UNITY #1 Discussion

[iwantvaliant]

I can understand the criticisms of this first issue and agree that Harbinger and A&A were both better than it this week. But I would say that they are only better because they are continuations of stories that have been built up for the last year and a half so they carry more weight and mean more to us. We should instead compare how we feel about this #1 issue to how we felt about the #1 issues of Harbinger, or A&A, or any of the others to rank it fairly. Back when we didn't know anyting but what that first issue of those other series had between the covers. It wasn't perfect, but I liked what was there and I'm eagerly looking forward to more.

1.) XO Manowar #1
2.) Archer & Armstrong #1
3.) Harbinger #1
4.) Quantum & Woody #1
5.) Bloodshot #1
6.) Harbinger Wars #1
7.) Unity #1
8.) Shadowman #1

I am also eagerly awaiting the next book. XO is not my favorite title but for me is the best #1. More importantly is how you would rank the second issues of each book, or the first arc of each book. But this is how the limited snapshot looks to me.

[BugsySig]

The first couple of pages make the food critic seem very important, but she disappears. Where did she go?

The Lost Land?

In the interview with Matt Kindt he said those pages were not in the original script, but they added them later to have an "Everyman" view and entry point for readers. That would explain why no follow-up in the rest of the issues, but I expect to see more of her in the coming issues. I would put good money on her obsession with XO leading to her playing a big role in this story at some point.

[iwantvaliant]

The first couple of pages make the food critic seem very important, but she disappears. Where did she go?

The Lost Land?

In the interview with Matt Kindt he said those pages were not in the original script, but they added them later to have an "Everyman" view and entry point for readers. That would explain why no follow-up in the rest of the issues, but I expect to see more of her in the coming issues. I would put good money on her obsession with XO leading to her playing a big role in this story at some point.

I hope so. Her absence was jarring.

Also, what's the deal with her and Ninjak having similar looking food? That couldn't have been done by accident, but I don't get the symbolism.

[BugsySig]

The first couple of pages make the food critic seem very important, but she disappears. Where did she go?

The Lost Land?

In the interview with Matt Kindt he said those pages were not in the original script, but they added them later to have an "Everyman" view and entry point for readers. That would explain why no follow-up in the rest of the issues, but I expect to see more of her in the coming issues. I would put good money on her obsession with XO leading to her playing a big role in this story at some point.

I hope so. Her absence was jarring.

Also, what's the deal with her and Ninjak having similar looking food? That couldn't have been done by accident, but I don't get the symbolism.

2 explanations:

1, the most likely, is just that the food they were eating (or given in Ninjak's case) is the national dish of Romania.

2, they look like boobies and are a hint that "Renee Rousseaux" is a pen name for Erica Pierce ... That or Matt Kindt is obsessed with boobies.

[jmatt]

We have been discussing what Unity can mean for months ... Erica Pierce, Rai, Far Far Away, Some grand connection between all the characters ... etc

And what we got was a continuation of an X-O storyline which is good ...but was hoping for more

I'm gonna have to agree with that. I was expecting something bigger. I liked it but I was expecting more wow. Good enough to get the show started, I suppose.

But who knows? I thought EW#1 was a little underwhelming but #2 was certainly better.

[BugsySig]

We have been discussing what Unity can mean for months ... Erica Pierce, Rai, Far Far Away, Some grand connection between all the characters ... etc

And what we got was a continuation of an X-O storyline which is good ...but was hoping for more

I'm gonna have to agree with that. I was expecting something bigger. I liked it but I was expecting more wow. Good enough to get the show started, I suppose.

But who knows? I thought EW#1 was a little underwhelming but #2 was certainly better.

You don't get the money shot in the first 5 minutes...Patience, young Skywalkers.

[grendeljd]

My overall thoughts on #1;

I really enjoyed the story thoroughly, lots of great bits & pieces, and very solid art. It would be easy to be underwhelmed by it if you let your expectations match the hype build-up surrounding it... which is the greatest danger in hyping too much, I think. I try not to pay too much attention to hype in general but its easy to let your imagination get the better of you especially when you really want something to be amazing.

The opening scene with Renee - I liked her description of the XO suit on the splash page, that made it feel so much more real to include the other sensory perceptions such as its sound, its smell. I think she is still just hanging around taking pictures from a safe distance. Also, good to see a little fleshing out for why that local town was abandoned in XO 17-18.

Ninjak continues to be awesome - love his tech, love his narration, loved the sneaking into the ship part. He continues to develop into a surprisingly interesting character.

I really liked the way Aric was presented in this issue - we deliberately don't see the story from his side, an interesting character perspective to paint him as a villain from the other characters in the book's perspective. Someone above mentioned the idea of XO joining Unity later as the Hulk of the Avengers - cool idea, I like that.

Gilads exposure to Harada's Harbingers was interesting… was it a true eye-opener for him? He raises his brow in one panel, I wonder if he has seen anything like them at all before? Loved the instant analysis skills he displayed in the war room & the little flashback panels.

I thought the weakest part of the book was the filler Unity team - they felt too goofy right from the start to take seriously. I couldn't believe Harada's dialogue, talking these people up like they were the top Harbingers in the foundation... but then, I think that was the intention here. I think it was always part of Harada's deep game to manipulate the real people he wants to use to get to Aric, and clearly he isn't beyond sacrificing the pseudo Unity team to convince EW, NJ & LW to work with him to get Shanhara. Seeing them get killed so easily was actually perfect, it would have been far more ridiculous if they had even gotten close to Aric, but I can believe that despite what Harada said about them he knew they wouldn't get far. They also merely served as fodder to test Aric's abilities for Harada to learn from.

Nitpicks;

1] The 'Keyboard Kid' outfit - that was beyond ridiculous, why a keyboard on his chest when he can download info organically in his mind? In addition to what I said above, the pseudo-unity team was actually almost too comical looking in their uniforms as well [shades of Secret Weapons there though, right?]. I'm curious about the impression that leaves, what would an absolutely-new-to-Valiant new reader think of that?

2] Gilad's outfit - same as in the first arc of his own book - which took place when? Some inconsistency for his look when we saw him dressed for the appropriate era & now we are seeing this outfit appear in two time periods.

All in all, its a strong character driven start & just part one of the arc. Solid effort, I'm looking forward to more.

[jmatt]

The opening scene with Renee - I liked her description of the XO suit on the splash page, that made it feel so much more real to include the other sensory perceptions such as its sound, its smell.

I appreciated this as well. It really drew you into the moment. And I have to say I agree with all of your points.

Good book, can't wait to see where they take it.

[lorddunlow]

The first couple of pages make the food critic seem very important, but she disappears. Where did she go?

The Lost Land?

She had to go help with the repair of a nuclear reactor in Muskogee, Romania.

[lorddunlow]

I thought the weakest part of the book was the filler Unity team - they felt too goofy right from the start to take seriously. I couldn't believe Harada's dialogue, talking these people up like they were the top Harbingers in the foundation... but then, I think that was the intention here. I think it was always part of Harada's deep game to manipulate the real people he wants to use to get to Aric, and clearly he isn't beyond sacrificing the pseudo Unity team to convince EW, NJ & LW to work with him to get Shanhara. Seeing them get killed so easily was actually perfect, it would have been far more ridiculous if they had even gotten close to Aric, but I can believe that despite what Harada said about them he knew they wouldn't get far. They also merely served as fodder to test Aric's abilities for Harada to learn from.

I think you may be onto something here. I never even thought about Harada using the Unity team to catalyze the formation of the actual team he wanted. That's definitely his MO.

[Peter]

A well written review Grendeljd, I really enjoyed reading it and found myself agreeing with many of the points you made.

"The opening scene with Renee - I liked her description of the XO suit on the splash page, that made it feel so much more real to include the other sensory perceptions such as its sound, its smell."

"Ninjak continues to be awesome - love his tech, love his narration, loved the sneaking into the ship part. He continues to develop into a surprisingly interesting character."

-I could not agree more with you in regards to the opening scene, this was so well done, I found this to be one of the highlights of the book, as I could imagine for a brief moment and almost smell what that description was like, and the sound made from the humming of the suit. This narrative blew me away in the previews of the book, and has not lost one bit of its impact on me now.

-Ninjak was a welcome surprise for me as well. I really enjoyed Ninjak's encounter with Aric in earlier issues of X-O as well, but his appearance in this book has exceeded my expectations, and now I feel so much more familiar with this character, which is surprising considering the amount of time we saw him.
Ninjak #1 could not come quickly enough for me now, and I found myself hours after reading this book thinking about his further adventures in his own book.

I was a bit worried that Aric may have dispatched Ninjak and immediately thought "No they wouldn't would they?", but the preview in the back of the book for X-O #19 soon dispelled my worry.

I enjoyed Unity #1 immensely and since it is a first issue, I was not expecting too much progression of the story yet, but was pleasantly surprised, well done to all involved in producing another quality first issue.

[hunter_peterson]

I thought the weakest part of the book was the filler Unity team - they felt too goofy right from the start to take seriously. I couldn't believe Harada's dialogue, talking these people up like they were the top Harbingers in the foundation... but then, I think that was the intention here. I think it was always part of Harada's deep game to manipulate the real people he wants to use to get to Aric, and clearly he isn't beyond sacrificing the pseudo Unity team to convince EW, NJ & LW to work with him to get Shanhara. Seeing them get killed so easily was actually perfect, it would have been far more ridiculous if they had even gotten close to Aric, but I can believe that despite what Harada said about them he knew they wouldn't get far. They also merely served as fodder to test Aric's abilities for Harada to learn from.

I think you may be onto something here. I never even thought about Harada using the Unity team to catalyze the formation of the actual team he wanted. That's definitely his MO.

Yeah, pretty cool theory there. Sounds like Harada's most likely move.

[jkingman]

I thought it was amazing. It draws people into the world with the human opening, the details, and I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Renee. When I first heard Unity, my immediate hope was Erica Pierce would be here finally. Then I heard it was about Harada getting a team to fight XO and that disappointed me. But I let it all go...Knowing they were aiming for first time readers, I tried to pretend I knew nothing about the Valiant Universe, so it was a great way to open.

Hearing the way she describes Aric, the power of the armor, in one page it recaps the main points of current events in XO, so it fills in the new readers while giving long time readers a new perspective on him and how humans feel about this space armor barbarian, the threat of Russia nukes...so the tension is set high and by page 6 you are fully informed and I was completely drawn in. The art...good lord...stunning. The coloring is beyond any other book out there, I think. And the way Braitwaite draws "power" in Aric's poses...the drama he puts into the panels...the special effects of XO's weapons, it's amazing.

Then it cuts to Harada and a down and out Gilad. He looks depressed most of this issue, maybe he knows this is a no win battle, that he can't let Harada get the armor, but can't let Russia nuke Romania so he needs Harada for that, and can't take down Aric on his own. I did think it was odd that when Gilad met the team of Harada's "best" that we didn't get to learn their powers, just had Gilad point out their flaws in thinking before the Captain gets out his second sentence. I do wonder why Gilad wouldn't push Harada for more Harbingers to join this attack, an army of psiots, attacking in waves...maybe that's the final resort plan for Harada...if all else fails, call the Renegades and everyone else? I feel like the story builds, now we have Harada as the "hero" (to new readers) and his psiot team to attack and Gilad reminds him that war is a slaughter, and that world war three hangs in the balance.

Then Ninjak. Some humor. Spy stuff. Harada is thinking deep about this. Then we see Aric from Ninjak's perspective. We see his arrogance and the skill that allows it. He can out think Aric in a lot of ways....
Unity team attacks, and hahahaha...awesomeness. New readers will have their jaw hit the floor, I'd think...and we see Aric defend his kingdom with ease.

What I didn't understand...why didn't Aric sense Ninjak until after the Unity team attack? Wasn't he linked with the ship before that, wouldn't he be on full alert with the drone attack??

Think I should mention how beautiful the art was. I'd be hooked. I'd be curious to know who this Livewire was, how she is the one who might stop XO some how. I'd be buying XO back issues. Not sure I'd be too impressed with Gilad if this was my first Valiant comic...but I loved it, lots of things happened and lots of seeds planted and I can't wait for more.
all my FB posting about it has gotten a friend who never bought a comic to want to check it out. he's in Denmark, so I'm trying to find the best way to get it to him...and can't wait to hear what he'll say. My 15 year old daughter just started reading Harbinger last month and loves it, so tomorrow she's going to read Unity.
(sorry if that's too long...I'm a noobie, feel free to point out my mistakes )

[jkingman]

I've had a feeling that Harada knows something bad is coming. And he wants the armor, not to take it away from Aric or to protect Romania, but to fight whatever is coming. So that's my hope on where Unity goes, that after Aric gets some beating and Livewire messes with him, then he beats them back...the threat will be revealed...Erica Pierce!!!

I have a lot of catching up to do on everybody's thoughts, but my hope is the "third born" psiot is Erica Pierce. Was Bleeding Monk activated? And a friend insists it is Archer.
Or the threat Harada might be worried about is the Vine...I don't know how massive the empire is, but it could be bad for Earth. So I wonder if Lydia will pop up as a threat or a food critic??

[BugsySig]

I thought the weakest part of the book was the filler Unity team - they felt too goofy right from the start to take seriously. I couldn't believe Harada's dialogue, talking these people up like they were the top Harbingers in the foundation... but then, I think that was the intention here. I think it was always part of Harada's deep game to manipulate the real people he wants to use to get to Aric, and clearly he isn't beyond sacrificing the pseudo Unity team to convince EW, NJ & LW to work with him to get Shanhara. Seeing them get killed so easily was actually perfect, it would have been far more ridiculous if they had even gotten close to Aric, but I can believe that despite what Harada said about them he knew they wouldn't get far. They also merely served as fodder to test Aric's abilities for Harada to learn from.

I think you may be onto something here. I never even thought about Harada using the Unity team to catalyze the formation of the actual team he wanted. That's definitely his MO.

Yeah, pretty cool theory there. Sounds like Harada's most likely move.

I totally agree. I think the VEI team even alluded to this in interviews saying Harada gets the members of the team to work together because they don't even realize they are a team.

[bygranddesign]

Hi JKingman .. I enjoyed your posts - great thoughts

I have a lot of catching up to do on everybody's thoughts, but my hope is the "third born" psiot is Erica Pierce. Was Bleeding Monk activated? And a friend insists it is Archer.

Peter and Darpan are definitely 2

Was Harada born activated ? ... or was it the nuclear bomb that activated him?

I think this has been an interesting source of contention/debate for awhile now ... but there could be others born activated it's just that Harada doesn't know about them .. or he just chose not to reveal that info...

In regards to Bleeding Monk ... hopefully we'll get some answers about his whole deal when issue #0 comes out.

And Unity definitely needs Erica Peirce ... or some incredible major new enemy/major conflict that can define this book for the long term

[BugsySig]

Hi JKingman .. I enjoyed your posts - great thoughts

I have a lot of catching up to do on everybody's thoughts, but my hope is the "third born" psiot is Erica Pierce. Was Bleeding Monk activated? And a friend insists it is Archer.

Peter and Darpan are definitely 2

Was Harada born activated ? ... or was it the nuclear bomb that activated him?

I think this has been an interesting source of contention/debate for awhile now ... but there could be others born activated it's just that Harada doesn't know about them .. or he just chose not to reveal that info...

In regards to Bleeding Monk ... hopefully we'll get some answers about his whole deal when issue #0 comes out.

And Unity definitely needs Erica Peirce ... or some incredible major new enemy/major conflict that can define this book for the long term

I think there has been some confusion, but when Pete is told he is one of 3 born activated Psiots, it's because Harada still claims to be one himself. He reveals later to Pete that he was activated by the bombing of Hiroshima, but everyone else is still under the assumption that he is one of the 3 along with Pete and Darpan.

We still don't know about the Monk. He could have been activated when his temple was attacked due to the stress of being impaled (that always gets me a little stressed out).

But 1 is an event, 2 is a coincidence, and 3 is a trend...so you know Harada is trying to figure out if born activated Psiots are a trend...

[Peter]

Nice review Jkingman, well done.

What I didn't understand...why didn't Aric sense Ninjak until after the Unity team attack? Wasn't he linked with the ship before that, wouldn't he be on full alert with the drone attack?

I kind of thought that as well, but I put it down to perhaps Ninjak had delayed the ship's warning by finding the "ship's OFF button" and/or Aric did realise he was there after destroying his decoy ship, but had to just concentrate on the most pressing threat at the time, thus somewhat helps also to explain, the need for urgency in despatching the Unity squad.
Perhaps he just eliminates all threats that quickly, but the narrative says that they were even surprised in just how quickly his armour could respond.

[BugsySig]

Nice review Jkingman, well done.

What I didn't understand...why didn't Aric sense Ninjak until after the Unity team attack? Wasn't he linked with the ship before that, wouldn't he be on full alert with the drone attack?

I kind of thought that as well, but I put it down to perhaps Ninjak had delayed the ship's warning by finding the "ship's OFF button" and/or Aric did realise he was there after destroying his decoy ship, but had to just concentrate on the most pressing threat at the time, thus somewhat helps also to explain, the need for urgency in despatching the Unity squad.
Perhaps he just eliminates all threats that quickly, but the narrative says that they were even surprised in just how quickly his armour could respond.

I think it took until Ninjak actually tried to tap into the ships computer for Aric to sense him. Just a guess though.

[Reber]

I'm curious - who designed all the electronic screen graphic elements in the book? They look awesome too, especially on the last panel of p17 with Ninjak in his stealth drone.

That panel was Doug, but we've been splitting the tech stuff.

[erwinrafael]

I am sure Unity would be a good series given the creative team involved. I am just worried on how this would hamper the X-O Manowar book. Venditti may be constrained with his stories because of the need to tie up with this "major" book. He may be forced to always follow the lead of Unity instead of making X-O Manowar stories that he always wants to write.

[Elveen]

I am sure Unity would be a good series given the creative team involved. I am just worried on how this would hamper the X-O Manowar book. Venditti may be constrained with his stories because of the need to tie up with this "major" book. He may be forced to always follow the lead of Unity instead of making X-O Manowar stories that he always wants to write.

This is issue is one of the most important aspects of the valiant universe.
The characters live in a shared universe, so the unity story HAS to impact what V ditti does.
But Rob is an amazing talent and I know he will continue to Make XO awesome.
Also not sure if it is common knowledge but VEI has semi-frequent writers meetings where all the dudes get together, face to face to plan out what is coming up. They just had one by the way. So be sure they took care of this.

[jmatt]

I am just worried on how this would hamper the X-O Manowar book. Venditti may be constrained with his stories because of the need to tie up with this "major" book. He may be forced to always follow the lead of Unity instead of making X-O Manowar stories that he always wants to write.

I'm under the assumption that after this initial arc that we'll see the team members face new threats other than Aric.

[iwantvaliant]

I am sure Unity would be a good series given the creative team involved. I am just worried on how this would hamper the X-O Manowar book. Venditti may be constrained with his stories because of the need to tie up with this "major" book. He may be forced to always follow the lead of Unity instead of making X-O Manowar stories that he always wants to write.

I bet Venditti helped co-plot this.

[greg]

I'm curious - who designed all the electronic screen graphic elements in the book? They look awesome too, especially on the last panel of p17 with Ninjak in his stealth drone.

That panel was Doug, but we've been splitting the tech stuff.