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Valiant (Re)visions: Harbinger Wars #1 and Shadowman #6 [Review]

By and | April 4th, 2013
Posted in Reviews | % Comments
David: Brandon…it’s a big week. Finally, Harbinger Wars is here. It feels like we’ve been talking about this for months and months and months, but we’re now in its midst. Let’s talk about that book from Josh Dysart, Duane Swierczynski, Clayton Henry, Clayton Crain and Mico Suayan first. How did the first issue work for you? Is this all the awesome you’ve wanted from a Bloodshot/Harbinger crossover?

Brandon It was awesome in my opinion. I like how it went back and took the loose threads of the last arc or more of Harbinger and Bloodshot and tied them up here. It was also really nice to see Clayton Crain again. It’s been awhile since I read something he was doing. All in all I would say it actually went beyond my expectations which were already high. How about you?

David: It was definitely pretty damn entertaining, although I must admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what exactly this book was going to be about. I knew the players, but where is the story tension coming from? It seems like it’s sort of Toyo Harada vs. the Renegades vs. Bloodshot, and that could be entertaining, but I want it to be developed a bit more. Right now, it just seems like a mash-up more than a proper crossover, and I hope we get there.

But, speaking of the art, I was surprised by how much I liked Crain’s art. He’s not always my favorite, but I appreciate when he’s on point. He’s on point here, and a big part of that is the fact that it feels quite a bit more organic than usual. Often I feel like his art is what would happen if you told a computer to impersonate a comic artist’s work, but on this one? Pretty great. It was interesting too that even Clayton Henry’s art seemed a little different than usual. Quite a bit more grounded than I’m used to.

Did the fact that there were three artists on the book throw you off at all?

Brandon: There being three artists wasn’t my favorite part of the book but it also wasn’t horribly done. I truthfully would like to have just one artist on an event unless there is someone doing flashbacks or something. I can understand though the need to seed the art of Harbinger and Bloodshot in this issue for those who may, as a result of reading this issue, pick those titles up. Was it distracting to you? Any artist in particular throw things off for you?

David: Well, it’s not like any of these artists really work on Harbinger or Bloodshot. And Crain’s art was in a flashback, so that made sense. The only one that threw me off was Suayan. I’m not sure why he was in the mix, especially considering there were only two clear story instances to split artists on. If it was all Henry and all Crain, I think we’d have been slightly better off. It wasn’t a back breaker, but it threw things off just a little for me.

Here’s another question for you: had they referred to Toyo Harada’s psiot team as the Eggbreakers before? I knew that they did in the old Harbinger series, but I didn’t they had previously in this Harbinger.

Brandon: Ah, I thought for some reason those artists were going to do a stint on the books. Now I am really confused as to why the decision to have three artists was made.

I don’t think they had been called that before. I never read the original stuff were the Eggbreakers big deals?

David: Those artists might be, but I haven’t heard that. I think Crain and Henry were effectively telling two sides of the story – well, I may add – and Suayan filled in because they needed support. That’s my take at least.

Yeah, the Eggbreakers are effectively the other side of the coin to Peter Stanchek’s Renegades. They’re the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, so to speak. I just thought it was interesting that they didn’t really introduce them, they just threw in the idea right there. Seemed a little jammed in, but it worked.

So what did you really like about this book, from a writing standpoint? What’s got you so pumped about it?

Continued below

Brandon: From a writing standpoint I like that what has been happening in Harbinger and Bloodshot were tied together in a way that made the event seem like a natural progression more than a forced event that demands the two books crossover. I really enjoyed the initial part of the book. The introduction to the kids was really well done and Crain was the perfect person to draw that portion of the story. I think that part of the book really killed it. Outside of that I continue to enjoy the way the Renegades are presented here. I really like the group and the way interact. While the characters may fit a certain archetype or another they are all so well done.

Did you have any complaints about the book at all? I know I did.

David: Whoa, you always throw me off with things like that. It seems like a glowing review, then all of a sudden complains are on the horizon! I thought it was a really solid book, and I think you’re right that it naturally flowed from both stories. The character beats worked really well, and I liked that they spent time developing the psiots that are hanging out with Bloodshot. There are a lot of interesting characters involved there, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they all come together.

It’s interesting. Those characters stand out a bit more for me than Stanchek and the crew or Bloodshot in this issue, although I did like the stuff with the Bleeding Monk and what they did with him dealing with Peter and Harada’s rage over it. Anyways, what were your complaints?

Brandon My complaint is that this book did a great job of going back to recap and tie the books together in an organic way. EXCEPT, they didn’t throw Gamma into the god damn issue. It wouldn’t even have felt forced. Could have eased her right in but no. I was irked by this.

David: I knew this was coming. KNEW IT. Turns out Gamma isn’t important…she’s just a mini-boss. Sorry buddy, them’s the breaks.

I have to ask: where do you think this mini goes from here? I find it hard to envision some sort of resolution, or where it ends up. It just seems like a temporary conflict that ends with everyone going their separate ways.

Brandon: Well, I have a feeling it’ll change the dyanmic of Harada and the Renegades bit. Maybe Peter becomes the man he needs to be like the Bloody Monkey says. I also think we are going to see lots of bodies hitting the floor. Other than that I am just along for the ride. I think this is going to continue to be a lot of fun.

So overall, what would you give this book as far as a numerical score?

David: I’ll give it a 7.5. It was a really solid book and start, but nothing really blew me away. I think you’re right as far as the bodies are concerned though. There are a lot of red shirts out there just waiting to get killed in very violent ways. What would you give it?

Brandon: I’d give it an 8.5. I really enjoyed the issue. It also further excited me for the event as well as both Harbinger and Bloodshot which are my two favorite Valiant books.

Ok, so next up on the agenda is Shadowman #6 byJustin Jordan, Patrick Zircher and Lee Garbett. Last issue brought me an instant classic one liner and brought this book up our ranks for the month of March. Was last issue too tough to top or did this issue keep the boulder rolling?

David: You know, this was a solid issue with a lot of cool stuff going on – I really like the misdirection of the Baron Samedi actually wanting to work with Team Shadowman – but overall, it wasn’t as thrilling as last month and a lot of the stuff of Shadowman being Shadowman fell a little flat. The Baron Samedi/Master Darque business? Great. The Dr. Mirage stuff? Digging her. But Shadowman doing Shadowman things was frankly a little disappointing. What about you? Are you still on the “Indamndeed.” train?

Continued below

Brandon: Believe it or not but I actually really agree with you. The least interesting thing in this book called Shadowman was Shadowman, It just seemed a little off. I really dig Dr. Mirage and the twist at the end was clever but I am sure there is more to it including a potential double turn. Overall, I would say I enjoyed the issue but not as much as last issue. If anything I would say this issue fits better with all of the other issues in quality, which isn’t bad. It just doesn’t stand up to last months issue.

David: I think Shadowman throughout has been a remarkably solid book throughout that has done a great job developing a supporting cast and a world for them to live in…but the lead hasn’t really gotten there. It’s sort of like X-O Manowar in that regard, except it does literally everything better than X-O. The book is very solid though, and I think Jordan going forward could gain a lot by focusing some time in developing this character a little more. So far, all we really have is he really dug a waitress at a diner he always went to, and his dad was Shadowman before him. That’s the main story beats for him. He needs development.

Brandon: Yeah, I agree entirely. They need to step back and maybe do an issue where it is just Shadowman and none of his supporting cast so that the can do a little more character development. I wouldn’t say this book is in X-O territory personally but I do see what you’re saying. I think just a little bit would go a very long way. Hopefully that type of development will come sooner rather than later.

What did you think about the art on this issue Mr. Harper?

David: Oh, I wasn’t saying this was in X-O territory either, I was just saying both books suffer from underdeveloped leads.

I thought the art was solid, if a bit unspectacular, overall. I thought Patrick Zircher’s art was excellent as per usual – I am really going to miss that guy on this book, and Garbett’s stuff got the job done. Realistically, this book’s art is like Shane Battier. It keeps getting the job done every time, even though nothing about it stands out. Whether or not this means Zircher puts his hand in other artists faces like Battier does to shooters he’s defending is uncertain. I’m not saying it’s impossible, though.

What about you? This was one less artist than last time. Did it work for you again?

Brandon: Oddly enough I followed all of what you said and agree with all of it. This is a weird review. We are agreeing on everything when it comes to this book. I thought the art worked but Zircher in particular is the strong hand holding this book up of the two artists. It will be a sad day for this book once he is gone.

Overall, the art was similar to the writing for me in that I felt it was good but nothing fantastic. Last issue was much better in all regards for me.

David: So what would you give it for your grade?

Brandon: I’d probably give it a 7. How about yourself?

David: That sounds fair. It’s a really solid book, but it was a little less spectacular than the last issue. Not bad, definitely good, just not great.

We’ll be back next week, as both Harbinger and Archer & Armstrong have issues next week. Harbinger early! Interesting!


//TAGS | Valiant (Re)visions

David Harper

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Brandon Burpee

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

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