Brandon I thought it worked in that it wasn’t necessarily an origin story but instead it was just a more expanded background story that intertwines with history and what not. I was wondering why or how they would tell his definitive origin like the other Zero issues have done but I was happy to see them go another direction with it.
I thought it was a good issue as usual but also like usual I didn’t feel like there was enough in there to make it great. I know the Zero issue is a gimmick but it also, in the other Zero issues, has shed some sort of profound light on one of the characters. This one didn’t really tell us anything we didn’t know to begin with. So that hurt it in my opinion.
What about you Swan? I mean David.
David: You’re going to be blown away, but I thought this was the second best zero issue so far. And while it can be a gimmick, I just thought this was a good comic. Even if it isn’t important or something, it was a fun, well written character yarn from Van Lente with beautiful, pitch perfect art from Clayton Henry. At the basest level, it succeeded as a character story that was written and illustrated well, plus the corruption of the story of Gilgamesh was awesome and another great example of Van Lente fitting Armstrong into major events in history.
Not only that, but it shed some light on Armstrong and his relationship with his brothers, which I think will grow importance for two reasons. One, obviously Eternal Warrior will continue to be important in this series and in the Valiant universe. Two, I think Ivar, the other Anni Padda brother, ends up being a big villain in this universe. I think this issue, like Shadowman before it with Master Darque, set up Ivar as a potential villain. We had seen him in the first issue, but I think this one really underlined that.
In short, I was all over this book. This is one of the best Archer & Armstrong issues yet for me, and I’ve been really loving this whole run.
Let’s get specific though. Is your only real problem with this issue that, in your mind, it didn’t shine any profound light on any characters? What did you really like?
Brandon Yeah, like I said it was a good issue and it was enjoyable but I was expecting some sort of massive character back story moment that really changed things up or really made you view one of the characters differently. In Harbingers it was Harada and his childhood and the same for Master Darque in Shadowman. Here there was just more of the same solid storytelling. Which is the best kind of problem an issue can have honestly. hahaha
I do want to point out thought that a trend is really becoming prominent in these Zero issues and that is the spotlighting of the big bads of the titles. I’m wondering if this is to just get those characters some extra development or if this is some sort of intentional step toward something. Unity maybe being a Villains United type deal?
As far as what I liked, I enjoyed Henry’s art as I usually do and I enjoyed the story in general. The best part about this series by far is the way it weaves itself into the tapestry of history. It’s something that I think is hard to pull off for my tastes. like SHIELD by Hickman, but Van Lente really has a solid grasp on the execution of stories like this. Which isn’t surprising from the guy who did Action Philosophers I suppose.
Continued belowDavid: I think the main reason he succeeds at it is because he doesn’t take it so seriously. SHIELD was nothing if not incredibly serious, but Van Lente has fun with his revisionist history, and it makes it work way better.
The villain thing was what I was thinking as well, thus why I think Ivar is probably the grandmaster behind all of the machinations involving The Boon. I think he’s the big bad of Archer & Armstrong, and it makes sense given the Anni Padda brothers relationships. So I think it did exactly what those other books, but in a more covert (and in the case of Harbinger, better) way.
But yeah, it’s another rock solid entry. Do you have anything else to add before our grades? Any moments in this issue stand out for you?
Brandon: No real stand out issues for me. Which I guess is part of my problem with the issue. It’s good but not great or even really memorable.
Anything you want to add?
David: Not really, besides this issue being awesomesauce to steal one of your lines. I thought it was top to bottom an excellent book, and for all the reasons that Archer & Armstrong tends to be that. I’ll give it a 9. What about you?
Brandon: For me i’d have to give it a 7.5. It was good but nothing to write home about.
David: How dare you talk about the Knicks on today of all days.
You know, I thought this issue of Harbinger was really solid. Basically, it seems like Bloodshot and Harbinger’s roles in Harbinger Wars are set to fill the gaps – the transitions – in the story there. And this issue is filled with really solid character work (in particular, I like how the Renegades and the PRS psiots seemed to pair up) and really nice art from Hairsine and Evans (although I have to admit, that flashback sequence REALLY looked like Clayton Crain to me). This was just a good book. What did you think?
Brandon: I actually had to go back to the credits to see that it wasn’t Crain! I thought they had sneaked him in or something. That really looked like his work.
I thought it was a good book as well. There are so many moving pieces in this crossover and it is amazing how many of them are really getting developed here in Harbinger. Dysart and character development are starting to become synonymous to me at this point.
David: He’s always excelled at that. That’s been a gift of his since he became a comic writer, and it’s cool seeing him get out there to a bigger audience as I’ve only seen his work in books like Unknown Soldier and B.P.R.D. 1946 and 1947, neither of which had huge audiences.
I agree though. His character work is excellent, and each member of the cast has unique voices that make them stand out on their own. He does a remarkable job of that.
The one question I had was, the last issue you had some major beefs with how it tied into Harbinger Wars. Like the issue felt redundant to you. Was that a problem here at all?
Brandon: That was not a problem here at all in my opinion. There was little redundancy. Instead the issue did a great job of further developing all of the characters and establishing what they do and what their potential importance is to the event. I also really enjoyed the way they officially became the Renegades and I love Zephyr insisting that Peter use his code name and him not really taking it to it. That was a really funny moment and another great Peter and Zephyr moment in a long list of them.
Did you have any issues with this issue?
Continued belowDavid: No, but I didn’t really with the last one either.
I thought one really interesting thing they did in this issue was they set it up for the Renegades and Bloodshot to square off finally. We knew that had to be on the agenda going forward, and now, the Bellagio psiots are convincing Peter and the rest that Bloodshot is, in fact, bad. That means we could have one hell of a showdown coming up fast. That could be pretty epic.
Brandon: Cue that bodies hit the floor song from about a decade ago or so.
David: AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
That’s me screaming like him in the beginning of it.
But for sure, as we know, Bloodshot has no problem fighting with the odds stacked against him. Arms are destroyed? Shift all of his muscle mass that remains to one of them! Face gets destroyed? Just keep attacking! Peter in his rage that he tends to bring out could very easily get himself in some serious trouble there.
Really quick: any comments on art, besides Crain (not) appearing? I thought it was really, really good, and it found Evans and Hairsine fitting in really well together. They’re both talented artists, but my perpetual concern with Valiant books is so many artists working on one book creating a bad mix of styles. In this case, it worked for me.
Brandon: I actually thought the art worked as well. I do find it odd/concerning that every Valiant title seems to have multiple artists per issue. I wonder why that is? Is it scheduling or what?
David: I have to imagine it’s a scheduling thing, but yeah, it is really strange to me that almost all of them have this going on. I don’t have a problem if a book has multiple artists because there’s a clear divide in stories – say, present vs. flashback – but having four artists on a book like Shadowman often has is a recipe for disaster. I wish I had a more clear reason, and frankly, I wish it didn’t happen. That’s my best guess though.
Let’s get to the grades though. For me, this is a very solid book that continues to be just that. I’ll give it an 8.5, as it was on par with last month’s issue, and that’s what it got. Boom! What about you?
Brandon: I’d give the the issue a 7.9. It was a solid issue in a month of solid Valiant issues but not the most solid of the bunch.
David: Definitely a fantastic month so far, and next week it (hopefully) continues with X-O Manowar #13 and Bloodshot #11. Then, Brandon, we have an off week (WHOA!) and then we’ll be back with Power Rankings the week after it. Can you believe we’re getting time off from our non-paying job, Brandon? Amazing!
