Valiant Original Artist Edition Hardcover

[CBurke76]

I just recently purchased a Conan: Red Nails BWS Original Archive Hardcover. I thought the book was pretty cool. My LCS guy has bought a few of the IDW/Marvel ones and there awesome also. If Valiant were to put out some of their titles in this format which ones?
I would like to see an Artist Edition Hardcover of both X-O Manowar #1s by BWS and Cary Nord respectively. Also Harbinger #1 by David Lapham. The Original X-O Manowar #1 was one of the 1st Valiant #1 I picked up way back when. The new X-O Manowar #1 was just as awesome and put VEI back on the map.

Does anyone else agree? If so what Valiant title would you pick and why?

Also if any VEI person is reading this would this format even be possible for VEI to do?

[nycjadie]

Solar 1 would be a good candidate as well, or maybe Rai 0?

[AnthonyF]

Solar Alpha and Omega by BWS, with cover art
but no chance of that

I'd second the X-O #1 from VH1 and VEI. Heck, any of the VEI #1's.

[paradise]

Let me give you a different perspective on this.

These "artist edition" types are not easy to put together. First you have to find all the original art, which is realistically only possible if one individual owns the whole issue. Then even if you get one done, it's a very low margin item, for both the publisher (cost production is high, and so is cost of rights acquisition from original art owners, I would bet, who spent thousands on that art), and the retailers who get them at a totally different discount than regular comics and graphic novels. We don't make a lot of money on these items. We sell a lot of them, our customers like premium items.

For a company to produce one it has to be a book that has a huge buyer base, specially in the "older, more wealthy" range of clientele. That is why you see things like Archie, Bernie Wrightson stuff, even BWS Conan (which was awful btw). While I would DIE for a BWS X-O #1 or Solar #0, I don't think there are enough people who would spend $100-150 for one outside of this community, nor is there a chance that they could collect all the art. Barry's pages are all over the place. I am surprised there was one collector for that whole Conan story.

Also, a separate note, I don't think Valiant needs projects like these right now, they distract from their goal of gaining momentum with their monthly offerings.

[CBurke76]

Well, I agree that maybe it's to early to do a project like this, but down the road could be a different story. I know if it's a quality product I would buy it. Personally I would rather spend money on something like that then a variant cover.