roach04

I'm not sure what "Type" I'd fit into...but here's my VALIANT story (in short form ). I bought Solar - b/c the guy at my comic shop knew I loved BWS and he pulled the first issue with a "there's a short BWS story in it...and he did the cover." When I saw it was Shooter too, I was hooked. I got to Magnus as of issue #5 (missing #1-4 -- which, imo, remains the greatest 4 issue arc of the entire 1990s - I wouldn't find that out until years later though...) When Unity hit I was all-in for about a year. Then I stopped buying books and didn't return to VALIANT until...yep...Birthquake! Amazingly, I, at one point, had those low-print final issues for X-O and Solar b/c I stuck them out. The end of VALIANTwas rough in terms of quality . As others have stated - the Shooter pre-Unity books hold up as some of the best material the medium has ever produced. The thought process leading up to Unity and executing that crossover is something that's never even come close to being equalled by any publisher. It's hard to say that the pre-Unity VALIANT was Shooter's best work b/c his Legion work was so damn good, and his leadership at Marvel produced that company's 2nd best decade (hey, even Jim's tenure doesn't rival the Stan/Jack/Steve years) but man, Magnus, Solar, X-O, Harbinger, Rai - every one was different but everyone was so good. I didn't get on eBay until 1998 but that allowed me to fill in all my missing pre-Unity books. The Rai's were a lot harder to find than anything else - including stuff like Harbinger #0 and Magnus #0 - at least on my hunts. I could never win a Solar HC but in one of my greatest internet comic stories, a guy named Joe Petrilak just gave me one on the promise that I'd read his new VALIANT story (which he sent in the same box). I've been buying some of the stuff I never got - the VVSS', and better copies of the early Solar's and Magnus' off of Greg's site, wish I really wish I'd found earlier as I'd have loved to have been part of all the fan projects that were done. IMO, some of the later stuff holds up well too. Paul Gulacy, Tim Truman, Mike Grell - quality creators - did an issue or three on one of the properties near the end. Heck, I'm still mad I've missed buying the Quesada cover to Ninjak #2 twice in the last 15 years and I'd love to get my hands on any of the Sears X-O covers or Breyfogle Bloodshot. (I've long since accepted that a BWS cover is just not going to ever fit into my budget!) Anybody looking for a good reads and a good hunt - get those pre-Unity books. Watching David Lapham 'transform' on Harbinger was just like watching Miller on DD or Sienkiewicz on MK - you got to see a master hone his craft.

Bought a really nice lot of books (a set of Batman #40, some Jurgens/Romita Jr. Thors, a couple of Deadpools) from Mike. Great packaging, insanely fast shipping, and books exactly as described. Thanks Mike!

I bought a series of Daredevils and a few other sweet Bronze books from Patrick. They arrived within 24hrs and were immaculate! Thanks!

I went to Toasty's ECCC thread. I left happy! Purchased 6 or 7 books that arrived quickly and were rock-solid packed. Thanks!

I bought a Carnage grab-bag lot from Dave. All the books were very well packaged, shipped quickly and professionally up here to Canada and grades exactly as he described.

I bought a nice lot of 3 books from George - a Ms. Marvel #1, Vengeance of Bane #1, and an Alias #1. All were exactly as described, packed professionally, and shipped at lightning speed up to Canada. Thanks George!

I think they do. I haven't been here long but my one WTB hit huge (for me). I had 3 or 4 replies, and it was definitely a case where a fellow boardie did the leg work. When he found the books, he said "I'd like to get X$" and I paid it. He'd done all the work, all the "regular" online channels (and 4 local shops) had failed me so I was more than happy to pay his asking price. I've only replied to one and it was via PM. My price was the the 12-mth GPA average and never heard back from him (so I assume that was too much!) I will certainly post again on the WTB. And I hope I can help somebody else out too!

1.) Telepathy, Charles Xavier style. (But I'd use it like Magneto would...) 2.) Tough, tough question. Norwegian Wood or While My Guitar Gently Weeps. (Like your Hendrix one - Guitar Gently Weeps would have been a totally different song if they hadn't asked Clapton to play it...while Bob Dylan wrote "All Along the Watchtower", Hendrix OWNED it!) 3.) Even tougher. If we're talking classy dinner party (like my wife and I now attempt to throw) vs. parties I threw as a single guy or in university, it's a really different answer. Let's go with Charles Dickens (good partier and great conversationalist), Elizabeth Taylor (hot, probably have some good stories, and, hot...), and...Henry VIII. Because you know he'd rachet up the crazy and you'd get to see how long it took him to take a shot at Liz.

Got a wicked lot of Suicide Squad and assorted Deadshot books from Jason. Condition exactly as described and packed fantastically. Thanks!

I purchased a handful of Man-Things and a great looking Frankenstein. Packed rock solid and shipped quickly to Canada. Great deal and great guy to deal with. Thanks Jer!

Bought a really nice batch of McFarlane Spidey's from Jeff. Packed so well I nearly couldn't get them out! Shipped lightning fast too - hopefully we can do business again!