Valiant trademark status

[toddluck]

I just checked on some of the disputed Valiant trademarks. It still lists VIP as an applicant on the marks but the recent activity you see when you click on "TARR status" for each makes it sound like they recently lost. I'm just giving an educated guess since i'm not familar with the jargon on this sort of trademark dispute but here's what it says when you click on the "TARR status" on them.

Shadowman (for Valiant Entertainment): Opposition period completed, a Notice of Allowance has been issued.

The Visitor (for VIP): Application has been published for opposition.

Bloodshot (for VIP): An office action suspending further action on the application has been mailed.

Outcast (for VIP): Application has been published for opposition.

Deathmate (for VIP): Final review prior to publication has been completed, application will be published for opposition.

Ninjak (for VIP): An opposition is now pending at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Valiant Entertainment (the opposiion) are the folks who reportedly paid a million dollars for the properties at one of the Accliam bankruptcy auctions. VIP is the group (or individual) who applied for the trademarks just before the bankruptcy auction. This has been going on for over a year with not a peep out of any party involved (not even with so much as a bio or basic company information coming out of Valiant Entertainment).

[Quato]

toddluck said:

I just checked on some of the disputed Valiant trademarks. It still lists VIP as an applicant on the marks but the recent activity you see when you click on "TARR status" for each makes it sound like they recently lost. I'm just giving an educated guess since i'm not familar with the jargon on this sort of trademark dispute but here's what it says when you click on the "TARR status" on them.

Shadowman (for Valiant Entertainment): Opposition period completed, a Notice of Allowance has been issued.

The Visitor (for VIP): Application has been published for opposition.

Bloodshot (for VIP): An office action suspending further action on the application has been mailed.

Outcast (for VIP): Application has been published for opposition.

Deathmate (for VIP): Final review prior to publication has been completed, application will be published for opposition.

Ninjak (for VIP): An opposition is now pending at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Valiant Entertainment (the opposiion) are the folks who reportedly paid a million dollars for the properties at one of the Accliam bankruptcy auctions. VIP is the group (or individual) who applied for the trademarks just before the bankruptcy auction. This has been going on for over a year with not a peep out of any party involved (not even with so much as a bio or basic company information coming out of Valiant Entertainment).

Valiant minus Jim Shooter equals garbage.

For me, none of that is even relevant if Jim Shooter isn't given a vested interest in the properties that he founded. I don't really even give a d**n about The Visitor, The Outcast, Ninjak, or Deathmate. I'd be happy if the never saw the light of day again... ever.

Q

[toddluck]

quato said:

toddluck said:

I just checked on some of the disputed Valiant trademarks. It still lists VIP as an applicant on the marks but the recent activity you see when you click on "TARR status" for each makes it sound like they recently lost. I'm just giving an educated guess since i'm not familar with the jargon on this sort of trademark dispute but here's what it says when you click on the "TARR status" on them.

Shadowman (for Valiant Entertainment): Opposition period completed, a Notice of Allowance has been issued.

The Visitor (for VIP): Application has been published for opposition.

Bloodshot (for VIP): An office action suspending further action on the application has been mailed.

Outcast (for VIP): Application has been published for opposition.

Deathmate (for VIP): Final review prior to publication has been completed, application will be published for opposition.

Ninjak (for VIP): An opposition is now pending at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Valiant Entertainment (the opposiion) are the folks who reportedly paid a million dollars for the properties at one of the Accliam bankruptcy auctions. VIP is the group (or individual) who applied for the trademarks just before the bankruptcy auction. This has been going on for over a year with not a peep out of any party involved (not even with so much as a bio or basic company information coming out of Valiant Entertainment).

Valiant minus Jim Shooter equals garbage.

For me, none of that is even relevant if Jim Shooter isn't given a vested interest in the properties that he founded. I don't really even give a d**n about The Visitor, The Outcast, Ninjak, or Deathmate. I'd be happy if the never saw the light of day again... ever.

Q

Hm. Seems like there were a couple other decent writers left in the industry after Shooter left but I doubt we'll have to worry about it (I don't have any reason to believe these characters are to going to become comics agian)

And you know as well as I do all the concepts you mentioned (other than maybe Ninjak) will probably never see the light of day even if Valiant comics were to be published again. No one gives a d**n about them. They're only signifigance is to the new owners as part of a character library (that at one point someone paid $60 millions dollars for) or something that'll delude the value of Valaint as an intellectual property if they're tied up in a legal trademark dispute.

[Quato]

toddluck said:

quato said:

Valiant minus Jim Shooter equals garbage.

For me, none of that is even relevant if Jim Shooter isn't given a vested interest in the properties that he founded. I don't really even give a d**n about The Visitor, The Outcast, Ninjak, or Deathmate. I'd be happy if the never saw the light of day again... ever.

seem to Q

Hm. Seems like there were a couple other decent writers left in the industry after Shooter left but I doubt we'll have to worry about it (I don't have any reason to believe these characters are to going to become comics agian)

And you know as well as I do all the concepts you mentioned (other than maybe Ninjak) will probably never see the light of day even if Valiant comics were to be published again. No one gives a d**n about them. They're only signifigance is to the new owners as part of a character library (that at one point someone paid $60 millions dollars for) or something that'll delude the value of Valaint as an intellectual property if they're tied up in a legal trademark dispute.

I think they'll probably publish Q&W... a repeated commercial failure. Q&W is the type of book that would pull the lame concepts into it just to make fun of them.

You and I know Valiant was never truly worth 60 million at the time of sale. It might have been worth that at it's peak, but definitely not when it was losing market share weekly.

Jim said in one interview that certain other writers didn't fit into the style that him and Stan Lee were writing. I paraphrased that... but it pretty much reflects the truth. I'd take it a step further and say no writers write like Jim or Stan unless pressured to do so. They don't seem to grasp it. They don't care enough. They want free reign to write their way. It's not about just telling a story and making characters change. It's about shaping a series of intercnnecting stories so they evolve and the characters grow and develop a personality of their own that is larger than what the writer wrote. Pick your best writer today on these characters and they'll still be crap unless someone like Shooter weaves a bigger picture into the stpry. Shooter doesn't just tell a story, he taunts the reader with details. His style require the writer to think about what motivates the hero. I discard the notion that any writer can step in and make the characters decent.

Q

[toddluck]

quato said:

toddluck said:

Hm. Seems like there were a couple other decent writers left in the industry after Shooter left but I doubt we'll have to worry about it (I don't have any reason to believe these characters are to going to become comics agian)

And you know as well as I do all the concepts you mentioned (other than maybe Ninjak) will probably never see the light of day even if Valiant comics were to be published again. No one gives a d**n about them. They're only signifigance is to the new owners as part of a character library (that at one point someone paid $60 millions dollars for) or something that'll delude the value of Valaint as an intellectual property if they're tied up in a legal trademark dispute.

I think they'll probably publish Q&W... a repeated commercial failure. Q&W is the type of book that would pull the lame concepts into it just to make fun of them.

You and I know Valiant was never truly worth 60 million at the time of sale. It might have been worth that at it's peak, but definitely not when it was losing market share weekly.

Jim said in one interview that certain other writers didn't fit into the style that him and Stan Lee were writing. I paraphrased that... but it pretty much reflects the truth. I'd take it a step further and say no writers write like Jim or Stan unless pressured to do so. They don't seem to grasp it. They don't care enough. They want free reign to write their way. It's not about just telling a story and making characters change. It's about shaping a series of intercnnecting stories so they evolve and the characters grow and develop a personality of their own that is larger than what the writer wrote. Pick your best writer today on these characters and they'll still be crap unless someone like Shooter weaves a bigger picture into the stpry. Shooter doesn't just tell a story, he taunts the reader with details. His style require the writer to think about what motivates the hero. I discard the notion that any writer can step in and make the characters decent.

Q

Like I said, I doubt we'll have to worry about that.

[Quato]

Worry about Jim writing them again? or worry about them ever seeing print again? ;D

Q

[toddluck]

quato said:

Worry about Jim writing them again? or worry about them ever seeing print again? ;D

Q

If you don't have to worry about the second thing you mentioned that would kinda negate the first one wouldn't it?

[Quato]

toddluck said:

quato said:

Worry about Jim writing them again? or worry about them ever seeing print again? ;D

Q

If you don't have to worry about the second thing you mentioned that would kinda negate the first one wouldn't it?

That's why I was clarifying the scope silly!

You seem confident that they'll never see print again. I never underestimate the actions of fools with their money. Nor do I ever underestimate the power of necessity as it is the mother of invention and survival. I don't expect the new owners to just writhe in their expenditures forever.

Q

[toddluck]

In the absense of information I assume nothing. I know that their actions haven't been consistant with a company that intends to be a comic company. Don't know why. Don't really care at this point.

The chances of making any sort of return on their investment by publishing in comics is slim anyway. Probably they'ld just lose more money.

[Quato]

toddluck said:

In the absense of information I assume nothing. I know that their actions haven't been consistant with a company that intends to be a comic company. Don't know why. Don't really care at this point.

The chances of making any sort of return on their investment by publishing in comics is slim anyway. Probably they'ld just lose more money.

Here is what I believe to be true based on conversations, behavior, or circumstantial evidence.

1) I believe they extended their finances very far just to obtain the rights. I do not believe they factored the money or the expenses necessary to do anything with those properties.

2) I believe that they are afraid of legal action or anything that could negatively affect their finances or their budget for developing the properties.

3) I believe that if the wanted publicity, they'd be going for it. I think they are unsure of their best angle and options.

4) I believe they thought it would be easier to get a return on investment because of their own zeal towards the properties. I believe it blinded them to the greater truths.

"If" my beliefs are true, they are in a desperate mindset. It is this mindset that I believe will keep poking, pushing and prodding until something happens. The smartest thing they could do is look for a buyer with more capital.

I think I would promote the hell out of the properties and then try and sell them after a market buzz was generated. It would be much like buying a house to fix up and then selling the fixed up property for the full market value.

Q

[toddluck]

I still think if the Valiant Entertainment had the definite intention and capability to publish comics they would've said something publicly about it by now.

I wouldn't put too much faith in what people say they've been told by those at Valiant Entertainment. From his behavior on VF.com, it's obvious one of the VE partners has a difficult time being honest. Judging from how VF.com was manipulated on the VIP affair and probably on the Re-reading Forum it's not a bad assumption that dishonesty is slipping its way into their business practices.

And, even if they do intend to put out a comic and actually pull it off, lack of integrity will kill them quick. It's always does whether its Enron, the early Valiant Board of Directors or that boss who ripped me off of a years worth of SS money (and then skipped the state when he ran the company into oblivion) it always ends badly.

Lying either

a) alienates your customers, retailers, distributors, workers, and business partners, which are all vital to the companies existence

b) means you're hiding something bad that will usually screw over one or more of the groups listed above

Either way, I'd say Valiant is ***ked but that's just my opinion.

[Brother J]

To be honest, I think I have to agree with everything you said in that post, Todd. Dino and co. have definitely not been forthcoming with any info and the attempts at manipulation of the fan base on the boards are irritating. I really wonder when the other shoe is going to drop.

[Defiant1]

I think it is reasonable to say they've lied all along. Whenever one's words do not match the truth, it is a lie. Now some are forgiving and say circumstances warrant forgiveness. I disagree. One can chose words carefully so that no lie exists even if circumstance does go wrong. One of the names associated with this company lied to me early on so I never had any respect for the individual.

Defiant1

[toddluck]

brotherj said:

To be honest, I think I have to agree with everything you said in that post, Todd. Dino and co. have definitely not been forthcoming with any info and the attempts at manipulation of the fan base on the boards are irritating. I really wonder when the other shoe is going to drop.

It's surreal on VF.com. There are so many people who are bothered by the behavior but it's rarely posted about in public. Hell, Dino even made a joke about it and the only response he got was several posts essentially saying"That's a good one, man."

[Quato]

toddluck said:

brotherj said:

To be honest, I think I have to agree with everything you said in that post, Todd. Dino and co. have definitely not been forthcoming with any info and the attempts at manipulation of the fan base on the boards are irritating. I really wonder when the other shoe is going to drop.

It's surreal on VF.com. There are so many people who are bothered by the behavior but it's rarely posted about in public. Hell, Dino even made a joke about it and the only response he got was several posts essentially saying"That's a good one, man."

The technical word to describe it is "ass kissing". So many people have their noses lodged up Dino's butt that he won't be able to s#!t for years. Everybody is afraid they'll piss him off and lose out on some variant or something. Dino is nobody to me. He pissed away a lot of money and he;ll be lucky to get a dime out of his investment. His parental authorities should have invested in a little more schooling instead.

Q

[toddluck]

Here's something amusing I just discovered:

stores.ebay.com/Valiant-Entertainment

When they opened the "store" a few monthes ago everyone noticed the TM on the Valiant compass (which VE had just recently applied for, but did so seperately from the name "Valiant") But going back to the store now, I notice TMs on all the disputed characters and Rs on the ones that weren't. I don't know if that means the conflict or whatever it was with VIP is over but between their "store" and what was on the Trademark site, it certainly seems like things have definately gone their way (pretty soon, people will have to start coming with new excuses for VE's silence )

[Defiant1]

toddluck said:

Here's something amusing I just discovered:

stores.ebay.com/Valiant-Entertainment

When they opened the "store" a few monthes ago everyone noticed the TM on the Valiant compass (which VE had just recently applied for, but did so seperately from the name "Valiant") But going back to the store now, I notice TMs on all the disputed characters and Rs on the ones that weren't. I don't know if that means the conflict or whatever it was with VIP is over but between their "store" and what was on the Trademark site, it certainly seems like things have definately gone their way (pretty soon, people will have to start coming with new excuses for VE's silence )

One thing seems to be evident... they want to make some money off of Dino's collectibles. They must not have some pool of cash sitting around to do anything or they'd be smarter to spread rumors and hype before selling. What's the deal with the X-O lithograph? Who authorized that? Surely, Valiantfans had a nod of approval.

Defiant1

[toddluck]

admin said:

toddluck said:

Here's something amusing I just discovered:

stores.ebay.com/Valiant-Entertainment

When they opened the "store" a few monthes ago everyone noticed the TM on the Valiant compass (which VE had just recently applied for, but did so seperately from the name "Valiant") But going back to the store now, I notice TMs on all the disputed characters and Rs on the ones that weren't. I don't know if that means the conflict or whatever it was with VIP is over but between their "store" and what was on the Trademark site, it certainly seems like things have definately gone their way (pretty soon, people will have to start coming with new excuses for VE's silence )

One thing seems to be evident... they want to make some money off of Dino's collectibles. They must not have some pool of cash sitting around to do anything or they'd be smarter to spread rumors and hype before selling. What's the deal with the X-O lithograph? Who authorized that? Surely, Valiantfans had a nod of approval.

Defiant1

I'm sure it was done with permission of the new owners. This is from the rules for fan projects:

The fan project item cannot be a new (or otherwise unauthorized) creation.
Books, prints, lithographs, statues, etc., which are newly-created
are not eligible to be used as a ValiantFans.com project item unless they
have been officially approved by the current copyright/trademark holder(s).

valiantfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9471&start=0

What really bugs me about that litho is this: Half those images are literally copied from other artists:

The center image with that real wierd pose is original.

Upper left, corner not sure, could be original.

Center top (Aric's face) a flipped line for line copy of a BWS panel in X-O 1

Below that, I'm not sure about the spider alien, could be original

Right top is a real redrawing of a scene in X-O 5 (but still a swipe of that Leeke panel)

Bottom left is a real redrawing (Leeke's dinosaur looked better) but still a swipe

Bottom center is an exact line for line copy of the cover of X-O 9 by Leeke

Bottom right is an exact line for line copy of the first page of X-O 1 by BWS

I certianly hope he credited all those folks for this "homage."

On the VE store, I notice it hasn't sold much. At those prices it would be pretty hard to. That may not be the point. It's the only use of those trademarks so far. There seems to be a correlation between the ones in despute and the ones being listed at the store. Using an intellectual property is one of the requirements of ownership and might have something to do with it. But that's just an educated guess.

[Defiant1]

Lithographs never excite me. I can't view that link, but I saw it the other day and thought "who really gives a s#!t about this". So much for Mr. Bo Blayton whining on his web site about not being considered for work on Valiant.

Defiant1

[toddluck]

Here's where it began, as a commision Layton did in 2 days (I thought it looked familar).

www.valiantfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9776&start=0

Not sure how it ended up as a lithograph sold off the site (I guess the money goes to the site too?)

I liked that one post that said "I'm not picking up on Barry's style in this particular pic" ;D Maybe he's refering to parts of it that don't look like they were traced from X-O #1?

[Defiant1]

toddluck said:

Here's where it began, as a commision Layton did in 2 days (I thought it looked familar).

www.valiantfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9776&start=0

Not sure how it ended up as a lithograph sold off the site (I guess the money goes to the site too?)

I liked that one post that said "I'm not picking up on Barry's style in this particular pic" ;D Maybe he's refering to parts of it that don't look like they were traced from X-O #1?

He probably uses the same technique that he used on his cover creations. I'm no expert on how to reproduce images, but "light box" comes to mind.

If I'm not mistaken, inkers just trace-- don't they?!

Defiant1

[gowaltrip]

admin said:

toddluck said:

Here's something amusing I just discovered:

stores.ebay.com/Valiant-Entertainment

When they opened the "store" a few monthes ago everyone noticed the TM on the Valiant compass (which VE had just recently applied for, but did so seperately from the name "Valiant") But going back to the store now, I notice TMs on all the disputed characters and Rs on the ones that weren't. I don't know if that means the conflict or whatever it was with VIP is over but between their "store" and what was on the Trademark site, it certainly seems like things have definately gone their way (pretty soon, people will have to start coming with new excuses for VE's silence )

One thing seems to be evident... they want to make some money off of Dino's collectibles. They must not have some pool of cash sitting around to do anything or they'd be smarter to spread rumors and hype before selling. What's the deal with the X-O lithograph? Who authorized that? Surely, Valiantfans had a nod of approval.

Defiant1

Interesting reading fellas. Im not very knowledgeable of what is going on behind the scenes, but will agree, this outfit looks weak at best.

Dinos collectables hardly seems like a goldmine of income. Last I looked, they had a feedback rating of 3 and a bunch of Buy it nows on common Valiants ranging from like $1.99 - $9.99...not going to get rich that way.

I kind of go with the theory that they are in over their heads and looking for any avenue to make a buck. None is appearing, so perhaps they sell off at some point to some other interest who can better utilize the properties. The longer this goes with little or nothing accomplished and all in secret...the less likely I feel they will ever produce a comic (although I could be wrong). I kind of feel like it will be someone else...much longer down the road.

P.S. Lets say the only VE product that ever exists is that Litho? Later down the road, VE sells out...new company buys and successfully puts out new Valiant products and Valiant gets hot again. Would that Litho suddenly have any value because it was the only product EVER produced with the VE logo? Just curious.

[Defiant1]

gowaltrip said:

admin said:

One thing seems to be evident... they want to make some money off of Dino's collectibles. They must not have some pool of cash sitting around to do anything or they'd be smarter to spread rumors and hype before selling. What's the deal with the X-O lithograph? Who authorized that? Surely, Valiantfans had a nod of approval.

Defiant1

Interesting reading fellas. Im not very knowledgeable of what is going on behind the scenes, but will agree, this outfit looks weak at best.

Dinos collectables hardly seems like a goldmine of income. Last I looked, they had a feedback rating of 3 and a bunch of Buy it nows on common Valiants ranging from like $1.99 - $9.99...not going to get rich that way.

I kind of go with the theory that they are in over their heads and looking for any avenue to make a buck. None is appearing, so perhaps they sell off at some point to some other interest who can better utilize the properties. The longer this goes with little or nothing accomplished and all in secret...the less likely I feel they will ever produce a comic (although I could be wrong). I kind of feel like it will be someone else...much longer down the road.

P.S. Lets say the only VE product that ever exists is that Litho? Later down the road, VE sells out...new company buys and successfully puts out new Valiant products and Valiant gets hot again. Would that Litho suddenly have any value because it was the only product EVER produced with the VE logo? Just curious.

Whether it's authorized or not, I think it will always be categorized as a fan based creation and it's popularity will wane because of that. The people who collect comic related lithographs will always be a subset of the comics crowd, hence a smaller audience than the comics themselves have.

It would be extremely optimistic to estimate a fan base larger than the sales for Unity2000 #3 or Armorines V2 #4. Both were commercial failures costing more to produce than the sales could generate.

The whole idea of buying the properties and expecting them to make money on their own is silly. I'd want a pad of several millions of dollars if I was going to buy these characters and publish them. I'd want a large sum in addition to that available to promote the product.

Defiant1

[toddluck]

gowaltrip said:

P.S. Lets say the only VE product that ever exists is that Litho? Later down the road, VE sells out...new company buys and successfully puts out new Valiant products and Valiant gets hot again. Would that Litho suddenly have any value because it was the only product EVER produced with the VE logo? Just curious.

No.

Unless you see something I don't, VE's logo and name are not on the litho (VF.com's logo is). I'm sure that some clever person selling on ebay may make the claim that it's a VE product or a new Valaint product but it simply wouldn't be true (to be honest it's just a fan project that VE agreed not to sue anyone over).

It's a fan project done (or, at times, reproduced ) by a former Valiant creator. If that has value to people then, it'll go up in value. Personally I don't buy fan projects so I don't have a clue.

BTW, I found where Layton copied the spider alien in the litho from. It's a flipped version of this:

www.barrywindsor-smith.com/ValMal/xobigguy.html

He's batting 50% copied images so far...

[gowaltrip]

My bad...I was going by memory. I guess it served me wrong. I could have swore I seen the VE logo on it, but your right, it was the Valiant Fans logo. My bad.

I agree with Q on this. Seems VE spent all their money buying the rights.

Are they tapped out now?

[Quato]

gowaltrip said:

My bad...I was going by memory. I guess it served me wrong. I could have swore I seen the VE logo on it, but your right, it was the Valiant Fans logo. My bad.

I agree with Q on this. Seems VE spent all their money buying the rights.

Are they tapped out now?

Unless somebody wants to license the characters. It kinda defeats the purpose to buy them and then simply license them back out. I think I'd be trying to coax Dark Horse into publishing a set of high quality, library-worthy Shooter-era hardbacks. Assuming they still have the rights to publish Solar & Magnus.

Q

[toddluck]

quato said:

gowaltrip said:

My bad...I was going by memory. I guess it served me wrong. I could have swore I seen the VE logo on it, but your right, it was the Valiant Fans logo. My bad.

I agree with Q on this. Seems VE spent all their money buying the rights.

Are they tapped out now?

Unless somebody wants to license the characters. It kinda defeats the purpose to buy them and then simply license them back out. I think I'd be trying to coax Dark Horse into publishing a set of high quality, library-worthy Shooter-era hardbacks. Assuming they still have the rights to publish Solar & Magnus.

Q

Would Dark Horse really ask people to pay $50 for a hardcover of comics they could easily get the original issues of off ebay or a comic retailer for $20-$30 (or less)? What are they, DC? (referring to ridiculously overpriced Titans hardcovers)

[gowaltrip]

toddluck said:

BTW, I found where Layton copied the spider alien in the litho from. It's a flipped version of this:

www.barrywindsor-smith.com/ValMal/xobigguy.html

He's batting 50% copied images so far...

Im more of a fan of Layton the inker than Layton the artist. His art is okay....but I think his talent shows better at inking. I always felt his art was stiff and lacking a bit with a few great exceptions. If BWS had done an original art litho...Im sure it would have been better than this.

[Quato]

toddluck said:

quato said:

Unless somebody wants to license the characters. It kinda defeats the purpose to buy them and then simply license them back out. I think I'd be trying to coax Dark Horse into publishing a set of high quality, library-worthy Shooter-era hardbacks. Assuming they still have the rights to publish Solar & Magnus.

Q

Would Dark Horse really ask people to pay $50 for a hardcover of comics they could easily get the original issues of off ebay or a comic retailer for $20-$30 (or less)? What are they, DC? (referring to ridiculously overpriced Titans hardcovers)

I wouldn't mind a nice bookshelf set of Shooter's Valiant work. I don't want an art cover or poor reprodction quality like Dark Horse gave us with the Gold Key Solar & Magnus. I want something that could sit on a bookshelf and look like a reference volume.

If you've ever seen a set of silver age Marvel reference sets (hardbound books)... that's what I'm thinking about.

Q

[Quato]

gowaltrip said:

toddluck said:

BTW, I found where Layton copied the spider alien in the litho from. It's a flipped version of this:

www.barrywindsor-smith.com/ValMal/xobigguy.html

He's batting 50% copied images so far...

Im more of a fan of Layton the inker than Layton the artist. His art is okay....but I think his talent shows better at inking. I always felt his art was stiff and lacking a bit with a few great exceptions. If BWS had done an original art litho...Im sure it would have been better than this.

Layton is an excellent inker, but his style and types of layouts are becoming more repetitive. His Future Comics covers were really starting to make me lose interest in his work. Currently, I would not go out of my way to get any original art or inking from him, but I can still recognize his talent.

As I've said before, I have no interest in comic book lithographs or even posters. I'm not going to frame them. I can't imagine a lot of wives wanting Spider Aliens in the living room or hallways. The only comic related piece I have on my wall is a vulgar piece of original art by Ivan Brunetti. I'd take it down if I was inviting mixed company into my home.

Q