My VALIANT (all capitals, all the time and all that) story

siren3-4 · Post by **siren3-4** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:58:20 pm

Chiclo wrote:
Rufusharley wrote:
siren3-4 wrote:
slym2none wrote:
siren3-4 wrote:
X-O HoboJoe wrote:
Oh, they get it. They just don't want it.
like herpes . . .
Hmm... who would be the 'herpes' of this message board? By that I mean, who is it that no-one wants around, yet they always seem to come back, sometimes at the most in-opportune time?

-slym (it's a rhetorical question, folks)

. . uh oh . . . Space Herpe . . .

U sure that's not a hemorrhoid?
Well, it's not a tumor.

Ice Pirates tells me it's a herpe . . . a space herpe . . .

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:59:30 pm

Poor Leon... he tries to get back on track, and we (well, I) just de-rail it right away again.

-slym

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:20:30 am

I'll be posting about Timewalker soon to try again!

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:36:00 am

Good luck...

-slym

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:09:18 am

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 5:37:01 am

I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander!

).

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:51:07 pm

leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:22:44 pm

cobra_commander wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Shame on you, Cobra.....

Chiclo · Post by **Chiclo** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 1:00:32 am

leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Wait, what were we talking about?

Your cats?

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:02:12 am

Chiclo wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).
Wait, what were we talking about?

Your cats?

No, that is in every other thread.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:02:39 am

cobra_commander wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

No offence meant, mate.

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:03:08 am

Daniel Jackson wrote:
cobra_commander wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Shame on you, Cobra.....

Subtle Mr Jackson, subtle...

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:05:36 am

leonmallett wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
cobra_commander wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Shame on you, Cobra.....
Subtle Mr Jackson, subtle...

That's "Daniel" to you... only Mr. Jackson "if you're nasty."

-slym

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:08:40 am

slym2none wrote:
leonmallett wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
cobra_commander wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Shame on you, Cobra.....
Subtle Mr Jackson, subtle...
That's "Daniel" to you... only Mr. Jackson "if you're nasty."

-slym

Do ya think Mr Jack...oops...Daniel will notice?

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 4:56:29 am

I'm still trying to figure out if you got the 1980's Janet Jackson reference...

-slym

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 5:12:46 am

slym2none wrote:I'm still trying to figure out if you got the 1980's Janet Jackson reference...

-slym

Nah, way over my head until you latest post...

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 5:13:14 am

I had a feeling.

-slym

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 6:48:00 am

Timewalker 1-15 and Yearbook

Obviously I am missing the last issue (#0 oddly as these things go), but I thought I'd share my thoughts on this series.

The book seemed quite light in tone at times, even when darker elements were included in the stories, which to my my mind puts it in a corner of the VALIANT universe alongside the second Life of Doctor Mirage and Archer and Armstrong. The earlier issues of the series are an odd counterpoint to Shadowman, although Bob Hall was writing both. Whereas Hall's Shadowman reads to me as one long story of a hero's journey as his life spirals out of control, threatening to be overwhelmed by darkness, Timewalker is a lighter, more playful book, full of little hostorical winks and nods. It isn't the greatest comic book ever, and often feels to me that a great serial TV series could be made out of it (then again there were precendents if you take elements of Sliders and Quantum Leap). It wasn't original ceratinly, but it was fun to read for the most part. With the deaprture of Hall's writing 'voice' I feel the stories became weaker - there were good ideas, but some of the storytelling defied logic.

Also with all of the historical adventures that occurred, I feel not enough was played with in relation to the VALIANT timeline between the 90's and forty first century. An opportunity that could have been played with more in my mind. The rich historical elements of VALIANT's own characters (Gilad, the Immortal Enemy, geomancers, Aram, Maxim St James, Master Darque and Sandria, Aric and so on) as well as the furure timeline (the years of Harada jumping bodies, Rai, Magnus, the Psi-Lords, the Destroyer) were all elements that could have been tapped far more than they were. I hope if the character/concept is revisted (and I cannot see a strong reason not to in some way), then I would love to see these threads woven into the Timewalker mythos.

Now to track down that #0....

leonmallett · Post by **leonmallett** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:55:50 am

Time to update my Shadowman ovreview with my thoughts on the yearbook:

leonmallett wrote:...
Anyhoo, a few months ago I posted a poll as to what to read next and the convincing winner was Shadowman. Okay I had wanted to save the set to last as the few issues I had read (late teens early 20's issues) I had really been taken with in terms of cast, story and art. So following the result of the vote, I read Shadowman 0-43 (but not the Yearbook, I overlooked my missing that, but that should resolve itself in due course) over a period of a few weeks recently. I have taken in the last couple of years to reading comics in chunks or runs and have found this to be very satisfying, especially with relation to longer plot lines and in the face of ever mounting lateness amongst all publishers (can you remember when almost no comic books were late? - aaahh, good days). With that in mind I thought I'd share some thoughts with you guys (most, if not all, of whom were there the first time around). This isn't a synopsis, but my overview of the series' development.

The series began in a reasonably promising way. Having read later issues already, the beginning felt different, and not quite right. One factor in that was the spandex - it just didn't look right to my mind when compared to the leather jacket. Another element I preferred late was the modification to the mask. The initial art by Lapham suited the book however, and the stories I found intriguing, and certainly not typical superhero fare. Reading that early stuff though made me feel that those repsonsible for the book knew they had a solid idea but didn't quite know what to do with it. That feeling was compounded for me by the myriad writers the book had. Between issues 1 and 6 there are 9 people given story or writing credits. Not the way to find a 'voice'. To me the voice of a book is the tone, the rhthym of the storytelling, the dialogue, the pacing and all those things. With the arrival of Bob Hall I think the book found it's voice. When Bob took on the art (especially with Tom Ryder's inking), the book takes off for me in terms of direction, story focus, character development, seeing the world(s) that Shadowman and Jack Boniface inhabit and so on. The cast grew and grew, with seemingly minor characters coming back time and again. A larger picture developed, but as it did so the style of the book changed subtly. Pick an issue in the late teens and compare the art to the early 40's issues. The art becomes more and more expressive in the time between. The story increasingly highlights that Shadowman and Jack Boniface may share the one body, but they are not one in the same. As the book progresses Shadowman (the character) becomes wilder, increasingly atavistic. We are guided through a nightmarish world of this fictionalised New Orleans with crazy voodoo mixing with vigilantism, and Jack Boniface's gradually splintering and fragmenting sense of himself and his alter ego. It is a great, dark, ride. Silly at times, yes. Removed from the pseudo-science of the majority of the rest of line? Undoubtedly. But it feels true to the creative vision behind it, although I felt a sense of self-parody towards the end as issues hurtle along at break-neck pace until we are left with that cliffhanger. I am still wondering what Bob Hall intended with this - to leave the audience wanting more? To send a message to the owners regarding the changes that had occurred at VALIANT? Had he written himself into a corner he felt unable to get out of? Was he poking fun at the '1999 prophecy' which effectively acted to limit any real sense of peril for the character? Was he trying to communicate an essential truth of the character of Jack Boniface as he (Hall) perceived him? To be honest, I don't know. All I can say is that it was an exhilarating ride. One which I can't wait to take again.

Okay I read the Yearbook last night and right out of the box I am going to say I agree with something that has been said (more than once, I think) by ManofTheAtom - that a retrospective book focusing on past Shadowmen could work. Or at least one-shots and occasional mini-series when there is a good enough story to tell. The story read more like an adventure yarn than issues of Hall's Shadowman, and I wasn't overly impressed with Baron's story that filled in amongst Hall's run, but the Yearbook was competently handled and read better than his present day story. With the right writer(s) I think that flashback specials and stories could work in the new VALIANT.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:56:01 pm

Don't forget to vote!

And now back to the usual bullsh!t about Timewalker or whatever the f*** leon's been talking about

Chiclo · Post by **Chiclo** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:15:49 pm

cobra_commander wrote:And now back to the usual bullsh!t about Timewalker or whatever the f*** leon's been talking about

Cats. He keeps talking about cats.

cobra_commander · Post by **cobra_commander** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 2:22:42 pm

Chiclo wrote:
cobra_commander wrote:And now back to the usual bullsh!t about Timewalker or whatever the f*** leon's been talking about
Cats. He keeps talking about cats.

And fashion. Cats and fashion

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:24:46 pm

-slym

Daniel Jackson · Post by **Daniel Jackson** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 8:28:39 pm

leonmallett wrote:
slym2none wrote:
leonmallett wrote:
Daniel Jackson wrote:
cobra_commander wrote:
leonmallett wrote:I am still determined and will not be dissuaded! My will is strong on this matter (that isn't a challenge to post more crap like that, cobra-commander! ).

Shame on you, Cobra.....
Subtle Mr Jackson, subtle...
That's "Daniel" to you... only Mr. Jackson "if you're nasty."

-slym

Do ya think Mr Jack...oops...Daniel will notice?

He noticed....

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:12:38 pm

Hey, everyone else calls you "DJ." I figure, if it's good enough for them and you...

-slym