It was twenty years ago today...
So today is the 20th anniversary of the first post of the KateStory, a rather silly collaborative story that my friends and I have been making up as it went along since the days of Prodigy and 14.4 dialup.
I've gone ahead and kicked off KateStory XIX over at the Brontoforumus. Feel free to join on in.
So I picked up the Humble Valiant Bundle a few weeks back. (The bundle is no longer being sold, but that link will show you some of what was in it.)
I'm enjoying it, and I was enjoying the shared universe, right up until I got to the part where the Eternal Warrior shows up in Archer & Armstrong and behaves completely differently from how he does in Eternal Warrior. (In A&A, he's a Terminator-like unstoppable killing machine who follows Archer to the ends of the earth to avenge the death of a Geomancer and will not listen to reason when his brother tells him Archer is innocent. Whereas in his own book, he's been in seclusion for the past 150 years after telling all the Geomancers they can go fuck themselves, and rejoins the battle only with the greatest reluctance. Both of these stories are supposed to be set in the present.) Now, maybe this gets explained later -- maybe he's being mind-controlled or something -- but it's pretty jarring if you read Eternal Warrior first and then switch to Archer and Armstrong.
So I got to wondering, what order are you supposed to read these books in?
It's actually surprisingly difficult to find a simple answer to this question on Valiant's site or Wikipedia. But after some research, I've found that the short answer is: X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, Archer & Armstrong, Shadowman, Quantum and Woody, Eternal Warrior, Unity, Rai, with Harbinger Wars concurrent with the third volumes of Harbinger and Bloodshot (as their title implies).
The long answer is this giant table I made.
(Update 2014-12-31: And the even longer answer is a newer post I wrote, titled A More Detailed Valiant Comics Chronology.)
Note that this is not exhaustive; I've only included the books that were in the Humble Valiant Bundle (and not the Valiant Masters, which are the original 1990's continuity). Also note that these dates are from solicitations I've found online; some of these might not be the actual ship dates, but most of them probably are.
| Series | Issue | Release | Trade | Release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-O Manowar | #01 | 2012-05-02 | vol 1: By the Sword | 2012-12-05 |
| X-O Manowar | #02 | 2012-06-06 | vol 1: By the Sword | 2012-12-05 |
| Harbinger | #01 | 2012-06-06 | vol 1: Omega Rising | 2013-01-09 |
| Harbinger | #02 | 2012-07-11 | vol 1: Omega Rising | 2013-01-09 |
| Bloodshot | #01 | 2012-07-11 | vol 1: Setting the World on Fire | 2013-02-06 |
| X-O Manowar | #03 | 2012-07-18 | vol 1: By the Sword | 2012-12-05 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #01 | 2012-08-08 | vol 1: Michelangelo Code, The | 2013-03-06 |
| Bloodshot | #02 | 2012-08-15 | vol 1: Setting the World on Fire | 2013-02-06 |
| Harbinger | #03 | 2012-08-15 | vol 1: Omega Rising | 2013-01-09 |
| X-O Manowar | #04 | 2012-08-29 | vol 1: By the Sword | 2012-12-05 |
| Bloodshot | #03 | 2012-09-05 | vol 1: Setting the World on Fire | 2013-02-06 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #02 | 2012-09-05 | vol 1: Michelangelo Code, The | 2013-03-06 |
| X-O Manowar | #05 | 2012-09-12 | vol 2: Enter Ninjak | 2013-03-27 |
| Harbinger | #04 | 2012-09-12 | vol 1: Omega Rising | 2013-01-09 |
| Bloodshot | #04 | 2012-10-10 | vol 1: Setting the World on Fire | 2013-02-06 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #03 | 2012-10-10 | vol 1: Michelangelo Code, The | 2013-03-06 |
| X-O Manowar | #06 | 2012-10-17 | vol 2: Enter Ninjak | 2013-03-27 |
| Harbinger | #05 | 2012-10-17 | vol 1: Omega Rising | 2013-01-09 |
| Shadowman | #01 | 2012-11-07 | vol 1: Birth Rites | 2013-04-24 |
| Bloodshot | #05 | 2012-11-14 | vol 2: Rise and the Fall, The | 2013-06-26 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #04 | 2012-11-14 | vol 1: Michelangelo Code, The | 2013-03-06 |
| X-O Manowar | #07 | 2012-11-21 | vol 2: Enter Ninjak | 2013-03-27 |
| Harbinger | #06 | 2012-11-21 | vol 2: Renegades | 2013-05-22 |
| Shadowman | #02 | 2012-12-05 | vol 1: Birth Rites | 2013-04-24 |
| Bloodshot | #06 | 2012-12-12 | vol 2: Rise and the Fall, The | 2013-06-26 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #05 | 2012-12-12 | vol 2: Wrath of the Eternal Warrior | 2013-07-31 |
| X-O Manowar | #08 | 2012-12-19 | vol 2: Enter Ninjak | 2013-03-27 |
| Harbinger | #07 | 2012-12-19 | vol 2: Renegades | 2013-05-22 |
| Shadowman | #03 | 2013-01-09 | vol 1: Birth Rites | 2013-04-24 |
| Bloodshot | #07 | 2013-01-16 | vol 2: Rise and the Fall, The | 2013-06-26 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #06 | 2013-01-16 | vol 2: Wrath of the Eternal Warrior | 2013-07-31 |
| X-O Manowar | #09 | 2013-01-23 | vol 3: Planet Death | 2013-08-21 |
| Harbinger | #08 | 2013-01-23 | vol 2: Renegades | 2013-05-22 |
| Harbinger | #0 | 2013-02-06 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-25 |
| Shadowman | #04 | 2013-02-06 | vol 1: Birth Rites | 2013-04-24 |
| Bloodshot | #08 | 2013-02-13 | vol 2: Rise and the Fall, The | 2013-06-26 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #07 | 2013-02-13 | vol 2: Wrath of the Eternal Warrior | 2013-07-31 |
| X-O Manowar | #10 | 2013-02-20 | vol 3: Planet Death | 2013-08-21 |
| Harbinger | #09 | 2013-02-20 | vol 2: Renegades | 2013-05-22 |
| Shadowman | #05 | 2013-03-06 | vol 2: Darque Reckoning | 2013-10-23 |
| Bloodshot | #09 | 2013-03-13 | vol 2: Rise and the Fall, The | 2013-06-26 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #08 | 2013-03-13 | vol 2: Wrath of the Eternal Warrior | 2013-07-31 |
| X-O Manowar | #11 | 2013-03-20 | vol 3: Planet Death | 2013-08-21 |
| Harbinger | #10 | 2013-03-20 | vol 2: Renegades | 2013-05-22 |
| Shadowman | #06 | 2013-04-03 | vol 2: Darque Reckoning | 2013-10-23 |
| Harbinger Wars | #01 | 2013-04-03 | Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-18 |
| Harbinger | #11 | 2013-04-10 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-25 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #09 | 2013-04-10 | vol 2: Wrath of the Eternal Warrior | 2013-07-31 |
| X-O Manowar | #12 | 2013-04-17 | vol 3: Planet Death | 2013-08-21 |
| Bloodshot | #10 | 2013-04-17 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-10-16 |
| Shadowman | #0 | 2013-05-01 | vol 3: Deadside Blues | 2014-01-01 |
| Harbinger Wars | #02 | 2013-05-01 | Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-18 |
| Harbinger | #12 | 2013-05-08 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-25 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #0 | 2013-05-08 | vol 3: Far Faraway | 2013-12-04 |
| X-O Manowar | #13 | 2013-05-15 | vol 3: Planet Death | 2013-08-21 |
| Bloodshot | #11 | 2013-05-15 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-10-16 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #10 | 2013-06-05 | vol 3: Far Faraway | 2013-12-04 |
| Shadowman | #07 | 2013-06-05 | vol 2: Darque Reckoning | 2013-10-23 |
| Harbinger Wars | #03 | 2013-06-12 | Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-18 |
| Harbinger | #13 | 2013-06-19 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-25 |
| Bloodshot | #12 | 2013-06-19 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-10-16 |
| X-O Manowar | #14 | 2013-06-26 | vol 3: Planet Death | 2013-08-21 |
| Shadowman | #08 | 2013-07-03 | vol 2: Darque Reckoning | 2013-10-23 |
| Quantum and Woody | #01 | 2013-07-10 | vol 1: World's Worst Superhero Team, The | 2013-11-06 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #11 | 2013-07-17 | vol 3: Far Faraway | 2013-12-04 |
| Harbinger Wars | #04 | 2013-07-17 | Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-18 |
| Harbinger | #14 | 2013-07-24 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-09-25 |
| Bloodshot | #13 | 2013-07-24 | vol 3: Harbinger Wars | 2013-10-16 |
| Shadowman | #09 | 2013-08-07 | vol 2: Darque Reckoning | 2013-10-23 |
| Quantum and Woody | #02 | 2013-08-07 | vol 1: World's Worst Superhero Team, The | 2013-11-06 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #12 | 2013-08-14 | vol 3: Far Faraway | 2013-12-04 |
| Shadowman | #10 | 2013-09-04 | vol 3: Deadside Blues | 2014-01-01 |
| Quantum and Woody | #03 | 2013-09-04 | vol 1: World's Worst Superhero Team, The | 2013-11-06 |
| Archer & Armstrong | #13 | 2013-09-11 | vol 3: Far Faraway | 2013-12-04 |
| Eternal Warrior | #01 | 2013-09-11 | vol 1: Sword of the Wild | 2014-01-22 |
| Shadowman | #11 | 2013-10-02 | vol 3: Deadside Blues | 2014-01-01 |
| Quantum and Woody | #04 | 2013-10-02 | vol 1: World's Worst Superhero Team, The | 2013-11-06 |
| Eternal Warrior | #02 | 2013-10-09 | vol 1: Sword of the Wild | 2014-01-22 |
| Shadowman | #12 | 2013-11-06 | vol 3: Deadside Blues | 2014-01-01 |
| Quantum and Woody | #05 | 2013-11-06 | vol 2: In Security | 2014-03-05 |
| Unity | #01 | 2013-11-13 | vol 1: To Kill a King | 2014-03-12 |
| Eternal Warrior | #03 | 2013-11-20 | vol 1: Sword of the Wild | 2014-01-22 |
| Quantum and Woody | #06 | 2013-12-04 | vol 2: In Security | 2014-03-05 |
| Unity | #02 | 2013-12-11 | vol 1: To Kill a King | 2014-03-12 |
| Eternal Warrior | #04 | 2013-12-18 | vol 1: Sword of the Wild | 2014-01-22 |
| Quantum and Woody | #07 | 2014-01-08 | vol 2: In Security | 2014-03-05 |
| Unity | #03 | 2014-01-15 | vol 1: To Kill a King | 2014-03-12 |
| Eternal Warrior | #05 | 2014-01-22 | vol 2: Eternal Emperor | 2014-06-18 |
| Eternal Warrior | #06 | 2014-02-12 | vol 2: Eternal Emperor | 2014-06-18 |
| Quantum and Woody | #07 | 2014-02-19 | vol 2: In Security | 2014-03-05 |
| Unity | #04 | 2014-02-19 | vol 1: To Kill a King | 2014-03-12 |
| Quantum and Woody | #0 | 2014-03-05 | vol 3: Crooked Pasts, Present Tense | 2014-09-17 |
| Unity | #05 | 2014-03-12 | vol 2: Trapped by Webnet | 2014-07-09 |
| Eternal Warrior | #07 | 2014-03-26 | vol 2: Eternal Emperor | 2014-06-18 |
| Quantum and Woody | #09 | 2014-04-02 | vol 3: Crooked Pasts, Present Tense | 2014-09-17 |
| Unity | #06 | 2014-04-09 | vol 2: Trapped by Webnet | 2014-07-09 |
| Eternal Warrior | #08 | 2014-04-23 | vol 2: Eternal Emperor | 2014-06-18 |
| Rai | #01 | 2014-05-07 | ||
| Quantum and Woody | #10 | 2014-05-14 | vol 3: Crooked Pasts, Present Tense | 2014-09-17 |
| Unity | #07 | 2014-05-21 | vol 2: Trapped by Webnet | 2014-07-09 |
| Quantum and Woody | #11 | 2014-06-04 | vol 3: Crooked Pasts, Present Tense | 2014-09-17 |
| Rai | #02 | 2014-06-04 | ||
| Quantum and Woody | #11 | 2014-07-02 | vol 3: Crooked Pasts, Present Tense | 2014-09-17 |
| Rai | #03 | 2014-07-09 | ||
| Rai | #04 | 2014-08-27 |
Table sorting courtesy of jQuery and tablesorter; icons courtesy of Font Awesome.
Updated 2015-09-25: Replaced Christian Bach's tablesorter with Mottie's fork.
So I made a few changes to the site design.
I've still got a ways to go -- so far all I've done is tweak my existing, circa-2008 codebase. I'd like to redo the backend and base it on the latest WordPress default theme (for better compatibility with widgets and things, and ideally to get responsive CSS and semantic tags working from the get-go), but that's probably going to take me a bit.
In some ways, I'm veering more retro than ever (you'll note the red links are gone and we're back not just to blue but to good old #0000FF); in others, I've made a few modest concessions to CSS3 (rounded corners and box-shadows aren't so bad -- gradients and transparencies are still bullshit, though).
I thought about writing a lengthy post discussing my design sensibilities and how I've applied them in this latest update, but I think I'll hold off because I'm not actually done yet and I'm still deciding on some changes. (Links aren't currently underlined; I'd like to underline them, but post titles are also links and if they're links I want them to look like they're links, and I don't like underlines on post titles. Considering adding a colored background to post titles, but I'm still deciding. Stuff like that.)
I've learned a lot about modern Web design over the course of the past year and a half or so, since it went from being hobby/occasional freelance gig to day job. I'm still not much of a graphic designer, and my sensibilities are still very much those of a programmer rather than an artist. (I'm disappointed that XHTML was deprecated in favor of updating the HTML4 standards base, but on the other hand I dig the semantic stuff.)
And speaking of Web design as day job...well, I feel like one of these days I should continue my Tempin' Ain't Easy post and talk about the jobs I've had since. It's been interesting.