH-2. It makes no sense.

Do you expect people to make sense? All the time? That really would be sufficiently advanced technology.

If only people carried with them a device in their hand that gives them access to the largest repository of information mankind has ever assembled.

Mankind's genius baffled by mankind's stupidity... (I'm calling people that can't tell the difference between Voyager, Acclaim, DMG, and Alien stupid).

If humans were smart then life on this planet would be a whole lot better.

Indeed.

[syzhang28]

So, the human human humans.

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

The companies are different, yes. How similar are their mistakes?

Not sure what you mean by "mistakes".

Maybe you know them by the name f@uck ups of which they have plenty

[ManofTheAtom]

Honestly, that type of stubbornness and refusal to accept new information that contradicts false narratives is so prevalent in most fandoms that it's become exhausting.

First grade children would likely be easier to reason with than the average comic book fanatic on account of their still being young enough to absorb and accept new information.

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

The companies are different, yes. How similar are their mistakes?

Not sure what you mean by "mistakes".

Maybe you know them by the name f@uck ups of which they have plenty

Having recently read all the VALIANT stuff I had missed, I didn't really see any mistake or *SQUEE* ups.

Other than for Harbinger Wars II very blatantly changing creative direction, it's all seemed to flow fairly well from start to finish.

[syzhang28]

Are we really still on this? At this point Alien has written their story. They've made bad comics, been even worse at selling them, have failed at marketing them, have continued the trend of hiring poorly and seem on the verge of shutting down. Which is exactly how I would describe DMG. If it walks, talks and looks like a DMG...it is.

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

The companies are different, yes. How similar are their mistakes?

Not sure what you mean by "mistakes".

Maybe you know them by the name f@uck ups of which they have plenty

Having recently read all the VALIANT stuff I had missed, I didn't really see any mistake or *SQUEE* ups.

Other than for Harbinger Wars II very blatantly changing creative direction, it's all seemed to flow fairly well from start to finish.

Yeah, that's the VEI run. Harbinger Wars II was the first thing DMG did and the first sign of the dark period we are in where everything is poor quality

[ManofTheAtom]

Case in point.

No, Alien Books is not DMG in disguise, they are a separate company that licensed the VALIANT characters FROM DMG to make comics, the same way Voyager licensed Solar, Magnus, and Turok from Random House/Classic Media.

The companies are different, yes. How similar are their mistakes?

Not sure what you mean by "mistakes".

Maybe you know them by the name f@uck ups of which they have plenty

Having recently read all the VALIANT stuff I had missed, I didn't really see any mistake or *SQUEE* ups.

Other than for Harbinger Wars II very blatantly changing creative direction, it's all seemed to flow fairly well from start to finish.

Yeah, that's the VEI run. Harbinger Wars II was the first thing DMG did and the first sign of the dark period we are in where everything is poor quality

I'm including Alien and DMG. Other than for the change in direction with HWII, the narrative has continued to be consistent from the first issue of X-O to Resurgence Finale.