From: mcgowen@cse.ucsc.edu (Richard McGowen)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Valiant sucks
Date: 25 Aug 92 17:55:17 GMT
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz (CE/CIS Boards)
NNTP-Posting-Host: arapaho.ucsc.edu


In article <BtGq23.2G6@news.udel.edu> lmlc@brahms.udel.edu (Carolyn M Chandler) writes:
>Well now that the deadline for Harbinger #0 is moved up how many of you are
>going to get it i have 2 sets now and can get 2 more 1-6 books for 170....
>
>Who is sending in the Nextmen trading cupons? I am and i am hopling that its
>not some 6 card set...
>
>Anyone elese out there mad as hell at Valiant for all these Platnum/gold/red
>'special' editions?  I just heard about Preadator vs Magnus Platnum today...
>sigh that brings the number of specials up to .....5 and valiant says 2 more are coming.....
>
>
>sigh...

Yes, I am pissed as hell, here is a copy of the letter I sent them.  The
even newer Magnus had a letter page that pissed me off even more.
Basically the idea behind the "special" editions is that you as a Valiant
fan boy, should prostitute yourself and push their merchandise on
whoever you can think of and in return, they will deign to give you a
special issue.  It is especially bad since the quality of Valiant titles
has gone down since the first began publishing.  Maybe Shooter left
because the have become Money hungry bastards who are using very cheap
marketing practices.

Letter I sent:
--------------


Dear VALIANT,

	Lately, your actions have disappointed me.  I have been collecting
the VALIANT titles since Magnus Robot Fighter first came out---I own at least
one copy of every VALIANT book that has been published.  In fact, VALIANT books
account for 75% of the titles I collect.  Since I obviously like what you are 
doing, you may wonder why I am sad.  There is a simple reason for this, namely
your recent printing of "special" books.  You gave these books as incentives 
to dealers who ordered above a certain level.  I can understand doing this to 
thank the comic book stores that support you, however, it is not comic book 
stores alone that got you to where you are today.  Without faithful readers to 
buy your comics, the stores would not have continued to order them.  What is 
even worse about these "bonus" books is that you treated stores who have just 
now decided to jump on the VALIANT band wagon no differently than the stores 
who have been with you from the beginning.  Have you no respect for loyalty?  
Have you instead become like other publishers, interested only in the total 
volume of your sales?  Some of the stores that have been with you from the 
beginning did not meet the volume required to get any of these "golden" issues,
however, like a Movie Star who has spurned their home town, you turn your back 
on them to "MARVEL" at your new found success.  Where is the reward for the 
loyal stores, the loyal readers?

	Their reward is certainly not the "gold logoed books".  To imagine 
that you would publicly offer to reward those who would prostitute themselves 
for you to further your own amibitions.  (From the editorial it seems that 
"free advertising for VALIANT = free Gold issue".)  Although this is pure 
marketing genius, I find it quite offensive.  If I had wanted this kind of 
treatment I would still be collecting Marvel comic books.  How different are 
you?  How different can you be when the gold logoed books are even referred to
by you as "...VALIANT's version of a no-prize..."?  Not much.

	People who supported Ross Perot were fed up with having, for all 
intents and purposes, only two parties to chose from, two parties who are 
really no different below the surface, two parties who seem to have lost 
touch with the needs of the voters. People were hungry for the "difference", 
the "change" that Ross Perot represented. Likewise, comic book fans like 
myself were looking to get away from the "Big Two" for many of the same reason.
I had hoped VALIANT would offer a change, and at first you did.  I guess that 
in the end, you, like Ross, have decided to quit.

Sadly,

Richard McGowen
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Valiant has become lame.
Summary: 
Expires: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: rec.arts.comics.misc.
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz (CE/CIS Boards)
Keywords: 

I thought I had posted this article here, but it didn't seem to make it.

In article <BtGq23.2G6@news.udel.edu> lmlc@brahms.udel.edu (Carolyn M Chandler) writes:
>Well now that the deadline for Harbinger #0 is moved up how many of you are
>going to get it i have 2 sets now and can get 2 more 1-6 books for 170....
>
>Who is sending in the Nextmen trading cupons? I am and i am hopling that its
>not some 6 card set...
>
>Anyone elese out there mad as hell at Valiant for all these Platnum/gold/red
>'special' editions?  I just heard about Preadator vs Magnus Platnum today...
>sigh that brings the number of specials up to .....5 and valiant says 2 more are coming.....
>
>
>sigh...

Yes, I am pissed as hell, here is a copy of the letter I sent them.  The
even newer Magnus had a letter page that pissed me off even more.
Basically the idea behind the "special" editions is that you as a Valiant
fan boy, should prostitute yourself and push their merchandise on
whoever you can think of and in return, they will deign to give you a
special issue.  It is especially bad since the quality of Valiant titles
has gone down since the first began publishing.  Maybe Shooter left
because the have become Money hungry bastards who are using very cheap
marketing practices.

Letter I sent:
--------------


Dear VALIANT,

	Lately, your actions have disappointed me.  I have been collecting
the VALIANT titles since Magnus Robot Fighter first came out---I own at least
one copy of every VALIANT book that has been published.  In fact, VALIANT books
account for 75% of the titles I collect.  Since I obviously like what you are 
doing, you may wonder why I am sad.  There is a simple reason for this, namely
your recent printing of "special" books.  You gave these books as incentives 
to dealers who ordered above a certain level.  I can understand doing this to 
thank the comic book stores that support you, however, it is not comic book 
stores alone that got you to where you are today.  Without faithful readers to 
buy your comics, the stores would not have continued to order them.  What is 
even worse about these "bonus" books is that you treated stores who have just 
now decided to jump on the VALIANT band wagon no differently than the stores 
who have been with you from the beginning.  Have you no respect for loyalty?  
Have you instead become like other publishers, interested only in the total 
volume of your sales?  Some of the stores that have been with you from the 
beginning did not meet the volume required to get any of these "golden" issues,
however, like a Movie Star who has spurned their home town, you turn your back 
on them to "MARVEL" at your new found success.  Where is the reward for the 
loyal stores, the loyal readers?

	Their reward is certainly not the "gold logoed books".  To imagine 
that you would publicly offer to reward those who would prostitute themselves 
for you to further your own amibitions.  (From the editorial it seems that 
"free advertising for VALIANT = free Gold issue".)  Although this is pure 
marketing genius, I find it quite offensive.  If I had wanted this kind of 
treatment I would still be collecting Marvel comic books.  How different are 
you?  How different can you be when the gold logoed books are even referred to
by you as "...VALIANT's version of a no-prize..."?  Not much.

	People who supported Ross Perot were fed up with having, for all 
intents and purposes, only two parties to chose from, two parties who are 
really no different below the surface, two parties who seem to have lost 
touch with the needs of the voters. People were hungry for the "difference", 
the "change" that Ross Perot represented. Likewise, comic book fans like 
myself were looking to get away from the "Big Two" for many of the same reason.
I had hoped VALIANT would offer a change, and at first you did.  I guess that 
in the end, you, like Ross, have decided to quit.

Sadly,

Richard McGowen
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Re: Red Unity's?
Summary: 
Expires: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: rec.arts.comics.misc.
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz (CE/CIS Boards)
Keywords: 

In article <BtGq23.2G6@news.udel.edu> lmlc@brahms.udel.edu (Carolyn M Chandler) writes:
>Well now that the deadline for Harbinger #0 is moved up how many of you are
>going to get it i have 2 sets now and can get 2 more 1-6 books for 170....
>
>Who is sending in the Nextmen trading cupons? I am and i am hopling that its
>not some 6 card set...
>
>Anyone elese out there mad as hell at Valiant for all these Platnum/gold/red
>'special' editions?  I just heard about Preadator vs Magnus Platnum today...
>sigh that brings the number of specials up to .....5 and valiant says 2 more are coming.....
>
>
>sigh...

Yes, I am pissed as hell, here is a copy of the letter I sent them.  The
even newer Magnus had a letter page that pissed me off even more.
Basically the idea behind the "special" editions is that you as a Valiant
fan boy, should prostitute yourself and push their merchandise on
whoever you can think of and in return, they will deign to give you a
special issue.  It is especially bad since the quality of Valiant titles
has gone down since the first began publishing.  Maybe Shooter left
because the have become Money hungry bastards who are using very cheap
marketing practices.

Letter I sent:
--------------


Dear VALIANT,

	Lately, your actions have disappointed me.  I have been collecting
the VALIANT titles since Magnus Robot Fighter first came out---I own at least
one copy of every VALIANT book that has been published.  In fact, VALIANT books
account for 75% of the titles I collect.  Since I obviously like what you are 
doing, you may wonder why I am sad.  There is a simple reason for this, namely
your recent printing of "special" books.  You gave these books as incentives 
to dealers who ordered above a certain level.  I can understand doing this to 
thank the comic book stores that support you, however, it is not comic book 
stores alone that got you to where you are today.  Without faithful readers to 
buy your comics, the stores would not have continued to order them.  What is 
even worse about these "bonus" books is that you treated stores who have just 
now decided to jump on the VALIANT band wagon no differently than the stores 
who have been with you from the beginning.  Have you no respect for loyalty?  
Have you instead become like other publishers, interested only in the total 
volume of your sales?  Some of the stores that have been with you from the 
beginning did not meet the volume required to get any of these "golden" issues,
however, like a Movie Star who has spurned their home town, you turn your back 
on them to "MARVEL" at your new found success.  Where is the reward for the 
loyal stores, the loyal readers?

	Their reward is certainly not the "gold logoed books".  To imagine 
that you would publicly offer to reward those who would prostitute themselves 
for you to further your own amibitions.  (From the editorial it seems that 
"free advertising for VALIANT = free Gold issue".)  Although this is pure 
marketing genius, I find it quite offensive.  If I had wanted this kind of 
treatment I would still be collecting Marvel comic books.  How different are 
you?  How different can you be when the gold logoed books are even referred to
by you as "...VALIANT's version of a no-prize..."?  Not much.

	People who supported Ross Perot were fed up with having, for all 
intents and purposes, only two parties to chose from, two parties who are 
really no different below the surface, two parties who seem to have lost 
touch with the needs of the voters. People were hungry for the "difference", 
the "change" that Ross Perot represented. Likewise, comic book fans like 
myself were looking to get away from the "Big Two" for many of the same reason.
I had hoped VALIANT would offer a change, and at first you did.  I guess that 
in the end, you, like Ross, have decided to quit.

Sadly,

Richard McGowen
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc
Subject: Valiant has become lame.
Summary: 
Expires: 
Followup-To: 
Distribution: rec.arts.comics.misc.
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz (CE/CIS Boards)
Keywords: 

I thought I had posted this article here, but it didn't seem to make it.

In article <BtGq23.2G6@news.udel.edu> lmlc@brahms.udel.edu (Carolyn M Chandler) writes:
>Well now that the deadline for Harbinger #0 is moved up how many of you are
>going to get it i have 2 sets now and can get 2 more 1-6 books for 170....
>
>Who is sending in the Nextmen trading cupons? I am and i am hopling that its
>not some 6 card set...
>
>Anyone elese out there mad as hell at Valiant for all these Platnum/gold/red
>'special' editions?  I just heard about Preadator vs Magnus Platnum today...
>sigh that brings the number of specials up to .....5 and valiant says 2 more are coming.....
>
>
>sigh...

Yes, I am pissed as hell, here is a copy of the letter I sent them.  The
even newer Magnus had a letter page that pissed me off even more.
Basically the idea behind the "special" editions is that you as a Valiant
fan boy, should prostitute yourself and push their merchandise on
whoever you can think of and in return, they will deign to give you a
special issue.  It is especially bad since the quality of Valiant titles
has gone down since the first began publishing.  Maybe Shooter left
because the have become Money hungry bastards who are using very cheap
marketing practices.

Letter I sent:
--------------


Dear VALIANT,

	Lately, your actions have disappointed me.  I have been collecting
the VALIANT titles since Magnus Robot Fighter first came out---I own at least
one copy of every VALIANT book that has been published.  In fact, VALIANT books
account for 75% of the titles I collect.  Since I obviously like what you are 
doing, you may wonder why I am sad.  There is a simple reason for this, namely
your recent printing of "special" books.  You gave these books as incentives 
to dealers who ordered above a certain level.  I can understand doing this to 
thank the comic book stores that support you, however, it is not comic book 
stores alone that got you to where you are today.  Without faithful readers to 
buy your comics, the stores would not have continued to order them.  What is 
even worse about these "bonus" books is that you treated stores who have just 
now decided to jump on the VALIANT band wagon no differently than the stores 
who have been with you from the beginning.  Have you no respect for loyalty?  
Have you instead become like other publishers, interested only in the total 
volume of your sales?  Some of the stores that have been with you from the 
beginning did not meet the volume required to get any of these "golden" issues,
however, like a Movie Star who has spurned their home town, you turn your back 
on them to "MARVEL" at your new found success.  Where is the reward for the 
loyal stores, the loyal readers?

	Their reward is certainly not the "gold logoed books".  To imagine 
that you would publicly offer to reward those who would prostitute themselves 
for you to further your own amibitions.  (From the editorial it seems that 
"free advertising for VALIANT = free Gold issue".)  Although this is pure 
marketing genius, I find it quite offensive.  If I had wanted this kind of 
treatment I would still be collecting Marvel comic books.  How different are 
you?  How different can you be when the gold logoed books are even referred to
by you as "...VALIANT's version of a no-prize..."?  Not much.

	People who supported Ross Perot were fed up with having, for all 
intents and purposes, only two parties to chose from, two parties who are 
really no different below the surface, two parties who seem to have lost 
touch with the needs of the voters. People were hungry for the "difference", 
the "change" that Ross Perot represented. Likewise, comic book fans like 
myself were looking to get away from the "Big Two" for many of the same reason.
I had hoped VALIANT would offer a change, and at first you did.  I guess that 
in the end, you, like Ross, have decided to quit.

Sadly,

Richard McGowen
-- 
Richard McGowen   mcgowen@cse.ucsc.edu

PC == Permanently Closeminded