Preview: ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER # 1 (of 3)

ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) (VALIANT FIRST)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by ROBERT GILL
Chromium & Standard Edition Cover by LEWIS LAROSA* (MAY141648/MAY141647)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (MAY141649)
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (MAY141650)

Earth is besieged by alien enforcers, and some of the most powerful people on the planet…are the kids! 

The Harbinger Renegades are still reeling from a tragic death in their ranks, but in the face of monumental destruction they’ll find unlikely allies in a fellow group of super-powerful teenagers. But is Generation Zero here to help…or are they just looking out for themselves?

CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99 | STANDARD EDITION: $3.99
32 pages, full color | T+ | On sale JULY 30

*RETAILERS BE ADVISED: Due to the lead time needed to produce chromium, Armor Hunters Chromium Editions will be available in robust but limited quantities set prior to solicitation, and orders may be allocated.

1st Impressions: ETERNAL WARRIOR # 8

ETERNAL WARRIOR #8

Written by Greg Pak
Art by Robert Gill, Mark Pennington, Guy Major & John Rauch
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                Gilad ends up helping the mystery king take down the worshippers of Nergal. With Guns and Robots. It does not end well for some.

WRITING:

                Pak is a capable writer. The dialogue is good. The pacing of the issue was a bit fast, yet still hit all the beats well. We got some development for Gilad and Caroline dealing with the violence and children seeing things they end up mimicking later and the profound weight that comes when children see too much. Pak uses Caroline as Gilad’s redemption for having failed his other children. Although, that might not be the full case. 

                The conflict comes and goes. It serves its point. And the narration does let Pak make some strong statements at the end. Yet … the ending point just felt like filler. Sure. It is strong character arc for Gilad but here we are, posed with a future storyline of them fighting the warriors of Nergal, who we found out in the previous storyline, are being lead by Gilad’s son. It might be just my own expectation but since the revelation, I was thinking we’d see Gilad face his son in this storyline or possible connect to Rai because many of Valiant’s book introduce heroes in one book then give them a spin off.  No dice. And while the issue was solid … it just left me feeling ‘meh.’

ART:

                Gill and Pennington deliver a strong, beautiful art. It is detailed. Backgrounds, people, robots … you name it and these two really give us some detailed work. The varied amount of things lets Gill and Pennington really burst through the page. From action to quiet moments, Gill and Pennington grace us with a good amount of emotional expression as well. 

                Major and Rauch back them up with beautiful color that really makes their work look alive. The more lighter tones help keep in the mind of the landscape that these characters are in. Their colors make that future feel realized. Overall, a spectacular job by the art team.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                Eternal Warrior # 8 finished the storyline but left me feeling like it was just ‘filler’. It advanced the character of Gilad but nothing we were hinted at showed up with was a let down. Otherwise, it is written pretty solid.  The art was amazing though.

RATING:

                Eternal Warrior # 8 gets a 7 … out of 10. It looks great and the story is just ok. 

1st Impression: ETERNAL WARRIOR # 7

ETERNAL WARRIOR # 7

Written by Greg Pak

Art by Robert Gill & Guy Major

Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                Gilad leads the city of people through a forest to look for King Sam, the creator of the robots. And Gilad finds him. When they meet, there is a warm welcome extended but King Sam learns why Gilad is the Eternal Emperor.

ART:

                Gill produces some of the sharpest looking panels in comics. Gill has an amazing sense of prospective and uses it in the issue.  Gill also has a great sense of anatomy, not only for humans but for beasts as well as he draws some very powerful pictures of animals attacking other animals. Gill really does well giving us perspective and angles with his panel work to provide some dynamic art.  From the clothes of the civilians to the robot wolves to the overall look at King Sam’s main base, Gill renders them all with a great amount of detail.  Gilad continues to look regal and battle hardened. And Gill has no issue conveying emotion on the faces of the characters.

                Major’s colors are stellar as they enrich Gill’s work.  From the shades to the direction of lighting, Major pulls off some great, vivid colors that just make Gill’s work explode off the page. Overall, a magnificent job by this art team.

WRITING:

                Pak continues to write a future myth with Gilad in the future.  Pak gives us some solid character development of Gilad as a leader and a warrior. Gilad wants to take care of his people and does his best to make sure that he can with multiple examples of that throughout the issue. Pak continues with his mastery of dialogue as he puts the right amount of wit with the right amount of emotion in the dialogue amongst the characters.

                There is definitely a stronger focus on Gilad himself this issue, with various interactions. This definitely felt good to see the spotlight firmly on Gilad this issue. I also like to applaud the pacing of the issue as Pak keeps things at a steady pace to lead to the strong ending of the issue. Pak just continues to write a superb story.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                The writing was spectacular. The art was amazing. I certainly love every minute of this issue.

RATING:

                I give Eternal Warrior # 7 a 9.5 … out of 10. Pick it up this Wednesday!

Preview: ETERNAL WARRIOR # 7

Valiant Preview: GREG PAK and ROBERT GILL Draw Blood for ETERNAL WARRIOR #7!

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Eternal Warrior #7 from New York Times best-selling writer Greg Pak (Action Comics) and rising star Robert Gill (Armor Hunters: Harbinger)! The Eternal Warrior's brutal journey through the year 4001 continues right here on March 26th!

King Gilad Anni-Padda hoped to leave his days as the Eternal Emperor behind him. But when an unforeseen challenger threatens the future of his kingdom, Gilad must put down his crown and pick up his sword! After years of peaceful rule, will Earth's immortal champion seek out justice – or give into his own savage nature? And what terror wrought in the modern day has led to this terrible turning point?

War comes to the future's last tattered remnant of civilization when the acclaimed story arc, "Eternal Emperor," soldiers onward in Eternal Warrior #7 – in stores March 26th!

Praise for Pak & Gill's "Eternal Emperor":

"A great jumping-on point… You’ll dig Eternal Warrior." – Ain't It Cool News
"✮✮✮✮✮… Do yourself a favor and buy this." – Comic Vine
"9.0 – A book that is at the top of its game right now." – Multiversity Comics
"A-… An excellent jumping-on point indeed." – Weekly Comic Book Review
"Eternal Warrior is freaking amazing. That's all you need to know." – IGN
"Pak, Bernard, Major, and Sharpe…are blowing it up real good, my friends. Real good." – Comics Bulletin

 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

ETERNAL WARRIOR #7 ("ETERNAL EMPEROR")
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ROBERT GILL
Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (JAN141372)
Variant Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (JAN141373)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 3/26/14 

Preview: ETERNAL WARRIOR # 6

ETERNAL WARRIOR #6 ("ETERNAL EMPEROR" – PART 2)
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ROBERT GILL
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (DEC131332)
Variant Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (DEC131333)

Long live the Eternal Emperor!

The first glimpse into the Valiant Universe in the year 4001 continues here! The Eternal Emperor rules over a blighted landscape, the last hope of a desperate band of survivors. When an enigmatic force appears and threatens to destroy the last remnants of his people, he faces a horrific choice: travel an irradiated landscape in search to kidnap an innocent, or see his people destroyed. Welcome to the Valiant Universe of 4001.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE FEBRUARY 12th!!

1st Impression: ETERNAL WARRIOR # 5

ETERNAL WARRIOR # 5
Written by Greg Pak
Art by Robert Gill & Guy Major
Valiant Entertainment

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                Welcome to 4001 AD, where Gilad is still alive after the world has changed and technology is not as … abundant as it used to be from the looks of this future. Yet, we quickly see what machinery can do in this far out future and what Gilad has done in order to help people survive.

ART:

                I have to hand it to Robert Gill for giving us a beautifully rendered opening to this new arc. There is an abundance of detail that really helps bring readers into the world with dramatic looking scenery, redesigned wardrobe and a good amount of people of all shapes and sizes in this future. Gilad looks weathered at this point but is a grandfather to a young girl named Caroline.

                Gill does not disappoint in action either, showing that Gilad still has it after all these years. And Major’s colors really bring out the best of Gill’s art, making sure that everything breathes life. With strong detail, varied designs and great panel composition, this arc visually opens with all rockets blazing into your optics.



WRITING:

                Pak gives us a very intriguing beginning to this new arc. There are a lot of unanswered questions and Pak uses this issue, mostly for set up. And I admit, the set up is good. We see Gilad’s status quo in the future as he is with a tribe of humans. The fact that technology seems frowned upon by some in this future is very interesting. 

                Pak also introduces a new member to Gilad’s family, his grand daughter Caroline. Caroline seems to take after Xaran a little but Gilad, this time around, seems to be okay with his granddaughter being a bit vicious. Pak also creates an interesting relationship between the tribe Gilad is in and Gilad. Their relationship with one another is not as clear cut as it could be; which makes it that much more intriguing.

                Pak paces this first issue well and leaves you with an interesting stinger while still showing you that Gilad is still Gilad. The dialogue was great. And overall, I enjoyed reading the issue.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                Solid first part of this new arc. Good writing and great art. There are a LOT of mysteries that are unanswered but this opening issue leaves you asking more questions in a good way.

RATING:

                I give Eternal Warrior # 5 an 8.5 … out of 10.