I want to start this review by saying that I have never read any of the old Valiant stuff. In fact, I don’t think I even own a single issue. So it goes without saying that I didn’t know any of the characters or their backstories when I heard Valiant was relaunching. As my good friend Tim Morse explained the original plot to me, Archer & Armstrong was about 2 men: Archer, the world’s greatest hand to hand and weapons expert. And Armstrong, immortal, invulnerable, and drunk a lot. Given that I’ve been impressed with the quality of Valiant since the relaunch, I wanted to jump on A&A.
From what I understand in the original Archer & Armstrong, the former of the two has a different background. In the original, his parents tried to kill him and he sets out to train himself to bring them to justice. In this new series, his parents are responsible for his training as a martial arts expert. Once he reaches the peak of his abilities Archer is sent out to hunt “He Who Is Not To Be Named” (I had a Harry Potter Flashback). Once he makes it to New York City, the object given to him to aid in his tracking directs him to a bar.
At the bar we are introduced to Armstrong, a carousing drunk working as the bar’s bouncer. Archer gets himself into a brawl and Armstrong intervenes to do some bouncing. The object Archer is carrying reveals that he is hunting Armstrong and the two begin to duke it out. But, before they really get started, canisters of knockout gas are fired into the bar knocking everyone out. The two characters wake up and Archer leaves Armstrong chained up only to discover his parents sent him there to die.
Fred Van Lente’s writing is engaging, if a bit rushed. In the span of twenty five pages we are introduced to a host of characters and dozens of questions. I know this is the introductory issue of the new series, and a lot of has to be thrown at you, but the pacing felt off. In the span of the book you’ve gone from Ohio to New York then to a secret base. This really rides the line between giving a lot to the audience to keep them interested and throwing too much at them. But, it does lean towards the former moreso than the latter.
With all of the Valiant books so far I have been more impressed with the art than the writing. A&A is no different. Clayton Henry’s pencils are impressive. I’m starting to feel like a broken record, but facial expressions are a main selling point. The disgust on the man’s face when Armstrong vomits on him is clear. When Archer discovers his parents have betrayed him, the hopelessness across his face is palpable. Not only that, but the designs of the bad guy’s troops are pretty snazzy.
Even though I’m interested in seeing where X-O Manowar is going, I’m more intrigued by Archer & Armstrong. I want to know what’s really going on. I want to see Archer and Armstrong’s camaraderie grow. I want to see more of Armstrong puking on people! It’s a safe assumption that Valiant has hooked me with another great series.
Art: 7/10
Script: 8/10
Parental concern: Some mild violence and person to person vomiting.
