Confirmed: Valiant Ending Unity

[Ras the future fan]

I am absolutely not buying this book other than from the discount bin. This will be the first VEI book I don't buy off the rack. I don't need $5 of Owly or whatever.

This book is a failure. And it's demise will be a super-premium laugh-fest celebration? Whose idea was that?

This also underscores the futility of a zillion #1 variants. I am so glad I didn't buy into that.

They shoulda just yanked Kindt off this 10 issues ago and tried to save it.

All great points, Jmatt. I will pick it up for 50% off through the DCBS monthly bundle and that is only because it is part of the bundle package. What a sad ending to a title that held a lot of promise. Unfortunately, I did fall for the one zillion #1 variants for this book and I collected them all, even all the retailer variants.

Here we are three years into the reboot and there is only one title in the 40's. Harbinger Omegas and Imperium should have continued under the Harbinger label. Why can't we get a glimpse every now and then to see what the Harbinger kids are doing, while telling the Harada story too?

Mkb28

Imperium is its own beast from Harbinger, but Bloodshot should've continued at #26, there was no reason to re-number that book.

[Moots]

I have not kept up with Unity after the silk arc. Its not like i wanted to keep up anyway. Honstly i think Unity would have worked best as a event that would have ended with issue #4. And seeing the title end this way kinda saddens me.

[lorddunlow]

This is what comes of using a fondly remembered title of an awesome event and using it for some retread team crap that you hail as "something never before done in comics".

Sad.

[mkb28]

I am absolutely not buying this book other than from the discount bin. This will be the first VEI book I don't buy off the rack. I don't need $5 of Owly or whatever.

This book is a failure. And it's demise will be a super-premium laugh-fest celebration? Whose idea was that?

This also underscores the futility of a zillion #1 variants. I am so glad I didn't buy into that.

They shoulda just yanked Kindt off this 10 issues ago and tried to save it.

All great points, Jmatt. I will pick it up for 50% off through the DCBS monthly bundle and that is only because it is part of the bundle package. What a sad ending to a title that held a lot of promise. Unfortunately, I did fall for the one zillion #1 variants for this book and I collected them all, even all the retailer variants.

Here we are three years into the reboot and there is only one title in the 40's. Harbinger Omegas and Imperium should have continued under the Harbinger label. Why can't we get a glimpse every now and then to see what the Harbinger kids are doing, while telling the Harada story too?

Mkb28

Imperium is its own beast from Harbinger, but Bloodshot should've continued at #26, there was no reason to re-number that book.

Totally agree with Bloodshot.

Mkb28

[jeremycoe]

I am absolutely not buying this book other than from the discount bin. This will be the first VEI book I don't buy off the rack. I don't need $5 of Owly or whatever.

This book is a failure. And it's demise will be a super-premium laugh-fest celebration? Whose idea was that?

This also underscores the futility of a zillion #1 variants. I am so glad I didn't buy into that.

They shoulda just yanked Kindt off this 10 issues ago and tried to save it.

All great points, Jmatt. I will pick it up for 50% off through the DCBS monthly bundle and that is only because it is part of the bundle package. What a sad ending to a title that held a lot of promise. Unfortunately, I did fall for the one zillion #1 variants for this book and I collected them all, even all the retailer variants.

Here we are three years into the reboot and there is only one title in the 40's. Harbinger Omegas and Imperium should have continued under the Harbinger label. Why can't we get a glimpse every now and then to see what the Harbinger kids are doing, while telling the Harada story too?

Mkb28

Imperium is its own beast from Harbinger, but Bloodshot should've continued at #26, there was no reason to re-number that book.

How long does a book need to not be published before it should have a new #1? This wasn't exactly Marvel or DC publishing issue 'X' of a comic one month and then a new #1 the next.

[nycjadie]

In all fairness, the point of Unity was less about a team, and more about Disunity. Not sure that read well as the series progressed.

I think the rebooting will eventually hurt fans, especially new ones. It gets confusing to know the progression without a flow chart. Take X-Men. Where does a new fan start? What is the chief book?

[Dallow Spicer1]

I am absolutely not buying this book other than from the discount bin. This will be the first VEI book I don't buy off the rack. I don't need $5 of Owly or whatever..

This also underscores the futility of a zillion #1 variants. I am so glad I didn't buy into that.

This is kind of what I meant in my earlier post, the zillion variants and the big launch eventually ends up with this bizarre ending. As we're a couple of years down the line and we've seen Harbinger, A&A etc end then we must assume the same with Bloodshot Reborn, Ninjak in the future. And for this reason I think the huge launches based on a zillion variants will soon become something people no longer wish to participate in. I'm not saying they won't buy the comics but they won't go big on multiple variants, exclusives and so.

[Captain Craig]

I am absolutely not buying this book other than from the discount bin. This will be the first VEI book I don't buy off the rack. I don't need $5 of Owly or whatever.

This book is a failure. And it's demise will be a super-premium laugh-fest celebration? Whose idea was that?

This also underscores the futility of a zillion #1 variants. I am so glad I didn't buy into that.

They shoulda just yanked Kindt off this 10 issues ago and tried to save it.

All great points, Jmatt. I will pick it up for 50% off through the DCBS monthly bundle and that is only because it is part of the bundle package. What a sad ending to a title that held a lot of promise. Unfortunately, I did fall for the one zillion #1 variants for this book and I collected them all, even all the retailer variants.

Here we are three years into the reboot and there is only one title in the 40's. Harbinger Omegas and Imperium should have continued under the Harbinger label. Why can't we get a glimpse every now and then to see what the Harbinger kids are doing, while telling the Harada story too?

Mkb28

Imperium is its own beast from Harbinger, but Bloodshot should've continued at #26, there was no reason to re-number that book.

How long does a book need to not be published before it should have a new #1? This wasn't exactly Marvel or DC publishing issue 'X' of a comic one month and then a new #1 the next.

Huzzah!!
I said that during the initial news and lead up to launch.

I'm really upset that VEI isn't instead willing to "do a RAI" and give the book a few months off, gather it's creative forces, then publicize the tar out of the new creative team and directions. Shouting from the rooftops "BOLD NEW DIRECTION FOR UNITY STARTS HERE...#26".

[CongoBill]

I'm a bit disappointed by this. Wish they would've tried to put a new creative team on the book. Focus on publicizing a new direction coming out of recent events.

I'm really, really not stoked about this "all comedy", break the 4th wall type humor I see in that link.

I agree. I've enjoyed the whole run of Unity and am sorry to see it go. And the humorous send off? Well, I'll check it out but superhero parody/satire is not my favorite genre (with a few exceptions, of course).

[Keith]

This doesn't seem any different to me than the other #25s we've experienced. A final story by Kindt, and then the shorter vignettes. Not sure the mad beef against this, aside from dissatisfaction by some as to how Unity turned out.

[iggy101us]

Here's a sneak preview of the Unity #25 variant cover . . .

SPOILER BELOW

























Imp-Unity Gender Is Not Absolute Variant cover

[jeremycoe]

I am absolutely not buying this book other than from the discount bin. This will be the first VEI book I don't buy off the rack. I don't need $5 of Owly or whatever.

This book is a failure. And it's demise will be a super-premium laugh-fest celebration? Whose idea was that?

This also underscores the futility of a zillion #1 variants. I am so glad I didn't buy into that.

They shoulda just yanked Kindt off this 10 issues ago and tried to save it.

All great points, Jmatt. I will pick it up for 50% off through the DCBS monthly bundle and that is only because it is part of the bundle package. What a sad ending to a title that held a lot of promise. Unfortunately, I did fall for the one zillion #1 variants for this book and I collected them all, even all the retailer variants.

Here we are three years into the reboot and there is only one title in the 40's. Harbinger Omegas and Imperium should have continued under the Harbinger label. Why can't we get a glimpse every now and then to see what the Harbinger kids are doing, while telling the Harada story too?

Mkb28

Imperium is its own beast from Harbinger, but Bloodshot should've continued at #26, there was no reason to re-number that book.

How long does a book need to not be published before it should have a new #1? This wasn't exactly Marvel or DC publishing issue 'X' of a comic one month and then a new #1 the next.

Huzzah!!
I said that during the initial news and lead up to launch.

I'm really upset that VEI isn't instead willing to "do a RAI" and give the book a few months off, gather it's creative forces, then publicize the tar out of the new creative team and directions. Shouting from the rooftops "BOLD NEW DIRECTION FOR UNITY STARTS HERE...#26".

I'm not disagreeing, but if they did that they would have folks complaining about the publishing gaps like they are with Rai. At least with Rai the purpose is to keep the same creative team on it. I would like a Unity #26 and 27,28,... but I don't think it's in VEI's best interest to keep this book going how it is currently.

[Phoenix8008]

This doesn't seem any different to me than the other #25s we've experienced. A final story by Kindt, and then the shorter vignettes. Not sure the mad beef against this, aside from dissatisfaction by some as to how Unity turned out.

From what I read of the linked article, it sounds like the main final story is the comedy spectacular, not just the vignettes. I could understand that for Q&W or A&A, but that's never been Unity's tone. If it turns out to be just the smaller stories that are the weird humor, then I'll be okay with it, but I hope it's not the main story as well.

[nycjadie]

The article states "all comedy special" and "oversized anthology of wall-to-wall humor."

I'm not a huge fan of this idea (at all), but I do like Michael Kupperman. Great creator. I'd be interested to see what he does with the Valiant Universe from a novelty standpoint.

[ShadowTuga]

Well, given the fact that 75% of the main team members have their own ongoings soon, the book lost a bit of it's Importance to the VEIverse. I never lost interest in it, and I actually liked very much all of the individual issues that so many of you disliked, so I may be the minority- again.
I will miss having a book that is the center of the universe. Maybe Imperium fills that role now.

[Bl00dsh0t]

I hope we get a new team book - and one that is actually a 'team' at some stage from Valiant. Judging by BOD they are sticking with a Unity incarnation of some sort given the different variations of the make-up we've been privy to. I honestly thought Unity would continue in a similar fashion to XO with a change of roster after #25 but alas this is not to be. Surely Secret Weapons takes over next year? fingers crossed.

As for this comedy special...I'm probably going to skip it having mulled over it for a little while. Unity ends at #24 for me, on what I hope, will be a high point. I like Asmus and think he can do good things in the last 2 issues of the series.

[Tony_H]

Contrary to what seems to be the majority opinion, I'm sorry to see Unity end. Up until Warmonger appeared, I looked forward to every issue. I rather liked the personality-profile issues in particular. The company's decision to tack on a humorous denouement to the entire series seems a bit melancholy.

As a general rule, I'm a Kindt fan, but the Warmonger arc was the worst storyline I've seen him write. I wondered if it was a hastily-drawn replacement to cover the issues he'd earlier planned Divinity to occupy.

[Keith]

This doesn't seem any different to me than the other #25s we've experienced. A final story by Kindt, and then the shorter vignettes. Not sure the mad beef against this, aside from dissatisfaction by some as to how Unity turned out.

From what I read of the linked article, it sounds like the main final story is the comedy spectacular, not just the vignettes. I could understand that for Q&W or A&A, but that's never been Unity's tone. If it turns out to be just the smaller stories that are the weird humor, then I'll be okay with it, but I hope it's not the main story as well.

This is the bit that makes me think that the main part by Kindt is serious, and the rest is comedy:

New York Times best-selling writer and Valiant superstar Matt Kindt presents the final chapter of his acclaimed two-year run on Valiant’s premier superteam…and then all-out chaos ensues as Valiant says goodbye and passes the reins to an all-star line-up of writers, artists, and humorists to chronicle the unusual, the offbeat, and the never-before-seen tales of the team that became a legend in their own time…the one and only Unity!

But who can say.

[jmatt]

This thread inspired me to write a pre-mortem in the Published Issue Discussion section. It's whiny.

[mateo107]

Sorry to say, this is a really disappointing end to this series. If Valiant wanted to make an all-comedy book, they could have just made a one-shot at anytime. Unfortunately, the last year of Unity has been pretty underwhelming, and this is a sadly fitting ending to the series. More than anything, I'm sorry to see the wasted potential, I wish this would have been their "Avengers" book, and I'd have liked to see it go out with a world-shattering bang.

[depluto]

I'll give it a shot. I like funny things.

[Shadowman99]

I think this is a sad ending for Unity. The book started strong with VEI pushing the hell out of it as their first team book 'with a difference' (whatever that was supposed to mean), and it looks as though it's going on to a very mediocre ending with a bizarre money shot to finish the run off in the form of this all-comedy issue: not something that's fitting for the Unity book at all

I've enjoyed Unity in its entirety up until the Warmonger arc, and always hoped the book would become an XO-style longrunning central pillar in the VEI universe, with roster changes occurring periodically to keep things fresh. As it is, I see ending Unity as a sorely missed opportunity for the company to have had this book featuring key events in the Universe with events in other books spiralling out of them, such as with XO/Unity/Armour Hunters. Also, with the series' 'heritage' title, it seems a sad throwback to a fondly remembered past Valiant event that ultimately failed to live up to the stature of its previous incarnation. Why can't a new 'Unity' team be formed as a result of the events of Book of Death, with Gilad, New Geomancer (forgot her name, Tama or something), Livewire and one or two others comprising the new team for the continuation of the book? That would have been far better than this fizzle-out ending that's transpiring. New writer as well - it's clear Kindt has run out of steam for this one.

Also, Bloodshot should have definitely continued its first series numbering into, what would it have been currently, #30(?), even with the addition of 'Reborn' to the title. Harbinger could have easily done the same thing, as Harbinger: Imperium as a continuation of the story, even if the Renegades were absent from the story for a while as they have been.

Sad to see the end of this one, it could have been great...

[BugsySig]

Surely Secret Weapons takes over next year? fingers crossed.

[hunter_peterson]

Well, that was expected. They should get FVL to relaunch it down the line. He'd have the vision this series needs and it'd give him somewhere to establish and maintain continuity for the whole line.

Overall, I enjoyed this series, but it lacked consistency and core themes. I think it would have been better in a seasonal miniseries model, as a blockbuster event whenever it happens. You could just have Unity be a part of the universe without an ongoing. Bit of a missed opportunity...

[jmatt]

Surely Secret Weapons takes over next year? fingers crossed.

Have we learned nothing from thinking that re-using an old book title will help a new launch? Secret Weapons sucked way back when; I view it as more of an anchor around a new title's neck than a life preserver.

People like new stuff. Divinity proved that.