Valiant 1999 and Beyond

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:09 pm

http://www.valiantfan.com/valiant/jo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 99book.pdf

Has anyone else read Petrilak's book? It's an amazing effort and pretty good for someone hasn't done long fiction before. The explainations were too convoluted for me and the portrayals of Jack, Darque, and Sandria seemed off to me (still enjoyed the 9/9/99 battles). But the one character I really thought was done well in this book:

Ivar. This is the only time, other than Archer & Armstong 10 and 11, Ivar has "clicked" with me as a character (and this from a guy who loves Bob Hall). It's the internal dialog that makes him in this story, filled with all the wierd, funny thoughts an immortal time traveler would have. It's a joy to read. Ivar's suicide scenes were especially priceless.

Anyway, it's an interesting read if you've got the time.

jcdenton · Post by **jcdenton** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:20 pm

I haven't read it yet but will when I get the chance.

I did really enjoy Shooter's intro. I'm curious how many of those really were comic book "firsts"? I think Jim was probably exaggerating a bit by claiming or suggesting that some of those things had *never* happened in comics before. But I'd be curious to hear about specific examples that were either for or against those claims.

Will · Post by **Will** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 1:39 pm

Todd Luck wrote:http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/jo ... 99book.pdf

Has anyone else read Petrilak's book? It's an amazing effort and pretty good for someone hasn't done long fiction before. The explainations were too convoluted for me and the portrayals of Jack, Darque, and Sandria seemed off to me (still enjoyed the 9/9/99 battles). But the one character I really thought was done well in this book:

Ivar. This is the only time, other than Archer & Armstong 10 and 11, Ivar has "clicked" with me as a character (and this from a guy who loves Bob Hall). It's the internal dialog that makes him in this story, filled with all the wierd, funny thoughts an immortal time traveler would have. It's a joy to read. Ivar's suicide scenes were especially priceless.

Anyway, it's an interesting read if you've got the time.

What's the scoop with this book? Was it ever published?

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:51 pm

Will wrote:
Todd Luck wrote:http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/jo ... 99book.pdf

Has anyone else read Petrilak's book? It's an amazing effort and pretty good for someone hasn't done long fiction before. The explainations were too convoluted for me and the portrayals of Jack, Darque, and Sandria seemed off to me (still enjoyed the 9/9/99 battles). But the one character I really thought was done well in this book:

Ivar. This is the only time, other than Archer & Armstong 10 and 11, Ivar has "clicked" with me as a character (and this from a guy who loves Bob Hall). It's the internal dialog that makes him in this story, filled with all the wierd, funny thoughts an immortal time traveler would have. It's a joy to read. Ivar's suicide scenes were especially priceless.

Anyway, it's an interesting read if you've got the time.
What's the scoop with this book? Was it ever published?

'

Written by Joe Petrilak, Valiant fan extrodinare who ran this site...

http://www.valiantcomics.com/valiant/joe/

The book was submitted to Acclaim but rejected. Not surprising. It would've taken a lot of work to rework it into a comic or a traditional book (I don't think Acclaim's ever published a novel, period).

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:56 pm

jcdenton wrote:I haven't read it yet but will when I get the chance.

I did really enjoy Shooter's intro. I'm curious how many of those really were comic book "firsts"? I think Jim was probably exaggerating a bit by claiming or suggesting that some of those things had *never* happened in comics before. But I'd be curious to hear about specific examples that were either for or against those claims.

You'll find very few historical "firsts" were actually "first" if you examine history thoroughly enough. Usually they're just saying "this is the first that I know of" or "this is the first time that any substantial amount of people were exposed to it and remember" or "this is first time this really worked."

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Mon Jun 13, 2005 3:23 pm

Yes, it was published as a softcover by Joe. I don't know how many copies were made. Mine is signed by Shooter and a bunch of others (I need to check the sigs).---Steve

pd071 · Post by **pd071** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:37 pm

Yeah, I have a copy of it as well, though it is unsigned.

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:47 pm

I also have a copy it's autograped by Joe........With some personal notes.
My art for the book is on page 62....

-Brian

jmpet · Post by **jmpet** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 9:52 pm

Deleted

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:46 pm

jmpet wrote:I just finished rereading the book and have my own thoughts. First, damn there's a lot going on in the book! The book has editorial overtones the likes of Roy Thomas... it's full of obscure references to Valiant issues- I'd say I referenced at least 50 comics or events from Valiant books in it.

Then I remembered all the work I put into the book- I started the research with well over 100 comics... I'm talking spreadsheet of facts. I took both VH universes into account from the VH1 point of view... that is, this VH1 book references VH2 Solar books. I wanted to solve EVERY loose plot thread in one book, which I knew was near impossible... the finished product would look choppy. So be it.

I think I made 60 or so copies of the books. The signed copies are true rarities... the sigs on the cover are from people all across America and Canada! We simply signed it, put it in a Priority Box and send it to the next person... each book travelled at least 6,000 miles to return to me signed and ready for distribution days later!

I like that Ivar was the main POV, I agree with the first post here. He was never fleshed out. From day one I knew Shadowman would have to die so I never really got into him... I made him two-dimensional: he was happy or really angry... he was little more than a plot device.

I think the book is a little confusing because it's quite convoluted, but then again the book is consistent with ALL Valiant books ever made... it made conflicting facts make sense in the end. I like how Solar is in the space station (which we establish here, the station from Rai #0) stands unmoving for 29 years... he's got that much power that he knows it's better to not act than F it all up by acting and time has no meaning to him, 29 years is like a second.

I really like how 9/9/99 unfolds and unfolds again. I like it because I set it all up just to throw a sloppy one liner from Bloodshot in the end that worked pretty well. I like the technical detail to the different Valiant "energies" and their eventual synergy into one energy, then nothing. It's a good closing to a universe.

And finally, I like that I was able to have that much different stuff happening all at once in many, many different timelines and not only have it all make sense but fit together into one concept- it really closed out a lot of things.

And oh yeah, I like XO's appearance in the end. Since I am not George Perez, I could not write first person for 20 people. This is why we barely see Secret Weapons or Bloodshot or Ninjak but XO... ugh.

I didn't realize until the ENTIRE BOOK WAS WRITTEN...MONTHS LATER that XO was nowhere in the book AT ALL! Good thing Solar was there to make it all make sense for us, right

Hi Joe-
This is a great Afterword for your work, from the perspective of several years later. I was impressed with your effort from the first time I read it.

I am lucky enough to have a signed copy! I got it from a Valiant-collector friend, Steven Huber. Do you remember him? He had a comic store here in Richmond Indiana called Galaxy Comics.

Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Joe. It's always great to hear from you.---Steve G.

Todd Luck · Post by **Todd Luck** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:53 am

jmpet wrote:
Then I remembered all the work I put into the book- I started the research with well over 100 comics... I'm talking spreadsheet of facts. I took both VH universes into account from the VH1 point of view... that is, this VH1 book references VH2 Solar books. I wanted to solve EVERY loose plot thread in one book, which I knew was near impossible... the finished product would look choppy. So be it.

Well I was going to list all the lingering plotlines you didn't touch on but I'll restrain myself

.

Seriously, it was one helluva of an effort and pretty impressive in the scale

.

sonicdan · Post by **sonicdan** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:42 pm

Here's a pic of both versions...

DAN

tcolli · Post by **tcolli** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:52 pm

What don't you have SonicDan? Dang, you got all the "good stuff"

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:17 pm

tcolli wrote:What don't you have SonicDan? Dang, you got all the "good stuff"

No kidding.

betterthanezra · Post by **betterthanezra** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:41 pm

Daniel Jackson wrote:
tcolli wrote:What don't you have SonicDan? Dang, you got all the "good stuff"
No kidding.

Damn Dan I was wondering where my signed copy went

-Brian

tcolli · Post by **tcolli** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:50 pm

betterthanezra wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
tcolli wrote:What don't you have SonicDan? Dang, you got all the "good stuff"
No kidding.
Damn Dan I was wondering where my signed copy went

-Brian

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Valiant 1999 and Beyond

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Just re-read 1999, my thoughts.

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