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Lately it seems like I've been dealing with significant disappointment in regards to my hobby of collecting comics. One of the bigger disappointments has been deciding that it's time for me to give up on Deadpool's monthly ongoing comic. It's a character I really enjoy and I've been following/supporting since his original mini-series. Unfortunately, the current writing team just isn't cutting it for me. Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan may be good at writing comedy that is performed live, but those skills just aren't porting over to print. It's weird because I usually like their stuff, but when it comes to Deadpool I just can't imagine the character being more off the mark than in his monthly title. It's always difficult to face giving up on a character/title you have been invested in for a long time.
The other major disappointment for me has been the abrupt closing of the local comic shop I went to. With practically zero notice the shop owner closed the doors. Customers were faced with having to go to another branch of the store out of town if they wanted the last couple weeks' of February's comics, and they were also confronted with their previous two months' worth of orders being cancelled. So, they could have continued at the other branch of the store, but they would have been playing off chance in getting their regular titles (or other items) for a couple of months. This situation set a shock of ill-will through the local comic collecting community and some face-offs between former customers and the store owner. It hasn't been pretty in some cases.
Fortunately, due to a large amount of initiative someone was able to get comics rolling again at a local gaming shop. The gaming shop already did a handful of pull-files, and for now they're willing to increase what they do in that realm. Of course it's all about pre-orders as the staff is not that familiar with comics. Still, I'll be getting my comics locally and the day they come out on a regular basis. Online is good when necessary, but I hate being a week behind. So, this has remedied the shop issue for a time. Unfortunately I still had that "hole" of my comedy-action comic being empty. That is, until a recent bit of news.
Last year Valiant Comics made its return to the world of comics. I immediately knew I would jump in with their flagship title 'X-O Manowar'. I had read the last two versions of the character (before and during Acclaim's involvement in the Valiant Universe) and really wanted to see what the new take would be. I have not been disappointed in the least with the title. Every issue is solid and worth the money. Yet, for me there was an even more important title that was close to my heart that I hoped would return some day. Well, that day has come and it couldn't have come at a more opportune time.
As I was dreading not having my influx of comedy and action from Deadpool's main title, the news was finally dropped that Quantum and Woody would be returning to the new Valiant Universe. For me, this is great. Now, please know that my love of the original 'Quantum and Woody' title is firmly rooted in the writing of Christopher Priest. It's his writing on that title that led to me to follow him without question to his work on 'Black Panther' and to have no fear when the reins of 'Deadpool' were handed to him after the departure of Joe Kelly. I have loaned my trade paperbacks of 'Quantum and Woody' to many a friend and they have found them hilarious. My handle online is the name of a 'Quantum and Woody' character. That's how much I enjoyed that comic.
Now, one big factor I have to face is that this new version of the characters will not be written by Christopher Priest. I'd be lying if I didn't openly admit that because that is the case I'm a bit uneasy. However, as I said before the current 'X-O Manowar' is solid, quality work. From what I've heard of the other Valiant titles, they are too. So, I'm going on faith that James Asmus and Tom Fowler will bring to this new version of the characters the humor and action that I remember from Christopher Priest and M.D. Bright. Sure, this will be their take on the characters and I know I have to give them room to do things in their way (as I did when Priest took over 'Deadpool' from Kelly). Hopefully they'll nail it from the start, but if they don't I'll give them at least the first story.
I really don't think I can fully explain how much I'm looking forward to the return of 'Quantum and Woody'. I'm looking forward to it enough that I'll probably order variant covers if they're offered for the first issue. I want the title to be good, so I'm going to support it right out of the gate. When it comes to recent relaunches, I have to say that Posehn and Duggan have really got my goat with their work on 'Deadpool', so I'm calling it good with that title until their tenure is done. However, I'm also happy to say that I'm hoping that the new 'Quantum and Woody' will get my goat, but that goat will hopefully have a mask and a cape. If you don't get the reference then you need to get yourself some 'Quantum and Woody' exposure.
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