My Valiant Story

How did you become a VALIANT collector?

Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

I had a very late in life introduction to comic books. This past December I decided that I wanted to get into them at the age of 31. I have been a gamer since I was a little kid. I play in Roleplaying games with some friends. I am not new to the parts of life that are normally considered the "nerd" parts. For some reason I was just never into comic books. I have a B.A. in English. I read. I read all the time. Finally one day I just decided to step into the world of comics. I started off with a few titles from the big two publishers. I then began the transition to the smaller publishers. The first Valiant title I came across was Shadowman. I then read up on Valiant and started to collect the back issues of the new Valiant Universe. They are now my favorite publisher, hands down! I have had several interactions with the company over Twitter and email that has greatly contributed to them being my favorite. They seem to genuinely care about their customers. Right now I am stuck between Bloodshot and X-O as far as my favorite titles. I am also interested in going back in time and picking up some of the old 90's stuff. Any advice on things I should read? Thanks for reading this guys. I am looking forward to learning more about the Valiant universe from this site!

User avatar
caniac
the hole just keeps getting deeper
the hole just keeps getting deeper
Posts: 3688
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:41:24 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: XO Manowar
Favorite title: XO Manowar
Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
Location: the beach
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by caniac »

Awesome story! Welcome to the boards :thumb:

Archer and Armstrong 1-12 is a great read :thumb:
Image

User avatar
caniac
the hole just keeps getting deeper
the hole just keeps getting deeper
Posts: 3688
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:41:24 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: XO Manowar
Favorite title: XO Manowar
Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
Location: the beach
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by caniac »

Same with Solar 1-10.
Image

User avatar
Burrito Boy
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Posts: 1651
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:56:47 pm
Favorite character: Gunny Lewis
Favorite title: Armorines
Favorite writer: Jorge Gonzalez
Location: Cimmeria
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Burrito Boy »

Welcome to the board. Here, have a taco. :D

I normally don't welcome people to the board because I feel guilty about not welcoming the people who came before. But I can never resist an opportunity to recommend Armorines. I'm a big fan of Jorge Gonxalez' writing on that book as well as his work on X-O. As for the other 90s Valiant, I'd really recommend Harbinger and H.A.R.D. Corps.

By the way, what do you read? I read all the time too so I'm curious to see if we have any favorite writers in common.

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

Thanks! I will check out Solar!

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

Burrito Boy wrote:Welcome to the board. Here, have a taco. :D

I normally don't welcome people to the board because I feel guilty about not welcoming the people who came before. But I can never resist an opportunity to recommend Armorines. I'm a big fan of Jorge Gonxalez' writing on that book as well as his work on X-O. As for the other 90s Valiant, I'd really recommend Harbinger and H.A.R.D. Corps.

By the way, what do you read? I read all the time too so I'm curious to see if we have any favorite writers in common.
I am a big war book junkie. I spent a total of 27 months in Iraq so I tend to gravitate towards that. Tim O'Brien is my favorite war author. He is also my favorite author, period. When I have time away from school I like to read stuff by Gaiman. The books by Patrick Rothfuss have been amazing so far. I read a little of everything.

User avatar
lorddunlow
I think you might be a closeted Canadian.
I think you might be a closeted Canadian.
Posts: 13552
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:51:31 pm
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by lorddunlow »

Welcome. It's fun here. I'm just going to assume (due to your name) that I can count on you to help in war against the Canadians!
*SQUEE* your science, I have a machine gun.

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

Sadly, I have retired from war :thumb:

User avatar
kevinbastos
I felt 'used car salesman' kind of dirty.
I felt 'used car salesman' kind of dirty.
Posts: 3868
Joined: Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:34:06 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: Rai
Favorite title: Quantum & Woody
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by kevinbastos »

The classic Valiant stuff has been pretty hard to re-read years later - and strike me for saying this - but much of the Armorines was a much better read years later. And some of the old 'better' stuff is a tougher translation years later.

But do your best to find the first eight issues of Magnus, and pair them up with the first five issues of Rai (as well as the SOLAR issues). Brilliant stuff. Ages well. And still timeless. Took Dino's reminder in the episode 100 of only the Valiant to re-remind me of that.

The nineties Valiant stuff has moments of greatness and despair. I've been re-reading on my blog - SHAMELESS PLUG for my site.

But give some of it a try. Certainly most of it is available pretty cheaply.

And give the Acclaim Quantum & Woody a try. BRILLIANT stuff.

Oh, and welcome. It's fun here.
Hey, look! I have a podcast!
And a Website!
http://www.valiantnewuniverse.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


If I win an argument, it doesn't mean I'm right. It means I'm a better arguer.

In addition, I'm right.

User avatar
comicsyte95
It's Porktastic!!!
It's Porktastic!!!
Posts: 9572
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:30:20 pm
Location: somewhere in the valiant universe
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by comicsyte95 »

Welcome! :thumb:
If I just can't be me ,and the Arrow isn't enough.. then maybe I should be Ra's al Ghul

User avatar
FormerReader
I spoke with Dino and he said you can divulge all information to me.
I spoke with Dino and he said you can divulge all information to me.
Posts: 3754
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 10:15:58 pm
Location: Florida
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by FormerReader »

Welcome! All pre-Unity stuff is good.

User avatar
Burrito Boy
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Posts: 1651
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:56:47 pm
Favorite character: Gunny Lewis
Favorite title: Armorines
Favorite writer: Jorge Gonzalez
Location: Cimmeria
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Burrito Boy »

Johnny America wrote:
Burrito Boy wrote:Welcome to the board. Here, have a taco. :D

I normally don't welcome people to the board because I feel guilty about not welcoming the people who came before. But I can never resist an opportunity to recommend Armorines. I'm a big fan of Jorge Gonxalez' writing on that book as well as his work on X-O. As for the other 90s Valiant, I'd really recommend Harbinger and H.A.R.D. Corps.

By the way, what do you read? I read all the time too so I'm curious to see if we have any favorite writers in common.
I am a big war book junkie. I spent a total of 27 months in Iraq so I tend to gravitate towards that. Tim O'Brien is my favorite war author. He is also my favorite author, period. When I have time away from school I like to read stuff by Gaiman. The books by Patrick Rothfuss have been amazing so far. I read a little of everything.
I read tons of war books too, specifically about WWII and Vietnam, but have never heard of Tim O'Brien. Haven't read anything by the other two you mentioned. I mostly read pulp fiction--Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs--and old school science fiction--Ray Bradbury, Alfred Bester, Clifford Simak. To name just a few.

User avatar
caniac
the hole just keeps getting deeper
the hole just keeps getting deeper
Posts: 3688
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:41:24 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: XO Manowar
Favorite title: XO Manowar
Favorite writer: Robert Venditti
Location: the beach
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by caniac »

Johnny America wrote:Sadly, I have retired from war :thumb:
Thank you for your service :thumb:
Image

User avatar
MarkRoseHFX
smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
Posts: 4697
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 11:03:12 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: Chiclo
Favorite title: Harbinger
Favorite writer: Dysart,V-ditti,Kindt,Lemire
Favorite artist: Cary Nord
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by MarkRoseHFX »

Welcome!

if you see a guy named lorddunlow just ignore him he's a *squee* :kidaround:
Hell Yeah Valiant Comics! Tumblr - http://bit.ly/16xoK8x" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://about.me/markrosehfx

PSN- gorakthebunny

Dynamite can suck my balls

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

Thanks everyone!

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

Burrito Boy wrote:
Johnny America wrote:
Burrito Boy wrote:Welcome to the board. Here, have a taco. :D

I normally don't welcome people to the board because I feel guilty about not welcoming the people who came before. But I can never resist an opportunity to recommend Armorines. I'm a big fan of Jorge Gonxalez' writing on that book as well as his work on X-O. As for the other 90s Valiant, I'd really recommend Harbinger and H.A.R.D. Corps.

By the way, what do you read? I read all the time too so I'm curious to see if we have any favorite writers in common.
I am a big war book junkie. I spent a total of 27 months in Iraq so I tend to gravitate towards that. Tim O'Brien is my favorite war author. He is also my favorite author, period. When I have time away from school I like to read stuff by Gaiman. The books by Patrick Rothfuss have been amazing so far. I read a little of everything.
I read tons of war books too, specifically about WWII and Vietnam, but have never heard of Tim O'Brien. Haven't read anything by the other two you mentioned. I mostly read pulp fiction--Robert E. Howard, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Rice Burroughs--and old school science fiction--Ray Bradbury, Alfred Bester, Clifford Simak. To name just a few.
If you are a Vietnam War reader you really should read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. It is one of the greatest war books I have ever read.

User avatar
Burrito Boy
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Posts: 1651
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:56:47 pm
Favorite character: Gunny Lewis
Favorite title: Armorines
Favorite writer: Jorge Gonzalez
Location: Cimmeria
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Burrito Boy »

I'll definitely check it out. And I'll make some recommendations of my own when I get access to my book collection. :thumb:

User avatar
lorddunlow
I think you might be a closeted Canadian.
I think you might be a closeted Canadian.
Posts: 13552
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:51:31 pm
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by lorddunlow »

MarkRoseHFX wrote:Welcome!

if you see a guy named lorddunlow just ignore him he's a *squee* :kidaround:
Already beat you to him. Sadly, he's being neutral - I could have used him to take you guys down.

Johnny, what's your favorite Gaiman book? I'm partial to Neverwhere, but American Gods is up there. I'm probably a bigger Gaiman fan than I am a comic lover.

Burrito Boy, I looooove Lovecraft!
*SQUEE* your science, I have a machine gun.

User avatar
Burrito Boy
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Just jumpin' through time arcs, that's all.
Posts: 1651
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:56:47 pm
Favorite character: Gunny Lewis
Favorite title: Armorines
Favorite writer: Jorge Gonzalez
Location: Cimmeria
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Burrito Boy »

lorddunlow wrote:
MarkRoseHFX wrote:Welcome!

if you see a guy named lorddunlow just ignore him he's a *squee* :kidaround:
Already beat you to him. Sadly, he's being neutral - I could have used him to take you guys down.

Johnny, what's your favorite Gaiman book? I'm partial to Neverwhere, but American Gods is up there. I'm probably a bigger Gaiman fan than I am a comic lover.

Burrito Boy, I looooove Lovecraft!
Lovecraft rocks! :high-five:

User avatar
mkb28
Honey, it's time to spawn!
Honey, it's time to spawn!
Posts: 4732
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2012 3:16:51 pm
Valiant fan since: 2012
Favorite character: X-O Manowar
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti and Dysart
Location: Kansas City, MO
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by mkb28 »

Welcome, from one veteran to another! I recently took the plunge and went back in time to collect all the early stuff from Valiant and Acclaim. From what I hear the Pre-Unity and Unity stories are the best. I just wish I had more time to read them all, but someday I will get it done!

You can learn a ton of information in the Summary section of the homepage and the Comics section is a valuable resource when you start hunting for books.

Take care and happy hunting!

Michael
Mkb28

User avatar
Chiclo
I'm Chiclo. My strong Dongs paid off well.
I'm Chiclo.  My strong Dongs paid off well.
Posts: 21667
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:09:11 am
Favorite character: Kris
Location: Texas
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Chiclo »

MarkRoseHFX wrote:Welcome!

if you see a guy named lorddunlow just ignore him he's a *squee* :kidaround:
It can be difficult to avoid dunlow at times since he hangs out on the one road in Canada.

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

lorddunlow wrote:
MarkRoseHFX wrote:Welcome!

if you see a guy named lorddunlow just ignore him he's a *squee* :kidaround:
Already beat you to him. Sadly, he's being neutral - I could have used him to take you guys down.

Johnny, what's your favorite Gaiman book? I'm partial to Neverwhere, but American Gods is up there. I'm probably a bigger Gaiman fan than I am a comic lover.

Burrito Boy, I looooove Lovecraft!
Looks like I have stepped into a situation here! haha

My favorite Gaiman book is probably American Gods so far. That is assuming that I can't count Sandman as a book. Sandman is one of the reasons I finally stepped into the world of comics. My best friend told me about it so many times that I finally had to break down and read it. After that I was hooked on the medium. I have a copy of Neverwhere sitting on my shelf, but I have not read it yet. It does come highly recommended though.

User avatar
Johnny America
Working on the first full appearance of me
Working on the first full appearance of me
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2013 8:13:55 am
Valiant fan since: Summer of Valiant
Favorite character: X-O Manowar/Bloodshot
Favorite title: X-O Manowar
Favorite writer: Venditti
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by Johnny America »

mkb28 wrote:Welcome, from one veteran to another! I recently took the plunge and went back in time to collect all the early stuff from Valiant and Acclaim. From what I hear the Pre-Unity and Unity stories are the best. I just wish I had more time to read them all, but someday I will get it done!

You can learn a ton of information in the Summary section of the homepage and the Comics section is a valuable resource when you start hunting for books.

Take care and happy hunting!

Michael
Mkb28
I am not sure if I am going to collect the older stuff or not. From what I have gathered, and it was mentioned in this post earlier, the earlier stuff doesn't always hold up. I will check out the titles that people keep bringing up though. I let a friend borrow my X-O current run and he was really impressed with the story telling of the new Valiant crew. He is a long time reader of comics and said he thought the Valiant writing was pretty flat back in the day.

User avatar
MarkRoseHFX
smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
Posts: 4697
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 11:03:12 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: Chiclo
Favorite title: Harbinger
Favorite writer: Dysart,V-ditti,Kindt,Lemire
Favorite artist: Cary Nord
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by MarkRoseHFX »

Chiclo wrote:
MarkRoseHFX wrote:Welcome!

if you see a guy named lorddunlow just ignore him he's a *squee* :kidaround:
It can be difficult to avoid dunlow at times since he hangs out on the one road in Canada.
one road? can you Upper Mexicans even find Canada on a map?
Hell Yeah Valiant Comics! Tumblr - http://bit.ly/16xoK8x" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://about.me/markrosehfx

PSN- gorakthebunny

Dynamite can suck my balls

User avatar
MarkRoseHFX
smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
smother you to death with a big pile of poutine
Posts: 4697
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 11:03:12 pm
Valiant fan since: 1992
Favorite character: Chiclo
Favorite title: Harbinger
Favorite writer: Dysart,V-ditti,Kindt,Lemire
Favorite artist: Cary Nord
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Contact:
Re: My Valiant Story

Post by MarkRoseHFX »

Johnny America wrote: Looks like I have stepped into a situation here! haha

My favorite Gaiman book is probably American Gods so far. That is assuming that I can't count Sandman as a book. Sandman is one of the reasons I finally stepped into the world of comics. My best friend told me about it so many times that I finally had to break down and read it. After that I was hooked on the medium. I have a copy of Neverwhere sitting on my shelf, but I have not read it yet. It does come highly recommended though.
Naw the only situation really is that dunlow and I are two of the goofiest dudes on here :lol:

I love Gaiman's books but I also put Sandman above them. When I was in high school a friend of mine loaned me Season of Mists and it changed the way I look at comics forever. you really should get around to reading Neverwhere it's a fantastic book.
Hell Yeah Valiant Comics! Tumblr - http://bit.ly/16xoK8x" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://about.me/markrosehfx

PSN- gorakthebunny

Dynamite can suck my balls


Post Reply