Harbinger # 24 Review

HARBINGER #24
Written by Joshua Dysart
Art by Khari Evans & Brian Reber
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Valiant Comics

This will be a Spoiler Free review. (kinda)

                Flamingo is dead. Kris, Faith and Torque deal with their emotional  fall out of that and their assault on the Harbinger Foundation. Meanwhile, Peter and Harada find out how big of battle they are fighting and what exactly they battle meant.

THE GOOD:

                THIS ISSUE WAS AMAZING. The emotional heaviness of last issue is full realized this issue as we go through our remaining Renegades going through mourning. We get some very powerful dialogue from Dysart. Plot moment gets heavier this issue as Dysart decides to reveal Bleeding Monk’s true motives this issue and why things have ended up being the way they are.  This issue had it all. Action. Adventure. Passion. And a great chunk of emotion. It ties up many things from not only this storyline but also character arcs within the series.
                  Khari  Evans and Brian Reber give us their best work to date with great amount of detail with powerful colors to make the art alive.  Panels were downright heart reaching through just pictures alone and just the emotional contortion of faces. There are panels in this issue that I will remember for the rest of my life.  Each character had great perspective and retained very human qualities, even when doing very extraordinary things.
                 I have commented that Dysart was writing the run of his career … and I couldn’t be more right with this issue. Truly a beautiful book.

THE BAD:

                Bad does not exist in this issue.

THE VERDICT:

 The passionate dialogue between Faith, Kris and Torque alone is worth every last cent this book was made. And the major battle between Harada and Peter was cinematic in scope and detail.  If you had been following this book, you definitely will get the feels with this issue. If this is your first issue, you will plow back to the beginning and just start working on collecting more and more. Evans and Reber assist with art to make this book one of the greatest issues of comics ever to be printed. Harbinger # 24 gets a solid 5 out of 5 stars. Buy it Wednesday and share it with EVERYONE!

Harbinger # 24 Preview

HARBINGER #24 (“DEATH OF A RENEGADE” – PART 3)
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by KHARI EVANS
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (APR141430)
Variant Cover by CLAYTON HENRY (APR141431)

One of the Renegades is dead…but the battle isn’t over yet.

The penultimate issue of the most important Harbinger story ever told is almost here, and the countdown to the “EVERYTHING CHANGES,” mind-shattering spectacular of Harbinger #25 is heading toward you like a freight train. Hold on tight!

$3.99 |  T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 6/18/14 (FOC – 5/26/14) 

Unity # 8 Preview

UNITY #8 (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by MATT KINDT
Art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Chromium & Standard Edition Covers by MICO SUAYAN* (APR141416/APR141415)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (APR141417)
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR141418)

ARMOR HUNTERS descends on Valiant’s all-star superteam in an all-new story arc from New York Times best-selling writer Matt Kindt (Mind MGMT) and red-hot artist Stephen Segovia (Superior Carnage)!

When an ultra-powerful threat from deep space begins brutalizing Earth, humanity’s first response is – who else? – the fearless team of heroes, soldiers, and short fuses called Unity! Now it’s down to Ninjak, Eternal Warrior and Livewire – plus some special surprise recruits – to lead the assault on the ARMOR HUNTERS’ frontline…even if they die trying!

CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99 | STANDARD EDITION: $3.99
T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 6/18/14 (FOC – 5/26/14)

Armor Hunters #1 Review

ARMOR HUNTERS #1
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Doug Braithwaite & Laura Martin
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Valiant Comics

This will be a spoiler free review

                We open with a group of the Armor Hunters arriving on Earth and clearing out a military base in Russia brutally. As Aric is called into duty, the leader of the Armor Hunters, Primary, is growing tired of going by procedure. As Aric and M.E.R.O. come in contact with the Armor Hunters, they leave a distinct calling card.

THE GOOD:

                Braithwaite really delivers some of his best art ever with this issue. The panels are nice, detailed and full of life … even when someone is getting killed. There are some really good panel work that allows the pictures to tell the story with little help of dialogue or shows mannerisms that reveals the personality of a character. Alongside Martin, Braithwaite fully realizes his art with some vivid colors and a great amount of touch up to each character to give texture.

                Venditti does a lot of set up this issue for the beginning of a very high stakes game with the Armor Hunters. He gives us some good moments with Aric, who is primarily affected. Yet, we do get a good glimpses of the personalities of our main antagonists.  Dialogue is strong without treating readers as if they are stupid. And Venditti makes sure that this first issue had enough impact that it will indeed affect the rest of the planet. A great opening for this new event.

THE BAD:

                Nada.

THE VERDICT:

                Honestly, this was an amazing opening. While the rest of the Valiant Universe isn’t involve yet, Venditti plants the seeds to make sure they are involved. I do love that we are seeing different facets of the Armor Hunters themselves. And that not everything is as black and white as it may be. It’s a solid read.

                I give Armor Hunters # 1 a 4.5 out of 5.

Armor Hunters # 1 Final Preview

ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4) (VALIANT FIRST)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Chromium & Standard Edition Covers by JORGE MOLINA* (APR141410/APR141409)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (APR141411)
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR141412)
Artist Variant by DOUG BRAITHWAITE (APR141413)
Blank Cover also available (APR141414)

This summer, Earth will be the greatest hunt of all when VALIANT FIRST unleashes the first issue of 2014’s must-read crossover event – ARMOR HUNTERS – from superstar creators Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, Green Lantern) and Doug Braithwaite (Unity)!

A relentless and surgical strike team from the farthest reaches of space – sworn to exterminate the X-O Manowar armor and all like it – have finally found their last target. They will hunt. They will trap. They will kill. And they will rid the universe of the X-O Manowar’s incalculable destructive power…even if it means taking the Earth with it.

In the tradition of the universe-shaking HARBINGER WARS, Valiant’s biggest heroes begin the summer’s blockbuster 18-issue crossover event right here in Armor Hunters #1 (of 4) – and then launch the resistance against the world’s first full-scale cosmic threat with new arcs beginning in Unity #8 and X-O Manowar #26 in June; and Armor Hunters: Bloodshot #1 (of 3) and Armor Hunters: Harbinger #1 (of 3) beginning in July!

CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99 | STANDARD EDITION: $3.99
40 pgs. | T+ | ON SALE 6/11/14 (FOC – 5/19/14)

QUANTUM AND WOODY # 11 REVIEW

QUANTUM & WOODY #11
Written by James Asmus
Art by Wilfredo Torres, Erica Henderson, Jordie Bellaire and David Baron
Lettering by Dave Lanphear
Valiant Comics

This will be a spoiler free review.

                While Woody and Eric are in jail, Detective Cejudo talks to her “sister”  Sixty-nine in order to stop her from dating Woody.  Yet, as Eric leaves jail, the E.R.A. return, making some serious moves as they work on capturing Eric, Woody, Detective Cejudo, Sixty-nine and Goat.

THE GOOD:

                This book delivers as always as Torres and Henderson do a great job giving us good art that goes along with the style of Quantum & Woody since it began. The style is simple, yet with enough detail that you get a god amount of expression from it. Torres and Henderson give a good panel composition as well as some near perspectives. Bellaire and Baron continue to make the comic colorful enough to bring it tonight but have a texture that this is something a little older. The art does have a old school comic strip feel to it but Torres and Henderson really make it work here.

                Asmus continues to write the work of his life. This issue had a great sense of narration, dialogue and character development while still being witty. Asmus gives some major development to Sixty-Nine this issue while we get to look more into the brother’s relationship and see that Eric really wants little to do with Woody. Woody makes a shocking confession that pulls at your heart strings in time for insanity to occur and Asmus blends it all seamlessly.  The pacing was excellent and the story is building to a great finale as Asmus leaves the boys with a great revelation at the end of the issue.

THE BAD:

                Nada. The art was above average but not enough to go nuts over. Still, a great issue.

THE VERDICT:
                We got fantastic character development and plot advancement with some good art. The end is and we got a strong issue before that end. I give Quantum and Woody # 11 a 4 … out of 5.

X-O Manowar # 25 Review

X-O MANOWAR # 25

Written by Robert Venditti, Justin Jordon & Andy Runton

Art by J.G. Jones,Bryan Hitch, Diego Bernard, Barry Kitson, Andy Runton, Rafer Roberts & more

Valiant Comics

This will be a spoiler free review.

                Multiple stories happen throughout the issue. We get a quick look at Aric’s origin as X-O Manowar to him paying respects to a prelude to Armor Hunters starting the team with the same name to the armor having its own little adventure to a small crossover between Valiant Characters.  This issue seemed to have a little of everything to celebrate X-O Manowar’s and Valiant’s relaunch anniversary.

THE GOOD:

                A lot was packed into these pages and it definitely felt worth it. We got some great personal development for Aric as we see him pay his respects to one of his fallen relatives. Venditti definitely uses loss and mourning a lot this issue to kind of set up transitions, not only for Aric but for the Armor Hunters as well. Venditti takes time to not only do more set up for the Armor Hunters event, but also gives us some solid characterization of the Armor Hunters team.

                All of the stories and segments were paced well, allowing each writer to give their own spin on things. And while the other stories didn’t do character building, they were fun in their own way.

                Artistically, you have so many styles in there that it really is a feast for the eyes. To classic comic book strip cartoony to Hitch’s hyper detailed style, there is a buffet of art that surrounds you this issue. Hitch and Bernard have the most significant portions and do a great job showing of their art. This book looks and feels fun while giving strong characterization and great art.

THE BAD:

                Nada. Zero. Zilch.

FINAL VERDICT:

                X-O Manowar # 25 was a strong, fun anniversary issue with great art and excellent story. The varied amounts of stories and extras make the book fun of value and it was great to see so much talent within the book do so many different things.  I give X-O Manowar # 25 5 stars out of 5.

Preview: X-O MANOWAR # 25

Valiant Preview: On Sale May 21st, 2014 – X-O MANOWAR #25 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS) |


 

X-O MANOWAR #25 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with TOM FOWLER and JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by DIEGO BERNARD, SEAN CHEN, TOM FOWLER, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, BARRY KITSON, CARY NORD, RAFER ROBERTS, and ANDY RUNTON
Cover A by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (MAR141400)
Cover B by BRYAN HITCH (MAR141401)
Armors Variant by ARTURO LOZZI (MAR141402)
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN (MAR141403)
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON (MAR141404)

VALIANT FIRST delivers another must-read milestone this May with a blockbuster, 48-page celebration of X-O Manowar’s 25th issue…and an essential introduction to the comic book event of 2014 – ARMOR HUNTERS!

Find out why the galaxy’s most feared team of hunter-killers have journeyed across the stars to destroy the X-O Manowar armor and the Earth along with it in ARMOR HUNTERS: BURIAL by Robert Venditti & Diego Bernard. Then, revisit the roots of Aric of Dacia’s transformation from Visigoth conqueror into the 21st century’s alien-armored guardian, as told by Robert Venditti & J.G. Jones! Plus, all-new tales of X-O Manowar from Robert Venditti & Bryan Hitch, Justin Jordan & Rafer Roberts, Tom Fowler, Sean Chen, Cary Nord, Andy Runton, and much, much more!

$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC – 4/28/14)

First Looks: FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL | FCBD 2014 VALIANT UNIVERSE HANDBOOK – Coming for Free Comic Book Day 2014!

First Looks: FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL | FCBD 2014 VALIANT UNIVERSE HANDBOOK – Coming for Free Comic Book Day 2014!

FCBD 2014 ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL 
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI, MATT KINDT, and MORE
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE, CLAYTON CRAIN, DIEGO BERNARD, and MORE
Cover by J.G. JONES

The Armor Hunters, a group of the universe's fiercest warriors, have come to destroy the X-O Manowar for the good of all. What horrible secrets does the armor hold? And how many armors have they destroyed before this one? These answers and more will be revealed in the Valiant Universe event of 2014 - and it all starts right here with exclusive previews, character designs, and interviews from the biggest guns the Valiant Universe has to offer!

FREE/T+/32 pgs.
IN STORES 5/3/14 (FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2014)

     

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FCBD 2014 VALIANT UNIVERSE HANDBOOK
Written by VARIOUS
Art by VARIOUS
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA

The Valiant Universe from A to Z! Discover for the very first time the untold origins and secrets of Valiant's heroes and villains, all in one place! Everything you need to know about the Valiant Universe in 2014 and beyond can be found right here in the first official Valiant Handbook release... ever! Featuring artwork from a "murderer's row" of comics brightest talents: Doug Braithwaite, Clayton Crain, Clayton Henry, Bryan Hitch, Esad Ribic, and more!

FREE/T+/32 pgs.
IN STORES 5/3/14 (FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2014)

     
 

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