Straight Forward Reviews : Armor Hunters # 2

The Armor Hunters are back for Aric. What steps have they taken to eradicate the X-O Manowar?

Writer - Robert Venditti

Artist - Doug Braithwaite

Publisher - Valiant

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

A spoiler free summary. The Armor Hunters power have been felt by the people of Earth as an entire city has been decimated. The United States government and other governments have been trying to come up with a response to combat the aliens. A team looks to be forming and Aric learns more about the properties of the armor thanks to experiments, properties that seem to be tied to the whole reason these Armor Hunters do what they do.

The story in this issue does a great job of showing just exactly what the stakes are and why these Armor Hunters should be taken deadly seriously. Destroying an entire city just one of the things they do to show they are on a completely different level than what the world has seen before. The reactions and the planning by the people trying to defend Earth show this as even the most stoic of people get emotional during this issue. Touches like that make the characters more relatable and I give Venditti credit for that.

Art

The art is very detailed and has some grittiness to it but still seems clean as well. Nothing seems out of focus are hard to identify. Which is perfect for this kind of book which seems to be a bit dark yet doesn't lose it's soul as a story about heroes.

Verdict

With a relatable cast of characters, and destructive events that aren't really battles but does count as action, that is intriguing and captivating I give Armor Hunters # 2 a 9.5 out of 10.

Armor Hunters # 2 Review

ARMOR HUNTERS # 2
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Doug Braithwraite & Laura Martin
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Valiant Comics

This is a Spoiler Free review!

                M.E.R.O., Aric and Livewire see the devastation of Mexico City from the Armor Hunters as Primary lays out his demands.  Bloodshot gets up to speed as The Armor Hunters break out the Hounds … attacking seven places at once.

ART:

                The art in this issue is some of Braithwraite’s best in his career. The smooth lines and the polished pencils and inks really stand out this issue. Every panel is full of great detail, expression and a vibrancy that goes beyond his normal work. Braithwraite goes through great perspectives with all the characters, give the panel just the right tone for every scene in the book. The battles are GLORIOUS. And there is one panel with Ninjak having a “holy Sh**” moment that was just captured so well.  Laura Martin’s colors really brings out the best of Braithwraite’s art, making it so dynamic that it will grab your face to the page from start to finish.  Gorgeous art indeed.

WRITING:

                Venditti makes this second issue build up the event to a great explosion. There are personal stakes for Aric and Livewire. Bloodshot gets inserted into the event well. We get some very personal moments with the Armor Hunters, particularly Primary that continue to let us know more of our “villains” of our event.  Venditti weaves the plots and characterizations so well that it only heightens the events in the issue. And man … the stakes are VERY high at this point. The danger is palapable. And we get some great revelations as Venditti sets up the next issue as well.

FINAL VERDICT:

                This issue was amazing from start to finish. The art was superb. The writing was exquisite. THIS is how event books should be written.  I am definitely all in on this event as it continues. I give Armor Hunters # 2 a solid 5 … out of 5!