David: It’s a glorious day everyone! Brandon is back, and Valiant (Re)visions has reteamed once again. It’s a fitting week to return given that Valiant’s two dynamic duos – Quantum & Woody and Archer & Armstrong – are the two books this week. Let’s start with Quantum & Woody: Goat #0 from James Asmus and Tom Fowler.
Brandon, I’m going to spoil my thoughts from the start. This is going to end the year as one of my favorite comics, I think. I have no idea how, but this story about the origins of Goat ended up being one of the most heartbreaking and hilarious stories I’ve read in a while in comics, and maybe the single greatest points of differentiation between the original series and this one is made here. This is concentrated awesome.
What did you think, Brandon?
Brandon Oh man, after getting through the first few pages, culminating in Goat crying, I knew we had something insanely special on our hands. This book will make you believe a Goat can cry! Add to that the revelation at the end and you’ve got a comic that really is one of the best issues i’ve read this year. I mean how many books have you read this year that can legitimately touch you while also including allegations of naughty touching goats?! The answer is only this one friends!
Add to all of that the return of Tom Fowler and you have an issue that really can’t be missed if you are a fan of Quantum and Woody or comics in general. I fucking love this book David. Fucking love it.
You mentioned that the revelation at the end was a massive departure from the first series. Having not read it I wasn’t sure if this was something you knew and had been sitting on. It appears that isn’t the case. What was the deal with Goat in the other series?
David: He was a fucking goat! He didn’t make any sense, but he was awesome. He didn’t even have powers, until during some crossover he ate a map and was able to teleport. This combines two big differences between the series – that they have the same dad, and that the goat is super powered – into one epic plot point.
It’s mind boggling that this works, but it works SO WELL man.
Also, you mentioned the return of Tom Fowler, but holy crap, did his renditions of the Goat make you kind of want to weep silently while you were reading it? Or at the very least listen to “Everybody Hurts” on repeat? How did they make us care about a goat so much, Brandon?
Brandon I have no clue but they did it and they did it with the quickness! It was so heart wrenching. I also enjoy that knowing that the Dad is Goat makes the whole series, since they got the Goat, totally worth rereading! I mean how many times has their Dad seen Woody do some HIGHLY questionable things?! Shit I would never want my Dad to see, that is for sure.
I never read the original series but I imagine that this issue has to be the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) for this series regardless of volume? Right?!
David: Yeah, retroactively, that makes some of the stuff Woody has done certainly pretty disturbing. Him and 69…I would not want my dad to see that.
Yeah, this is the G.O.A.T. No doubt. I love me some Bright and Priest, O.G. Quantum & Woody, but what the hell did I just read? This is devastating and amazing. Who knew laser eyes could pack so much emotion?
Let’s talk favorite moment. Mine isn’t a moment, and it might not even be a favorite, but whatever, we do what we want – I loved that the Goat’s original quest was effectively one out of love for Dolly, the cloned sheep. That was spectacular. That had me laughing really hard when Goat was nuzzling the TV when he first saw her, and the fact that he had a weird, Mission Impossible style plan involving rope and bolt cutters was spectacularly handled by Asmus and Fowler. What was your fave moment?
Continued belowBrandon Well my favorite part was that last page because it blew my fucking mind! I did not see that coming and almost didn’t know that it did happen. I saw that there was some writing made of fire in the grass but didn’t read it at first assuming it was just the title of the issue incorporated into the art. As I went to change the page I glanced at the writing and saw what it said and my mouth just dropped! I was already convinced that I loved this issue but when I saw that it solidified it. I would say this is by far my favorite Valiant issue to date.
Is Fowler back for good or was this a one off?
David: Agreed. There isn’t much else that needs to be said. This is the best Valiant comic that has been released yet, and Asmus and Fowler should be proud of their work here.
And no, this was a one-off for Fowler. He’s going to be working on HowToons [re]ignition at Image, and I think Kano is on the book next. I could totally Google this, mind you, but eh. WWTGD?
What would you give this bad boy?
Brandon I actually really enjoy Kano. It sucks that this is it for Fowler but god damn this book is blessed with incredible artists.
I would give this issue a 9.8 which says a lot coming from me. What would you give it Senior Harper?
David: Dropping bombs! That is a high Brandon grade, and one I can jive with. This is my favorite issue of the year so far, regardless of publisher, and in my opinion the single best issue Valiant has released to date. Beautiful, ridiculous, heartbreaking and about a goat. What else could we want from a comic?
Brandon I enjoyed the issue but it didn’t blow me away like Quantum and Woody did. I thought it was a fun start to the crossover that played to the strengths of Archer & Armstrong as a title without really compromising the more serious and deadly nature of Bloodshot. I am very interested to see if Bloodshot plays it more serious or if the tone will match what we got in this issue. It’s a very odd pairing.
What did you think?
David: I liked it. It was a good issue, and I really enjoyed the overt Hong Kong cinema bits. That was a good way to make Bloodshot funny even when he is inherently not funny, and the action sequence with Archer and Bloodshot was tremendously badass, especially when mixed in with what was going on at the bar with Armstrong. It was another great moment of Van Lente and Perez underlining the odd couple nature of Archer & Armstrong.
Also, I love that the Master Builders fucked with Archer. It was so serious at first, but then all of a sudden he gets sprayed with water and they were offering him brews and wings. Why do I feel like that’s what real criminal organizations might be like?
Brandon I would agree that the Gun-Fu and the Master Builders fraternity style pranks were pretty great. Those were my favorite parts of the entire book. I also really enjoyed the scene where Bloodshot has that flashback. The way the art shifted and the tone shifted all within that one page was brilliantly done. I really thought the execution of that was killer.
David: Yeah, that was definitely a standout moment. Pere Perez is such a great fit for this book, and it’s because he’s such a chameleon. He can make tonal shifts with incredible ease, and whether you’re looking to hit on emotionally resonant moments or on hilarious one, he handles each with equal aplomb.
This book for me is consistently great from a written standpoint, but struggles when the artist doesn’t fit. Perez is really quite perfect for it, and it enhances this issue dramatically.
Continued belowI also like how this built off the Archer zero issue, and how its furthering the web that the Sect have created. The status quo for the book is very fascinating, and I like that Archer & Armstrong are right in the midst of it.
Anything else you’d like to add before we grade? Seems like this might be one you have less to speak to than others.
Brandon Yeah, as a set up issue I thought it was solid but because it was a set up issue I just don’t have as much to say. I am excited to see where this event goes. It’s fun to see the book intersect with other titles as it always seems to be the backbone of the universe as you constantly here hints and clues about the future and such.
Overall, I would give the issue a 7.5. How about yourself?
David: Two for two! 7.5 for me as well. It was a good, not great issue, and I think as we get further into the Sect world things will start to take off more. Still, Van Lente and Perez continue to deliver for me. A good week of Valiant books, and glad to have you back, Brandon!
Brandon: I am FUCKING happy to be back playa!
