ARCHER & ARMSTRONG 4 Discussion

[Dr. Solar]

So, Project Rising Spirit adoption agency?

[pixierosa]

Apparently. I was thinking he was more of a Harbinger and not "made". Still is probably the case - reading the Bloodshot gives a little insight into the nursery.

I loved this book! It felt like a lot happened but it wasn't rushed. Revelations...

[Dr. Solar]

TONS of revelations. The Boon, Ivar is a timewalking. Still a lot left unexplained though.

Yeah, I agree that Archer seems more like a Harbinger than an experiment, though I'm guessing that P:RS likes to experiment on harbingers.

[pixierosa]

Yeah, I agree that Archer seems more like a Harbinger than an experiment, though I'm guessing that P:RS likes to experiment on harbingers.

That's my belief, too. I'm interested in what happened to Mary-Marie. She was initially a further distance from the boon when it started, but it looked like the life was sucked out of her. She either wasn't dead, or somehow the boon restored her. But why only her? Which also makes you wonder why the brothers were "spared" initially. Plus, why did she wander off? I don't think she'd ever just leave Archer if she was "herself". Kind of reminded me of the Bleeding Monk walking off in Harbinger. Looking forward to seeing how this plays out.

Next phase: action travel adventure as they race to the next Geomancer.

This is a good story but I appreciate all the nudges and winks, too. I wouldn't want all of my titles to be that way, but it plays out well here.

[greg]

I'm interested in what happened to Mary-Marie. She was initially a further distance from the boon when it started, but it looked like the life was sucked out of her. She either wasn't dead, or somehow the boon restored her. But why only her?

I thought Archer made some kind of deal with Ivar to save Mary-Maria... it was hard to tell if Ivar was involved.

In the last panel, her eyes are white like Aram's... which means the Boon is healing her the way Aram described his own eyes.
I'd say Mary-Maria has a few lives yet to live.

New question... possibly stupid...

Is Archer even human?

[pixierosa]

I wondered about Archer, too. He wasn't affected by the boon. If it sucks out mortal life...

I wasn't sure if Ivar had actually done anything. If he can manipulate the boon's powers, then why the urgency to have it destroyed? But if he did manipulate it to revive Mary Maria, then maybe he was able to block Archer from its power since he needed Archer's skills to destroy it.

I caught that about Mary Maria's eyes, but I think it's weird she just took off.

[SJS4]

I liked this issue. The artwork is always solid and for me its starting to be more of a story and less of a "joke" (for lack of a better description). I would still say this series is #5 overall for me, but I am enjoying it.

That being said I am REALLY looking forward to next issue. EW was always may favorite character in the valiant universe and I can't wait to see him in print again (finally!).

[swtor1091]

I dont mean to sound like a hater here because I love Valiant .... it's just that this issue and number three didnt do it for me as well as issues one and two.... i'm hoping that issue five is better,.. i cant really explain why these issues were worse its just that they weren't clicking for me....

[BugsySig]

Good issue. I think FVL is starting to find the right voices for the characters here as the first arc ends, which has me looking forward to the next arc.

One gripe...While I liked the use of the "Krakkabathroom" sound effect which FVL made famous in Incredible Herc, I hated that it was used twice. Once is a wink to fans of that series, like myself, but twice is lazy.

Greg and Pixie, I like the theory that Ivar may have been manipulating the power of the Boon to revive Mary-Maria and protect Archer, but I have another thought...What if Harbingers are immune to the Boon?

Evidence:

A) When the Boon was activated the only people unaffected are Aram, Obie and the Geomancer. While a mystical title, could the ability to talk to the Earth be a Harbinger ability? Or closely mimic one?

B) There has to be a reason the Anni Padda survived and were imbued with the Boon's power. We initially thought it was where they were standing/their proximity to the Boon, but here we saw everyone in that room was being drained except the three I mentioned. We know in VH1 that Ivar's ability to access time portals was a Harbinger ability...Perhaps all three brothers are Harbingers in this universe?

[erwinrafael]

I think this is the only time I laughed hard when somebody died. The Geomancer's death was hilarious.

[pixierosa]

Greg and Pixie, I like the theory that Ivar may have been manipulating the power of the Boon to revive Mary-Maria and protect Archer, but I have another thought...What if Harbingers are immune to the Boon?

Evidence:

A) When the Boon was activated the only people unaffected are Aram, Obie and the Geomancer. While a mystical title, could the ability to talk to the Earth be a Harbinger ability? Or closely mimic one?

B) There has to be a reason the Anni Padda survived and were imbued with the Boon's power. We initially thought it was where they were standing/their proximity to the Boon, but here we saw everyone in that room was being drained except the three I mentioned. We know in VH1 that Ivar's ability to access time portals was a Harbinger ability...Perhaps all three brothers are Harbingers in this universe?

I was thinking it was possible that the harbingers were immune for some reason, but I was sure about the Anni Padda. I like that theory that they were all harbingers as mortals, which might be why they were the ones sent to retrieve the boon in the first place.

I don't know about the Geomancer being a Harbinger-ability ... I don't think it would pass on from person to person if it was. But it must be something similar. But if the boon recognizes this earth magic, then is it somehow of the earth and not alien, like some of our hypotheses?

If the Nazi monks could access all the knowledge, then they should have known how the boon gained power. The Anni Padda survived and would have added that knowledge to the pool.

[Savant]

Archer & Armstrong has refreshingly been one of the best titles under the new Valiant stable, and from what I remember, I've enjoyed issues 3 & 4 more than the first two issues.

I caught that about Mary Maria's eyes, but I think it's weird she just took off.

Probably took off because she was bewildered, no one was around so she didn't hear any voices (She seemingly awakened after A&A left the building), and while the Boon was healing her she may have been blind. At least, that was the impression I got with her eyes being blank like Armstrong's were earlier.

[BugsySig]

Archer & Armstrong has refreshingly been one of the best titles under the new Valiant stable, and from what I remember, I've enjoyed issues 3 & 4 more than the first two issues.

I caught that about Mary Maria's eyes, but I think it's weird she just took off.

Probably took off because she was bewildered, no one was around so she didn't hear any voices (She seemingly awakened after A&A left the building), and while the Boon was healing her she may have been blind. At least, that was the impression I got with her eyes being blank like Armstrong's were earlier.

Well Armstrong said he has a million lives in him, how many could MM have? A dozen? That's enough to last almost a thousand years...

[erwinrafael]

Archer & Armstrong has refreshingly been one of the best titles under the new Valiant stable, and from what I remember, I've enjoyed issues 3 & 4 more than the first two issues.

I caught that about Mary Maria's eyes, but I think it's weird she just took off.

Probably took off because she was bewildered, no one was around so she didn't hear any voices (She seemingly awakened after A&A left the building), and while the Boon was healing her she may have been blind. At least, that was the impression I got with her eyes being blank like Armstrong's were earlier.

Well Armstrong said he has a million lives in him, how many could MM have? A dozen? That's enough to last almost a thousand years...

And that's the drama potential. Archer made Mary-Maria an immortal, which means that he condemned her to a lonely life that would outlive their "love".

[pixierosa]

Archer & Armstrong has refreshingly been one of the best titles under the new Valiant stable, and from what I remember, I've enjoyed issues 3 & 4 more than the first two issues.

I caught that about Mary Maria's eyes, but I think it's weird she just took off.

Probably took off because she was bewildered, no one was around so she didn't hear any voices (She seemingly awakened after A&A left the building), and while the Boon was healing her she may have been blind. At least, that was the impression I got with her eyes being blank like Armstrong's were earlier.

Well Armstrong said he has a million lives in him, how many could MM have? A dozen? That's enough to last almost a thousand years...

And that's the drama potential. Archer made Mary-Maria an immortal, which means that he condemned her to a lonely life that would outlive their "love".

Agreed. And rather poignant for this story.

[erwinrafael]

Greg and Pixie, I like the theory that Ivar may have been manipulating the power of the Boon to revive Mary-Maria and protect Archer, but I have another thought...What if Harbingers are immune to the Boon?

Evidence:

A) When the Boon was activated the only people unaffected are Aram, Obie and the Geomancer. While a mystical title, could the ability to talk to the Earth be a Harbinger ability? Or closely mimic one?

B) There has to be a reason the Anni Padda survived and were imbued with the Boon's power. We initially thought it was where they were standing/their proximity to the Boon, but here we saw everyone in that room was being drained except the three I mentioned. We know in VH1 that Ivar's ability to access time portals was a Harbinger ability...Perhaps all three brothers are Harbingers in this universe?

I was thinking it was possible that the harbingers were immune for some reason, but I was sure about the Anni Padda. I like that theory that they were all harbingers as mortals, which might be why they were the ones sent to retrieve the boon in the first place.

I don't know about the Geomancer being a Harbinger-ability ... I don't think it would pass on from person to person if it was. But it must be something similar. But if the boon recognizes this earth magic, then is it somehow of the earth and not alien, like some of our hypotheses?

If the Nazi monks could access all the knowledge, then they should have known how the boon gained power. The Anni Padda survived and would have added that knowledge to the pool.

I think the Nazi monks can not read properly the minds of the Anni Padda. Which is why Aram can hide the pieces of the Boon.

I also agree that the Anni Padda have harbinger abilities and that harbingers are immune from the effect of the Boon.

[Blood of Heroes]

So, if the brothers are harbingers psiots, what are their powers?
Is timewalking a psiot ability?
What is Gilad's? Armstrong's?

[orbitalshift]

I gave it through the first arc, as much as it pains me to say it. I pretty much hate the new Archer and Armstrong. The art is great, no complaints there but this book is terrible. There just isn't anything funny or even interesting about it. I know it's well reviewed and loved by some, so maybe it's just me. I'll likely continue to buy it, just to keep my collection together. At this point I can only hope that FVL gets an exclusive gig at Marvel so he stops ruining the Valiant universe. Just my opinion, and yes, I know we all have them.

[erwinrafael]

So, if the brothers are harbingers psiots, what are their powers?
Is timewalking a psiot ability?
What is Gilad's? Armstrong's?

Gilad appears to be able to talk to the Earth based on this issue.

Armstrong is quite strong, as he can pull vault doors open.

[Blood of Heroes]

So, if the brothers are harbingers psiots, what are their powers?
Is timewalking a psiot ability?
What is Gilad's? Armstrong's?

Gilad appears to be able to talk to the Earth based on this issue.

Armstrong is quite strong, as he can pull vault doors open.

Well played, Erwin. Well played.

[hawkeyeps]

What if Archer is a Vine Planting Psiot?

[MarkRoseHFX]

So, Project Rising Spirit adoption agency?

I've never wanted to have kids but i'd totally adopt a baby Harbinger

[jmatt]

Was it just my issue, or was Aram's dialogue missing in the panel where Ivar talks to Archer in null-space? Aram's body language seems to indicate that whatever he's saying is pretty powerful.

Or is the idea that once pulled into null-space, time stopped for Aram? It wasn't all that clear; I'll have to read it again.

[BugsySig]

Was it just my issue, or was Aram's dialogue missing in the panel where Ivar talks to Archer in null-space? Aram's body language seems to indicate that whatever he's saying is pretty powerful.

Or is the idea that once pulled into null-space, time stopped for Aram? It wasn't all that clear; I'll have to read it again.

I read it as though Aram was saying something but Archer couldn't hear it because he was talking to Ivar. The opposit was likely true as well.

[greg]

What if Archer is a Vine Planting Psiot?

What if ALL psiots/harbingers are descendents of the vine planting?