HARBINGER: THE BEGINNING - Recolored Pages - SNEAK PREVIEW

[x-omatic]

looks great. Cant wait to see one in person.

[andrew]

So much gradation is lost with computer coloring and it really shows in some of those panels. Bummer. But I can understand why it has to be done.

[Todd Luck]

Wow, I knew I missed the old coloring on the Valiant books but I never realized how much. Part of the fun of the first couple years of Valiant were the orginal colors. I know there's some technical reason they can't use the originals here (even though some of those issues were reprinted in the 90's) but I wish they'd tried to make it look closer to the old comic. The modern McColoring I see on every comic out there now put on those classic comics makes me cringe. It just doesn't work for me. I'm glad I already decided to sit this one out.

Your loss... personally, I like a blue sky.

What did I lose?

I personally prefer old Valiant comics colored like Valiant Comics and not like the later Acclaim Comics, but each to their own.

[Elveen]

Wow, I knew I missed the old coloring on the Valiant books but I never realized how much. Part of the fun of the first couple years of Valiant were the orginal colors. I know there's some technical reason they can't use the originals here (even though some of those issues were reprinted in the 90's) but I wish they'd tried to make it look closer to the old comic. The modern McColoring I see on every comic out there now put on those classic comics makes me cringe. It just doesn't work for me. I'm glad I already decided to sit this one out.

Now I am just asking, and in no way trying to start a fight.

I kinda think we all should support whatever DNV is going to do. Maybe the old coloring way is better, maybe not. But if we ever hope to have new Valiant comics, we as the Val. fans need to support and do our part (go to our LCS and tell them we want one of these, then maybe they will order an extra one.)

I'm am not a rich man by any means, and $25 for stories I already have (not counting the new Shooter story) is kinda steep. But I feel the need to support whatever they are doing, (at least at first, so DNV can get started, then we'll see what I think). I just think that we need to help get them off the gorund then....... individually we will have to make a decision to support them or not.

Bottom line, I want new Val. stories. And the only way for that to happen is if DNV is financially (sp?) sucessful, and I have a small part to play in that.

This is just my opinion, and not everyone will aggree, and that is ok. It is just an opinion.

[greg]

Wow, I knew I missed the old coloring on the Valiant books but I never realized how much. Part of the fun of the first couple years of Valiant were the orginal colors. I know there's some technical reason they can't use the originals here (even though some of those issues were reprinted in the 90's) but I wish they'd tried to make it look closer to the old comic. The modern McColoring I see on every comic out there now put on those classic comics makes me cringe. It just doesn't work for me. I'm glad I already decided to sit this one out.

Your loss... personally, I like a blue sky.

What did I lose?

I personally prefer old Valiant comics colored like Valiant Comics and not like the later Acclaim Comics, but each to their own.

"Sitting this one out"... sounds like you've got to make a choice.

You don't. You can have it both ways. The old is there forever. But so will be the new.

The future of Valiant will be digital coloring.
It's 2007... hand-painted watercolors aren't coming back.

What is back is the early Valiant stories... Harbinger, for sure.
What is back is a new story by Jim Shooter.
What is not back is hand-painted watercolors.

If the thing that keeps you "sitting it out" is the digital coloring,
you might as well give up on the future of Valiant now. It's not 1991.

...and when you look at the originals, for all of their glory... they weren't perfect.

For example, a sky should be blue. Water? Blue.
A highway? Black. Those lines in the middle of a highway? Yellow.

The original art (by Janet) is FANTASTIC, and since I own some, I know that nothing
compares to the original art. But the printed pages didn't always show her skill.

It's like upgrading to an HD TV, but refusing to watch anything but VHS.

How does progress make progress without progress?

[cinlach@aol.com]

my problem isn't with the digital colors replacing the old hand-painted ones...i just don't like this particular digital coloring job.

will that keep me from getting the new hardcover? nope.

do i wish richard isanove or tom smith had been tasked with the recoloring? hell yes.

i figure it went down like this...

VEI wanted to re-release the harby books. they had full inks (or access to them) but didn't have the color pieces.

so what were they to do?

they probably contacted a few "old-school" colorists and then hedged their bets by also contacting some "new-school" guys.

what they found was that the old-school guys were signifigantly more expensive then the new processes.

also, given the extra freedom going digital meant for them, then chose this direction.

again, i'm not against the digital coloring on new valiant books...i just don't dig the pages posted for preview. they look flat.

if anyone on the boards was responsible then please understand, i'm not slagging you...just stating a preference.

i'm getting new harbinger material...who am i to complain?

[etos45]

I like the new pages, personally. The way I see it, I'm glad they did this. I already have a Harbinger TPB. It's nice to know (besides the new story) that I'm getting something different with my purchase. I like new, I like upgrades, and if I year for the "old days" and art and whatever, then I've got the issues and I've got the old TPB... and the blue variant TPB... and the second print TPB...

Either way... I think the new art will help draw in people that aren't into
"old". And that helps everyone...

Oh... and your losing of a loss... of losses. Y'know?

[Ryan]

I like the new pages, personally. The way I see it, I'm glad they did this. I already have a Harbinger TPB. It's nice to know (besides the new story) that I'm getting something different with my purchase. I like new, I like upgrades, and if I year for the "old days" and art and whatever, then I've got the issues and I've got the old TPB... and the blue variant TPB... and the second print TPB...

Either way... I think the new art will help draw in people that aren't into
"old". And that helps everyone...

Oh... and your losing of a loss... of losses. Y'know?

I agree both versions have their strengths and weaknesses, so the best solution is to have both

[jedimarley]

I kinda think we all should support whatever DNV is going to do.

Only support what you like.

If it's bad. F them.

If it's good. Support them.

But please. Lets not support then blindly.

We all learned our lessen with Zoom Suit. Didn't we?

[Elveen]

I kinda think we all should support whatever DNV is going to do.

Only support what you like.

If it's bad. F them.

If it's good. Support them.

But please. Lets not support then blindly.

We all learned our lessen with Zoom Suit. Didn't we?

But I feel the need to support whatever they are doing, (at least at first, so DNV can get started, then we'll see what I think). I just think that we need to help get them off the gorund then....... individually we will have to make a decision to support them or not.

I think that is what I said. I do think we should support them to get them off the ground.... then we can see what we think.

If it is lame...... then, I'm out. but I won't know if: I never buy anything, or, if they never even get a chance to put out their product.

but I agrre with you Jedi.


Again, just my opinion.

[jedimarley]

I kinda think we all should support whatever DNV is going to do.

Only support what you like.

If it's bad. F them.

If it's good. Support them.

But please. Lets not support then blindly.

We all learned our lessen with Zoom Suit. Didn't we?

But I feel the need to support whatever they are doing, (at least at first, so DNV can get started, then we'll see what I think). I just think that we need to help get them off the gorund then....... individually we will have to make a decision to support them or not.

I think that is what I said. I do think we should support them to get them off the ground.... then we can see what we think.

If it is lame...... then, I'm out. but I won't know if: I never buy anything, or, if they never even get a chance to put out their product.

but I agrre with you Jedi.


Again, just my opinion.

What I posted was more directed at everyone.

All I can say is 'You better knock my socks off, Dino' 'cause if it sucks..............................................................all bets are off.

[Second_Death]

Nice preview. Thanks Greg


I like the added depth and it is easier to contrast between objects. Is it better?..................not really but it gives it a "modern" (an over used word) look. I'm sure VEI feels that this change is necessary in order to make an attempt at appealing to today's comic buyers. Not to mention it is probably cheaper to use computer coloring over the alternative as cinlach suggested.

IOW, I'm still very much in.

[etos45]

I kinda think we all should support whatever DNV is going to do.

Only support what you like.

If it's bad. F them.

If it's good. Support them.

But please. Lets not support then blindly.

We all learned our lessen with Zoom Suit. Didn't we?

I've seen that Zoom Suit thing mentioned before... what is/was it?

Oh... and if it's bad... buy more... it can only get better, right?

[Daniel Jackson]

I've seen that Zoom Suit thing mentioned before... what is/was it?

http://www.superverse.com/

I like the first couple of issues, but the focus on "flash" and tons of variants ruined things after awhile.

[jedimarley]

I've seen that Zoom Suit thing mentioned before... what is/was it?

http://www.superverse.com/

I like the first couple of issues, but the focus on "flash" and tons of variants ruined things after awhile.

Issue #3 was ok................

[400yrs]

What I learned from Zoom Suit is that I love companies putting their first issue of a book on the internet. I read through #1 when he had it up. It was pretty bad and I knew I wouldn't buy a copy. I did buy #2 though, just to see if it got any better.

It was smart of him to take the #1 issue down from the website when he launched his variant spree. If anyone read it, the actual copies wouldn't have sold at all.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, Image puts up many #1 issues online. I've picked up on good books that way and I'll continue to buy them.

If I think something blows, I'm not going to support it no matter what. On the other hand, if it's a good book that I plan on rereading, I'll usually buy both singles and trades.

[StarBrand]

I'm with Elveen on supporting the new Valiant. It was a strong sign they brought Shooter back to script their first new story. I'm going to support them as much as I can assuming they're going to do a good job. Heck, as far as I'm concerned it's all aces so far.
"Give me the errors of enthusiasm."

[Heath]

So far, the only thing I'm mildly unhappy about is Bob Hall's name not being mentioned in any of the advertisements or the Previews solicitation.

[StarBrand]

That's a good point. Maybe they'll read your comment here and start including his name, though I guess there's not much time to do that. I'm sure they're on a learning curve on some of this stuff.
Speaking of Bob Hall, I've been reading some New Universe books from the eighties, and not only did Bob Hall do some work on the New U, but JJ colored quite a few of the books. So, JJ worked on all four of the 'Shooter Universes' as I like to call them... The New U, Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway.

[manningfan]

I like the VH1 look. I also am liking the new look as well. At least they stayed with the original theme of the book. Nice preview there Greg. It answered some of my questions without having to ask.

[Heath]

Even though I still prefer the original hand colored pages, we've got VEI releasing a product, a NEW VALIANT story with JIM SHOOTER writing it and BOB HALL doing the art.

I'm as happy as a little girl.

[jmpet]

Deleted

[ManofTheAtom]

I think it makes it look "more cartooney". The colors are flatter and "everything looks like what it's supposed to look like" instead of what it is: a comic book.

Hate to be a naysayer, but I am tired of "everything looking what it's supposed to look like"- this is definetly a step away from the art that is a comic book.

Bah!

You know- early Valiants didn't have the best artists on them, but every copy had that handmade quality to it... holding and reading one for the first time was an experience. Side by side, X-Men #171 blows away Harbinger #5 on many levels, but Harbinger #5 is still a better issue nonetheless... Valiant is more an experience of reading a comic book than anything else... that draws in readers.

Something is definetly lost when you "color correct" everything.

I must disagree.

Coloring it so that things look how they're supposed to helps sell the illusion that this is a world outside your window. It grounds it even more in reality.

[leonmallett]

Seeing the newer colours alongside the older versions I'd say both have their reasons for me liking them (in some ways the older painted colour looks more naturalistic), but my preference is probably for the newer versions. It also depends on what they will look like on the page, and what the paper stock is like.

I am also really looking forward to that new book smell. Mmmm!

[ManofTheAtom]

Seeing the newer colours alongside the older versions I'd say both have their reasons for me liking them (in some ways the older painted colour looks more naturalistic), but my preference is probably for the newer versions. It also depends on what they will look like on the page, and what the paper stock is like.

I am also really looking forward to that new book smell. Mmmm!

To this day my VALIANTs still retain their particular smell, heh (why is it that VALIANT's comics smelled at all? lol)