Columns 

Valiant (Re)visions Power Rankings: Month Three

By and | April 24th, 2013
Posted in Columns | % Comments

David: Well Brandon, on a giant sized month of Valiant books as Harbinger Wars is in full effect, we have our Power Rankings kicking off. I hope you’re ready to drop some knowledge on what your favorite books were for Valiant this month, because I am.

Before we jump in, the Power Rankings find Brandon and I breaking down our favorite books from Valiant from least to most favorite. With 6 books this month, we’ll have a top 6 list. So let’s get to it.

My sixth book is, unsurprisingly, X-O Manowar with its twelfth issue. This book from Robert Venditti and Cary Nord continues its streak of not being bad, not being good, just kind of being blah. I think the struggle with this book will continue until the lead is anywhere near as interesting as other things that are going on. Until Aric becomes someone we can root for or have a pressing interest in, this book will struggle. Venditti does a fine job with the rest of the book and Nord is a quality artist, but I frankly have no connection with this book as it stands.

What were your sixth and fifth favorite books this month, Mr. Burpee?

Brandon: My #6 book this month is without a doubt X-O Manowar as well. I agree entirely that it is all just kind of blah. I don’t feel a sense of excitement about the book and it really has very little to emotional connect with. If I can’t emotional invest in the characters of a title the title typically doesn’t engage me. Nothing new here though.

My #5 book of the month is Shadowman. I enjoyed the issue and I have been really starting to get into the title over the course of the last few months but this issue was not as strong as last months. The best part of this title is the strong potential the title clearly shows. The worst part is the that the title has such strong potential and the main character is extremely underdeveloped. A little more meat on his bones and we’ll have something pretty awesome here.

So David “MF” Harper, what do you have for your 5th and 4th in the power rankings?

David: Oh, you hit the nail on the head again. We’re 2 for 2 now, as Shadowman was undoubtedly my #5 pick this month. It’s actually a good book, but the big struggle with it is – as you said – the lack of a quality lead. So far we know very little about him, and this issue preyed upon that one thing we knew – he was into the hot waitress at a diner he’d go to – and it still made it overall a downturn from the previous issue simply because no matter how great the surrounding stuff is – and it is great – the lack of a quality lead brings it down big time. It’s strange that both this and X-O struggle so mightily with that, but here we are.

Meanwhile, my #4 is Harbinger Wars #1. Not because it was a bad book, as Dysart, Swierczy, Crain, Suayan and Henry aren’t going to produce something bad, but because the rest of the month was really damn solid. Harbinger Wars started out well as an independent story. It’s main struggles were two fold: we honestly have no idea what the hell this story is going to be or could be, so it limits the narrative tension, and having that third artist in with Henry and Crain really took it down a notch for me. It was a rock solid event start, but it was just a little thin and somehow still overcooked to really get all of the way for me.

What are your next couple books?

Brandon: My #4 this month is Archer and Armstrong. This was a decent issue but not my favorite. Overall, this title sits at this spot more because of the strength of the other books remaining more so than any real qualms with the title or this months issue. For me this is a solid book with a solid team but I really enjoy the next set of books more. In all honestly, this is the portion of my list where from here on out things can and have shifted on a month to month basis. 4 and up and the cream of the Valiant crop.

Continued below

My #3 this month is Harbinger. While I still really enjoy this book it to me was not as strong as last month. I had some issues with the storytelling methods but other than that it just wasn’t as strong as in months past. Please don’t anyone read that as I didn’t like the issue this month because I did. I just didn’t feel it met the same high standards the book has set for itself.

Whatcha got for #3 and #2 Mr. Harper?

David: This is where it gets really hard for me. The top three books I all really, really enjoyed. But if I’m going to have to make the hard decisions, I’ll let my original decisions stand. I’m going to give my #3 spot to Bloodshot, as I really, really enjoyed the arrival of Barry Kitson to the team. I’ve enjoyed this book since Day One, but man oh man, is Kitson getting added to the equation a huge uptick for the book overall. Now for me this book is firing on all cylinders, with art and writing matching each other. Granted, it helps that we’re really getting into the meat of Bloodshot as a character, and this issue underlines how important a quality lead is in a book like this. There’s some great stuff here.

Because of the longevity of me preferring Harbinger overall though, tie goes to the runner here and Harbinger gets the #2 spot over Bloodshot. I gave them both 8.5’s, and I stand by that. Harbinger has been more consistent throughout though, and I thought this issue really crushed it on the interpersonal front. I loved that everyone in the cast got a little light, that Torkelson acted a damn fool, that they’re starting to get some direction and that Faith made Peter be a hero because he wants to be one, not because he has to. That was a great little storytelling bit from Josh Dysart right there.

Alright Brandon, let’s close this down. What finished at #2 and #1 for you, respectively?

Brandon: Alrighty then! My #2 this month is Harbinger Wars. While I gave it .5 less in the numerical rating than my #1 it has only had one issue so like a sports team who has a hot game I’m unable to give it the top spot until I see more. For my money it beats Harbinger despite it’s usual #1 or #2 rank because the issue is like a cousin of that book and was better than it this month. I am very interested to see where it goes and how it will help to define the Valiant universe which is building at a fever pitch of awesomeness!

This of course leaves Bloodshot as my #1! I love this book and have said multiple times that it is probably my favorite of the Valiant books even if it is only by a hair over Harbinger. I have enjoyed the series and didn’t have any issues with the previous artist but I do have to admit that Kitson added a nice shot to the arm of the title that really helped to launch it to the top. It’s a quality book that is even more so now.

Drum roll time! What’s your #1 David?!

David: Like it’s not obvious! My #1 for the second month in a row is the unbeatable law firm of Archer & Armstrong. Combining the mights of Fred Van Lente and Emanuela Lupacchino is too much for me to deny, as this is routinely one of the most fun reads I have in comics each and every month. I loved the way this wrapped up the first mega arc and how it set up where we’re going next – ding ding ding! A&A getting connected with the rest of the Valiant Universe! – and it just was plain fun throughout. I mean, Van Lente made a Jack Ruby appearance hilariously weird. Come on now. That’s remarkable.

Plus, I love love love love Lupacchino’s art. Her stuff continues to blow me away, and it’s especially amazing considering how seamlessly they worked Alvero Martinez’s art in. I did not notice a downturn or even a change. Stellar stuff.

I love Archer & Armstrong. It’s that simple.

It was a great month of Valiant books, Brandon, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.


//TAGS | Valiant (Re)visions

David Harper

EMAIL | ARTICLES

Brandon Burpee

Burpee loves Superheroes, Alaskan IPA, 90's X-Men and is often one more beer away from a quotable.

EMAIL | ARTICLES


  • Reviews
    Valiant (Re)visions: Harbingers #25 and Unity #9 [Review]

    By | Jul 17, 2014 | Reviews

    One of Valiant’s first titles reaches a landmark issue (and comes to an end) while another keeps an event rolling. How were they, though? Find out below.Harbinger #25Written by Josh Dysart, Vivek Tiwary, Justin Jordan, Dan Goldman and Lucy KnisleyIllustrated by Khari Evans, Lewis Larosa, Rafer Roberts, Clayton Henry and Lucy KnisleyFor such a huge […]

    MORE »

    -->