Dynamite Comics is releasing new Gold Key comics....

[leonmallett]

This feels like a chess game in which VEI is now losing

How so? Really don't see it that way - the GK characters have been in very specific ownership for a long time, licensed on two (maybe now three) occasions in the interim.

VEI are managing to publish consistently (something DE struggle with massively).

VEI's per issue sales numbers seem to be stablilising, while as the line gorws, so it seems may overall sales.

Dynamite signs two big valiant writers to write for the GK3 characters which gives it a sense of legitimacy that this is somehow what VEI wants to happen...

To whom? it could be coincidence, it may not. But if DE were only pandering tot he VEI audience, they would be making a mistake; they need to appeal to whichever readers they can. Van Lente and Waid have had some recent hits, Pak had soime big success at Marvel. I don't think the choices are directed at VEI, but i could be very wrong.

I'd rather see Dynamite fail miserably with these characters ... and for VEI to eventually buy the characters back and bring them into the universe properly ... and not through some superficial crossover

DH using Gold Key characters failed; VEI did not buy them then. To buy them they have to be for sale, and that has not been the case has it?

[greg]

This feels like a chess game in which VEI is now losing

I see the opposite.

VEI has the Valiant universe. No denying it... VEI is Valiant.

Dynamite wants to pretend Valiant things... so they go after the FAILED characters from Dark Horse (and they had Jim Shooter!), just because these characters were part of Valiant 20 years ago.

Dynamite... a company with 2.2% market share is doing all they can to 'pretend' Valiant... a company with 1% market share.

Dynamite is afraid.

[Donovan]

This feels like a chess game in which VEI is now losing

I see the opposite.

VEI has the Valiant universe. No denying it... VEI is Valiant.

Dynamite wants to pretend Valiant things... so they go after the FAILED characters from Dark Horse (and they had Jim Shooter!), just because these characters were part of Valiant 20 years ago.

Dynamite... a company with 2.2% market share is doing all they can to 'pretend' Valiant... a company with 1% market share.

Dynamite is afraid.

I just wanted to quote this post so that people have an opportunity to read it a second time.

Because it's just that good.

[Donovan]

As for the writers "jumping ship", I have sympathy for them. Writing is a hard gig, and you've got to take whatever is offered to you. As fans of these writers, I hope this gives them the chance to make some good coin, although I selfishly hope they also want to stick with their VEI books, as their VEI books are AWESOME!

[MoonChild]

This feels like a chess game in which VEI is now losing

I see the opposite.

VEI has the Valiant universe. No denying it... VEI is Valiant.

Dynamite wants to pretend Valiant things... so they go after the FAILED characters from Dark Horse (and they had Jim Shooter!), just because these characters were part of Valiant 20 years ago.

Dynamite... a company with 2.2% market share is doing all they can to 'pretend' Valiant... a company with 1% market share.

Dynamite is afraid.

Agreed.

[leonmallett]

As for the writers "jumping ship", I have sympathy for them. Writing is a hard gig, and you've got to take whatever is offered to you. As fans of these writers, I hope this gives them the chance to make some good coin, although I selfishly hope they also want to stick with their VEI books, as their VEI books are AWESOME!

Have they 'jumped ship', or are they freelancing at more than one company?

[Donovan]

As for the writers "jumping ship", I have sympathy for them. Writing is a hard gig, and you've got to take whatever is offered to you. As fans of these writers, I hope this gives them the chance to make some good coin, although I selfishly hope they also want to stick with their VEI books, as their VEI books are AWESOME!

Have they 'jumped ship', or are they freelancing at more than one company?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. From my point of view they are just freelancing at more than one company. I thought I got a vibe from someone above that they 'stole' our writers, and I was just riffing on that.

[lorddunlow]

What would Solar be doing in the new Valiant Universe?

Making me happy!

[bygranddesign]

To whom? it could be coincidence, it may not. But if DE were only pandering tot he VEI audience, they would be making a mistake; they need to appeal to whichever readers they can. Van Lente and Waid have had some recent hits, Pak had soime big success at Marvel. I don't think the choices are directed at VEI, but i could be very wrong.

I don't think its a coincidence that they chose FVL and Pak as two of the writers. I think they are GREAT writers but I also think it was partly strategic. They see how hardcore valiant fans are... They see that each of the titles are selling over 10K and they want some of that action. Fans are already talking about crossover possibilities... which gives it this air of legitimacy that it has some (or might have some) connection to the VEI universe

This is just my take on it for the moment ... i hold the right to change my mind about this as more info comes through ..

[leonmallett]

Finally, from a story telling perspective, what would they offer? The well of existing characters is not yet exhausted, and that is not to exclude whole-cloth new creations as an eventual possibility (not something I think VEI need rush into; they have plenty of strands of existing properties to work through first IMHO).

This is also how I see it.

Before Valiant returned, I couldn't really imagine a "Valiant Universe" without Solar.
Without Turok... sure.
Without Magnus... yeah, ok... that might work.
But I thought it NEEDED Solar.

Now that we're IN the new Valiant Universe... I don't see the need for Solar.

There are multiple aspects of the new Valiant Universe that make Solar unnecessary.
Solar was outside of time... the Faraway and time-arcs are handling the past/present/future.
Solar was infinite... Obadiah Archer has some mysterious "infinity" quality that Kay McHenry saw.
Solar could manipulate matter at the atomic level... Kay McHenry re-wrote the operating system of the universe.
Solar was all-powerful... so far, no one can stop the X-O Manowar armor.

What would Solar be doing in the new Valiant Universe?

All signposts of well constructed this new VALIANT universe has been.

It is evident that considerable care has been taken with this line (even within those books that divide opinion).

If you were to ask me as just one reader would I want: Solar, Turok and Magnus

or

(pick 3 from)
Armorines
Dr. Mirage
Dr. Tomorrow
Geomancer
Ninjak
Psi Lords
Rai
Secret Weapons
Timewalker
etc.

Then 3 re-imagined VALIANT-owned books would be what I want. Even those weakest of concepts historically have opportunities within them. Someone on this very board posted a great and very cool sounding theory as to how we could end up with Armorines; all in a way integrated into the stories we already have.

I am 40 years old, and I have a feeling about this line, its feeling of solid vision (even those aspects I don't care too much for), that even if just a pale reflection of what comics readers of the 60's got to enjoy with Marvel's birth, that is a kind of magic. They don't need the GK3 for that, they have done enough to win me over.

[Carson]

I'm fine with VEI not using them, because they're doing well with the fully licensed characters, but why is it that these characters are being passed around with all these publishers but VEI can't get in on it?

I don't think VEI licenses any characters currently. They outright own all the characters they are using.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

You're correct. VEI doesn't pay anything for their characters... they own them all.

Well, anything more than the upper 6 figures they paid at the auction and are probably still financing

[Heath]

Dynamite is not getting any of my money.

[pixierosa]

To whom? it could be coincidence, it may not. But if DE were only pandering tot he VEI audience, they would be making a mistake; they need to appeal to whichever readers they can. Van Lente and Waid have had some recent hits, Pak had soime big success at Marvel. I don't think the choices are directed at VEI, but i could be very wrong.

I don't think its a coincidence that they chose FVL and Pak as two of the writers. I think they are GREAT writers but I also think it was partly strategic. They see how hardcore valiant fans are... They see that each of the titles are selling over 10K and they want some of that action. Fans are already talking about crossover possibilities... which gives it this air of legitimacy that it has some (or might have some) connection to the VEI universe

This is just my take on it for the moment ... i hold the right to change my mind about this as more info comes through ..

I agree that it seems to be more than coincidence that they are using two of Valiant's creators. Perhaps they hope we will embrace the new books because of this. Yes, they are "freelancers", but I suspect that this is the project that got FVL to let go of G.I. Joe.

[etos45]

I'm fine with VEI not using them, because they're doing well with the fully licensed characters, but why is it that these characters are being passed around with all these publishers but VEI can't get in on it?

I don't think VEI licenses any characters currently. They outright own all the characters they are using.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

I think etos meant fully owned, but could be wrong.

You are correct sir! It was just a poor choice of words.

I think the argument is definitely there that VEI doesn't need the GK2 ( Turok), but they would add a LOT, IMO.

[leonmallett]

I'm fine with VEI not using them, because they're doing well with the fully licensed characters, but why is it that these characters are being passed around with all these publishers but VEI can't get in on it?

I don't think VEI licenses any characters currently. They outright own all the characters they are using.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong?

I think etos meant fully owned, but could be wrong.

You are correct sir! It was just a poor choice of words.

I think the argument is definitely there that VEI doesn't need the GK2 ( Turok), but they would add a LOT, IMO.

Nah, they are fine without! let us convince you good sir!

[lorddunlow]

I think the argument is definitely there that VEI doesn't need the GK2 ( Turok), but they would add a LOT, IMO.

[jaden_sai]

Dynamite is not getting any of my money.

+1

completely with you on that

[greg]

Just a quick note... these topics about Dynamite are in the General VALIANT Discussion section of the board.

Once the "new" of the discussion wears off, I'll move them to the NON-Valiant section of the board, where they belong.

[lorddunlow]

Just a quick note... these topics about Dynamite are in the General VALIANT Discussion section of the board.

Once the "new" of the discussion wears off, I'll move them to the NON-Valiant section of the board, where they belong.

Sounds like a great idea.

[Brother Darque]

i for one am very happy, i think the characters need new writers, they could benefit from that.

[Carson]

These ain't Valiant comics!

Does Dynamite make good comics? I'm asking in all seriousness, I've never read any that I know of.

[FormerReader]

These ain't Valiant comics!

Does Dynamite make good comics? I'm asking in all seriousness, I've never read any that I know of.

If VEI owned them I would buy them, but since they don't I doubt I'll pick them up. I guess I've gone from being a Valiant fanboy to a VEI fanboy.

[lorddunlow]

These ain't Valiant comics!

Does Dynamite make good comics? I'm asking in all seriousness, I've never read any that I know of.

I think the reason they jump from one IP to another so often is that their business model is essentially:
license long forgotten IP and make crappy comics out of it, make buzz about said crappy comics, sell enough to turn a profit, dump IP once crappy comic is starting to only break even. Rinse, repeat. Poor GK3.

[blujay]

Dang these could've been in VEI too I understand that Fred and Dino wouldn't want to spring for these characters given that they're busy building their own company but it just seems like a bit of a slap in the face to have FVL and Pak on these guys as well (not that they're contractually obligated or anything).

It's my opinion that these two and Mark Waid, are all in the top 10 writers in the industry. So I have no doubt that these books will be phenomenal. I don't know who Barbiere is though, but I'd be interested to find out. Maybe Dynamite would be cool and we get a cross company event

[mateo107]

Does Dynamite make good comics? I'm asking in all seriousness, I've never read any that I know of.

are you saying you've never read a Dynamite comic or you've never read a good Dynamite comic?

I think dunlow's description of their business model is pretty accurate, except they don't always license IPs, a lot of their books are unlicensed, like the public domain EBR (Tarzan, John Carter) and Project Superpowers lines. they usually have eye-catching Alex Ross covers, but the interior art and story are often subpar, IMO. the Last Phantom was pretty dreadful, but I actually liked Kings Watch #1. a characteristic of the company that annoys me, however, is that even when characters meet, there's really no concept of a shared universe; the Flash Gordon in his series is not the same Flash Gordon in Kings Watch, and same with the Phantom. Masks was a team-up of several pulp characters, but they weren't the same as in their respective books. even the Project Superpowers spin-offs don't read like there's any continuity.