New Valiant/Alien Releases: X-O Book One&#4 & Ninjak Superkillers Book One

[Gregg-K]

So, now that Valiant is back on the shelf what does everyone think about the new releases? Not only the quality of the stories, but also the format and quality of the books themselves?

(Personally, I think it's great to see Aric and Colin back in shops.)

[ManofTheAtom]

So, now that Valiant is back on the shelf what does everyone think about the new releases? Not only the quality of the stories, but also the format and quality of the books themselves?

(Personally, I think it's great to see Aric and Colin back in shops.)

I like the format, the page count, paper, etc.

[Chiclo]

I am optimistic to see Valiant try something different.

[GammaJosh]

I'm happy with the format and printing quality. Single issues tend to sit in my to-read pile and I end up reading a bunch in a row anyway, so having more pages in one book is good for me!

I've never been a spy genre guy, and didn't really enjoy the previous Ninjak mini-series. I was initially disappointed that Superkillers was just a continuation of that story, but by the end of Superkillers #1 I was quite happy with the dynamic between Colin and his new sidekick, and was enjoying the action. Mike Norton is a strong story teller and a welcome talent on this book. Looking forward to book two!

I haven't read X-O Unconquered #4 yet. Still catching up on #1-3.

[The Harbinger]

Superkillers has been pretty good. A nice return to form.

X-O is pretty bleh for me. Hopefully they can return to status quo soon there.

Time to pick up Harada's story and leave the uninteresting druggy Stancheck stuff as a footnote.

[slack]

Superkillers is broken into more issues on Drive-thru comics... so, how should it be discussed here? Single issue, as distributed digitally, OR the collected multi-issue length physical distribution?

And how do I get physical copies of the digital single issues...?

it's sad that some "cover art" won't actually get to be on real covers.

[sonicdan]

I just finished reading X-O and Ninjak. I thought they were both pretty decent. Glad to see these characters back in action.

The dialogue in X-O is a bit grandiose and over the top. The artwork is dark, textured, grotesque, and visually interesting. At times, it was a bit distracting as it was sometimes difficult to tell what was happening in the story. I appreciate the different colored word balloons which helped tell what was going on. The premise does remind me a bit of the classic X-O Manowar #0 (trapped on an alien ship, enslaved, fighting against the odds). The introduction of a Geomancer in issue #4 has me intrigued.

I never read the previous Ninjak (2021) series but I feel like I was caught up to speed pretty quickly with the narrative. The info/bio page on the inside front cover helps for a nice primer. The artwork is sort of cartoony for my taste but the storytelling is unambiguous. There were a couple of nice action splash pages that I enjoyed. The villains were a bit ridiculous (tiger-man, aqua-creature, stomach-face guy). Somehow Matt Kindt made weird villains work in the first VEI series but here it is kind of goofy. Still, it's probably better than generic goons. I like how Colin King makes use of his gadgets and his skill set to survive. I'm looking forward to Book 2.

I'm OK with the prestige edition format. In the past, I would let individual issues pile up and would or would not ever get around to reading them. Or, I would read them month to month and sometimes forget what was even going on. I think these are a happy medium between standard comics and trade paperbacks. Love it or hate it I think this will be increasingly an industry trend. Higher price points but better quality and more content. I don't necessarily care about foil logos (they are pretty though) but the supplemental material (bio pages, pin-up gallery, house ads, etc.) is welcome.

Here's to what I hope is a successful year for Valiant. The characters certainly deserve their chance to shine.
Dan

[nycjadie]

Thanks for sharing, Dan.

[Ize]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

[Dallow Spicer1]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

Definitely check out the Robert Venditti run, it’s as good as XO gets. Avoid the Dennis Hopeless Hallum run, that’s as bad as it gets!

[Ize]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

Definitely check out the Robert Venditti run, it’s as good as XO gets. Avoid the Dennis Hopeless Hallum run, that’s as bad as it gets!

Thanks for the advice
On the Hopeless run, from the previews, looks like he is the opposite to the bad *SQUEE* character that i'm reading right now

[Dallow Spicer1]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

Definitely check out the Robert Venditti run, it’s as good as XO gets. Avoid the Dennis Hopeless Hallum run, that’s as bad as it gets!

Thanks for the advice
On the Hopeless run, from the previews, looks like he is the opposite to the bad *SQUEE* character that i'm reading right now

Yeah it’s criminal how he wrote XO

[Ize]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

Definitely check out the Robert Venditti run, it’s as good as XO gets. Avoid the Dennis Hopeless Hallum run, that’s as bad as it gets!

Thanks for the advice
On the Hopeless run, from the previews, looks like he is the opposite to the bad *SQUEE* character that i'm reading right now

Yeah it’s criminal how he wrote XO

Yup - Same thing happened to Savage too! It's criminal.

[Dallow Spicer1]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

Definitely check out the Robert Venditti run, it’s as good as XO gets. Avoid the Dennis Hopeless Hallum run, that’s as bad as it gets!

Thanks for the advice
On the Hopeless run, from the previews, looks like he is the opposite to the bad *SQUEE* character that i'm reading right now

Yeah it’s criminal how he wrote XO

Yup - Same thing happened to Savage too! It's criminal.

That one should have been jail time!

[Ize]

I've not read any X-O series before Unconquered, so can't compare to other volumes - but i've been really enjoying this series and #4 continues to deliver.
Is one of my favourite superhero comics, that i'm currently reading.
It's a shame they changed this from an ongoing to a miniseries.

Definitely check out the Robert Venditti run, it’s as good as XO gets. Avoid the Dennis Hopeless Hallum run, that’s as bad as it gets!

Thanks for the advice
On the Hopeless run, from the previews, looks like he is the opposite to the bad *SQUEE* character that i'm reading right now

Yeah it’s criminal how he wrote XO

Yup - Same thing happened to Savage too! It's criminal.

That one should have been jail time!