Valiant brings back chromium covers for Armor Hunters

[SJS4]

I'm excited about all the changes going on. I don't think Dino would refer to these things as a "series of right hooks" that they were patiently waiting to deliver if they were simply marketing gimmicks.

Its funny you say that, because at this point when i hear about something big being planned by VEI I DO assume it is a new marketing gimmick.

Harbinger Wars - Turned out to be not much of a war at all, just one fight that didn't actually resolve anything to do with Harbinger, but did manage to bring down the quality level of Bloodshot.

Planet Death - No planets died, nothing cataclysmic happened. It was a good story but the marketing/hype made a lot of promises that weren't delivered.

Unity - Really just a reimagining of Secret Weapons, but hey using the title for a book that in no way resembles the original story and in which the naming of the team doesn't even make sense sure sold alot of books/variants. At least for a month anyway.

Armor Hunters - What we know so far...lots more variants, new #1 issues (while other titles - some with the same character ad the new titles, coincidently - go on hiatus), and chromium covers.

Rai - More variants and introducing...polybags!!! Yay!

[lorddunlow]

I'm excited about all the changes going on. I don't think Dino would refer to these things as a "series of right hooks" that they were patiently waiting to deliver if they were simply marketing gimmicks.

Its funny you say that, because at this point when i hear about something big being planned by VEI I DO assume it is a new marketing gimmick.

Harbinger Wars - Turned out to be not much of a war at all, just one fight that didn't actually resolve anything to do with Harbinger, but did manage to bring down the quality level of Bloodshot.

Planet Death - No planets died, nothing cataclysmic happened. It was a good story but the marketing/hype made a lot of promises that weren't delivered.

Unity - Really just a reimagining of Secret Weapons, but hey using the title for a book that in no way resembles the original story and in which the naming of the team doesn't even make sense sure sold alot of books/variants. At least for a month anyway.

I totally agree their marketing hype was running full force in all of these instances. I'm definitely with you on the Planet death and Unity, but if you take away the hype and look at each product on it's own merits, you have a really great arc in Planet Death and an excellent new series in Unity. The hype machine isn't for us. I think we all need to realize that. They have us. We'll buy any crap they put out (I buy Q&W drawn by Ming Doyle - case made). This hype is to get new readers. If they come and like what they read, that can only be a good thing. If they come, but don't stay, at least VEI made a little more money to produce more comics, recruit more talent, etc. I don't see how hyping a book can be a bad thing really. I've learned to adjust my expectations when the hype machine gets going, and for the most part I avoid VEI's marketing for that very reason, as I'm going to buy it regardless.

As for Harbinger Wars, I loved the whole thing. I don't think there was a single misstep. At least as far as I was concerned. Bloodshot suffered from DS leaving the book and not being invested in the story Dysart wanted to tell. I may be wrong, but I don't think VEI was to blame for that.

Armor Hunters - What we know so far...lots more variants, new #1 issues (while other titles - some with the same character ad the new titles, coincidently - go on hiatus), and chromium covers.

Rai - More variants and introducing...polybags!!! Yay!

Not enough information on these yet to draw a conclusion. I'm excited about it. The Rai pages look amazing. No one is making you buy the polybag, the chromium cover, or any of the variants. So far the content has been awesome. Just because they are using marketing gimmicks (of which some I really like) doesn't mean they've abandoned quality. It's just another way to increase sales.

[The Noto]

I just really hope I don't have a problem getting these...

Armor Hunters chromium covers
X-O #25 Throwback cover
Rai Pullbox Plus

Any other variants I don't really care about. (I'll try to hunt them, but at my leisure)

[Shadowman99]

It's a shame that his writing skills don't translate into higher monthly numbers.

Unfortunately, very good creative ability often does not translate to popularity. How many great TV shows are canceled only to be replaced by more crappy reality shows?

Nothing wrong with Dysart's writing.

VEI just needs to get more people reading it. That's all.

[lorddunlow]

It's a shame that his writing skills don't translate into higher monthly numbers.

Unfortunately, very good creative ability often does not translate to popularity. How many great TV shows are canceled only to be replaced by more crappy reality shows?

Nothing wrong with Dysart's writing.

VEI just needs to get more people reading it. That's all.

Exactly, and I guarantee these "gimmicks" will increase readership. Once you get them in, they will see what we see - great content.

[DirtbagSailor]

I googled "milking" and I don't think it means what you think it means ...

i'm german, so there's that. but i think you get my point, nonetheless

[SJS4]

Not enough information on these yet to draw a conclusion. I'm excited about it. The Rai pages look amazing. No one is making you buy the polybag, the chromium cover, or any of the variants. So far the content has been awesome. Just because they are using marketing gimmicks (of which some I really like) doesn't mean they've abandoned quality. It's just another way to increase sales.

I actually don't mind the variants or the chromium covers. I don't even mind the polybagged for no apparent good reason variant, as i will just open it anyway. Overall i have enjoyed VEI to date, but IMHO they have made a few (editorial) missteps, and those missteps seem to surround their gimmicks. This is making me increasingly annoyed by the gimmicks (of which i wouldn't mind otherwise). This "missteps" are just my opinion of course (different folks will have different opinions), but as a customer i will base my purchases on my opinions...not someone elses.

For now i have added Rai to my pull list, but haven't bother with Armor Hunters. Armor Hunters would be the first VEI comics i don't purchase (unless i change my mind later, which is always a possibility as new info is released).

[jeremycoe]

I don't even mind the polybagged for no apparent good reason variant, as i will just open it anyway.

I think giving you a second book in the same "package" is a pretty good reason.

[SJS4]

I don't even mind the polybagged for no apparent good reason variant, as i will just open it anyway.

I think giving you a second book in the same "package" is a pretty good reason.

If that ends up being the case, then yes that would be a good reason. But they haven't said the extra 15 pages would be in a separate book, and in fact all indications are that it will be an oversized edition, not a completely separate book. Thanks for the snarky response though.

[jeremycoe]

I don't even mind the polybagged for no apparent good reason variant, as i will just open it anyway.

I think giving you a second book in the same "package" is a pretty good reason.

If that ends up being the case, then yes that would be a good reason. But they haven't said the extra 15 pages would be in a separate book, and in fact all indications are that it will be an oversized edition, not a completely separate book. Thanks for the snarky response though.

Why would they polybag the book if the actual comic itself is just oversized? That makes no sense.

[jedimarley]

It's a shame that his writing skills don't translate into higher monthly numbers.

Unfortunately, very good creative ability often does not translate to popularity. How many great TV shows are canceled only to be replaced by more crappy reality shows?

Nothing wrong with Dysart's writing.

VEI just needs to get more people reading it. That's all.

Exactly, and I guarantee these "gimmicks" will increase readership. Once you get them in, they will see what we see - great content.

What the heck are you smoking?????? Hasn't worked yet....

[SJS4]

Why would they polybag the book if the actual comic itself is just oversized? That makes no sense.

I couldn't agree more.

[jedimarley]

Why would they polybag the book if the actual comic itself is just oversized? That makes no sense.

I couldn't agree more.

It's Polybagged with the Rai bonus material. Basically what you would normally get for free. Like the Harbinger Wars sketchbook.

[SJS4]

Why would they polybag the book if the actual comic itself is just oversized? That makes no sense.

I couldn't agree more.

It's Polybagged with the Rai bonus material. Basically what you would normally get for free. Like the Harbinger Wars sketchbook.

Not sure what you are saying here. Are you saying there are two separate comics in the polybag?

If so, go check out the thread on may solicits. It says "48 Pages, Full color." Nothing about there being an additional comic.

Its theoretically possible that by "48 pages" they actually mean one comic with 32 pages and a separate comic with 16 pages, but normally that kind of thing is mentioned in solicits. The decription for the Rai polybagged pullbox edition is the same as the XO #25 solicit, which we know for a 100% fact is an oversized comic.

At best, their solicits are ambiguous and misleading. At worst, you guys just proved my point regarding the gimmick.

[doodlebird]

Should be fun

[MarkRoseHFX]

It's a shame that his writing skills don't translate into higher monthly numbers.

Unfortunately, very good creative ability often does not translate to popularity. How many great TV shows are canceled only to be replaced by more crappy reality shows?

Nothing wrong with Dysart's writing.

VEI just needs to get more people reading it. That's all.

Exactly, and I guarantee these "gimmicks" will increase readership. Once you get them in, they will see what we see - great content.

What the heck are you smoking?????? Hasn't worked yet....

Do you think Unity #1 would have sold MORE or LESS without variants or gimmicks?

[comicsyte95]

It's a shame that his writing skills don't translate into higher monthly numbers.

Unfortunately, very good creative ability often does not translate to popularity. How many great TV shows are canceled only to be replaced by more crappy reality shows?

Nothing wrong with Dysart's writing.

VEI just needs to get more people reading it. That's all.

Exactly, and I guarantee these "gimmicks" will increase readership. Once you get them in, they will see what we see - great content.

What the heck are you smoking?????? Hasn't worked yet....

Do you think Unity #1 would have sold MORE or LESS without variants or gimmicks?

Just my opinion but I believe without gimmicks or variants it would have sold less.If it had been only say 3 variants ..regular,pullbox,and 1:25 that's all I would have bought.
Because of all the variants that were released I bought 1 of each at least,that led to more sales.Gimmicks do work in my opinion especially if the book as a solid story and good art.

[ShadowTuga]

reading some posts in this thread.

For the (VERY SMALL) time they have been around and the quality of the product (STORIES) they HAVE ALREADY delivered to us, IMHO VEI deserves better from its fans than running away from the company because they are putting VARIANTS (AS IN, ALTERNATIVES) for a book that will be slightly pricier.

Krylox, I seriously don't understand that the chromiums were the "that's it, i'm out!" for you. *SQUEE*, when I first finished Q&W #05 I truly felt disappointed, but VEI has given me SO MUCH GOOD comics over the last 2 years that I am willing to forget some missteps, like hiring the current artist for the aforementioned book*

Now, the extra-stuff that is only on the polybagged version- and that trade readers won't get- THAT I think, it's messed up: loyal monthly readers should have all of the story on the regular issue of the book, not a *SQUEE* variant. This is something that irks me. The chromium, pardon my language, is an old-fart thing and a celebration of the good ol' days of 90's crazy gimmicks- I see it as a gift for the VH1 fans in particular, something to tell them that they are the same Valiant. Or something like that. It's a celebration, basically. I don't think we'll see many more of these in the future, but I could be wrong.

Another thing that annoyed me was the EW Hiatus Status Speculatus that some of us had to do, since there were NO OFFICIAL WORD from VALIANT about the future of the title, as soon as Valiant first was announced- it took a tweet from GP for us to know wth was going on.

I decided to just get regular covers starting May, but I'll buy one of these for sure if I like them. After that, I'm done but will still be buying every title of course because I Like these stories a whole darn lot.

*I don't have any beef with Ming Doyle, I just don't like her art. At all.

[comicsyte95]

For the (VERY SMALL) time they have been around and the quality of the product (STORIES) they HAVE ALREADY delivered to us, IMHO VEI deserves better from its fans than running away from the company because they are putting VARIANTS (AS IN, ALTERNATIVES) for a book that will be slightly pricier.

+1

[bygranddesign]

Why would they polybag the book if the actual comic itself is just oversized? That makes no sense.

I couldn't agree more.

It's Polybagged with the Rai bonus material. Basically what you would normally get for free. Like the Harbinger Wars sketchbook.

Not sure what you are saying here. Are you saying there are two separate comics in the polybag?

If so, go check out the thread on may solicits. It says "48 Pages, Full color." Nothing about there being an additional comic.

Its theoretically possible that by "48 pages" they actually mean one comic with 32 pages and a separate comic with 16 pages, but normally that kind of thing is mentioned in solicits. The decription for the Rai polybagged pullbox edition is the same as the XO #25 solicit, which we know for a 100% fact is an oversized comic.

At best, their solicits are ambiguous and misleading. At worst, you guys just proved my point regarding the gimmick.

The regular version is 32 pages
The Pollybagged pullbox plus edition is 48 pages and features 16 additional pages of in story content

[bygranddesign]

Why would they polybag the book if the actual comic itself is just oversized? That makes no sense.

I couldn't agree more.

It's Polybagged with the Rai bonus material. Basically what you would normally get for free. Like the Harbinger Wars sketchbook.

It's 16 pages of in story content. So I don't think it will be like the sketchbooks

Probably more like Shadowman 13x

[lorddunlow]

It's a shame that his writing skills don't translate into higher monthly numbers.

Unfortunately, very good creative ability often does not translate to popularity. How many great TV shows are canceled only to be replaced by more crappy reality shows?

Nothing wrong with Dysart's writing.

VEI just needs to get more people reading it. That's all.

Exactly, and I guarantee these "gimmicks" will increase readership. Once you get them in, they will see what we see - great content.

What the heck are you smoking?????? Hasn't worked yet....

Do you think Unity #1 would have sold MORE or LESS without variants or gimmicks?

My LCS ordered a lot more Unity than usual. While he did return extras, he stated that he sold many more than he would have ordered to begin with had VEI not made that marketing push with returnability and multiple covers. For my LCS at least, the gimmicks worked.

[jmatt]

Kind of underwhelmed at the news. Gimmicks over content?

Yeah but what if it's gimmicks and content?

Don't get me wrong, there's a big part of me that shouts "Just let the content do the selling!" But I'm not VEI, and if delivering great content and gimmicks spurs sales, who am I to argue?

It's a market. Some people want both.

[lorddunlow]

It's a market. Some people want both.

[jmatt]

The Pollybagged pullbox plus edition is 48 pages and features 16 additional pages of in story content

Is it 16 pages that won't appear anywhere else? Or 16 pages that will appear in some other regular issue? Do we know?