Valiant (Re)visions Power Rankings: Month Seven

David: IT’S TIME FOLKS! We’re back with a brand new edition of Valiant (Re)visions Power Rankings, and we’re your hosts, Brandon and David. This is the monthly column where we rank our favorite Valiant books in order from least favorite to favorite, heavily emphasized what they’ve done recently. It’s like any sports Power Rankings you’ve ever seen, but better, because it’s us.

Let’s get this party started Brandon. I’ll kick things off with my #7, which incredibly is a one-time #1 for me: Harbinger. It’s most recent issue – Harbinger #14 – finishes a run of three out of four bad tie-in issues to the “Harbinger Wars” event, and this issue was particularly redundant. It actually gets bonus demerits for how short of a time they spent pretending Faith was dead, and it is the bold underline under how much these books struggled to tie in to the event even though the event itself was quite cool.

What do you have for #7 and #6, yo?

Brandon Well my #7 this month is actually Bloodshot. This is quite possibly the lowest this book has ever finished for me. I really do love the title but when you look at the month it had things aren’t pretty. This title is coming out of Harbinger Wars where it essentially just mirrored the happenings of that event and more often than not came off as the lesser version of events. Add to that the title is going through a massive change and the last issue of the previous creators run was more of a sweep under the rug and move on issue instead of a great finale. Finally, we are moving in a new direction here and we have no clue how it happens. This book went from great to mess in no time flat.

My #6 this month is Quantum and Woody. I think the book had a decent start but it’s still the rookie of the bunch and has to prove itself a bit more before I let it get any higher on the list. I do have high hopes for this book and I am interested to see if it can live up to the hype of the previous iteration.

What do you have good sir?

David: Mine is X-O Manowar. It’s on just a little bit of a hot streak, but it’s not enough to offset the recent woes of the book. It’s the equivalent of the Houston Astros going on a four game winning streak. Sure, it’s good that they’re winning games, but holy shit, they lost a lot of games to start. I’m very much looking forward to where this book is going for once, but we’re still digging through some rubble.

#5 for me is your lowest book – it’s our friend Bloodshot! Typically, he’s pretty rock solid. He survived Harbinger Wars much better than Harbinger did for me, as half of his issues were good rather than the quarter Harbinger had. However, it closed on a low point where not much really happened besides wrapping Duane Swierczynski’s run up in a nice little bow. I really enjoyed Kitson’s art this month, but I have to say, the idea of Christos Gage, Josh Dysart and Emanuela Lupacchino taking over this book next month is extremely appealing – even if they laid really no foundation for that happening in Harbinger Wars or in this series itself. Weird month Brandon!

What do you have for #5 and #4?

Brandon: My #5 this month is none other than X-O Manowar. This is a title that is actually getting better by the issue. It’s slowly trying to creep up my list and with other things falling in quality this month for some reason or another X-O made a strong argument with my brain to move up the list. I’m interested to see if it can continue to climb or if things will normalize at some point. Is this X-O Manowar the Jose Iglesias of Valiant? Only time will tell.

#4 This month is Harbinger. Much like Bloodshot, it took a massive dive due to it’s rinse and repeat nature while tied into Harbinger Wars but it still had some upside. I enjoyed what this month’s issue did with Harada and the book still has a direction to it. If anything there are now new pieces on the board to play with. I think this book will recover and that is why it didn’t drop further down this month.

Continued below

Hit me with some books David!

David: My #4 is actually Harbinger Wars, which closes the event on a bit of a down note for me. While I enjoyed the event overall, I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic and didn’t really have anything that resembled significant movement for the characters or real emotional resolution. Bloodshot is hanging out by the Paris hotel after getting typhooned over there, the Renegades are exactly the same minus Peter will have a tough time talking for a little while, and some chess pieces in the form of children and the Hard CORPS were moved around a bit. Clayton Henry’s art was very, very nice on this issue, but even the art gets a demerit for the sudden change to Mico Suayan at the end. As much as I enjoyed some of the little character beats and the little kid psiots interacting with the Hard CORPS, this was a disappointing finish for what was an outstanding event.

#3 is a book that has been steadily climbing up, up, up my charts, and it might keep doing that because holy crap Brandon – we have interesting good guys for once! It’s Shadowman! This book has long had a glass ceiling over it because of the fact that Shadowman, Dox and Alyssa were far less interesting than Master Darque, Baron Samedi and Jaunty (aka Monkey in a Top Hat). This issue did a lot to move the needle in the direction of “interesting” for them, and on top of that, there was some fantastic and creepy stuff throughout. Roberto de la Torre was a great fit for this issue, especially given how much of it took place in the Deadside, and he really upped the ante in some of the darker, more ominous moments. I’m excited to see where we are headed!

It’s time for you to drop some knowledge on me. What’s coming in at #3 and #2 for you?

Brandon My #3 this month is the same as my #3 from last month. David’s favorite Valiant book Archer and Armstrong.

I know you feel I undersell this book and I’ll admit it doesn’t always knock my socks off but I do understand it is a solid book and that is why it is sitting in this spot for the second straight month. It has solid art and also is light and fun but still has engaging characters. For it to move beyond this point I need just a little more from it.

Onto the next one! My #2 is Shadowman this month. This book is again back on track. This issue was solid and the overall direction of the title has continued to progress in a positive direction. I would agree that feeling something for our heroes has made a world of difference and if things continue this could easily be the #1 in the future and for some time to come. I’m very excited for where this book is heading and I LOVE Monkey in a Top Hat!

What ‘s at the top of the pops for you David?

David: Oh, you know exactly what’s coming Brandon! Shooting straight to #2 for me is Quantum & Woody from James Asmus, Tom Fowler and Jordie Bellaire. I’ve long been a massive Q&W fan, and this first issue told me that this team gets it. It’s about the characters. I loved their interpretation of Eric and Woody, giving us a lot of what we enjoyed about them previously (even throwing in a “Medicine Woman” reference) but still doing their own thing. Fowler’s art was dynamic, excelling in the moments selling the humor, the sullen and the action, and Bellaire’s colors perfectly complimented his work especially in the showcase final sequence. They had a tight rope to walk with me, having to pay dues to Priest and Bright’s run while still doing their own thing. They nailed it, in my book.

Meanwhile, we close with another ampersand: it’s Archer & Armstrong. As you well know, I love this book, and this issue taking place in the Faraway was one of the best issues yet. It ties into the zero issue from a couple months back, it has some rather insane but awesome moments (including Hearst the Dodo sniffing Archer out) and it is filled with great character interactions. This is one of the best situational comedies in comics, and Fred Van Lente has a direct line to my brain with this book. I remain to this day surprised about how much I love this book, but I do. It helps a lot that Pere Perez is a phenomenal fit, as his highly expressive and energetic style brings this book to life in all the ways it needs to be done. I’m all up in this book’s business Brandon. ALL UP IN IT!

Close us out brother man. Do it!

Brandon: Well my #1 is the same as it has been for a bit here. It’s the best event to happen to comics in some time. I felt this was a well told story that moved the Valiant to a more interesting place with new and interesting characters introduced along the way. It didn’t cost a million dollars to follow and the only downside was the effect it has on the two ancillary titles but this wasn’t always a negative thing. If you didn’t check this event out for some reason or another, do yourself a favor and get the trade. If you like excellent events then this is a must buy! If you like comics this is a must buy! Not sure if you understand what I am saying here. This was a great event and it’ll be fun to watch Valiant try and top it the next time it takes a crack at event comics. Harbinger Wars, I already miss you my love.