Anyone else underwhelmed?

[Carson]

I think they are respectfully updating 20 year old characters for modern times. They are doing a great job of it too. Patience, for this will all play out nicely when the spider aliens arrive and we have our first big crossover! (speculating there)

Look on the bright side, you could've been waiting for 25 years for a respectful film adaption of "GI Joe A Real American Hero" and instead ended up with a steaming pile of "Tanning Chatem whatshisname's crappy International Fighting Force". Duke and the Baroness used to date!? Where the hell is cobra commander?! How did this make 300 million dollars?!!! That ain't my GI Joe! Sorry, I get carried away.

So far, I'm much happier with the relaunch of Valiant!

It's easy when you compare it to the total butchery of another beloved childhood universe. At least Hamma is still writing the ARAH continuity over at IDW. And I LOVE the Cobra book by Gage and Costa. Best Joe comics ever. Read em. Start with the Cobra mini series where Chuckles kills ______.

So, I'm riding this valiant train until it derails or crashes (hopefully never!)

[SJS4]

I do want to say that I have noticed several people have complained (maybe too harsh of a word) about the "decompressed" storytelling in X-O. Personally I very much prefer this type of storytelling. The downside is that it takes longer to tell the story, but IMHO it, generally, makes for a better story once everything is done. Reading the older dialogue/narrative heavy comics can be painful to read IMHO (figuratively speaking).

[The Dirt Gang]

I do want to say that I have noticed several people have complained (maybe too harsh of a word) about the "decompressed" storytelling in X-O. Personally I very much prefer this type of storytelling. The downside is that it takes longer to tell the story, but IMHO it, generally, makes for a better story once everything is done. Reading the older dialogue/narrative heavy comics can be painful to read IMHO (figuratively speaking).

I mentioned decompressed storytelling in an earlier post but agree with what you are saying. I've really enjoyed the new XO. I've not been underwhelmed at all by the current run, if anything it's been better than what I expected, especially after seeing Shooter's Dark Key stuff. However, I can see how some might be underwhelmed after a decade or more of waiting. I think VEI is doing a stellar job - they brought me back to comics after at least as 7 year absence.

[FormerReader]

I do want to say that I have noticed several people have complained (maybe too harsh of a word) about the "decompressed" storytelling in X-O. Personally I very much prefer this type of storytelling. The downside is that it takes longer to tell the story, but IMHO it, generally, makes for a better story once everything is done. Reading the older dialogue/narrative heavy comics can be painful to read IMHO (figuratively speaking).

I mentioned decompressed storytelling in an earlier post but agree with what you are saying. I've really enjoyed the new XO. I've not been underwhelmed at all by the current run, if anything it's been better than what I expected, especially after seeing Shooter's Dark Key stuff. However, I can see how some might be underwhelmed after a decade or more of waiting. I think VEI is doing a stellar job - they brought me back to comics after at least as 7 year absence.

I agree. They brought me back after a 17 year absence. I will admit I grew out of comics back when I was a kid, but I want to support a company that I grew up with. I have very much enjoyed reading the new stories.

[etos45]

Just my two cents... first, I don't mind the "decompression". These stories need more depth to them in my opinion and I'm happy to have it. For example, the original X-O and Harbinger felt rushed in the beginning because the entire origin was pretty much issue #1. I like that they are taking their time with it. Second, as far as the total launch goes, I'm happy to say that the variants are the only complaint I have and I couldn't be happier about that. The stories and setup have been excellent. The only one I'm on the fence about is Bloodshot and I'm more than sure that it'll get better after a few more issues.

Plus, I want to make sure to say that the way Valiant has been treating its fans has been excellent! Anyone who uses social media and put the least bit of effort into it can win something from Valiant. Plus they are awesome with the communications and keeping the fan base excited (something that used to be a complaint around here).

[grendeljd]

as far as being blown away, most of us are cynical 35+ year olds. When we read the original valiant stuff, we were all young and impressionable teenagers. Valiant was something new. A shared universe? Real time-continuity? Dead means dead? These were all concepts we had never seen before and were groundbreaking at the time.

+1.

I really think the key thing is the age you're at - I love the classic Valiant stuff, but I was a teen when it all started. We're all more impressionable by whatever we get into at that age, because everything is still new to us. I still love the classic stuff when I re-read it now, even if some of it is a bit dated and/or not as good as I remember... but thats partly because I have inherent memories & feelings associated with reading them for the first time in my youth that well up when I look at those books.

I also think the point some have made about waiting for monthlies verses getting to read the classics all in a row whenever you want is a big factor in making an impression.

My thoughts on the decompression style of most modern comics are this - I stay positive about it even if the books read through faster, because the one great thing about it for me is that it allows the art to command the experience of the story even more. If it reads fast, maybe slow down and take more time to enjoy the visuals. Look for nuances of expression in what the artist is choosing to show you in each panel - its a key component of the storytelling. One of the major tasks of a comic artist to do his/her job right is to be able to tell the story just as clearly without any writing present. If you can generally figure out what is going on by looking at the art alone without it having to be explained in excessive speech bubbles, then you are looking at a skilled artist at work.

Just MHO

[jmatt]

I really think the key thing is the age you're at - I love the classic Valiant stuff, but I was a teen when it all started. We're all more impressionable by whatever we get into at that age, because everything is still new to us.

Well, it's also true that people look back on things they enjoyed in the past and remember them being better than they actually were. It's kind of "The Good Old Days" syndrome; nostalgia.

Your mind enhances the things you liked and somewhat represses the things you didn't. As a cognitive bias, it's sometimes referred to as "rosy retrospection"; and if you were young when you first experienced it there's an additional bias called a "reminiscence bump".

I'm not a psychologist, I just play one on Wikipedia.

[Aram]

If you are underwhelmed (which i have been with XO so far) while there is universal praise, it is more a reflection on the industry as a whole today. I try to compare the new launch with other shared universes so as to avoid the pitfall of comparing to say Saga or TWD or even Vertigo books.

That right there is probably why I'm not blown away so far... as most of the last 6 things I have read other than the new VEI were exactly that... Saga, TWD and 3 Vertigo Titles... the other was Chew.

[Newton]

I am curious how many people in the 'I am disappointed' camp have actually re-read their Valiant collection recently? I am a little over half through all of mine (on Shadowman atm). The VH1 stuff holds up as great reads still for the most part, but as someone reading both at the same time I feel the new books stack up VERY well.

[400yrs]

I am curious how many people in the 'I am disappointed' camp have actually re-read their Valiant collection recently? I am a little over half through all of mine (on Shadowman atm). The VH1 stuff holds up as great reads still for the most part, but as someone reading both at the same time I feel the new books stack up VERY well.

I've been re-reading too and I feel the same.

[The Dirt Gang]

I am curious how many people in the 'I am disappointed' camp have actually re-read their Valiant collection recently? I am a little over half through all of mine (on Shadowman atm). The VH1 stuff holds up as great reads still for the most part, but as someone reading both at the same time I feel the new books stack up VERY well.

I'd say better at some times. I was never a huge Harbinger fan. I didn't read it when it was coming out, I read it much later. I might feel differently if I read it as a teen but personally I feel the current run is much better.

[kevinbastos]

I am curious how many people in the 'I am disappointed' camp have actually re-read their Valiant collection recently? I am a little over half through all of mine (on Shadowman atm). The VH1 stuff holds up as great reads still for the most part, but as someone reading both at the same time I feel the new books stack up VERY well.

I'd say better at some times. I was never a huge Harbinger fan. I didn't read it when it was coming out, I read it much later. I might feel differently if I read it as a teen but personally I feel the current run is much better.

I keep saying that Harbinger did NOT age well. It's tough to read anything twenty years later - AND try to affix the vision of a teen at the time. In the nineties, I felt it was gold. Now, I look at it like Star Wars - which I love. Great story, but slipshod storytelling/dialogue.

[grendeljd]

I really think the key thing is the age you're at - I love the classic Valiant stuff, but I was a teen when it all started. We're all more impressionable by whatever we get into at that age, because everything is still new to us.

Well, it's also true that people look back on things they enjoyed in the past and remember them being better than they actually were. It's kind of "The Good Old Days" syndrome; nostalgia.

Your mind enhances the things you liked and somewhat represses the things you didn't. As a cognitive bias, it's sometimes referred to as "rosy retrospection"; and if you were young when you first experienced it there's an additional bias called a "reminiscence bump".

I'm not a psychologist, I just play one on Wikipedia.

Heh. It's a one-two psychological punch in the face, isn't it? I'm certainly a sucker for nostalgia in general

Also, jmatt - it sounds like you would be a psychologist suffering from the 'Google Effect' listed in that link!

[400yrs]

I am curious how many people in the 'I am disappointed' camp have actually re-read their Valiant collection recently? I am a little over half through all of mine (on Shadowman atm). The VH1 stuff holds up as great reads still for the most part, but as someone reading both at the same time I feel the new books stack up VERY well.

I'd say better at some times. I was never a huge Harbinger fan. I didn't read it when it was coming out, I read it much later. I might feel differently if I read it as a teen but personally I feel the current run is much better.

I keep saying that Harbinger did NOT age well. It's tough to read anything twenty years later - AND try to affix the vision of a teen at the time. In the nineties, I felt it was gold. Now, I look at it like Star Wars - which I love. Great story, but slipshod storytelling/dialogue.

Yep. It was good for the time and still is good for nostalgia, but it reads like an X-Men rip.