Author Christopher Valentine on Self-Publishing, Classic Superman, and His New Book: The Valiant Knight

WritingCreator SpotlightFeatured

Feb 20

Written By Guest Author

the-valiant-knight - book cover - Knight looking towards the sun.

Author Spotlight: Christopher Valentine

Reclaiming the Superhero

My tale is not for the faint of heart. It is a story of finding hope through hardship.

The Valiant Knight, my self-published novel series, is my take on the superhero genre. As over-saturated as they may seem, I still think superheroes have a lot of stories left to tell. It would be a crime against art and creativity not to access that potential.

Speaking frankly, heroes like Spider-Man, Batman, and Superman have always been my refuge since my childhood days. Naturally, I don't want to let them go. Amazingly, they're still my sanctuary even now as an adult.

The Superman Paradox

I am very much a classic DC fan—meaning everything from the 1930s to the 2000s. Superman was a massive inspiration for my work. I adored the simple nobility and heroism that DC brought.

Looking back, it was quite a paradox for me. Without getting into specifics, I just couldn't shake the feeling that the rights holders, creators, and even my fellow fans didn't understand the characters anymore. As new projects kept getting announced, I saw people getting excited. However, I reached the point where I just didn't get it anymore. It was immensely disillusioning.

Once you start reading my book, you'll find a painstakingly created sci-fi version of the 1940s. I got the idea to make it a kind of period piece as I learned about the character's history. The lives his original creators went through were atrocious. Yet, strangely, it only drew me closer to the character. It's my belief that Superman's iconic message of hope only rings truer in the face of hardship.

My books are my way of rejecting modernity. That's not to say that it's all bad, but there are certainly some parts of it I can live without. My own DC, if I may be so bold. You can say that I'm living in a dream world, but again, Superman has an inspirational speech for that.

The Freedom of Self-Publishing

This brings me to my belief in the self-publishing process.

Ideally, I would like for the majority of art and entertainment to be self-published and independent. The primary reason why I view things this way is because of my disillusionment with mainstream entertainment.

I used to believe that an artist being accepted into the mainstream was a badge of honor, the highest a creator could go. However, the things I've gone through have significantly altered my perspective. I can no longer rely on the mainstream like I once did.

Simply put, I can't ignore the flaws. Self-publishing means freedom. The freedom to be myself and make the stories I believe the world needs.