Author name: Chris Bushley

Peter Stancheck and his rag tag band of psiots have been compromised, beaten and imprisoned by Project Rising Spirit, but everything will be alright as long as you have Faith!

A blitzkrieg of action awaits you in this weeks Harbinger #10, the precursor to Harbinger Wars (on sale 4/3) that is going to set the Valiant Universe ablaze in it’s first crossover! The battle lines have been drawn and Peter’s crew are up against insurmountable odds, it will take everything they have in order to survive the battle and one of them will rise to the challenge in order to save them all!

Joshua Dysart is a master of melding characterization heavy stories with a bevy of action sequences in order to make one of the best comics every month! It is superbly done, rich in the development of not just the main character -Peter Stancheck- but every character brought into the book. From Flamingo, Faith, Torque, Kris Hathaway and even the pathetically manipulated Mr.Tull, Dysart breathes life into every nuance of them making the entire read a true glimpse into their destructive world. He weaves in fragility into the very essence of these powerful creations, giving them a subtlety and believability rarely seen in comics today. They are massive and weak, beautiful yet scarred, outgoing and cripplingly shy, influential and covertly influenced and broken yet godlike.

These characters resonate with readers because we can empathize with them, we are them on a base level and we want them to dominate their world. That’s exactly what this issue is about. Overcoming those things that have been holding you down, breaking free of the restraints both literally and metaphorically in order to truly live. Plus, it is such a thrill ride of bombastic action that you can’t help but get amped up for what’s next!

Planet Death is upon us and everything you thought you knew is completely wrong! 

Cary Nord tantalizes readers with an artistic dance, melding the beauty of life and the utter chaos of death to form an intrinsic tale of the Vine’s origin. Stunningly rendered flash back sequences draw you in as Robert Venditti’s tale takes you back to the very moment the Vine was ‘born,” giving this overtly destructive and manipulative species a more humble begriming than ever thought possible. 

Venditti actually creates sympathy for these creatures, ones so vile that deception practically drips from their spider-like maws. It is this same sympathy that drives the tale and makes you ponder the plight of our hero Aric. For once, we are privy to different ideas from those of our protagonist, ideas that not only explain how the Vine became who they currently are but why they hold some things so dear. In addition, we are not only given the origin of the Vine but that of the X-O armor itself as well! 

This is a morality tale of the finest caliber! Do we become monsters do to the unspeakable deeds that are done to us, which in turn we do to others to show how powerful we are over them? Or, do we learn from what has happened before and overcome them, becoming something far better do to the circumstances thrust upon us? By tales end, Aric will have to ask himself those very questions, for his whole world is about to be turned upside down!

Undeniably one of the best cosmic stories being created today! Vendetti and Nord have created something that makes other books pale in comparison!

After saving the world and returning from the Deadside, Jack Boniface deserves a little time to relax and be himself again. Unfortunately, the Universe doesn’t rest and neither will Jack!

Justin Jordan and Patrick Zircher continue their quest to make one of the most exceptional books on the market! Shadowman is not only the culmination of two fantastic talents on one incredible story, it is the mingling of genres, horror and super hero, into a stunning read every month.

Jordan and Zircher take a step back from the all out action this month in order to delve deeper into the mythos of the Shadowman and the role that Jack must play as the new heir. For long time fans of the original series, it will be a delightful stroll down memory lane as glimpses of the past are merge with interesting new ideas converging into something truly original. For newer fans, this is the perfect issue to get acquainted with he rich history involved with Shadowman, a key issue into the future of the series. Old enemies take the spotlight while new, more violent characters make their own mark in the book. Valiant fans can also rejoice at the return of a character not seen in twenty years, albeit a wholly new version of it — Dr.Mirage!

As fascinating as Jordan and Zircher’s tale of discovery and loss is, the excitement level is turned up to eleven as some of the best artistic talent in comics bring their styles to the book! Lee Garbett, Stefano Guadiano and, my personal favorite, Roberto De La Torre descend upon this issue with their artistic fervor! Using their skills to differentiate the tale between the past, present and the story of Master Darque’s quest in Deadside, these superstars, along with Patrick Zircher, make this issue a masterpiece for the eyes! It is a delight for the senses, a rare treat that ascends the book to new levels! A fantastic tale laced with perfection!

Shadowman continues to excite, bewilder and intrigue readers with every issue, don’t you think you should become a fan too?!

Be bold, be daring, be — Valiant!

With A new Geomancer being created last issue, what are Archer and Armstrong to do with the Eternal Warrior and his newly acquired object to protect? Cause some all out destruction of course!

Fred Van Lente has a miraculous sense of adventure in his writing. Action packed, comedic and rife with historical relics as well as flashbacks, Archer & Armstrong is one of those books that has a universal appeal. It truly has something for everyone and makes the world of comics a fun and exciting place to be a part of again! The juxtaposition between the overtly serious characters, such as the Eternal Warrior, and the fun loving and clumsy yet clever Armstrong, bring a convivial level to this series that is rarely seen in books today. Fred Van Lente brings the fun back to the world of “funny books” without compromising the level of intelligence of the book or the reader. It is truly entertaining!

While on their quest to track the leaders of the One Percent and the Null, something occurs that readers will find exceptionally intriguing. Though I will not divulge what that something is – no spoilers here – readers of other Valiant books will have to make room for another title that may have more in common with them than at first perceived. The building blocks of the Valiant Universe continue to get bigger and bigger and the unity of their titles have gotten stronger with this issue.

So, if you are looking for something that will satisfy ever aspect of perfect writing, Archer & Armstrong is your one stop shop for it all! It is an extremely exciting to be a fan of Valiant comics, don’t you think you could use some excitement, too?!

The Shadowman series culminates in issue four with astounding action sequences and more than a little intrigue to whet your appetite. Let’s just say this book has it all!

The battle in the Deadside continues as Shadowman realizes that he is not only there to save Alyssa. He is there to battle Mr.Twist to the death as the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Not only would he lose Alyssa to the hands of nefarious soul draining ghouls if he loses, he would become the catalyst for Master Darque to roam the world once more!

The writing abilities of Justin Jordan and Patrick Zircher have become synonymous with pure adrenaline! Shadowman is a constant barrage to the senses both visually and conceptually, each issue leaves you breathless! Issue four is the pinnacle of all out action layered with deep intrigue and heaps of emotional duress. A fledgling hero with untested powers is all that stands between the tyrannical return of unfettered madness to the world and certain death — of course there will be emotional duress! But this book isn’t all about the action, Jordan and Zircher have begun to flesh out Shadowman as a character, his lack of trust in himself, his acceptance of his new found powers and his bond with Alyssa are all explored here. It gives the reader a much needed look at Jack Boniface as a person dealing with all the strange predicaments he now finds himself in, especially taking on the mantle of Shadowman! 

Patrick Zircher’s art is overtly majestic, exuding pure excitement from every page! Every diminutive detail has been scrutinized, highly rendered to the finest detail and executed flawlessly, creating a book filled with 32 pages of masterpieces! For my four dollars, there has been no other book that I can say has been continually this visually stunning in recent months. Completely stunning!

Valiant has been putting out some amazing books since their debut last year and Shadowman has been one of the best! You owe it to yourself to dive into the Deadside, you only have your soul to lose!

Before the Harbinger Wars erupts this April, you need to know what started it all!

In the days following the bombing of Hiroshima, a young boy walks the streets in search of his father. What he encounters is a broken, diseased and depraved new world that has enveloped this once simple town. It is the actions of man, prior to and after the bombing, that will forever change the life of Toyo Harada. This once innocent boy has had everything burned away, the being left standing in it’s wake — will become a harbinger of change for the entire Valiant Universe!

I have stated before how fantastic a storyteller Joshua Dysart is, with Harbinger #0, he has surpassed all previous praise. The origin story of Toyo Harada is one of the most harrowing tales I have read in recent years. It is an in depth look at how the actions of man can forever change the world, in the blink of an eye everything can be gone and something new created. Man, god and monster can become grouped into a single entity and all it takes is an action. Dysart encases his tale of the birth of a monster with an overwhelming sense of empathy. Toyo Harada is a product of the comportment of others, he never asked to become what he has, but he will never let it happen again.

Dysart convinces the reader that Harada’s actions have a plausible justice to them, creating a morality play of ones conscience. Are the horrific actions of a man justified if they are done to others that have blood on their hands? But what if he hurts innocents in his actions? Are his atrocities still justified because his own innocence was torn asunder? The grey area of what justice truly means is a hard one to discern and Harbinger #0 will leave you pondering it for a very long time.

Dysart has created a tale that far surpasses the conventional approach to the comics genre, a true case of how magnificent and personal the world of comics can be! So, be sure to add Harbinger to your MUST have list each month, you will be astounded by how thought provoking a book can be!

Joshua Dysart is a true craftsman when it comes to immersing a reader into the emotional duress of a character. From the first issue, where we were introduced to the most powerful junkie you will ever meet, Peter Stancheck, to this week’s broken and formidable, Torque; Dysart makes these characters compelling from the moment you meet them. He gives them a sense of “normalcy,” a relatable aura that makes a reader want to follow them through their ever more chaotic world. It is the work of a true craftsman that makes this book so rich each and every month, Joshua Dysart is at the top of his craft.

Issue #8 introduces us to another new character, Torque, a backwoods hillbilly that has dreams of smashing badguys and bedding women. Such lofty dreams for one such as Torque may never come to fruition, but I will not spoil Dysart’s compelling tale by telling you why! It is a page turning journey you must take on your own in order to fully appreciate the true depth of Torque. He is an amalgam weakness and power that is reminiscent of a few other comic heroes, but taken to an entirely different level. A level of excitement and duress that may actually change the wishes of this newly “born” hero by books end. And by books end, Peter may be looking for a whole lot more recruits to his cause against Harada, not because he has the room — but because he may need replacements! 

As the Renegades continue to gain members, not only have they caught the attention of Toyo Harada, but they have also incurred the wrath of Project Rising Stars. This does not bode well for our ragtag team of “heroes,” for we all know who P.R.S’ little toy is — Bloodshot! This is the stepping stone into the upcoming “Harbinger Wars” storyline and you don’t want to miss a thing!

So, get to your local comic shop and demand a copy of Harbinger #8 — you won’t regret it!

When a threat looms in the distance that will ultimately destroy the very fabric of your world, what do you do? Do you accept the inevitable, huddling down with your loved ones in the hopes of a savior? Do you look for solutions, rallying those of the scientific field to somehow slow down the fates? Do you pray for a change of heart in those that threaten you, leaving your future in the hands of the gods?

Or, if you’re Aric of Dacia, wielder of the X-O armor, you call down the threat and stand face to face with them. Never blinking, never questioning your abilities, you just — BRING IT ON!

That fire, that fervor, that blast of emotional rallying is exactly what Robert Venditti and Trevor Hairsine will dredge up in you with the turn of every page! It is a cavalcade of revelations, bringing things that have been brewing since issue #1 to the forefront and laying them on the table. The Vine has been embedding themselves into every aspect of the Valiant Universe and it culminates in this issue. Venditti’s prose anchors you emotionally to the tale, giving you the perfect window into all the aspects that come into play, while Hairsine’s riotous battle sequences will tantalize your senses. Where most “prelude” stories give subtle hints as to what can be expected in the upcoming arc, lulling you in with intrigue and little action; X-O #9 not only “sets the stage” it completely obliterates it! 

A mingling of high intrigue and blistering battle sequences, this issue is an all out adrenaline rush that never lets up to take a breath! So, while some other books may give you a “snoozefest,” Valiant continues to amaze and delight once again!

Everything old is new again! Last month we saw the return of Valiant’s most brutal character, The Eternal Warrior, this week we see the rise of another old favorite — The Geomancer!

As our regular band of misfit heroes take a backseat this week in order to focus on another new arrival, Fred Van Lente manages to create a tale that instantly grabs readers attention and makes you yearn to know more about Kay McHenry.

She is a character that is bold and confrontational, a loaded gun of accusation easily pointed by Elliot Zorn at his competitors. But when the tough questions arise, ones that are directed at who she is and what she stands for, this strong woman is revealed to be just a facade. She is a hardened shell of a woman with no direction of her own. And finally, when she chooses a path — it’s the wrong one!

Van Lente does another fantastic job of taking Valiant characters from the past and breaking them in order to become better, more relevant today. He infuses them with such strong characteristics that they are instantly accepted by the modern reader as fan favorites, at least in my eyes, and we cannot wait for the next installment to see where they go next. He uses such a thin veil between the action, drama and comedic elements — did I mention there is a talking monkey in a dress having a tea party? — that it gently melds into a single amazing tale the captivates you. Nowhere else have I seen this done with such great poise and respect for both the characters and the readers.

No other company this week will have as many elements in a single book that Archer & Armstrong #6 does! From pirates to news correspondents, naval ships to tea drinking monkeys, immortal warriors to talking plants — you want it, they’ve got it!

So get out there and grab something different, grab something — Valiant!