Brandon: I liked what was going on here but for some a reason I can’t put my finger on I didn’t love the issue like I have the previous issues. I think the art was well executed and I had no problems with that. The writing though for the first time just didn’t click 100% with me. I didn’t feel the interpersonal relationships were presented as strongly as they were in previous issues and because of the overlap with the crossover it felt slightly redundant. While this overlap worked to establish how we got here in the kickoff for the event here it seems needless. I imagine it was to bring people up to speed who aren’t reading the entirety of Harbinger Wars but that seems like a small target audience to appease.
David: But of course, because I thought this was a MASSIVE improvement over last issue. It helps a lot for me that Trevor Hairsine and Khari Evans art was a giant improvement in its own right, as that was one of my major issues with the last one. They had clear differentiation between when they were used – Hairsine on the flashback, Evans on the present – and I think that was much better than the mess that was issue #10 on art.
Plus, I thought this was actually excellent from the interpersonal standpoint. You start getting insight into the mind set of these people: Peter and Kris have vendetta against Harada, and Faith is good, but why would Torkelson or Flamingo want to go after them? I loved the Torque stuff – the fact he gets super wasted after just a little bit of booze because he’s, in reality, a 98 pound kid who has never drank alcohol, and the showdown with the guy in the wheelchair – and I really like Faith becoming the voice of reason for the group.
To me, this issue did the best job of a showing the team as a team and as unique individuals yet. Plus, you got the awesome back story with Harada and they continued to push the Harbinger thread in Harbinger Wars forward…I think this was a unique animal that enhanced the Harbinger Wars experience dramatically.
I’m surprised it felt needless to you. What about this issue in particular felt like that?
Brandon: I didn’t feel the issue was needless as much as the repeat at the beginning that overlapped with what we got in the first issue of Harbinger Wars. It was like an old school comic recap in the pages of the book. I think things could have been moved ahead quicker without it. I did enjoy the book don’t get me wrong. I just didn’t love it as much as previous issues which I think have been fantastic.
I really enjoyed Torque getting hammered. That had me cracking up because it does make complete sense and was a lot of fun.
I love that we are at least consistent with our likes and dislikes as they relate to each others interests. I should have guesses you would like this issue more.
David: In what regard? How does this make more sense as a me issue, rather than a you issue?
Brandon: I don’t know that there is anything about the issue that clearly defines it as a Brandon or David issue as much as we tend to be on the opposite ends of things quite often. It’s less a factor of the issue and more a rule of the universe as far as we go.
David: Hey, we agree more often than we don’t, I’d say. Either way, do you think this issue clarifies the Renegades position in this war more for you? I think it did big time, while also it starts developing our insight into the background of Toyo Harada and Rising Spirit. I think it did a great job with both, and I think it fits perfectly as an “event” tie-in.
Continued belowBrandon: Yeah, I think it helped to progress the Renegades story and why they’d get involved. I really enjoyed Torque being the lone dissenting voice. I mean why should he care he just wants to drink two beers, a shot and pass out.
I also want to mention again how great Faith is. She tends to have some of the best stand out moments out of all of the team. She is a great moral compass for this team as well. She’s easily my favorite character on this team. How about you?
David: Definitely. I mean, she’s set up on a tee to be the most likable character, as Peter has major probs, Kris is effective but kind of a jerk, Flamingo is kind of a sexpot who hasn’t been carefully defined yet (origin yes, development no) and Torque is a high potential guy, but as it stands he’s a buffoon with little self awareness. Faith has been developed, been given an origin and is just an innately good person in a very messed up world. Dysart does a great job here with her, and I love how she calls out Peter into saying that he wants to go after the psiots, not that he’s just doing it because the majority vote is there.
You said you liked the art, but did anything bug you about it? Were you cool with the two artist split, which has become pretty damn customary on Valiant books lately?
Brandon: I can’t think of any issues I had with the art. I thought the two artists worked well within the same book. It wasn’t clashing and it didn’t pull me out of the book. I thought the art was very strong here from both artists. I generally really like Hairsine’s art. Any issues for you?
David: I just figured I’d ask because previously when we talked Hairsine on X-O Manowar you had some beef with his stuff, but it definitely seemed tighter on this issue for sure. So what would you give it on a 10 point scale?
Brandon: I’d give this issue a 7.5 personally. I thought it was a good issue but not quite on the level of previous issue. How about you?
David: I’ll give it an 8.5. As we do, we disagree in that I think this was a MAJOR uptick over the last issue. Back on track, is Harbinger.
Brandon This issue also felt like a downturn to me. It felt like a decent issue but Lupacchino’s art again just didn’t feel the same to me. I also was confused by the quick exit of two characters they spent so much time developing. I understand the title is called Archer and Armstrong but I thought those two would be sticking around.
David: DRINK! We’re disagreeing again big time! I thought this issue was totally rad, and I thought that even though Alvero Martinez was apparently contributing on art, I didn’t notice any significant difference. What was off on Lupacchino’s art this time? You said the same thing last time, and both issues I think she completely kills. This issue was awesomesauce to the max for me. I enjoyed the hell out of it. I’ll get to the rest in a bit, but let’s start on the art.
Brandon: Just like last issue I just didn’t feel that it seemed as refined as her work on say X-Factor. It wasn’t bad and just like last time I would still take her over about 95% of artists if I could choose an artist to have on a book but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. Some of my issue with the art was not even her but instead the coloring. I wasn’t a big fan of the coloring on this issue.
David: I actually think this is a next step for her art, above her X-Factor work, as I mentioned last month. What was the problem with the coloring?
Continued belowBrandon: I’m not a coloring expert nor could I give you technical terms but I didn’t like the coloring. haha Not sure how else to explain it. I don’t think it did the art any favors. Although it is possible that the coloring issues are a part of the darker hue that the digital review copies we get tend to have.
David: Fair enough, and the digital deal is possible. I thought it was an exceptionally illustrated book, and to me, this book consistently has had the best art out of any Valiant book. But different strokes for different folks!
You mentioned you’re bummed out that those two supporting characters are leaving in Gilad and the Geomancer. I think, to me, they are destined to go off and do bigger, more world affecting things – and I bet we’ll see a new Eternal Warrior centric book in the future – while Archer & Armstrong have things that directly impact Archer’s destiny to deal with. It makes sense that they would team up for a bit and move off. It’s like Ninjak in X-O Manowar. They have matching pursuits, and when they don’t, they veer off. Makes sense to me. What about it bothered you so much?
Brandon: Well, like I said it caught me off guard. It wasn’t that it bothered me as much as I was surprised that they were moving on. I had become attached to them and then they left. I wouldn’t count it against the book like I did Bloodshot and the loss of Gamma but it was disappointing.
David: I gotcha. There are a lot of moving parts and characters in this book, so I understand why they did it. Makes sense to me for them to be only in there for a limited time, until they’re needed again at least.
Two things I want to touch on before grading…what did you think of the historical open with Jack Ruby and his feisty babe assassins, and how do you like this now starting to tie in with the world of Harbinger and Bloodshot with Rising Spirit coming in?
Brandon: I enjoyed that it is starting to tie over because I like my comic universes to have a cohesive nature. It’s fun to see the threads between all of the titles become more and more clear.
As far as Jack Ruby goes, I want that to be a title. That was pretty awesome.
David: Alright then, well what would you give it? Overall, I’d say I personally enjoyed this a little more than Harbinger, so I’ll give this bad boy an 8.6.
Brandon: Hold up! What did you think of all of that? Did you enjoy it as well?
David: Oh yeah, I loved the Jack Ruby bit, especially the monkey attacking Gilad and him having to fend them off as the Last Enemy took him out. It was great and continues to find the team play with real life people and events and factor all of these Archer & Armstrong events into them. It’s a really cool way to play with history.
And this is the most tangible way A&A has connected with the rest of Valiant yet, and it’s exciting to see that being made. I personally just can’t wait until this crosses over with Quantum & Woody, which I have to imagine will happen eventually. Two deadly duos, with one badass, straight laced guy and the other the more silly, off the wall type. I want that!!!
Okay, now your grade!!
Brandon: Yeah, the monkey was tits!
As far as a rating, I’d give it a solid 7.3!
David: That’s what I like to hear! We’ll be back next week with some X-O Manowar and Bloodshot action, as Planet Death and Harbinger Wars continue. Let’s cross that shit over Brandon!
