One Valiant title a week...how soon?

[Bl00dsh0t]

I would love to see one shorts featuring supporting characters that tie into the larger universe. The one that springs to mind the most at the moment is Cronus. I would love to see a flash-back issue of him escaping PRS and subsequently being captured by Bloodshot or a look at a previous mission.

Even if Cronus doesnt survive the Harbinger Wars I still think there is scope for this.

Additionally a one shot of Gamma would be very cool. She's a bad (now dead) character that demands a backstory!

[grendeljd]

So, this 2 week period without Valiant is made even worse by the fact that the drought ends with the 2 books I'm least looking forward to for VEI. No offense to the creative teams of Archer and Armstong and Shadowman, but they're no Harbinger or Bloodshot. X-O is usually below A&A (at least the last few issues), but I'm really wanting to see this X-O arc wrap up.

I must admit I was scratching my head over the switcheroo this month with the titles... Is there a story driven reason why we didn't get Harbinger Wars 3 this week as usual? I'm really itching to read that!!

[BugsySig]

So, this 2 week period without Valiant is made even worse by the fact that the drought ends with the 2 books I'm least looking forward to for VEI. No offense to the creative teams of Archer and Armstong and Shadowman, but they're no Harbinger or Bloodshot. X-O is usually below A&A (at least the last few issues), but I'm really wanting to see this X-O arc wrap up.

I must admit I was scratching my head over the switcheroo this month with the titles... Is there a story driven reason why we didn't get Harbinger Wars 3 this week as usual? I'm really itching to read that!!

I'm thinking we may be seeing some positioning for the fall/winter leading into Unity...whatever that is

[leonmallett]

Reading greg's post here from the million items printed thread, it made me re-think about the benefits of covering every release week. Although not about covering all the available 'slots', the comment about re-orders offers a very savvy reason for VEI to keep releases in weeks 1-3 of each month.

[Captain Craig]

I get that it helps boost the numbers, via re-orders, per book for total purposes.
I don't see where if a books "total per issue" straddling months is bad though?
Nor how that should affect having a title out in each of the 10 months that have 4 weeks.

I concede I may not be fully getting what you linked but don't see how it affects having a title each week.
I read it as just keeping the actual total per book, including re-orders, in the actual month it was released.

[leonmallett]

I get that it helps boost the numbers, via re-orders, per book for total purposes.
I don't see where if a books "total per issue" straddling months is bad though?
Nor how that should affect having a title out in each of the 10 months that have 4 weeks.

The totals will count to those top 300 rankings, and dividing the sales could harm the perception of a book's success or otherwise I guess.

I concede I may not be fully getting what you linked but don't see how it affects having a title each week.
I read it as just keeping the actual total per book, including re-orders, in the actual month it was released.

Again, sales rankings benefit. It is arguable that it is better to the best rankings possible; it leads to a 'good story', aids perception of VEI's ability to grow and succeed etc.

[Captain Craig]

Could you not shatter a misperception by simply going....here are the numbers. They are solid. So a few books totals straddle some months?

[leonmallett]

Could you not shatter a misperception by simply going....here are the numbers. They are solid. So a few books totals straddle some months?

I am not sure ANY comics publisher is totally open about their numbers; a lot of the numbers are extrapolations as far as I know.

It can definitely be argued both ways, but I am guessing that VEI have chosen their strategy quite carefully for reasons that may not be clear to any of us not involved in comics publishing, or subject to the processes of Diamond.

[Captain Craig]

Right now VALIANT has 5 titles, lets treat it like it's 6 since that's right around the corner.

The 6 titles are:

• 1. XO Manowar
  2. Harbinger
  3. Bloodshot
  4. Archer & Armstrong
  5. Shadowman
  6. Quantum & Woody

Currently XO & Harby come out the same week AND Bloodshot & A/A come out together. I think I have that right.
At any rate we have a week where nothing comes out, unless Q&W fills that spot. It could be lumped with Shadowman, which I think might happen meaning we have one week every month(two weeks twice a year in 2 months) that there is no VALIANT book on the shelf.

How long till that changes? I'm thinking the upcoming FCBD is going to have the news of the new ongoing titles but will those fill the weekly gap or be lumped into being released on the same day as our current books. Giving us more titles on our current "on" weeks and not filling the "off" week with a book.

Will those titles be:

• * HARD Corps
  * Eternal Warrior

I'm hoping so, that would be a great 4th week of books to pick up together I think!!!

Flashback and revisit.
We now have 8 titles and still we have a week within a month where no NEW VALIANT TITLE is hitting. Sometimes 2 for those rare 5 week months over the duration of the calendar.
The 8 titles are:

• 1. XO Manowar
  2. Harbinger
  3. Bloodshot
  4. Archer & Armstrong
  5. Shadowman
  6. Quantum & Woody
  7. Eternal Warrior
  8. UNITY

So what two titles are we getting this year?

• Rai (the almost sure bet this year)
• Ivar Timewalker (based on exposure in A&A)

At any rate most likely two titles, so will VEI still be clustering their 10 titles released into the existing 3 week rotation leaving a blank slot again in 2014? This empty week just makes no sense. The other smaller publishers who can, don't leave empty weeks with no new material.

This week is one of *those* weeks where we have no new VALIANT.

[Bl00dsh0t]

Rai and a Timewalker ongoing make sense though I do wonder if we'll see a new property spanning from Armour Hunters...I also think Valiant need a detective book: a more inner city crime focused drama. Dr. Mirage could do this and add a bit of the surreal.

Regardless of what they release 2014 is already a great year for Valiant fans:

- Armour Hunters mini
- Q2 mini
- Rai (pretty much a done deal)
- Harbinger #23 (death of a Renegade arc)
- new #0 issues for Hard Corps, Archer, Bleeding Monk, Goat
- mission improbable crossover
- Shadowman End Times 3part arc (40pgs)

Plus we've already seen an introduction into the 4001 timeline via Eternal Warrior #5.

[mateo107]

it looks like come April they're releasing Shadowman: End Times on the 30th, so there will be something shipping the last week of the month finally.

[BugsySig]

it looks like come April they're releasing Shadowman: End Times on the 30th, so there will be something shipping the last week of the month finally.

[Captain Craig]

Rai and a Timewalker ongoing make sense though I do wonder if we'll see a new property spanning from Armour Hunters...

I've had a similar thought on Armor Hunters.
What if, after reconciling with Aric these Hunters turn out to be a backdoor "pilot episode" for a cosmic corps type book for present day VALIANT?
It wouldn't step on the Psi-Lords future based team cop concept and it will be something present day and original to VALIANT.

So we are finally getting a book the last week of April with the Shadowman mini.....it's a start.

[Keith]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

[BugsySig]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

Awesome sauce for 4 weeks of VALIANT goodness!

Good thing Unity is out Feb 19th or I wouldn't be too excited that week. BS/HC and Q&W are at the bottom of my list right now.

[lorddunlow]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

Is it bad that my first thought upon seeing this was "that's great! If I drop Q&W, I'll still have two VEI books that week"?

[mateo107]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving

February's only 28 days so that doesn't count.

[hawkeyeps]

I had the question about the off week and asked about it, the answer was quite enlightening and made sense once I knew it but I never would have thought of it.

The reason for the off week is that it provides VEI with a cushion (that they have never had to actually use), apparently the Diamond system works on a monthly basis and if a book doesn't come out in the solicited month it becomes returnable for the retailers.

Having the last week open allows for an earlier solicited book to be a little late without becoming returnable. It's like a safety margin for VEI and Diamond.

Just thinking about this as I type but maybe a mini series that was in the can before soliciting could fill that off week without presenting a risk to the publishing plan, that would mean product on the shelf every week with no increase in risk.

[leonmallett]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

Is it bad that my first thought upon seeing this was "that's great! If I drop Q&W, I'll still have two VEI books that week"?

No; if you don't enjoy, vote with your wallet.

I feel conflicted; I am still buying Quantum & Woody out of loyalty to the line as a whole. Really, not a good enough reason.

[BugsySig]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

Is it bad that my first thought upon seeing this was "that's great! If I drop Q&W, I'll still have two VEI books that week"?

No; if you don't enjoy, vote with your wallet.

I feel conflicted; I am still buying Quantum & Woody out of loyalty to the line as a whole. Really, not a good enough reason.

I usually only give a book I have some loyalty to (creator, character, publisher) 1 1/2 arcs, or about 6 months/issues. I'm giving VALIANT books 3 arcs, or a whole year. So far, I haven't been disappointed with that.

Shadowman was wearing thin and the new creative team renewed my interest (I had to ignore those stand alone issues, but #0 and #10 were good enough to buy them some time). I was not the biggest fan of XO at first, but by the end of Planet Death, I was hooked on it. EW's first arc was so-so, but #5 looks like the beginning of something special.

The only title that's barely holding on from that strategy for me is Bloodshot & HARD Corps. Technically it's in only it's second arc now since the title change, so it's bought some extra time. Q&W better reignite some of the first arc's magic soon, too.

[Keith]

Actually, the full month love continues in March if the solicits stay true:

3/5 - Archer & Armstrong #18, The Goat #0
3/12 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps #20, Shadowman #16, Unity #5
3/19 - Bleeding Monk #0, X-O Manowar #23
3/26 - Eternal Warrior #7

So, basically, February thru April see us with zero Valiant free weeks.

[BugsySig]

Actually, the full month love continues in March if the solicits stay true:

3/5 - Archer & Armstrong #18, The Goat #0
3/12 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps #20, Shadowman #16, Unity #5
3/19 - Bleeding Monk #0, X-O Manowar #23
3/26 - Eternal Warrior #7

So, basically, February thru April see us with zero Valiant free weeks.

I can deal with that

[Captain Craig]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

Actually, the full month love continues in March if the solicits stay true:

3/5 - Archer & Armstrong #18, The Goat #0
3/12 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps #20, Shadowman #16, Unity #5
3/19 - Bleeding Monk #0, X-O Manowar #23
3/26 - Eternal Warrior #7

So, basically, February thru April see us with zero Valiant free weeks.

Things are shaping up nicely then once we are out of January.

I'm trying to wrap my head around the "books become returnable" cushion as explained by hawkeyps.
Why would a retailer return a book for being late? Would the store not likely have someone who still wanted them? Are we assuming since 'x' store was late that the customer acquired it elsewhere and the LCS would be stuck with unsellable stock(aka takes a loss).
Am I on the right track?

[BugsySig]

Looks like Feb. will be bringing us the full month loving (assuming the original solicits are still correct):

Feb 5 - Archer #0, Shadowman #15
Feb 12 - Eternal Warrior #6, Harbinger #21
Feb 19 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D Corps #19, Quantum & Woody #8, Unity #4
Feb 26 - H.A.R.D. Corps #0, X-O Manowar #22

Actually, the full month love continues in March if the solicits stay true:

3/5 - Archer & Armstrong #18, The Goat #0
3/12 - Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps #20, Shadowman #16, Unity #5
3/19 - Bleeding Monk #0, X-O Manowar #23
3/26 - Eternal Warrior #7

So, basically, February thru April see us with zero Valiant free weeks.

Things are shaping up nicely then once we are out of January.

I'm trying to wrap my head around the "books become returnable" cushion as explained by hawkeyps.
Why would a retailer return a book for being late? Would the store not likely have someone who still wanted them? Are we assuming since 'x' store was late that the customer acquired it elsewhere and the LCS would be stuck with unsellable stock(aka takes a loss).
Am I on the right track?

I would guess if a book is not released during the month it was solicited for, the retailer can either cancel/modify their order or return them due to lower sales/demand for a late book. Just a guess, though.

[Michael_Ayer]

Is there a consensus about what new title is coming soon? (other than Rai and the Armor Hunters)

Does anyone know whatever happened to Dr. Mirage? Did Justin Jordan just dream her up and then leave her?