Valiant or Lion?

[SID]

Almost 42 years ago, two great comics came together to become Valiant and Lion.

I understand the reasons behind it but was it the popular choice with the members of ComicsUK?

Taking it as a given that the two comics had to merge, which comic would you rather had been the victor?

And if you still preferred Valiant to continue, is there anything you would have done differently?

I really am looking for your personal preference regardless of the logistics or the fact that the victor was most likely fated in going a couple of years later.

Your vote and any explanations please.

[SID]

Originally, I would have opted for Valiant but as I got familiar with Lion, I came to like its strips better.

So my choice: Lion and Valiant.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Definitely VALIANT it's often bizarre properties are right up my visual street.

LION was good for Robot Archie though. Lion looks more traditional to me, Valiant is more all-out sci-fi [well, some of it].

[Bethanys grandad]

How about the best strips from both and call it valiont

[philcom55]

For a time during the 1960s Valiant and Lion were a package deal for me: I had both every week and happily settled down with a whole eighty pages to read. The Spider, Jason Hyde, Steel Claw, Kelly's Eye, Mytek the Mighty, Robot Archie, House of Dolmann, the Phantom Viking, Spellbinder - who could possibly choose between all those?

[SID]

For a time during the 1960s Valiant and Lion were a package deal for me: I had both every week and happily settled down with a whole eighty pages to read. The Spider, Jason Hyde, Steel Claw, Kelly's Eye, Mytek the Mighty, Robot Archie, House of Dolmann, the Phantom Viking, Spellbinder - who could possibly choose between all those?

Phil, you must have loved the Lion and Valiant specials that came out.

I have to agree that it is a very close call between the two.

[big bad bri]

never read or seen either title but would have liked to have read them and own them now.

[Robbie Moubert]

I started getting Valiant every week in October '69. Having now seen the earlier issues I can see that, as it entered the new decade, it gradually declined but the mergers with Smash! and TV21 didn't have too much of an adverse affect. The merger with Lion was a different story - I hated it. All my favourite strips ended and I didn't care for the replacements. I carried on reading until the end but didn't really enjoy it any more. Based purely on how I felt aged 11, I think I'd have been happier if they'd merged Lion with Tiger and left Valiant alone!

Looking back at them now, I still think Valiant was the stronger title and it definitely had the best roster of artists.

[SID]

I know any Tiger fan will hate this: But I wish Valiant or Lion survived rather than Tiger. Or at the very least merged together - making Tiger a more all-rounder rather than a sports based comic.

Of course would have never of happed as the comics were incompatible focus wise. Besides, would most likely have caused Tiger's demise to come that much quicker.

[Peter Gray]

Valiant for me...love to get some more 60's and early 70's...

Though I might give Lion more of a chance..

[blaing]

Ditto for me on Valiant, particularly the 1960's issues:)

[Bethanys grandad]

The first of the Lion annuals had Fantasic sci fi covers, some of the best 50s comic artwork

[starscape]

Earlier Lion was pretty safe a la 1950s Eagle. Nothing for me in there. Got a lot better with the Snake and Adam Eterno. Valiant though was pretty exciting when it came in. A step forward. A period came in the mid-70s when it became pretty standard but it took the game to Warlord (another breath of fresh air at the time) and was really the protoype for Action when it closed.

So, Lion under-appreciated but Valiant still tops.

[philcom55]

I thought Lion hit a real high point in the early 1960s with Brian Lewis and Keith Watson on Captain Condor, Don Lawrence on Karl the Viking, Joe Colqhuoun on Paddy Payne and Reg Bunn on Rory MacDuff. Until it swallowed Knockout Valiant was quite lacklustre by comparison.

[Robbie Moubert]

Yes, the merger with Knockout definitely gave Valiant the kick-start it needed.