What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
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- TheFerg714
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What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Here's mine:
1. Dysart's Psiot Cycle
2. Solar #1-11, followed by Unity.
3. Venditti's X-O Manowar, including Unity Vol. 1 and Armor Hunters.
4. BWS' Archer & Armstrong
5. Van Lente's Archer & Armstrong
6. Kindt's Rai and 4001, followed by Abnett's Rai.
7. Divinity 1-3
8. The Valiant
9. Kindt's X-O Manowar #1-14
10. The Malev War
1. Dysart's Psiot Cycle
2. Solar #1-11, followed by Unity.
3. Venditti's X-O Manowar, including Unity Vol. 1 and Armor Hunters.
4. BWS' Archer & Armstrong
5. Van Lente's Archer & Armstrong
6. Kindt's Rai and 4001, followed by Abnett's Rai.
7. Divinity 1-3
8. The Valiant
9. Kindt's X-O Manowar #1-14
10. The Malev War
Last edited by TheFerg714 on Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:03:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- ManofTheAtom
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
I read all of VH 1 dozens of times when I wrote the Wiki, lol.
Comics are like a Rorschach test, everyone has a different opinion on what they are and can be...
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
So... does anything stand out to you as a must-read story? As in, is there anything that you think non-Valiant fans should check out asap?ManofTheAtom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:53:44 pm I read all of VH 1 dozens of times when I wrote the Wiki, lol.
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
The pre-Unity stuff is great act one world building. The post Unity and pre-Chaos Effect stuff is a great act two.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:05:34 pmSo... does anything stand out to you as a must-read story? As in, is there anything that you think non-Valiant fans should check out asap?ManofTheAtom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:53:44 pm I read all of VH 1 dozens of times when I wrote the Wiki, lol.
It's when it got to Birthquake that VALIANT died at the altar of DC and Marvel.
Comics are like a Rorschach test, everyone has a different opinion on what they are and can be...
Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
What books does that exactly entail?
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Harbinger, Imperium, and The Life and Death of Toyo Harada.
Plus, Harbinger Wars, Harbinger: Omegas, Harbinger #0, Bleeding Monk #0, and Book of Death: Fall of Harbinger.
Last edited by TheFerg714 on Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:27:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- TheFerg714
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Okay so just to be clear, if a new fan, that is just dipping his toes into Valiant, asks you for the absolute must-reads, you're going to tell him to read the entirety of Pre-Unity, as well as maybe everything up until Chaos Effect?ManofTheAtom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:12:19 pmThe pre-Unity stuff is great act one world building. The post Unity and pre-Chaos Effect stuff is a great act two.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:05:34 pmSo... does anything stand out to you as a must-read story? As in, is there anything that you think non-Valiant fans should check out asap?ManofTheAtom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:53:44 pm I read all of VH 1 dozens of times when I wrote the Wiki, lol.
It's when it got to Birthquake that VALIANT died at the altar of DC and Marvel.
Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Cool thanksTheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:22:10 pmHarbinger, Imperium, and The Life and Death of Toyo Harada.
Plus, Harbinger Wars, Harbinger: Omegas, Harbinger #0, Bleeding Monk #0, and Book of Death: Fall of Harbinger.
Not to answer for Mota, but pre-Unity is less than 50 issues, similar in length to the Dysart cycle.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:27:35 pm Okay so just to be clear, if a new fan, that is just dipping his toes into Valiant, asks you for the absolute must-reads, you're going to tell him to read the entirety of Pre-Unity, as well as maybe everything up until Chaos Effect?
For me, that's easy. Steel Nation, Alpha & Omega or Harbinger 1-4 if they're only going to try one skinny trade. If just one issue I would give them Magnus 1, Harbinger 4, X-O 1, or Solar 7. If they want to sample an even shorter story Rai 1 (flipbook) is a great complete story that encapsulates early Valiant's strengths.
- ManofTheAtom
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Well, I'd probably direct them to the VEI versions since those are the current ones.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 11:27:35 pmOkay so just to be clear, if a new fan, that is just dipping his toes into Valiant, asks you for the absolute must-reads, you're going to tell him to read the entirety of Pre-Unity, as well as maybe everything up until Chaos Effect?ManofTheAtom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:12:19 pmThe pre-Unity stuff is great act one world building. The post Unity and pre-Chaos Effect stuff is a great act two.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:05:34 pmSo... does anything stand out to you as a must-read story? As in, is there anything that you think non-Valiant fans should check out asap?ManofTheAtom wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:53:44 pm I read all of VH 1 dozens of times when I wrote the Wiki, lol.
It's when it got to Birthquake that VALIANT died at the altar of DC and Marvel.
Start with everything before Harbinger Wars I think. I believe most of that must be collected in trades. Might be one or two trades per series leading into HW?
Comics are like a Rorschach test, everyone has a different opinion on what they are and can be...
Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Early Harbinger and Rai (both VH1 and VEI).
Early Solar and Magnus.
/Magnus
Early Solar and Magnus.
/Magnus
- Dallow Spicer1
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Off the top of my head …
Harbinger Wars
Armour Hunters
Harbinger, Imperium, and The Life and Death of Toyo Harada
X-O #0 (VH1)
Kindts run on Rai
Harbinger Wars
Armour Hunters
Harbinger, Imperium, and The Life and Death of Toyo Harada
X-O #0 (VH1)
Kindts run on Rai
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Major problem with this as it contains one of the biggest mis-steps of VEI IMO. Issue #3 is a throwaway meeting of all of the VEI character for some nonsense battle. This effectively robbed us of a ton of ‘first meeting’ storyline between all of the characters….and it wasn’t worth it!
Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
I couldn't disagree more. The stakes were incredibly high and incredibly personal. Very hard to do. My heart skipped a beat when I turned the page and saw that splash. And we got the meeting scene for most of these characters before and plenty after anyway. Nothing was missed, epic moment gained.Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:55:56 amMajor problem with this as it contains one of the biggest mis-steps of VEI IMO. Issue #3 is a throwaway meeting of all of the VEI character for some nonsense battle. This effectively robbed us of a ton of ‘first meeting’ storyline between all of the characters….and it wasn’t worth it!
Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Great list. Armor Hunters might be the most blockbuster story ever told in Valiant imo. And X-O Manowar #0 might be the most underrated. That opening is so well done.Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:52:44 am Off the top of my head …
Harbinger Wars
Armour Hunters
Harbinger, Imperium, and The Life and Death of Toyo Harada
X-O #0 (VH1)
Kindts run on Rai
- TheFerg714
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Although I do find #3 a little cringey, it doesn't take away from the greatness of the rest of the story for me. I don't really see it as a "first meeting." It was just an emergency team-up, and then everyone immediately went their separate ways.Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:55:56 amMajor problem with this as it contains one of the biggest mis-steps of VEI IMO. Issue #3 is a throwaway meeting of all of the VEI character for some nonsense battle. This effectively robbed us of a ton of ‘first meeting’ storyline between all of the characters….and it wasn’t worth it!
- Dallow Spicer1
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
They didn’t need them all in that scene, most of them were superfluous to the story!TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 5:31:26 pmAlthough I do find #3 a little cringey, it doesn't take away from the greatness of the rest of the story for me. I don't really see it as a "first meeting." It was just an emergency team-up, and then everyone immediately went their separate ways.Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 17, 2024 3:55:56 amMajor problem with this as it contains one of the biggest mis-steps of VEI IMO. Issue #3 is a throwaway meeting of all of the VEI character for some nonsense battle. This effectively robbed us of a ton of ‘first meeting’ storyline between all of the characters….and it wasn’t worth it!
Also, can’t believe I forgot Lemire’s Bloodshot run, that’s a must read. That’s how you writer that character, with some depth. Been a series of car crash minis ever since (and not in a good way).
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Lemire’s first run of Bloodshot for sure.
Shout out to Savage and Britannia.
Shout out to Savage and Britannia.
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
The 2024 line!
But I am biased
But I am biased
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Well there’s thousands of posts on this site from people who actually buy the comics, so you can see what works and what goes down like a lead balloon. Virtually everything after Dinesh was ousted up until Alien got involved was a car crash (with the exception of Rai by Dan Abnett - smart move bringing him back and Dysart finishing off his Harbinger story).
Good luck and stay clear of political bias
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
They are off to a strong start.
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
no plans featuring any Clintons on a comic cover that I know of!Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:42:44 pmWell there’s thousands of posts on this site from people who actually buy the comics, so you can see what works and what goes down like a lead balloon. Virtually everything after Dinesh was ousted up until Alien got involved was a car crash (with the exception of Rai by Dan Abnett - smart move bringing him back and Dysart finishing off his Harbinger story).
Good luck and stay clear of political bias
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
the right answerdaniellew61 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:20:13 pmno plans featuring any Clintons on a comic cover that I know of!Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:42:44 pmWell there’s thousands of posts on this site from people who actually buy the comics, so you can see what works and what goes down like a lead balloon. Virtually everything after Dinesh was ousted up until Alien got involved was a car crash (with the exception of Rai by Dan Abnett - smart move bringing him back and Dysart finishing off his Harbinger story).
Good luck and stay clear of political bias
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
I dunno. I have often said that Bill Clinton was the funniest character on SNL.daniellew61 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 21, 2024 6:20:13 pmno plans featuring any Clintons on a comic cover that I know of!Dallow Spicer1 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:42:44 pmWell there’s thousands of posts on this site from people who actually buy the comics, so you can see what works and what goes down like a lead balloon. Virtually everything after Dinesh was ousted up until Alien got involved was a car crash (with the exception of Rai by Dan Abnett - smart move bringing him back and Dysart finishing off his Harbinger story).
Good luck and stay clear of political bias
https://youtu.be/PNa8I50XJgQ
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Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Might not be in the same order, but I concur on those 10. I’d also add FVL’s Ivar, Timewalker as an extension of his A&A run.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:37:17 pm Here's mine:
1. Dysart's Psiot Cycle
2. Solar #1-11, followed by Unity.
3. Venditti's X-O Manowar, including Unity Vol. 1 and Armor Hunters.
4. BWS' Archer & Armstrong
5. Van Lente's Archer & Armstrong
6. Kindt's Rai and 4001, followed by Abnett's Rai.
7. Divinity 1-3
8. The Valiant
9. Kindt's X-O Manowar #1-14
10. The Malev War
Kurt Busiek wrote:Bull$#!t
Re: What are your MUST-READ Valiant stories?
Interesting that so many people generally agree. As a breakdown these 10 are:BugsySig wrote: ↑Tue Apr 02, 2024 8:47:51 amMight not be in the same order, but I concur on those 10. I’d also add FVL’s Ivar, Timewalker as an extension of his A&A run.TheFerg714 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 5:37:17 pm Here's mine:
1. Dysart's Psiot Cycle
2. Solar #1-11, followed by Unity.
3. Venditti's X-O Manowar, including Unity Vol. 1 and Armor Hunters.
4. BWS' Archer & Armstrong
5. Van Lente's Archer & Armstrong
6. Kindt's Rai and 4001, followed by Abnett's Rai.
7. Divinity 1-3
8. The Valiant
9. Kindt's X-O Manowar #1-14
10. The Malev War
3 from VH1
7 from VEI
0 from Acclaim
0 from DMG*
0 from Alien^
* you could maybe give them a 1/3 of a point for Abnett's Rai because it's added onto Kindt's Rai.
^ so far but they have just started and we should give them a fair shot of time.