The Good
I may have said that X-O Manowar was the book from Valiant to buy, but that's not the case anymore. Archer and Armstrong 2 raises the bar for how to revamp an old book and make it just as good and even better than the original.
I enjoyed the first issue of this new series because the great dynamic between these characters, but I wasn't sure where this book was headed. This issue puts the whole story on the reader's plate as we learn Archer and Armstrong must work together in order to collect pieces of The Boon, which are essentially smaller pieces of something much bigger that holds immense power. Guess what these two guys have to do?
Archer and Armstrong issue 2 is the perfect comic for anyone who grew up with the adventure films of the 80s. This book has a nostalgic feeling to me. It's like Indiana Jones, except there's two main characters and the Nazis have been replaced by crazy religious cults. It has action, adventure, mystery, and even puzzles to solve. This book makes me happy.
One of my favorite things about this series are these captions in the corner every time Archer uses one of the many fighting or survival techniques he's learned. There's a phonetic breakdown of the road and a brief description of what that technique is. While it's cool on its own, it adds so much more to Archer as a character. Without these little captions, the things Archer would be doing wouldn't be as impressive or cool.
I can't get through this whole review without mentioning how top notch this creative team is. Writer Fred Van Lente has done something special here. He's taken old characters, updated them, and created a story that feels familiar and oh so new at the same time. You'll be engaged with his story and writing from page one. Artist Clayton Henry and colorist Matt Milla put together a fantastic looking book that is intense and full of movement. Have I mentioned that this book makes me happy?
The Bad
No complaints from me this issue.
The Verdict
Archer and Armstrong should be on your pull list. I keep jumping back and forth on whether this or X-O Manowar is Valiant's best book, but right now, A&A is taking the cake. This was a great issue as the story gets revealed and the reader starts to understand how this book will play out. I love how this book feels like a great adventure film, and it reminds me of some of the great adventure films from my youth. Everything about this issue is a ton of fun and brilliant, including the creative team.
Overall, I highly recommend this issue.