I'll be getting some random titles, there's always something interesting.

Taking my niece this year, and it’s extra special because this will be the first year she will actually be able to read any of the comics. We looked through the titles and found a couple she’ll be interested in.

I’ll grab the Conan, Jonny Quest, Gatchaman, Flash Gordon, and probably Young Jedi Adventures.

We’ll see if we make it to multiple shops or if we call it after one. I don’t really know what to expect from her.

Valiant essentially lost me as ever being a potential customer when it leaked they were considering using AI to replace penciller/inker/colorists as a cost saving measure to make their books more profitable. They were called out and backed off, but even considering it makes it a company I do not wish to give my money to.


-M

For now. But if they have shown a fundamental belief that the creators are irrelevant to the product in considering it, it won't be long until they return to the idea the first time a quarterly report is disappointing to their bottom line. And I am sure their page rates aren't going to attract any proven talent, and what talent they can hire will be out the door the first time they miss a payment because their projected revenue flow doesn't add up. The previous owners had issues with actually paying the talent they hired on time (another strike against my supporting a company) and I doubt the new owners will be any better since paying creators to do their books was something they were considering avoiding to begin with.

-M

I'm going to try and get out this FCBD. For the last few years, I've always ended up working on the first Saturday of May but my new job's work schedule allows me a better opportunity to do so this year. 

I want to go to at least two LCS in my area. A third one is having this huge Dollar comic sale as well so I want to swing by there too. 

As for what's being offered, I'm most interested in Gatchaman but at this point, I'll take what I can find.  

FWIW I just read the Valiants FCBD special. Confirmed that the book is being made by Alien Books, but the license owners are still the previous company. Lots and lots of subtle meta humor throughout, including a complaint that the new owners won't pay to bring back the heroes they need (the Gold Key heroes, I presume). There is also a robot that looks like Rai and performs the tasks of 1-A entitled R-1, which I found cute. Most interesting, though, is that this seems to be a continuation of the existing Valiant Universe and not a reboot, which is a move I really respect. The art and writing on the first of two stories are impressive, to boot.

However (and this really concerns me) there is something "off" with the art of the second story. At times, it looks more like a photograph of a television cartoon, and not purposefully so. I'm worried someone snuck in a little AI art that maybe can't differentiate between "comic" and "cartoon".


So, quality comic that wants to continue where the previous titles left off, but a writer who is already making meta jokes about how cheap the owners are, and possible use of AI art. Some significant cause for concern, there.


Icctrombone and Batflunkie, did you pick it up too?

I always miss FCBD because of work. Once upon a time, my lcs that I was dealing with would pull what I wanted for me. Alas, I don’t have that relationship the current place.