ARCHER & ARMSTRONG 4 Discussion

[erwinrafael]

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.

My reading is the second. Time stopped.

[pixierosa]

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.

Actually, everyone who was drained had white eyes, so she may have still been blind when she left, but i think she left before A&A -- Archer couldn't find her after the explosion.

[greg]

Do we think that the Geomancer was Buck McHenry?

[greg]

Campaign donor and industrialist Elliot Zorn is responsible for "supplying" the Archers with Obadiah (who was adopted).

Elliot Zorn: http://wiki.valiantentertainment.com/in ... Elyot_Zorn" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Zorn is related to the McHenry family. If Obadiah is related to Zorn, it could explain his ability to "hear the collective wisdom of humanity".

[greg]

Tons of stuff in this issue:
Mary-Maria says that Aram's satchel is bottomless, and two of the items pulled out of it appear to be related to Christ... a gold cup and a spear/lance.

"The Holy Grail" and "The Spear of Destiny"?

More possible clues that Christ was actually Ivar?

She also pulls out a "Tesla gun", so Aram knew Nikola Tesla.

[BugsySig]

Campaign donor and industrialist Elliot Zorn is responsible for "supplying" the Archers with Obadiah (who was adopted).

Elliot Zorn: http://wiki.valiantentertainment.com/in ... Elyot_Zorn" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Zorn is related to the McHenry family. If Obadiah is related to Zorn, it could explain his ability to "hear the collective wisdom of humanity".

I thought they were saying Zorn provided them with the Geomancer. Though the dialogue confused me at first, on a second read I think that is who they were referring to.

[greg]

Campaign donor and industrialist Elliot Zorn is responsible for "supplying" the Archers with Obadiah (who was adopted).

Elliot Zorn: http://wiki.valiantentertainment.com/in ... Elyot_Zorn" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Zorn is related to the McHenry family. If Obadiah is related to Zorn, it could explain his ability to "hear the collective wisdom of humanity".

I thought they were saying Zorn provided them with the Geomancer. Though the dialogue confused me at first, on a second read I think that is who they were referring to.

Good point... I thought Obadiah provided the fulcrum, though.

EDIT: Now I remember... the Archers gave the fulcrum to Obadiah... so yes, I'm sure you're right... they're talking about the (old) Geomancer.

Probably Buck, then?

[greg]

The Nazi monks and Obadiah can access the "Akashic record":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashic_records" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BugsySig]

The Nazi monks and Obadiah can access the "Akashic record":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashic_records" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"In The Law of One, Book I, a book purported to contain conversations with a channeled "social memory complex" known to humans as Ra..."

Ra(i)?

[greg]

The Nazi monks and Obadiah can access the "Akashic record":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashic_records" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"In The Law of One, Book I, a book purported to contain conversations with a channeled "social memory complex" known to humans as Ra..."

Ra(i)?

Actually, the first thing I thought of was the "eye of Ra", similar to the symbol on Shadowman's necklace amulet.

[BugsySig]

The Nazi monks and Obadiah can access the "Akashic record":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashic_records" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"In The Law of One, Book I, a book purported to contain conversations with a channeled "social memory complex" known to humans as Ra..."

Ra(i)?

Actually, the first thing I thought of was the "eye of Ra", similar to the symbol on Shadowman's necklace amulet.

I assumed that it meant the Egyptian sun god as well, but "a channeled social memory complex" just made me think of Rai for some reason

[Kurokashi-san]

After reading both this issue and Bloodshot #5, I’m thinking Obie is a Psoit. The Archers adopted him; from PRS, given what we know, it appears PRS is raising Psoit children in the nursery. I do, however, have a problem believing PRS would give up one of the children so easily, even to a Congresswoman and her husband

[Blood of Heroes]

He was a harbinger the first time around. It stands to reason he'd be a psiot this time.

[Kurokashi-san]

I'm ashamed to admit I didn't read Valiant the first time around when I was younger. I greatly regret that as I'm currently loving the rebooted Valiant universe.

[jmatt]

Do we think that the Geomancer was Buck McHenry?

It sure looked like him. The writing could have been a little clearer. Those few pages had me confused.

[erwinrafael]

Personally, I can not see how somebody would not be enjoying this series now that the first arc is over.

[Blood of Heroes]

I'm ashamed to admit I didn't read Valiant the first time around when I was younger. I greatly regret that as I'm currently loving the rebooted Valiant universe.

No need to be ashamed. It would give you an idea of what the characters are about but the old universe has no bearing on this one.
You picked a great time to become a Valiant fan.

[greg]

I'm ashamed to admit I didn't read Valiant the first time around when I was younger. I greatly regret that as I'm currently loving the rebooted Valiant universe.

No need to be ashamed. It would give you an idea of what the characters are about but the old universe has no bearing on this one.
You picked a great time to become a Valiant fan.

I agree with Blood of Heroes.

Kurokashi-san, don't worry if you haven't read the first stuff.
There's no guarantee that anything from the first series is still true in this one, although a lot of the core concepts will be the same.

It would be pretty cool to be discovering Valiant for the first time... so you're in a good position.

Original Valiant readers still get a small part of that "discovery" this time because there are a few characters who are all new (Mary Maria, Bleeding Monk, Darpan).

...and welcome to the board!

[pixierosa]

I'm ashamed to admit I didn't read Valiant the first time around when I was younger. I greatly regret that as I'm currently loving the rebooted Valiant universe.

I'm new to Valiant, too. I've been reading the original series, which are good, but not necessary.

I might add that while I like the original series and have no doubt they were groundbreaking/outstanding in their day, the new launches are better. It's amazing the changes in art that have happened in the comic world since the 90s.

[jedimarley]

So, Project Rising Spirit adoption agency?

So Archer could become Rai?

[Xtianhardy]

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?

I don't have my issue on me right now (posting at work, such is life) but what was the name of that energy pool that the Nazi Lamas said Archer can tap into? I got the sense that this was the same psychic pool that the lamas were drawing their power from, and they were wicked FREAKED OUT that Archer could draw his power from it so strongly.

Here's my theory: all Harbingers get their mental powers from the same source- this psychic plane or whatever that the monks referred to. The Lamas were aware of this, and through meditation managed to awaken their minds to this power source. Being born a harbinger with a special ability allows Archer to draw power and fighting techniques from this place intuitively. Maybe the reason why he, Aram and the Geomancer were all unaffected by the Boon was because they're all naturally tapped into to this psychic power source? Anyways, this is all wild speculation on my part, but it's fun to theorize.

[myron]

ectothermic energy?

[greg]

I don't have my issue on me right now (posting at work, such is life) but what was the name of that energy pool that the Nazi Lamas said Archer can tap into?

ectothermic energy?

The Nazi monks and Obadiah can access the "Akashic record":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashic_records" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[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?

I don't have my issue on me right now (posting at work, such is life) but what was the name of that energy pool that the Nazi Lamas said Archer can tap into? I got the sense that this was the same psychic pool that the lamas were drawing their power from, and they were wicked FREAKED OUT that Archer could draw his power from it so strongly.

Here's my theory: all Harbingers get their mental powers from the same source- this psychic plane or whatever that the monks referred to. The Lamas were aware of this, and through meditation managed to awaken their minds to this power source. Being born a harbinger with a special ability allows Archer to draw power and fighting techniques from this place intuitively. Maybe the reason why he, Aram and the Geomancer were all unaffected by the Boon was because they're all naturally tapped into to this psychic power source? Anyways, this is all wild speculation on my part, but it's fun to theorize.

Interesting...I don't think it would be true of all Harbingers, but I think it makes sense that Obie can access the record naturally/unconsciously, unlike the monks who have to consciously tap into it through meditation and practice. Obie is like Google...nothing there until you type something into the search engine, then BANG! every piece of information related to that is at your fingertips. Obie sees something once and he now has complete access to it any time.

This could also explain the Geomancers in a way, though. Perhaps they are mystically tied to the Akashic record, which allows them to speak with the "Earth"? If that is the case then the Geomancer, Obie and Aram (filled with millions of life-forces, which is also what makes up the Akashic record) would all have ties to it and might explain their resiliance to the Boon...But then the Monks would have been unaffected...Or were they already unconscious from the Tesla blast and not being drained by the Boon?

Now my head hurts.

[myron]

I don't have my issue on me right now (posting at work, such is life) but what was the name of that energy pool that the Nazi Lamas said Archer can tap into?

ectothermic energy?

The Nazi monks and Obadiah can access the "Akashic record":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akashic_records" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

just trying to relate it to original valiant...