Archer and Armstrong #1 discussion thread

[Tim]

I was reading 2 DC books, but they decided to CANCEL Resurrection Man, so now it's down to just Animal Man for me. Aside from that I get a handful of Image titles, and ALL the Valiant Books. The stories have barely begun, so I'm in for the long haul.

I'm reading Supergirl, Aquaman and Young Justice from DC (oops..I meant to say I'm down to THREE DC books..forgot about YJ), Daredevil, The Punisher and X-Treme X-men from Marvel, Youngblood from Image, Stan Lee's Mighty Seven from Archie, IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles stuff and all the Valiant books.

[erwinrafael]

It's funny, by the time X-O #3 in the VH1 came along Aric had killed at least 600,000,000 Spider Aliens. By #3 in the new VEU, He's killed but a handful.

Well, by the time X-O #3 in VH1 came along, Aric's antics are still amusing and funny. By #3 in the new VEU, he's tragic and I can feel his pain.

[Blood of Heroes]

I liked it. I never got into the original so I guess that makes sense.
There's just a TON of stuff in that one book. Like the rest of the books that have come out, it'll be fun to see where it goes from here.

I liked it

One of his brothers was 'Bort.' Tell me that's anything BUT a Simpsons reference.

I'm glad someone else noticed that too. Too funny.

[Blood of Heroes]

"It's Tuesday"

"It's still Tuesday"


Anyone think these date stamps are directed at us?

[Blood of Heroes]

Flipping Bullcorn!

Is this going to replace "*SQUEE*"?

[agent_graves]

Ah, the Valiant comic I was looking forward to the most, Archer & Armstrong...

I loved it, it was fun, I laughed a lot, the art was great, couldn't of asked for a better first issue....

[Blood of Heroes]

One of the two girls that are with Armstrong in the bar is from Gen 13. The one with black and pink hair.
I don't know who the other is. She kinda looks like Paris Hilton...

[Blood of Heroes]

Archer's dad tells him he was "born special".
In Bloodshot 1, Hutch tells Bloodshot "you were born for this".

[Heath]

I thought it was the weakest of the Valiant books so far, but still better than anything I've read from Marvel or DC in years. It's the one book so far where I thought the original was better.

[jmatt]

"Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?"

Wow. Awesome stuff. Should have included a bit about "And who would subject themselves to toil and pain while another man is rewarded with the resultant great pleasure?"

I liked the book. Van Lente is gonna have to be careful about stepping on toes, politically, but I like a man who takes chances and isn't afraid to push the envelope. When I read the opening page reference to Rush (and who else could that refer to; not that I'm a Rush fan), I was like "oh, here we go... a right wing bash-fest coming up" but I was pleasantly surprised to see that FVL is an equal opportunity offender.

I found it funny that divergent groups are all considered a part of "The Sect". I like that they are continuing with Archer's journal, a great narrative driving device.

And I loved Archer's homage to the American ideal, of sorts, while staring at a brilliant electric American flag:

"People here have forgotten how to open their eyes and see that God has already given them all they could desire.... I am confronted and astonished by beauty. The world is truly a wonderful place. And I give thanks for it every day." I'm not a religious guy, but those are a few powerful panels. Thank you, Fred Van Lente.

And while my commentary is dragging on, I very much liked the parallel between Archer and Armstrong as the Unstoppable Force vs the Immovable Object. "I'm too strong, you can't hurt me... and I can't hit you". This is the soul of the title.

[jmatt]

You guys who are (thankfully) spared from the young-earth creationist propaganda
probably don't realize how much of the theme park is NOT satire.

Well, kinda tapping into the vibe of the book, like yourself I find that sort of stuff non-sensical but that's the great thing about western democracies: There's room for all of us, even the people we don't agree with.

I'm an insanely political animal, but I like when I see ideologies that conflict with mine. Viscerally, yeah, it rubs us the wrong way but it's a sign of cultural strength. (not that I think you disagree) Next time you see one of those signs, smile with pride!

[Paladon]

"It's Tuesday"

"It's still Tuesday"


Anyone think these date stamps are directed at us?

Hah, I kind of thought the same thing.

[nutflush76]

This is one of my favorite issues of the new VEI universe so far. I never really got into the original Archer and Armstrong book so maybe that's why I'm not disappointed like some of the others on here.

I loved the dig at Rush at the beginning, (the second lunch line made me laugh out loud! ) Also, the 1% was a very timely reference especially in light of what is going on in this country (and most of the world) right now. The fact that they were all wearing bull and bear masks was quite a statement. To me, it means that in bad times and good times these men are always winning at the expense of everyone else.

Oh, and the "Greed is Godly"? That was just an update of the Gordon Gekko "Greed is good" mantra. it reflects the Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney worldviews that we have been hearing so much of lately.

Hey didn't that third guy on the right look a little like old Mitt?

[Aram]

Puking. Uncalled for excessive creative liberty. Belching in his face, sure. Vomit? That's a pretty huge personality change and not a welcome one. Me and the missus were not amused. Choice Wino to an insinuated common drunk is a deviation that should be corrected quickly in future issues.

[400yrs]

Well, it doesn't compare to the original #0, so I'm wondering if that's what is getting some of you all up in arms. I didn't expect in to. I went into it expecting just a new #1 and in that light, I thought it was just ok.

Loved the art. Great strong lines with a touch of cartoony still. Great!

The story felt like it was all over the place. I liked the first few pages and then after that, there was too much stuff thrown in there just for the sake of eccentricity.

From a story perspective, this was my least favorite #1.

[ian_house]

Think Im echoing a few viewpoints here.

The art was good and we got alot of story in the first issue but it was pretty disjointed and not really humorous at all. Hoping for better next issue.

[Newton]

I enjoyed this issue a lot. I laughed at several parts and the more serious pages at the start have me curious. It had some fun irreverent stuff, but for me it never went off the deep end with it. I like the new take on the sect.

That all said, I think this book has the most potential to go astray if it is not handled well of all the current VEI titles.

[Donovan]

Wow! I use Lorem Ipsum all the time at work, and never would have connected the translation to a story! That's awesome!

I loved this book. I think it's actually my favourite Valiant release so far, and I loved the original A&A. I laughed out loud numerous times. That being said, I hope that's the last time I see someone barf in a book!

I also thought that Archer's mom looked a little bit like Rexella Van Impe. If you don't watch her show on tv, you're missing out on some comedy gold. (And I say this as a Christian, albeit not a very good one... )

[bribri]

I'm very interested in this Ivar line:

"HE WAS YOUNGEST. THAT WAS HIS PREROGATIVE."

Both "youngest" and "prerogative" appear to be in bold. How could it be one's prerogative to be the youngest? Unless by "youngest" they mean something other than the traditional meaning of the word...?

Maybe I'm reading into this...

[orbitalshift]

I'm very interested in this Ivar line:

"HE WAS YOUNGEST. THAT WAS HIS PREROGATIVE."

Both "youngest" and "prerogative" appear to be in bold. How could it be one's prerogative to be the youngest? Unless by "youngest" they mean something other than the traditional meaning of the word...?

Maybe I'm reading into this...

I took that to say it was his prerogative to be noble.

[SJS4]

I'm very interested in this Ivar line:

"HE WAS YOUNGEST. THAT WAS HIS PREROGATIVE."

Both "youngest" and "prerogative" appear to be in bold. How could it be one's prerogative to be the youngest? Unless by "youngest" they mean something other than the traditional meaning of the word...?

Maybe I'm reading into this...

I took that to say it was his prerogative to be noble.

That was my interpretation as well.

Being the youngest gave Gilad the prerogative to be the most "noble" (ie: didn't have to worry about all the complications of the world since his older brothers worried about it for him).

[Dr. Solar]

I imagine that this title will be the one that comic fans like the most, and Valiant fans like the least.

[The Dirt Gang]

I was looking forward to this title the least. The interviews with Van Lente really weren't selling me, so I went in expecting not to love it but was pleasantly surprised. And after reading this thread I think I like it more. There is so much going on and looks like it might lead to some of the best discussions. I found it humorous but never laugh out loud. Sometimes I thought the humor was a little to base and easy (i.e. vomiting and fat jokes) but I thought these moments were few.

Clayton Henry can draw!

Archer's introduction to the city was great and I like Armstrong the drunk and poet (although he's a little too pretty like a Hollywood version of the character). And come on the 1% is great for all the good reasons that have been mentioned. I love that it's all one big conspiracy and the gold bull and bear masks.

Like I said, so far I think this book has brought up the most interesting discussion so far and hope it continues to do so.

[Dr. Solar]

So, I don't post up a bunch of our written content from OTV here, because I don't want to be spammy, but I thought this was relevant. Here are all the religious, cultural, and historical references in A&A #1:

http://onlythevaliant.com/2012/08/ana-w ... e-o-matic/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Did I miss any? I can already think of one I missed.

[BugsySig]

So, I don't post up a bunch of our written content from OTV here, because I don't want to be spammy, but I thought this was relevant. Here are all the religious, cultural, and historical references in A&A #1:

http://onlythevaliant.com/2012/08/ana-w ... e-o-matic/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Did I miss any? I can already think of one I missed.

Great article

Gotta include the now translated plaque text for the heathen civilizations, though.

I also still think "Suri" is a jab at Tom Cruise and his cult-like tendencies.