Catching Up

[ManofTheAtom]

Just finished the FCBD The VALIANTS.

I like that it continues plot points from Superkillers, and that the preview for Ninjak vs Roku continues from where the Roku mini series left off.

[grendeljd]

What did you think of it?

I wish it had been more focused on the reveal that she is an Anni-Padda rather than left that for infodump at the end.

She really didn't come off as the protagonist of the mini-series, that role went to the scientist looking for the armor. And the connection between the present day and backstory wasn't really that strong.

This should have been a story of self-discovery for Vexana (I think that's her name without checking), but the information was just given to her, it wasn't really earned.

You?

To be fair it has been a while sine i read the story, but i i found it so-so.

I agree that they should of focused more on her being an Anni-Padda. It would of been more interesting if she knew that earlier in the series.
I found her history over the ages and the link to Unity pretty cool.

The story could've been executed better. I wasn't hungry for more after reading it. But i had this feeling with most characters during DMG Valiant period.

Was good to see her again in Eternal Warriors, before Ivar ended that

Haven't read that one yet.

Honestly, not a big fan of VEI's Unity team, particularly the multiple incarnations.

I enjoyed the Unity series up to a point - but I also wasn’t really a fan of the echoes of unity teams in the past, and while I do enjoy Matt Kindts stories in general, when he started doing too much word-play with established names like Unit-Y and Ninja-K it was getting to be a bit much.

While reading the Ninja-K stuff, the one thought that kept coming to mind was how much better it was than what Busiek did with VH-2 Ninjak and the dozen video game-inspired villains, though.

I kept, and still keep, thinking that it was the kind of creative approach that would have been considerably far more beneficial to the series in the '90s that turning it into a video game.

I think I recall Busiek's justification for adding the K at the end of ninja as the guy who designed the games told Denny being fairly absurd. Something to do with making the games more commercial or something, no?

In fact, while reading the current series I keep thinking that it would be fun if Denny Meechum was one of the new ninjas.

Maybe he could be Ninja-L, Colin's would-be successor after he walked away from MI6 -- or, better yet, Ninja-M...

I have never read Busieks Ninjak series - I pretty much shied away from nearly everything Valiant during the Acclaim era other than a bit of Bloodshot & XO. Everything I’ve heard about that era of Ninjak sounds ridiculously terrible. With that in mind, Kindts ideas with the lettering system do sound better than that as it’s not totally absurd - but it leaves too much room for ridicule too. I mean… going off the original pronunciation of NinJAK before learning of the alpha designations means other agents would have sounded pretty silly. NinJAB? NinJAM?! NinJAP?! NinJAY?! NinJAZ?

If I’m recalling correctly, we kinda roasted this idea on the OTV/VCR podcast back when it first came out.

[grendeljd]

I liked … Psi-Lords, and would like to see more.

Somebody had to, I guess.

It was good. A lot of cool mythology, and making Scion Ravenrok's flunkie IS accurate with the original.

I didn’t mind the VEI Psi-Lords series too much, although I wouldn’t rave about it either. Definitely better than a lot of people gave it credit for, but not top-tier great, IMO.

[grendeljd]

The Bunn Shadowman series was good. I'm curious to find out if the Blights are connected to Resurgence. They better be.

It’s definitely one of the better series of the DMG era of VEI.

[ManofTheAtom]

I wish it had been more focused on the reveal that she is an Anni-Padda rather than left that for infodump at the end.

She really didn't come off as the protagonist of the mini-series, that role went to the scientist looking for the armor. And the connection between the present day and backstory wasn't really that strong.

This should have been a story of self-discovery for Vexana (I think that's her name without checking), but the information was just given to her, it wasn't really earned.

You?

To be fair it has been a while sine i read the story, but i i found it so-so.

I agree that they should of focused more on her being an Anni-Padda. It would of been more interesting if she knew that earlier in the series.
I found her history over the ages and the link to Unity pretty cool.

The story could've been executed better. I wasn't hungry for more after reading it. But i had this feeling with most characters during DMG Valiant period.

Was good to see her again in Eternal Warriors, before Ivar ended that

Haven't read that one yet.

Honestly, not a big fan of VEI's Unity team, particularly the multiple incarnations.

I enjoyed the Unity series up to a point - but I also wasn’t really a fan of the echoes of unity teams in the past, and while I do enjoy Matt Kindts stories in general, when he started doing too much word-play with established names like Unit-Y and Ninja-K it was getting to be a bit much.

While reading the Ninja-K stuff, the one thought that kept coming to mind was how much better it was than what Busiek did with VH-2 Ninjak and the dozen video game-inspired villains, though.

I kept, and still keep, thinking that it was the kind of creative approach that would have been considerably far more beneficial to the series in the '90s that turning it into a video game.

I think I recall Busiek's justification for adding the K at the end of ninja as the guy who designed the games told Denny being fairly absurd. Something to do with making the games more commercial or something, no?

In fact, while reading the current series I keep thinking that it would be fun if Denny Meechum was one of the new ninjas.

Maybe he could be Ninja-L, Colin's would-be successor after he walked away from MI6 -- or, better yet, Ninja-M...

I have never read Busieks Ninjak series - I pretty much shied away from nearly everything Valiant during the Acclaim era other than a bit of Bloodshot & XO. Everything I’ve heard about that era of Ninjak sounds ridiculously terrible. With that in mind, Kindts ideas with the lettering system do sound better than that as it’s not totally absurd - but it leaves too much room for ridicule too. I mean… going off the original pronunciation of NinJAK before learning of the alpha designations means other agents would have sounded pretty silly. NinJAB? NinJAM?! NinJAP?! NinJAY?! NinJAZ?

If I’m recalling correctly, we kinda roasted this idea on the OTV/VCR podcast back when it first came out.

Indeed, heh.

[ManofTheAtom]

I liked … Psi-Lords, and would like to see more.

Somebody had to, I guess.

It was good. A lot of cool mythology, and making Scion Ravenrok's flunkie IS accurate with the original.

I didn’t mind the VEI Psi-Lords series too much, although I wouldn’t rave about it either. Definitely better than a lot of people gave it credit for, but not top-tier great, IMO.

The potential is there, though.

[ManofTheAtom]

The Bunn Shadowman series was good. I'm curious to find out if the Blights are connected to Resurgence. They better be.

It’s definitely one of the better series of the DMG era of VEI.

Definitely. The previous series was great too. I really like the origin of Shadowman they came up with.

[grendeljd]

Harbinger was okay. The potential was there, but like with much of the rest it becomes too generic at one point.

Everything Josh Dysart did with Harbinger was gold, as far as I’m concerned… anything that came after felt like increasingly duller echoes of his run. Some of it I couldn’t bear to even read beyond the advanced preview premise point.

[ManofTheAtom]

Harbinger was okay. The potential was there, but like with much of the rest it becomes too generic at one point.

Everything Josh Dysart did with Harbinger was gold, as far as I’m concerned… anything that came after felt like increasingly duller echoes of his run. Some of it I couldn’t bear to even read beyond the advanced preview premise point.

Agreed.

[ManofTheAtom]

Forgot to mention that I like how they integrated the concept of the X-O Manowar control ring back into the series. And they made it work really well by making it an integral part of the narrative.

That said, the relationship between Aric and Shanhara has not been entirely consistent across the last three series, which is unfortunate.

[ManofTheAtom]

That was interesting, but he looks too advanced to have been made in the present.

It is cool to see Ninjak fight Rai -- or "a" Rai...

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[ManofTheAtom]

Since the last name of the "Bayou Cannibals" in Shadowman Vol. 1 #6 was not spoken in dialogue (if it had I would have found it when I wrote the original Wikia), in my head canon the cannibal family in Punk Mambo #0 is a reimagined version of those characters, even if their first names don't perfectly match up.

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[ManofTheAtom]

The Punk Witch project was good.

Knowing that the Darque escape the Ring of Solomon I can only imagine that that is what makes this important (I still have to see how that plays out exactly and how, if at all, it connects with this one-shot).

While the art is good, my main negative is the overall lack of backgrounds and a couple of panels in which the sets look way too large (as if they were drawn oversized to fill the page).

Then there is also the case of this unfortunate typo.

It should be "analyze", not "analysis".

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[ManofTheAtom]

Bloodshot Unleashed Reloaded was great.

At time the art had a certain similarity to VH-1 in its simplicity and groundedness as opposed to more comic book art we tend to see.

The first two pages of issue 2 delineate the difference between how this series introduced new characters better than how Superkillers did.

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[ManofTheAtom]

One thing that bugged me about the Livewire series is that given her powers she could have hacked the Internet and government mainframes at any time to spread "misinformation" about herself to exonerate her from her crimes.

While the public at large reacts to her based on what they read about what she did and is wanted for on social media, government agencies learn that and more from information that it sent to them through the proverbial chain of command.

At any time, she could have pardoned herself both in the court of law and court of public opinion by hacking both, and there really would have been little to naught anyone could have done to disprove it.

[Ize]

Since the last name of the "Bayou Cannibals" in Shadowman Vol. 1 #6 was not spoken in dialogue (if it had I would have found it when I wrote the original Wikia), in my head canon the cannibal family in Punk Mambo #0 is a reimagined version of those characters, even if their first names don't perfectly match up.

464922151_10160376563842267_1684976431226814160_n.jpg464916655_10160376561592267_4357198306530460441_n.jpg

Interesting Was Punk Mambo #1, not #0 btw.

[ManofTheAtom]

Since the last name of the "Bayou Cannibals" in Shadowman Vol. 1 #6 was not spoken in dialogue (if it had I would have found it when I wrote the original Wikia), in my head canon the cannibal family in Punk Mambo #0 is a reimagined version of those characters, even if their first names don't perfectly match up.

464922151_10160376563842267_1684976431226814160_n.jpg464916655_10160376561592267_4357198306530460441_n.jpg

Interesting Was Punk Mambo #1, not #0 btw.

Most definitely #1 of the mini-series. Just double checked, heh. My bad.

[ManofTheAtom]

Faith Returns was good, though I'm not a fan of the art.

It does feel as if it was something that was already in the works prior to Alien taking over to wrap up lingering plot threads from the previous series (which is a good thing. I prefer it to plot threads being ignored).

[ManofTheAtom]

Just finished the first month of the Road To Resurgence.

I inadvertently read it out of order (read Bloodshot Unleashed Reloaded #3 and #4 and Faith Returns #1 and #2), a mistake I'll fix for month two.

I've already said what I thought of Bloodshot Unleashed Reloaded and Faith Returns, so no need to go into those.

Overall, the art in these comics will take some getting used to. It's not bad/terrible, but it's not what I'd gotten used to from VALIANT.

As for the writing, it does feel as if these comics are a form of "house cleaning" to wrap up lingering plot points set up prior to Alien's involvement, which I do like, particularly in Rai: The Book of Darque and X-O Manowar Invictus since both previous series were building up really well and had some great storylines.

Essentially, judging these comics has more to do with how they connect with VALIANT's pre-Alien past than they do with their post-Alien future.

The insertion of Resurgence-related plots in other comics outside of The Valiants does bring to question of whether Resurgence was an inevitable event even if Alien hadn't gotten involved or done specifically for them.

What to an outsider like me who fell behind on all things VALIANT seems like a fairly quick development process from the end of DMG publishing VALIANT to Alien taking over it seems as if it was inevitable and would have happened regardless, but I could be wrong.

All scenes and mentions of the events of Resurgence found in these "house cleaning" issues could have been inserted after the fact during their production process.

[ManofTheAtom]

The Valiants #2 was interesting.

I doubt that had Dinesh remained in charge of the creative that he would have undone Kay's transformation into Deathmate, but the way it's being handled here can work, and doesn't come off as overtly comic book. It still seems to be well-grounded.

I've noticed that in contrast to DC and Marvel change is a constant at VALIANT, whether it's Kay becoming the Geomancer, then Deathmate, back to whatever she is becoming next.

Same goes for someone like Harada, who goes from the main villain in Harbinger, to the start of his own series, to presumed dead until he makes his next appearance.

At DC and Marvel respectively such change takes decades, if at all, such as with Lex Luthor or Doctor Doom, who spent decades with the same status quo (whether that is the one from the Silver Age or the one from the Modern Age for the former), for instance.

Such chance can and does create a vacuum, though, such as the case with Harada, leaving a void for new characters to fill (in the case of Harbinger the need of a new big bad. Solomon had that potential but he seems to have fizzled out during the transition from VEI to DMG).

In terms of the art, it still remains something to get used to.

X-O Manowar: Invictus #2 was engrossing. A page turner.

The art was a seeming improvement on the previous issue. It's really good.

As for the story, I'm intrigued about what happened to Shanhara and how the conflict will be resolved.

Roman Centurions on space ships with archaic armor is funny, heh. The alternative -- modernized, alien-looking, futuristic armor -- would have potentially been a parody and less effective.

Rai: The Book of Darque #2 -- I'm not sure what to think.

It is either suffering as a result of becoming part of Resurgence and losing track of the story it was telling prior to Alien taking over, or it's all been part of the plan from the start.

I'm not certain about the latter.

This seems to be a case of a series having to put aside the story it was telling (the search for Bloodfather's offsprings and everything else from the previous series) in order to take part of a crossover.

So far, this is the first series I've seen that MUST continue once Resurgence ends either as a new ongoing series or at the very least a longer mini series than just two issues in order to complete what began in the previous series published by DMG/VALIANT and continued in these two issues published by Alien/VALIANT.

There are many pages in which the art looks great, but then at a certain point some problems with the faces crop up.

Ninjak vs Roku #1 was good. I like that it continues the plot lines begun in the previous series. Other than that, there's not much to really say since it's mainly set up for what happens in the subsequent issues.

The art is interesting. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it seems as the figures and backgrounds don't exist in the same space. As if the former were superimposed over the latter.

Is it a case of AI? Is it an effect made by the coloring? Is it the use of some effect on Photoshop? Not sure. I do like how it looks.

[ManofTheAtom]

Not really much to be said about The Valiants #3.

The artwork works more than it doesn't, but it continues to be getting something to be get used to.

When Sabbas warns Myna about a traitor, I can only assume he means the Rai prototype (an answer that I'm sure has already been given I'm working my way toward).

My guess (another answer that has been given) is that Ivar took Capshaw. Will find out soon...

X-O Manowar: Invictus #3 was good, though, again, the art not so much.

I thought it had considerably improved in the second issue, but that didn't continue in the third.

The highlight is the world building involving the Romans that escaped the Vine. That in itself is a very cool concept. I hope it doesn't end in this series and becomes part of the status quo.

They just need a new leader who isn't focused on acquiring Shanhara but instead intends to expand the Roman empire across the stars.

The series definitely needs new villains to replace the Vine, and these do well.

Ninjak vs Roku #3 was great.

The artwork is fantastic (it no longer has the same problem as the previous issues' use of the same image as background), and looks beautiful which really helps the overall issue.

I wish more of Alien's VALIANT comics could look like this.

The story is building up really well, and it feels like it is well rooted in what came before. I like how the multiple monks we've seen across the various VALIANT titles have been linked together.

The Darques: Soulside #1 was really good.

Great art (except for maybe the last panel) and great world-building. I really liked it.

I really appreciate how well it builds up from what came before in the Shadowman series.

Eternal Warriors: Last Ride of the Immortals #1 is good.

I wasn't sure what to make of Vexana's place at the start of the story given her recent discovery of her ancestry. I'm glad that as the issue progressed it directly followed up from her last appearance with Aram and showed her reuniting with Ivar and Gilad.

I do get the sense that making her an Anni-Padda is a recent retcon and not necessary how she was originally conceived, but it seems to be working so far.

The artwork is really good. Not all that spectacular, but compared to some of the other art we've seen I keep referring to as needing to get used to this one is comparably much better, cleaner, etc.

[ManofTheAtom]

Archer & Armstrong: Assassin Nation #01 is near perfect. Great artwork, though I'm not sure if what's off is with the colors or inks.

I think this is the most serious Archer & Armstrong story I've seen since the VEI reboot.

The highlight is how rich it is rooted in history and how it uses it to tell its story. Possibly the most VALIANT-type of story we've seen in a long time.

It occurred to me while reading it that there have been far more VEI A&A comics than there ever were of the VH-1 version. That's funny.

Eternal Warriors: Last Ride of the Immortals #02 was interesting.

I didn't think about it when reading the previous issue, but it's unfortunate that this series ignored that Aram is no longer immortal as shown in Archer & Armstrong: Forever.

Major gaffe.

Other than that, I like that it addressed the origin of the Anni-Padda's immortality while explaining the origin of Vexana's own, clarifying exactly what it is that makes each one immortal except for Ivar, who, apparently, isn't.

The Darques: Soulside #02 is another issue devoted to a fight scene.

While not as substantial as Ninjak vs Roku #03, it's still quite good.

It's curious to see Silk and Darque as allies, I thought they'd be opponents given Silk is ending death and Darque needs it to survive.

Ninjak vs Roku #3 was very good.

Like X-O Manowar: Invictus #4 is it devoted mainly to a fight scene, but, unlike that other comic, this one has actual depth and character aided by the flashback showing how Angelina became a songbird and the conversation between her and the Minister of Blades.

The art is top notch, but not like the previous issue. And I noticed it went back to using the same image as background on multiple panels ike in the first issue. This time, though, it wasn't AS noticable and distracting.

Not much to be said about X-O Manowar: Invictus #04.

It is not much more than an extended fight scene between Aric and two robots. Nothing much of depth there to discuss.

The ending with Ivar yanking Aric way (seemingly from a past moment before the fight began?) is interesting.

Like with Rai before it this is something that demands a follow up once Resurgence ends. And, just like with Rai before it, I hope that involves and ongoing monthly series and not a one-shot or two issue miniseries.

The Valiants #4 was good.

Again, not much that can be said since it's mainly about moving pieces of the board into place, be they Ivar's team or Silk's team.

It's interesting that there hasn't been as much backlash over Kay's rebirth as there has been for Flamingo. And that goes back to her return as Deathmate. I don't recall anyone seeing it as a betrayal of the VALIANT axiom that "dead is dead".

What happens to Flamingo in Resurgence is pretty much what happened to Kay, except that while what happened with one involved technology with the other it involves magic -- which, as Dox told Jack in Shadowman, is merely an advanced form of technology.

Speaking of advanced forms of technology that is indistinguishable from magic, it's odd that Silk was able to knock B.O.B. -- an alien machine from The
Unknown -- out of the sky, though. He shouldn't have been able to do that.

The art was really good in this issue.

[ManofTheAtom]

Ninjak Vs Roku #4 was a satisfying conclusion to the mini series.

While it might have been cool to see an entire issue devoted to the Undead Monk rebuilding Colin's consciousness, the way it was done works too.

Ninjak giving Roku the ability to restore Angelina is very cool. I look forward to seeing how that unfolds.

The quality of the artwork returns to that of the second issue, though some pages toward the end seem to falter. I don't recall noticing the reuse of the same image as background on multiple panels like in the first and third issue, which is good.

Archer & Armstrong: Assassin Nation #2 was cool. I like how things went.

The art was overall good, but toward the end it too faltered, which is unfortunate.

Black, White. & Bloodshot #1 is great. Well-worth it. All the stories had great writing and art.

Mama Trauma in Soulside sounds reminiscent of any of the Three Mothers in Argento's film trilogy.

Those would be interesting characters to see integrated into the VALIANT Universe.

[ManofTheAtom]

I'm all caught up...