Brandon Well, you know I want to say that it does…SO I WILL! This book is by far my favorite Valiant book at the moment. The art and writing were simpatico and the story is continuing to be a fluid character build filled with action, excitement and intrigue. Buy this god damn book people!
David: Going big straight from the start are we? Well I’ll match you in bombshells: I actually thought this was a pretty significant drop-off after the last issue. Granted, that was one hell of an issue, but the narration from Peter Stanchek read really paint-by-numbers for me. It did make a certain amount of sense, given that it felt like the natural conclusion of the opening act of the book (which in many ways is Peter’s story), but it came across as a pretty staid narrative device to me.
It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t that great either. Let me have it Brandon: have I been off my meds too long, or did I just get on them like a weaker than we read in this issue Peter Stanchek?
Brandon I think it has to be meds or something. This issue was a great conclusion to the team building and the initial story arc of Petey boy. It tied back to elements from the very beginning that left the title in a whole new place. It’s no longer about Petey anymore and is now about all of the as a unit. It’s an issue that transcends the book from a solo title to a team title in one of the most fluid and seamless ways i’ve seen in some time. You are really blowing my mind with how much you’ve offended me here David.
David: What can I say. I’m probably the “Dull” Tull of the two of us. Either way, it’s not so much what happened in the issue so much as how it was executed. I liked the plotting and I really enjoyed the ending of how the team got together, but I thought that narration was weak and really on the nose (as I said previously).
It’s an excellent conclusion of the team’s origin story in theory, but in application, it speaks to me far less. Of course, it also doesn’t help that I thought that Pere Perez’s art was sloppy in parts and didn’t have any standout moments like he did in the last issue. (Editor’s note: because it wasn’t Perez).
I don’t want to make it seem like this was a bad issue. It’s not, but in the scheme of the series and what I’ve expected to come from it, it’s a good bit weaker in terms of execution than I look for from it. How’s that for offending you?
Brandon Well I think you’ve offended more people than just me. Hopefully people will light you up in the comments.
I just didn’t get the on the nose aspect of it like you did. Different strokes for different folks I suppose but in this issue I felt it did a good job of telling a team origin story while also doing what previous issues have done so well in telling a distinct story for each character. You saw Petey come to the realization that he is selfish and that his actions cause others harm and that he needed to break the cycle if you will. You also got Faith declaring herself the team, which was a great scene by the way, in a statement to Petey that rings true to the reader as well because we as the reader know that she is the heart of the team. I feel like everyone got a moment to shine to some degree or another in this issue while still keeping he team building focus.
Continued belowAlso, as far as the art goes I don’t see where it looks any lesser than it did in the last issue. I felt like it told the story without losing a step. I felt writer and artist were right in step with each other as far as solid quality work.
Tear David up in the comments people! 😉
David: Well, when I say on the nose, I just mean the narration kind of read a little after school special-y to me – “previously I relied on drugs, now I rely on my friends!” – and overall, the issue kind of read a little more like your average superhero team book to me. Like, the difference between the first 20 issues of Avengers Academy vs. the next 20, except to less of a degree.
Anyways, I don’t want to bash on it. I liked the book. It’s just the narration was super rough for me. I like the little character moments they each got, and I like the growing relationships between everyone (Flamingo’s attraction to Torkelson is definitely a storyline to watch going forward – a beefcake dude with the heart and emotions of a nice guy?!). Perez’s art was solid and workmanlike, but it just was missing something for me throughout that it had last issue.
Overall, it was quality, but with last month the book fitting into my top five comics of the month, it seems naturally it was bound to take a bit of a downturn (like I said). I’m going to give it a 6.5. Decent, but a weaker than usual iteration in my mind. What about you?
Brandon 6.5?! ARE YOU HIGH?! That can’t be it because being high wouldn’t hurt the book likely but my point stands. That’s a huge downturn not a small downturn from last issue. I’d give it a 8. I liked it almost as much as I liked taking you to task about your opinion. I’m like that girlfriend who berates you in front of your friends. You hate me but everyone else gets a laugh out of it.
Are you less excited now for Harbinger Wars then you were before reading this book David “Dull Tull” Harper?
David: I wouldn’t say it negatively impacts my opinion of Harbinger Wars. Harbinger has been great more often than not, and I think that this issue is more of an anomaly than anything. I’m definitely looking forward to Harbinger Wars, although it is interesting to me that both Harbinger and Bloodshot are heading into it after weaker than average issues in my opinion.
Brandon I thought this issue was a step up as far as the story and writing. It was the most enjoyable issue of the series for me thus far. I will say though that the art was not my cup of tea and really detracted from the story once you got past the history of the Vine. Those initial pages aren nice and the panels with borders and everything were quite enjoyable. After that the art just became sort of under detailed figure work.
What about you? Did you like the issue more than Harbinger?
David: I wouldn’t say I liked it more than Harbinger. It was a fairly decent issue that did a great job of setting up who the Vine is and their history tied to the armor, and started developing more of their blend of religion and technology. Cary Nord crushed that intro, and it was very surprising to see such ornate border and panel work from him. Overall, Nord was the highlight of the issue for me, as I didn’t think he really fell back as much as you think in the latter half – I think his work just seemed lesser later on due to having less to really do.
My biggest problem with this issue is it read like a transitional issue, not some sort of bombastic arc opener. I mean, the arc is called “Planet Death” and most of the issue was about how kick ass this suit is from a religion/weapon standpoint, and then it came down for some reckoning. I expected more reckoning, less backstory. What we got ended up feeling like trying to get the best of both worlds and limiting overall effectiveness for either side. It was a decent issue, but it felt like a letdown from what they were trying to create.
Continued belowBrandon I suppose, other than the art, my main issue with this book is that at no point in this series have I cared for the main character or anyone else for that matter. It isn’t a book that has those fully developed characters and moments that the other Valiant books have. He’s a badass in a suit and he wants to avenge his people. Cool. What else?
Does that make sense?
David: Oh totally. I absolutely agree. If anything, my favorite characters so far have been Ninjak and Alexander Dorian. They both are more interesting for different reasons: Ninjak because he’s such a mysterious badass, and because Dorian’s motivations are so relatable in a weird way. It’s like he got a taste of humanity and his response was “more of this, less of all the weird stuff the Vine does.”
Meanwhile, Aric just wants to destroy and get revenge. What does he want past that? When we can relate more to The Vine’s sleeper agent than we can the main character, I think that means it is a book that still struggles with its identity.
Did the ending with the remaining Visigoths being revealed get you going at all?
Brandon If anything it induced eye rolling more than anything. It just opens up the possibility of doing more of the same which is whining about his people. I just want to see them die so the book can move forward into newer more interesting frontiers. Can I please get a Kill All Visigoths shirt?
David: You probably could if you preach enough for it on Twitter. Start a hashtag while you’re at it.
One more thing I like before going to my grade. I think the religious leaders of The Vine are actually pretty interesting, and I think Venditti has done a pretty good job of developing them…shortly before having Aric wipe almost all of them out, that is. There’s a good mythology here. Just needs more heart and character.
I’ll give this issue a 6 flat. Solid art was weakened a bit by a story that lacked identity and character. What about you, Brandon?
Brandon I can’t believe your rating for this book was similar to your Harbinger rating. I don’t even feel like we read the same books this month. I’d give this issue a 4.5.
David: Well, advantages in character and direction in Harbinger were offset by advantages in art (and lack of any real troublesome narrative choices) for X-O. Alas. It will be interesting to see how our Power Rankings are affected by our reviews this month!
Come back next week as we take an in-depth look at the month in Valiant, and make sure to join in on the comments as we will be unveiling a rather exciting contest for you all to partake in!
