I finally jumped in!
Moderators: Daniel Jackson, greg
-
Elveen
- I sell comics, I collect Valiant.
- Posts: 25252
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:44:48 am
- Location: Educating the future of America, or something like that
I finally jumped in!
Good day all, well I finally made the plunge from a lurker(?) (such a bad connotation as of late) to a contributor. I have been aware of this site for some time now (at least last summer), but has always been a just a reader, but I couldn't resist. So without furthur ado, here is my story.
My intoduction into Valiants came from a college friend of mine named Bono (not the U2 singer, but Bo-no, like "Bo Duke"), he had more comics than I could have ever imagined, early Spidermans, 1st app. of this, 1st app. of that, he had it all. Well Bono asked if I wanted to go to a comic convention with him, at that time I was a bum, so I said sure. On the way he began to tell me all about the comics industry, the history of comics, and about the "Big 2". Then he told me about a new company that he was into, Valiant. He told me that Valiant was going to change the history of comics. That day he must have bought me a few, I didn't have any money, from the first read I was hooked.
I do not remember exactly what books they were or how far into the Valiant universe it was, but it was still early enough. (I missed the release of the 1st wave of books, Mag., Solar, Rai, Harby, but I began to scoop some of the back issues up) Quickly all of my money was going towards Valiant comics.
Soon there was about five us that were hooked on Valiants, (my buddy Thing traded an Iron Man #1 for Valiants) We went weekly to this comics convention, bought all the Valiant titles and tried to get the back issues. Bono had them all, most in multiples, every so often he would give a book to one of us (Solar #2, Harby #4) Bono was the Valiant Godfather!
Unfortunately, one of my buds, Froggy was a clepto., he would steal so many books, my Magnus #2 was stolen for me, I almost gave it back, but it was a Magnus #2! (I do still feel guilty when I read it) We kept buying Valiants, but unfortunately, we also became specualtors, buying multiple copies of books took some of the fun of just reading them. Slowly all of us, execpt Bono, stopped. (I bet you Bono has every reasonably desirable comic there is, seriously)
So that was early 90's, now for today. I have gotten rid of all my multiples, but for years I just couldn't get myself to drop my early Valiants, and every summer (I am a teacher, great time to read comics) I get them out and re-read them. I've held them so long (just a couple of short boxes) I don't think I will ever get rid of them.
For me it is not about value or investment, it is all about the joy of reading them. Every time I re-read, it is as good as the first time, and it kinda-sort-of brings me back to the days of yore; no job, no wife, no kids, no bills, no house, just me reading this great story, this univers that you almost felt part of.
Wow, that was long! Bottom line is the early Valiant Universe is some of the most creative and exciting reading that I have every done. I don't know what life will bring, but if the Lord tarries, next summer I am sure I will re-read my Valiants.
I look forward to the summer re-reading and being part of this forum, just don't make fun of my spelling.
Thanks,
Christian
My intoduction into Valiants came from a college friend of mine named Bono (not the U2 singer, but Bo-no, like "Bo Duke"), he had more comics than I could have ever imagined, early Spidermans, 1st app. of this, 1st app. of that, he had it all. Well Bono asked if I wanted to go to a comic convention with him, at that time I was a bum, so I said sure. On the way he began to tell me all about the comics industry, the history of comics, and about the "Big 2". Then he told me about a new company that he was into, Valiant. He told me that Valiant was going to change the history of comics. That day he must have bought me a few, I didn't have any money, from the first read I was hooked.
I do not remember exactly what books they were or how far into the Valiant universe it was, but it was still early enough. (I missed the release of the 1st wave of books, Mag., Solar, Rai, Harby, but I began to scoop some of the back issues up) Quickly all of my money was going towards Valiant comics.
Soon there was about five us that were hooked on Valiants, (my buddy Thing traded an Iron Man #1 for Valiants) We went weekly to this comics convention, bought all the Valiant titles and tried to get the back issues. Bono had them all, most in multiples, every so often he would give a book to one of us (Solar #2, Harby #4) Bono was the Valiant Godfather!
Unfortunately, one of my buds, Froggy was a clepto., he would steal so many books, my Magnus #2 was stolen for me, I almost gave it back, but it was a Magnus #2! (I do still feel guilty when I read it) We kept buying Valiants, but unfortunately, we also became specualtors, buying multiple copies of books took some of the fun of just reading them. Slowly all of us, execpt Bono, stopped. (I bet you Bono has every reasonably desirable comic there is, seriously)
So that was early 90's, now for today. I have gotten rid of all my multiples, but for years I just couldn't get myself to drop my early Valiants, and every summer (I am a teacher, great time to read comics) I get them out and re-read them. I've held them so long (just a couple of short boxes) I don't think I will ever get rid of them.
For me it is not about value or investment, it is all about the joy of reading them. Every time I re-read, it is as good as the first time, and it kinda-sort-of brings me back to the days of yore; no job, no wife, no kids, no bills, no house, just me reading this great story, this univers that you almost felt part of.
Wow, that was long! Bottom line is the early Valiant Universe is some of the most creative and exciting reading that I have every done. I don't know what life will bring, but if the Lord tarries, next summer I am sure I will re-read my Valiants.
I look forward to the summer re-reading and being part of this forum, just don't make fun of my spelling.
Thanks,
Christian
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96Valiantfan
- You gotta have Faith!
- Posts: 817
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:06:09 am
- Location: Waterbury CT.
Great post and welcome to the Boards. And there is NOTHING wrong with being a lurker. The occassional antics are part of the attraction to this site... I think that the passion for Valiant books has it's way of showing on the boards. We do A LOT of good things here and keeping Valiant alive after all these years is just the tip of the iceberg.
Again welcome...
Again welcome...
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ibreakhorses
- ...it has been down hill ever since.
- Posts: 3988
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tarheelmarine
- Ask me about the Mellow Mushroom
- Posts: 3747
- Joined: Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:14:44 pm
- Valiant fan since: 1992
- Favorite character: Magnus Robot Fighter
- Favorite title: Shadowman
- Favorite writer: Jim Shooter
- Favorite artist: Jim Calafiore
- Location: Japan
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muzzsucker
- Cruisin' in Darpan's Winnebago
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- Location: gobble gobble
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Second_Death
- Clinkin' bottles with Aram
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- Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:59:45 pm
- Location: A little south of sanity.
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Philflound
- Ninjak and Ninjil went up a hill
- Posts: 136
- Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:49:06 pm
- Location: Northern, NJ
- Contact:
It's funny how that early impact of comic books has on a person. And this does not necessarily refer to someone being a child. Though for me it was being young. Valiants were written for an older audience, at least that's my opinion. I heard about them, I bought a few, I read a few, and I speculated on a lot. Once I got through the Unity storyline, that was where I was personally hooked and then had to own them all.
But my start with collecting comics came about 5-6 years after I had read many. I had gotten some books, probably bought by my parents in about 1977-78. These were a mix. A Doctor Strange, Tales of the Unexpected, Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny, and a few others. They were probably from Whitman packs for all I know. I also remember Amazing Spiderman #67 with Mysterio and that giant hand above Spiderman in the amusement park, which my father got in a flea market for a dime. All these books had an impact on me that I wound up collecting each of these series (and much more) once I began buying comics regularly.
The first comic book store opened up by me in April of 1984 and within 1 month, I was introduced by a buddy to the store and he told me about this great series called Secret Wars. It was on issue #5, but all the early books were still available, so I got those. I was an avid mini series buff, probably because they were easy to collect, and the stories would finish and I didn't have to search for the rest of the series. Things like West Coast Avengers, Jack of Hearts, Prince Namor Submariner were there for the pickings, along with movie adaptations by Marvel. On the DC side, I was buying Nathanial Dusk Private Investigator, Jemm Son of Saturn, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and a few others. Grimjack was my first "independent" title, which I started on issue #2 and took me 3 years to find a #1. Most of the books I bought are now common and can probably be had for pennies compared to what I paid for them back 20+ years ago. But the memories of going to the store "daily" that summer will be with me forever.
Enjoy your Valiants! There's nothing wrong with reading books over and over. I'd probably do the same if I didn't have like 20,000+ books to read.
Phil
But my start with collecting comics came about 5-6 years after I had read many. I had gotten some books, probably bought by my parents in about 1977-78. These were a mix. A Doctor Strange, Tales of the Unexpected, Pink Panther, Bugs Bunny, and a few others. They were probably from Whitman packs for all I know. I also remember Amazing Spiderman #67 with Mysterio and that giant hand above Spiderman in the amusement park, which my father got in a flea market for a dime. All these books had an impact on me that I wound up collecting each of these series (and much more) once I began buying comics regularly.
The first comic book store opened up by me in April of 1984 and within 1 month, I was introduced by a buddy to the store and he told me about this great series called Secret Wars. It was on issue #5, but all the early books were still available, so I got those. I was an avid mini series buff, probably because they were easy to collect, and the stories would finish and I didn't have to search for the rest of the series. Things like West Coast Avengers, Jack of Hearts, Prince Namor Submariner were there for the pickings, along with movie adaptations by Marvel. On the DC side, I was buying Nathanial Dusk Private Investigator, Jemm Son of Saturn, Crisis on Infinite Earths, and a few others. Grimjack was my first "independent" title, which I started on issue #2 and took me 3 years to find a #1. Most of the books I bought are now common and can probably be had for pennies compared to what I paid for them back 20+ years ago. But the memories of going to the store "daily" that summer will be with me forever.
Enjoy your Valiants! There's nothing wrong with reading books over and over. I'd probably do the same if I didn't have like 20,000+ books to read.
Phil
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fantasyfootballbono
- If you gave Aric hugs and kisses, would it be XOXO X-O?
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 4:03:02 pm
Re: I finally jumped in!
What's up, Christian? I still remember introducing you guys to Valiants for the first time, right around the time that Unity #0 came out. Between Valiants and D&D Sundays, it was a great time. 
I remember that time that Gary McBride's friend Paul (who worked for Valiant) showed up at the local show with the Gold Logo books to give you guys. I showed up late and he had already given them all away! 
Great to see you here having such a good time. I sold most of my valuable comics last year, but I kept all of my Valiants. I sold the first batch of Valiants back in 1994 and bought them all back within the past couple of years. When I bought them back I re-read them all and swore never to sell them ever again.
I remember that time that Gary McBride's friend Paul (who worked for Valiant) showed up at the local show with the Gold Logo books to give you guys. I showed up late and he had already given them all away! Great to see you here having such a good time. I sold most of my valuable comics last year, but I kept all of my Valiants. I sold the first batch of Valiants back in 1994 and bought them all back within the past couple of years. When I bought them back I re-read them all and swore never to sell them ever again.
Elveen wrote:Good day all, well I finally made the plunge from a lurker(?) (such a bad connotation as of late) to a contributor. I have been aware of this site for some time now (at least last summer), but has always been a just a reader, but I couldn't resist. So without furthur ado, here is my story.
My intoduction into Valiants came from a college friend of mine named Bono (not the U2 singer, but Bo-no, like "Bo Duke"), he had more comics than I could have ever imagined, early Spidermans, 1st app. of this, 1st app. of that, he had it all. Well Bono asked if I wanted to go to a comic convention with him, at that time I was a bum, so I said sure. On the way he began to tell me all about the comics industry, the history of comics, and about the "Big 2". Then he told me about a new company that he was into, Valiant. He told me that Valiant was going to change the history of comics. That day he must have bought me a few, I didn't have any money, from the first read I was hooked.
I do not remember exactly what books they were or how far into the Valiant universe it was, but it was still early enough. (I missed the release of the 1st wave of books, Mag., Solar, Rai, Harby, but I began to scoop some of the back issues up) Quickly all of my money was going towards Valiant comics.
Soon there was about five us that were hooked on Valiants, (my buddy Thing traded an Iron Man #1 for Valiants) We went weekly to this comics convention, bought all the Valiant titles and tried to get the back issues. Bono had them all, most in multiples, every so often he would give a book to one of us (Solar #2, Harby #4) Bono was the Valiant Godfather!
Unfortunately, one of my buds, Froggy was a clepto., he would steal so many books, my Magnus #2 was stolen for me, I almost gave it back, but it was a Magnus #2! (I do still feel guilty when I read it) We kept buying Valiants, but unfortunately, we also became specualtors, buying multiple copies of books took some of the fun of just reading them. Slowly all of us, execpt Bono, stopped. (I bet you Bono has every reasonably desirable comic there is, seriously)
So that was early 90's, now for today. I have gotten rid of all my multiples, but for years I just couldn't get myself to drop my early Valiants, and every summer (I am a teacher, great time to read comics) I get them out and re-read them. I've held them so long (just a couple of short boxes) I don't think I will ever get rid of them.
For me it is not about value or investment, it is all about the joy of reading them. Every time I re-read, it is as good as the first time, and it kinda-sort-of brings me back to the days of yore; no job, no wife, no kids, no bills, no house, just me reading this great story, this univers that you almost felt part of.
Wow, that was long! Bottom line is the early Valiant Universe is some of the most creative and exciting reading that I have every done. I don't know what life will bring, but if the Lord tarries, next summer I am sure I will re-read my Valiants.
I look forward to the summer re-reading and being part of this forum, just don't make fun of my spelling.
Thanks,
Christian
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fantasyfootballbono
- If you gave Aric hugs and kisses, would it be XOXO X-O?
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 4:03:02 pm
Hey Slym,slym2none wrote:FFB! What's up? I didn't know you had joined up over here, then I see you have been since 2004!!!
-slym
Yeah, I've been a member here for a long time but hadn't checked the forum for a while. Then I found out my old college buddy Christian (Elveen) became a member here recently and had to pop in to say hey. Christian and I and a bunch of other guys used to play D&D every Sunday and go to comic book conventions together when we were in college. Ah, the good old days!
Hey Christian, remember back in the day (like 1992 or so) when Jim Shooter and David Lapham were starting up Defiant and did a signing at a local show and we went? They had that charity auction for the Defiant promo piece that I paid way too much for?
I still have that sucker.
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Elveen
- I sell comics, I collect Valiant.
- Posts: 25252
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 2:44:48 am
- Location: Educating the future of America, or something like that
I remember THAT day fairly good, some of the "other" days seem to be lost in a fog, or something.
All I can say is the Bono is the old school VALIANT pimp!
He all the books, from the begining.
Bono we gotta hook up, maybe get the old crew together, I can get a hold of McBride and Damian, but Frog and Thing, I don't know.
Chrisitian
All I can say is the Bono is the old school VALIANT pimp!
He all the books, from the begining.
Bono we gotta hook up, maybe get the old crew together, I can get a hold of McBride and Damian, but Frog and Thing, I don't know.
Chrisitian
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fantasyfootballbono
- If you gave Aric hugs and kisses, would it be XOXO X-O?
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 4:03:02 pm
I talk to Frog and Thing every once in a while. I met up with Thing at San Diego ComicCon last summer. I am sure I could get them to meet up next time I'm in town.Elveen wrote:I remember THAT day fairly good, some of the "other" days seem to be lost in a fog, or something.
All I can say is the Bono is the old school VALIANT pimp!
He all the books, from the begining.
Bono we gotta hook up, maybe get the old crew together, I can get a hold of McBride and Damian, but Frog and Thing, I don't know.
Chrisitian
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fantasyfootballbono
- If you gave Aric hugs and kisses, would it be XOXO X-O?
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue Jun 01, 2004 4:03:02 pm
...I still give it a go occasionally... 