Should Marvel swoop in and scoop up the Valiant characters?

[Anthony W]

Let me get this straight -- You want Marvel to buy up the characters from another company despite them having no need for them just because you don't like variants (an opinion you seem to be in the minority on), all while knowing that the last time Marvel bought up characters from another company it didn't end well?

You make it sound as if Valiant is healthy and doing well.

Agent Z, this is the part where I say that if Marvel doesn't do it someone else will. Look around. Do you see that someone else?

Oni/Lionforge? Nope.

Darkhorse? Nah.

Boom? Ahhh

Sony? They made a movie but I doubt they want to make comics.

DC? Here let me show you a picture....images.jpeg

If you people have another idea I would like to hear it.

[Factor]

Why though? Marvel has more characters than editors know what to do with. I don’t see the point in buying another universe, even if it’s sad Valiant is seemingly gone.

[Agent Z]

You make it sound as if Valiant is healthy and doing well.

Agent Z, this is the part where I say that if Marvel doesn't do it someone else will. Look around. Do you see that someone else?

Oni/Lionforge? Nope.

Darkhorse? Nah.

Boom? Ahhh

Sony? They made a movie but I doubt they want to make comics.

DC? Here let me show you a picture....images.jpeg

If you people have another idea I would like to hear it.

Why does anyone have to do it? Hell, given how cynical you are about Marvel in the present, what makes you think they'll do any better with Valiant characters?

If Valiant is in such dire straits, then let them die off. If not, it's no skin off our backs.

[Digifiend]

If Valiant is closing down, they should give their characters' creators the chance to buy the rights to them. Then it's up to them if they relaunch their book at Image or another indie, sit on it, or sell to one of the Big Two (as happened with former Image character Angela, who Marvel bought after the creator had gained the rights).

[Tofali]

Agent Z, this is the part where I say that if Marvel doesn't do it someone else will. Look around. Do you see that someone else?

OK I enjoyed this bit and you're 100% correct even thou I don't want Marvel to buy them.

[9th.]

You make it sound as if Valiant is healthy and doing well.

Agent Z, this is the part where I say that if Marvel doesn't do it someone else will. Look around. Do you see that someone else?

Oni/Lionforge? Nope.

Darkhorse? Nah.

Boom? Ahhh

Sony? They made a movie but I doubt they want to make comics.

DC? Here let me show you a picture....images.jpeg

If you people have another idea I would like to hear it.

This sounds like a good time for Amazon to swoop in since they have Comixology and Prime Video.

[Emperorjones]

Amazon would be good. I was thinking Netflix. I wish they had done the deal with Valiant instead of Mark Millar.

[dmhaight]

No.

If there was a corporate interest, I'd suggest only proceeding if (a) the characters were left in their own universe apart from the Marvel Universe, and (b) if they also acquired the Gold Key characters (Solar, Magnus, Turok) to re-establish the original Valiant universe.

[danielsan52]

Wow. So much for positive replies.

I say sure, but keep the characters in their own universe. Maybe even put Miracle Man and Ultraverse characters in that same universe.

[Anthony W]

OK I enjoyed this bit and you're 100% correct even thou I don't want Marvel to buy them.

Let me guess, it was the picture of Zaslav that made it work? If ever there was a picture screaming for a faux inspirational saying to be placed at the bottom of it, it's that one.

[Tofali]

Let me guess, it was the picture of Zaslav that made it work? If ever there was a picture screaming for a faux inspirational saying to be placed at the bottom of it, it's that one.

Nah! WBD has a $56B of debt so I know that will never happen.

[Ultimate Captain America]

[Thor-Ul]

Can Marvel, (Disney more likely) do it? Yes, I suppose Marvel can, it have money.

Should it do it? I don't think there is an obligation to do it, but I don't know if there are pending legal lawsuits and what is the status of property and distribution rights of the Valiant characters. Maybe they can be licensed.

Would I like to that happening? No. I don't think that is a good idea.

First, there is the issue of the monopoly, which is never good in any case. I can be fan of a character or from the work from a creator. Being fan of an studio or a bussiness? I would go more careful on that.

Second, I don't think than Disney is a bussiness who likes to buy bussiness which requires a big inversion or are too much at risk. Not contemporary Disney at least. Disney bought Marvel when Marvel was already successful, same as Pixar and more interested in the movie studio than the comics imprint. Valiant is a small editorial with not too well know characters, who would need a lot of money injection to became attractive.

Third, as as been pointed, Marvel on one side still have a library of a lot of unused characters, and already have a lot of other ip from the Disney library too. Better would be if Marvel ressurrect ideas from their cancelled imprints. Doctor Zero, those Clive Baker comics, (Hyperkind, for example), Star comics even.

Fourth, in comics at least, Marvel has not the best deal with acquired imprints. Crossgen and the Ultraverse characters languish in the Marvel vault. If Valiant characters are acquired, their destiny could be that same vault, because even if they are buyed but not used by Marvel, they would be a potential competitor eliminated or a propierty than other plataforms couldn't use. Something akin to what happened with the Ultraverse. Marvel bought Malibu, absorved the universe, started with layoffs and then dismatled and buried them both, imprint and universe.

Fifth, even if Marvel buys Valiant and for any miracle, their characters join their comic universe, how much of the characters identities would be preserved? Angela, the only case I know about, suffrered a redefinition than make her a whole different character, but at least she conserved part of her visual image. Better luck than the Exiles, the only thing Marvel take from the Ultraverse, a name for a team than shared nothing with the original concept. It would be the same effort than creating a new character.

You can dissagree.

[krazijoe]

I never read any of the Crossgen stuff so I can't comment on that. They absolutely ruined Malibu though. I bought several of those monthlies before Marvel bought that company and it all sucked afterwards. I'm still convinced that is why they bought Malibu in the first place.

I thought they bought Malibu because of some coloring or printing thing they had going on. Then Malibu totally screwed them on the rights to the characters...Or they helped themselves, which forced Marvel to bury the characters. I LOVE PRIME, I still do...As for Valiant. I guess there will be no Harbinger movie...Or Solar...Damn. Some fine stuff there going to waste.

[skyvolt2000]

I never read any of the Crossgen stuff so I can't comment on that. They absolutely ruined Malibu though. I bought several of those monthlies before Marvel bought that company and it all sucked afterwards. I'm still convinced that is why they bought Malibu in the first place.

Marvel bought them for the color and printing process NOT the characters that they had.

Interesting enough Milestone either used the same process or made a better one.

Ultraverse is in the grave because someone at Marvel does not want to pay the creators of Ultraverse royalties.

Which is interesting considering some of them like Norm Breyfoyle are dead.


As for Valiant-Marvel needs to worry about who they already OWN.