David: Brandon, after our longest stretch with no reviews, we’re back with a full month of Valiant books to look at. I hope you’re ready for some insanity, because it’s time.
Brandon: Well I would say this is a step down from the #0 issue but that issue was incredibly cool so it wasn’t totally unexpected. This issue also seemed to return to the Shadowman and his crew are boring and all of the villains are incredibly cool. From monkey in a top hat to Master Darque and his spire of souls/bodies, the Deadside is the most badass part of this book. What did you think?
David: While I wouldn’t go as far to say that Shadowman and his allies are boring (as Baron Samedi is technically an ally right now and that dude is fucking awesome), I would agree that Shadowman and his crew are the weakest part of the book. They tend to be a little more flat and are just kind of generic hero archetypes so far, and we haven’t really seen anything besides that.
Meanwhile, Monkey in a Top Hat is the best character in anything ever, and everything about the Deadside and Baron Samedi and Master Darque is just completely awesome. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but it continues to be a book that struggles because of flat characterization of the “heroes.”
I’m curious: what were your thoughts about the arrival of Neil Edwards, the new artist for the book?
Brandon: I really enjoyed Edwards’ work on the book. I think he is a perfect fit for the book and he draws a mean ass Deadside. That place just screams evil. Also, only one artist! When was the last time we could say that about a Valiant book in recent months. I am very happy to see a solo style on the book. I think it helps it a lot to have more of a cohesive feel to the narrative. His dead spire was badass and his Monkey in a Top Hat rendition is perfect as well.
What do you think the chances of a Gamma and MiaTH crossover mini are? I’d write it if they’d let me!
David: Well, she is dead, so there’s like…a 0.375% chance. So not good.
I thought Edwards was solid. Traditionally, I have problems with his characters as they tend to get contorted and sloppy, but in this issue he was mostly really on point. There were some moments in the beginning where I had issues, but it seemed like he acclimated himself really well as the book went on. And like with the writing, Edwards excelled on the Deadside portions. His spire of the dead was creepy amazing, and super well done overall.
I really like where this book is going, and I loved the stuff with Master Darque communicating with Devereaux on Earth. That was a perfect scene to show what this book is all about – the battle between the Deadside and the world of the living, and how most people are just currency to people like Master Darque. That dude is fucking badass Brandon.
Brandon: Fuck yeah he is. I have to say I am really excited for when shit hits the fan in this book. When Master Darque and the Shadow clan finally duke it out I have a feeling that is going to be EPIC! I just can’t see how that battle could be anything less. Everything we’ve seen so far points to some creepy ass shenanigans when we get to that point.
I hate to take us back to this, but can I also say that I know Shadowman’s team is supposed to be there to get him ready for being the best Shadowman he can be but at the moment I can’t help but wonder if they best way this can be accomplished would be to have them both die in a tragic way as to focus him. Make them more of an Uncle Ben remembrance. I think the villains are developed enough that having his cohorts really seems unnecessary especially since they do feel so flat.
Continued belowBrandon: Fuck yeah he is. I have to say I am really excited for when shit hits the fan in this book. When Master Darque and the Shadow clan finally duke it out I have a feeling that is going to be EPIC! I just can’t see how that battle could be anything less. Everything we’ve seen so far points to some creepy ass shenanigans when we get to that point.
I hate to take us back to this, but can I also say that I know Shadowman’s team is supposed to be there to get him ready for being the best Shadowman he can be but at the moment I can’t help but wonder if they best way this can be accomplished would be to have them both die in a tragic way as to focus him. Make them more of an Uncle Ben remembrance. I think the villains are developed enough that having his cohorts around really seems unnecessary especially since they do feel so flat.
David: While I agree that they’re flat so far, I do disagree that they seem unnecessary. They have a very reasonable point of existence: Jack has no idea what he is or how he does what he does. Dox and Alyssa are there to train him and help him become the Abettor he needs to be, and so far, he’s effectively rejected them all along the path. I do think ultimately you’re right – Dox is going to get Uncle Ben’d – and then Jack and Alyssa will work together to make Jack a better Abettor/Shadowman. But I think they have a very necessary purpose in this comic.
Ultimately, all three of the heroic leads would feel important if they were simply given real character depth. We have way more investment in Darque, Baron Samedi and a damn Monkey in a Top Hat so far then we do the lead character, and that continues to be the primary flaw of the book.
Brandon: A damn Monkey in a Top Hat?! How dare you. He is THE Monkey in a Top Hat, my good sir!
David: Either way, the lead character of a comic should be more interesting to me than a supporting character. Ideally, at least.
Brandon: True. But sadly that isn’t the case with this book. But you DO get Top Hat Monkey!
So what would you rate this book overall Mr. David Harper?
David: I enjoyed it a lot overall. It wasn’t stellar, but there’s a lot to like here, so for that reason I’ll give it a rock solid 7.5. What about you?
Brandon: The issue for me wasn’t stellar but it wasn’t the depths of horrible either. I would give the book a 7 overall.
David: It’s not my fault this is the best and most consistent Valiant book! I can’t control the awesome that is A&A.
As for this issue, I really enjoyed it. It’s just a damn fun book, and throwing Archer, Armstrong and Mary Maria into Area 51 is an inspired turn in the story, especially in how it starts tying this book to the rest of the Valiant Universe. The One Percent has ties to Project Rising Spirit! Plus, this book makes the Zero issue all the more awesome by sending A&A to the Faraway, and it featured one of the most entertaining opens of the entire series.
Not only that, but THEY TALK ABOUT HOW THEY NEED TO VISIT GAMMA. WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO LOVE THIS BOOK BRANDON?!
Brandon: Ok, so this issue was pretty awesome. The Gamma reference easily earned it an extra 1.5 to the rating that I intended to give it. I do agree the developing connective tissue between this and the other books is a lot of fun. Also, the alien freaking the fuck out when they saw them was humorous but also horrifying. I would have shit a brick had I turned the corner and some alien starting pointing and screaming intergalactic words of fear! I was very conflicted by those pages. So awesome but so so scary.
Continued belowWhat did you think of the art by Perez?
David: If you’re not going to have Clayton Henry or Emanuela Lupacchino, Pere Perez is the next best option. That alien scene is a perfect example. That was a batshit crazy sequence – alien hanging out conversing with scientists, then a girl who grew up in an amusement park to be an assassin comes around the corner after killing some guys with her fake pregnancy guns and straight up mows him down out of fear. Many artists couldn’t make the insanity of that work. Perez totally does.
Plus, you need an expressive artist on this book, as a lot of what makes it great is the expressions in response to what people say. I loved in the open when the dude who owned the mine responded to the Army guy by saying, “you want to do what in my hole?” with just a completely agog face on. It was genius by Van Lente and Perez. I dug his work and like him on this book. What did you think?
Brandon: While I have said i’ve had issues with the art on this book in the past I must say I had no issues here. I hope Perez sticks around for awhile. It’s crazy to me that I prefer this work over Lupacchino because I love her work a lot but I actually prefer Perez in this instance. I think he fits the book absolutely perfectly. I loved the alien scene, I loved our amusement park assassin saying, “It’s twins!” and other scenes just like that where, like you mentioned, the expressive nature of Perez’s work really is great.
Also, Eternal Warrior. That was cool but quick.
David: Yeah, it was a quick shot of Gilad, but handled quite well.
Honestly, this issue is about everything I want from Archer & Armstrong. It’s light and fun with great concepts and awesome action, with some really random things going on throughout. I just dig the hell out of this book.
I have to ask though, did you see the cover to the next issue? I loved it. This arc is going to be flat out awesome, I feel.
Brandon: Is it them fighting a dinosaur? If not I don’t think I’ve seen it. I’m hoping it will keep like it is now. I did enjoy the issue. I mean there was a Gamma reference. What’s not to like!
Anything else you want to add before we rank this here book?
David: Just that the cover is a Brady Bunch esque cover with them, a couple aliens, a dinosaur and other random things. It is amazing. See here. Their expressions are priceless. That’s it for me though. Anything else for you?
Brandon: That is an awesome cover. That’s all i’ve got though other than my rating for the issue which would be 8 (9.5 with the added Gamma reference points). What about you?
David: I’ll go 8.5. This book is a metronome. It’s just rock sold every month, and I really enjoyed what Perez added to the equation.
