Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, valiant

Valiant Brings Back The Prestige Format. Ish. But Still Only $3.99.

Published Tue, 02 Dec 2014 09:00:48 -0600

Last updated Tue, 02 Dec 2014 11:26:57 -0600

For those of you yearning for a return to the glory days of The Dark Knight Returns (more on that later), Gotham by Gaslight and Kingdom Come (can't wait till Convergence), Valiant has been touting the return of "prestige format" comic book with two new releases announced under the banner of their Valiant Next initiative — The Valiant by Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, and Paolo Rivera, and Divinity by Matt Kindt and Trevor Hairsine.

This morning, Valiant revealed the first details on the specifications for what it's now calling "Valiant Prestige" format — namely, an oversized 25-page first chapter for The Valiant #1, upgraded covers, no ads, commentary and back matter "curated" by Paolo Rivera, and, yes, even end sheets. End sheets – just like a book without pictures. (Albeit pretty, pretty ones by Paolo Rivera.)

It might not have a spine, but it still sounds swanky. And a bit like Death Of Wolverine. But for only $3.99.

Valiant Publisher Fred Pierce says the format is intended to "match the scale, scope, and dynamism of our most unique, most epic stories with an equally compelling presentation that practically leaps off the shelf." Valiant CEO Dinesh Shamdasani adds that the new format is "both a tribute to the great standalone, prestige format tales that helped inform our love of the medium, like Kingdom Come and Marvels, while, at the same time, a chance to break new ground by revitalizing and refining the concept of what prestige format can be for a whole new generation of readers."

The Valiant #1 arrives in stories next Wednesday. Divinity #1 goes on sale in February.