Eternal Warrior #8 discussion

[lorddunlow]

I'm ready for EW #9, maybe this is the title resuming when RAI goes on it's hiatus?

That's what I'm thinking/hoping.

The EW series could potentially be set exclusively in 4001, and toggle back and forth with Rai for one of the nine slots, telling their own individual stories but leading up to a crossover between the two. So we won't have Rai, but we'll consistently have a 4001 story told.

That would be a great way to do it. Hope VEI is a step ahead and making that happen!

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

[kjjohanson]

I'm ready for EW #9, maybe this is the title resuming when RAI goes on it's hiatus?

That's what I'm thinking/hoping.

The EW series could potentially be set exclusively in 4001, and toggle back and forth with Rai for one of the nine slots, telling their own individual stories but leading up to a crossover between the two. So we won't have Rai, but we'll consistently have a 4001 story told.

That would be a great way to do it. Hope VEI is a step ahead and making that happen!

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

Ideally, if this is the route they go, they'll eventually make EW a monthly and have stories in the present or other time periods when Rai is being published.

[Phoenix8008]

I'm ready for EW #9, maybe this is the title resuming when RAI goes on it's hiatus?

That's what I'm thinking/hoping.

The EW series could potentially be set exclusively in 4001, and toggle back and forth with Rai for one of the nine slots, telling their own individual stories but leading up to a crossover between the two. So we won't have Rai, but we'll consistently have a 4001 story told.

That would be a great way to do it. Hope VEI is a step ahead and making that happen!

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

Ideally, if this is the route they go, they'll eventually make EW a monthly and have stories in the present or other time periods when Rai is being published.

Or keep alternating the titles every 4 months keeping them both in 4001?

[kjjohanson]

That's what I'm thinking/hoping.

The EW series could potentially be set exclusively in 4001, and toggle back and forth with Rai for one of the nine slots, telling their own individual stories but leading up to a crossover between the two. So we won't have Rai, but we'll consistently have a 4001 story told.

That would be a great way to do it. Hope VEI is a step ahead and making that happen!

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

Ideally, if this is the route they go, they'll eventually make EW a monthly and have stories in the present or other time periods when Rai is being published.

Or keep alternating the titles every 4 months keeping them both in 4001?

Well, I'd like to see them explore a little bit of Gilad's past as well, which is why I suggested an ongoing. Unless they use flashbacks to flesh out the 4001 stories.

[Phoenix8008]

The EW series could potentially be set exclusively in 4001, and toggle back and forth with Rai for one of the nine slots, telling their own individual stories but leading up to a crossover between the two. So we won't have Rai, but we'll consistently have a 4001 story told.

That would be a great way to do it. Hope VEI is a step ahead and making that happen!

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

Ideally, if this is the route they go, they'll eventually make EW a monthly and have stories in the present or other time periods when Rai is being published.

Or keep alternating the titles every 4 months keeping them both in 4001?

Well, I'd like to see them explore a little bit of Gilad's past as well, which is why I suggested an ongoing. Unless they use flashbacks to flesh out the 4001 stories.

It's Eternal Warrior... when DON'T they use flashback normally?!

[grendeljd]

That would be a great way to do it. Hope VEI is a step ahead and making that happen!

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

Ideally, if this is the route they go, they'll eventually make EW a monthly and have stories in the present or other time periods when Rai is being published.

Or keep alternating the titles every 4 months keeping them both in 4001?

Well, I'd like to see them explore a little bit of Gilad's past as well, which is why I suggested an ongoing. Unless they use flashbacks to flesh out the 4001 stories.

It's Eternal Warrior... when DON'T they use flashback normally?!

I sincerely hope they make a point to bring the Geomancer back into the book as an important part of the mythos again. I *really* liked this bleak future story arc but it did feel as if some elements were stripped out of the story as a late editorial decision.

I'd like to know what's going on with Kay, she's in Valiant limbo right now!

[lorddunlow]

When they announced the Rai hiatus, this was the first conclusion that I jumped to.

Ideally, if this is the route they go, they'll eventually make EW a monthly and have stories in the present or other time periods when Rai is being published.

Or keep alternating the titles every 4 months keeping them both in 4001?

Well, I'd like to see them explore a little bit of Gilad's past as well, which is why I suggested an ongoing. Unless they use flashbacks to flesh out the 4001 stories.

It's Eternal Warrior... when DON'T they use flashback normally?!

I sincerely hope they make a point to bring the Geomancer back into the book as an important part of the mythos again. I *really* liked this bleak future story arc but it did feel as if some elements were stripped out of the story as a late editorial decision.

I'd like to know what's going on with Kay, she's in Valiant limbo right now!

+1

[yardstick]

That depends. Speculation here, but they may have a couple routes mapped out and be trying to see what direction is going to stick with fans. I think that with Rai and then Armor Hunters, they're going to get a bump in numbers this summer. It might settle down a bit after that, but hopefully will settle at a higher level. If that happens, then they might be good for that next wave of expansion.

I'm not even sure my observation is all that different from what publishers do most of the time. Perhaps none of them plot beyond the next arc.

But it just seems to me that with the Valiant legacy of impeccable continuity (Shooters date stamps) and the fact that they are trying to give readers a cohesive universe, that the road map would be more well defined. EW has been a mess, in this regard.

Back when I was running crews building subway stations in NY, we would have to follow a Critical Path Method; a master plan of dates, manpower, materials and substantial completion points that would have to be met so the next phase would kick off on schedule. It was literally a huge project map hanging on the wall to remind us every day that a clock was ticking and everything had to be where and when it was supposed to be to ensure success.

I can see where something like this concerning dates, issues, characters and plot points would be useful to people planning a comic book universe. I'm sure they have something like this but perhaps it needs to be more formalized.

Or maybe since its just comics, and they don't really know what the "endpoint" will look like, something like this isn't feasible. Sorry for rambling.

I think the lack of long-term planning across the line (versus by individual writers) can also be seen from Shadowman's publication.

Could an apparent lack of long term planning be what Shooter was indicating when he referred to them as "children"?

[yardstick]

I liked it to. I only know about Valiant comics for about a year. I only signed because it's a comics board.

[belated] We are glad to have you...

[Shadowman99]

I've just read EW start to finish this week, all 8 issues. Have to say, thought it was great.

I can see where a lot of people are coming from about 'loose ends' not being tied up. Both arcs read separately to me, as significant plotlines from the first arc obviously haven't been resolved. But having said that, I thought that both arcs on their own read really well. Also wondering what the decision about leaving plotlines unfinished was: Was/is the next arc going to continue progressing the first arc, does the second arc continue and the first arc is returned to later, or is there some other plan going on here? Either way, I can't wait to see more EW books and see how the rest of the story goes.

Also don't understand people's confusion about the 'Houses' and such from the first arc. I know there are explanations that haven't been made yet, but for all intents and purposes I thought the basic idea behind the Houses and their Swords at least was apparent as it needed to be for the story to make sense. Interested to have some of the gaps in knowledge filled in future issues.

So, overall I can't agree with all the 'hate' that's going for EW here, I think it's been a great read to date.


Oh, and I can't understand why people are so caught up in exactly when events from one comic happen in relation to events in another comic, in this case EW/A+A. To me it doesn't really matter if the events occurring in EW can't necessarily be placed in respects to time in relation to A+A, or vice versa. From memory, I can't even recall the 'current day' events arc actually even stating what year it's set in, let alone anything else, so without that knowledge, I can't even really care 'when it happens' in relation to A+A

Also, regarding the physical setting of EW's 4001 arc: As far as I understand, Rai's 'Japan' is likely isolated from the rest of the world, whether it's on the Earth's surface or whether it is actually floating in Earth's orbit somewhere. So the fact that EW's 4001 setting looks *nothing* like Rai's makes total sense to me.

Having said that, the Earth looks incredibly barren. 2000 years have passed, but regardless of what events have taken place between 2014 and 4001 in the comic universe, I'd have thought there'd be plenty of remains of previous inhabitation, such as skyscrapers and train lines, tunnels, airfields etc... It all looks incredibly natural, which I think makes for a very pretty setting, but is also a bit odd. So I enjoyed seeing the aircraft carrier stranded in the massive crater. I'll hope to see more remnants of previous civilisation in future issues of EW, whether they've adapted to 'current day' life or have been left to ruin.

Also, did anyone think it was a bit odd that a nuclear reactor was found and utilised, without any apparent accompanying structure around it? Like THE REST of the old nuclear power plant? And buried in the side of a crater no less. That was all just a bit "eh?" for me.

[leonmallett]

...Having said that, the Earth looks incredibly barren. 2000 years have passed, but regardless of what events have taken place between 2014 and 4001 in the comic universe, I'd have thought there'd be plenty of remains of previous inhabitation, such as skyscrapers and train lines, tunnels, airfields etc... It all looks incredibly natural, which I think makes for a very pretty setting, but is also a bit odd. So I enjoyed seeing the aircraft carrier stranded in the massive crater. I'll hope to see more remnants of previous civilisation in future issues of EW, whether they've adapted to 'current day' life or have been left to ruin.

Yes, something that seemed very odd. Surely the expansion of human population will be further outward across the world's surface.

Also, did anyone think it was a bit odd that a nuclear reactor was found and utilised, without any apparent accompanying structure around it? Like THE REST of the old nuclear power plant? And buried in the side of a crater no less. That was all just a bit "eh?" for me.

It hadn't occurred to me before I will admit, but now you say it, it adds to the 'hmm' thoughts I had (like over the reverse hold guns which was so illogical I can see little rationalization for writing that story beat).

In terms of world-building (issues 5-8), there were some good moments, but a lot of stuff just does not stand up to reasonably close scrutiny.

[Shadowman99]

...Having said that, the Earth looks incredibly barren. 2000 years have passed, but regardless of what events have taken place between 2014 and 4001 in the comic universe, I'd have thought there'd be plenty of remains of previous inhabitation, such as skyscrapers and train lines, tunnels, airfields etc... It all looks incredibly natural, which I think makes for a very pretty setting, but is also a bit odd. So I enjoyed seeing the aircraft carrier stranded in the massive crater. I'll hope to see more remnants of previous civilisation in future issues of EW, whether they've adapted to 'current day' life or have been left to ruin.

Yes, something that seemed very odd. Surely the expansion of human population will be further outward across the world's surface.

Also, did anyone think it was a bit odd that a nuclear reactor was found and utilised, without any apparent accompanying structure around it? Like THE REST of the old nuclear power plant? And buried in the side of a crater no less. That was all just a bit "eh?" for me.

It hadn't occurred to me before I will admit, but now you say it, it adds to the 'hmm' thoughts I had (like over the reverse hold guns which was so illogical I can see little rationalization for writing that story beat).

In terms of world-building (issues 5-8), there were some good moments, but a lot of stuff just does not stand up to reasonably close scrutiny.

Haha, I will admit, I thought the 'backwards guns' was rather funny. But I think any human that's not seriously challenged in some way is likely to find their way around the ergonomics of a rifle in the end, even if the operating mechanism isn't understood

But yeah, I liked the basic worldbuilding elements a lot Shame these little factors caused the gears to grind a couple of times!

[Talisman]

All in all I really hope they give Eternal Warrior another chance. I think the series can do very well with a new coat of paint and maybe some tighter direction. I am very sad to see it on hiatus and really hope they re-examine it for a return.

Don't worry they haven't forgotten about EW

Every week or so on social media they have been leaking art featuring Eternal Earrior from Cary Nord like this:



They certainly have something big lined up ..

I figure its either EW #0 or a EW Yearbook

That art get me right in the undercarriage.

[mkb28]

Just wrapped up the two trades and Volume 2 was more enjoyable for me than Volume 1. I agree with most of the criticism that it did not wrap up the loose ends and I would have loved to pick up Volume 3 right now and got the answers I needed.

I also enjoyed the artwork from Robert Gill and want to see more of his great work.

Michael
Mkb28