Archer and Armstrong #10 Discussion

[greg]

I loved General Redacted. "You want to what in my hole now?" Also a question regarding Mary-Maria, was she a character from the Original Valaiant or Acclaim era or is she brand new?

Mary-Maria is brand new.

[Zaphod]

Also a question regarding Mary-Maria, was she a character from the Original Valaiant or Acclaim era or is she brand new?

VEI exclusive.

[Zaphod]

Loved this issue, and for a while now I've been waiting on this title to really grab me, so that's saying something.

First A&A issue I didn't have an issue with. I enjoyed it, the pacing and tone seemed to flow nicely. It should prove interesting when A&A have their first cross-over. The tone of this book against any of the others would seem contrary but could prove quite interesting. Then again, adding the PRS kids to Bloodshot, the tone of that book has shifted slightly.

[SJS4]

Enjoyed the issue overall. Art was solid, but i do miss Henry. Not sure who like better between lupachino and Perez, but oth are very talented.

I like the direction of the story. It makes sense given the charcter histories, plus its just funnto read. A&A has definitely grown on me over time. I was not a big fan of this series at first but Van Lente has won me over.

[Captain Craig]

Ok, so I've cracked out my A&A issues 1-4 cause I had to settle this Mary Maria issue, if there was one. It seems my memory is just a bit fuzzy. Issue #1 we see her briefly and she does appear older than 13 that I thought. Her face and everything seem to match up, the pink tank top she wears does indeed she's more 16/17 her self.

Then issue #3 is about all the proof I need that I just was having bad memory recall. This clearly shows a more mature young woman who is not 13. I think the pig tails help throw me off. I just associate those with more kiddie young girls.


The image they last left us with in issue #4 is just what stuck, and that seemed like a younger girl is all.


However, the Mary Maria we got this issue is reconciled nicely with issue #3 above. She's about 16 or 17 as well.

[jmatt]

I've always assumed she was 16, 17 or so. Not sure what the age-13 observations are predicated on.

They're adopted. She could be older than Archer for all we know.

[Captain Craig]

I've always assumed she was 16, 17 or so. Not sure what the age-13 observations are predicated on.

I explained it with the text I typed with pic 2 from issue 4. That image is just less defined and appears younger. It was the last one I had burned in my mind from the arc.

[jmatt]

Thanks for the pics. Mary Maria is hot!

Don't let the pigtails fool ya. And keep the pigtails for extra hotness!

[Burrito Boy]

And keep the pigtails for extra hotness!

Amen, brother!

[Bl00dsh0t]

This was the first current A&A issue I've bought (Bloodshot and Shadowman are my monthlies) and I've got to say I'm hooked! Went and ordered the previous trades (to go with the Dollar Debut and #0 I already have).

As someone new to A&A I thought it was a great jumping on point and I loved the PRS tech tie in with Bloodshot too. The universe is starting to come together nicely.

Also - Mary Maria - wow.

[lorddunlow]

Man, this book just keeps getting better! I was worried without Kay, it would suffer, but each issue is better than the last. The more Mary-Maria the better. I just hope she can shake those annoying Archers.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Aside from Harbinger, this title has been the most consistently good IMO. Clayton Henry is my favorite VEI Artist, but Perez was incredible this issue, not disappointed in the least!
I too had an issue with "how old is Mary Maria".... but not that big of an issue. Thought it was clever to sneak weapons in the way she did.
Question though: Do the Archer Parents know about the little puppy love that Obie and Mary Maria have? She says "we're naming the baby Obadiah after her father" Interesting little nugget, no? Especially if the Archer parents are the ones doing the talking....

Great issue, love this title. Looking forward to more!

[BugsySig]

Aside from Harbinger, this title has been the most consistently good IMO. Clayton Henry is my favorite VEI Artist, but Perez was incredible this issue, not disappointed in the least!
I too had an issue with "how old is Mary Maria".... but not that big of an issue. Thought it was clever to sneak weapons in the way she did.
Question though: Do the Archer Parents know about the little puppy love that Obie and Mary Maria have? She says "we're naming the baby Obadiah after her father" Interesting little nugget, no? Especially if the Archer parents are the ones doing the talking....

Great issue, love this title. Looking forward to more!

I wonder if she knows she's being controlled or not? Does she just think they are her own thoughts?

[bygranddesign]

FVL is on a roll!

Another great issue!

I agree with a lot of the comments in this thread ... love the nods to other titles.
Interesting that Archer's info is at Gamma's nursery.
Bloodshots nanites developed from tech found at the Faraway? Does that mean that RAI is in the Faraway?

Love Love Love the interactions between Archer and Armstrong

Love Mary-Maria ... even if she is possessed by creepy psychotic bible thumpers

Love the scene with General Redacted

Overall ... 8.5/10

Great start to the new arc! This comic keeps getting better and better.

[BugsySig]

FVL is on a roll!

Another great issue!

I agree with a lot of the comments in this thread ... love the nods to other titles.
Interesting that Archer's info is at Gamma's nursery.
Bloodshots nanites developed from tech found at the Faraway? Does that mean that RAI is in the Faraway?

Love Love Love the interactions between Archer and Armstrong

Love Mary-Maria ... even if she is possessed by creepy psychotic bible thumpers

Love the scene with General Redacted

Overall ... 8.5/10

Great start to the new arc! This comic keeps getting better and better.

Good point about Rai...though maybe it is just that the Faraway also allows access to future timelines?

[bygranddesign]

Good point about Rai...though maybe it is just that the Faraway also allows access to future timelines?

The Faraway definitely has a futuristic feel to go along with the pre-historic and alien stuff. I think it is a place that was created in the future - A lot of things feel artificial including the the Sun which doesn't move. It also seems like the devices and technology that General Redacted sent back through the Portal were either advanced Alien Technology or Earth Technology from the future. I think its turning into a really fascinating mystery. Whether Rai entered the faraway from the future and somehow General Redacted got a hold of some of his blood would be my guess. But there is just so many interesting questions to explore .. and valiant does a great job of answering one question and then creating more questions to think about.

[greg]

I still think the 'wise elders' in the Faraway in A&A #0 were future versions of the brothers and Mary-Maria.

[bygranddesign]

I still think the 'wise elders' in the Faraway in A&A #0 were future versions of the brothers and Mary-Maria.

yep. That's what I was thinking when I read #0.

[caniac]

I still need to read #0

[grendeljd]

H

E

DOUBLE
HOCKEY
STICKS!



What a great issue! Every little bit of story & dialogue was very enjoyable this issue. Also loved the continued nods to other books ('Gamma Site'), real mysteries (Flight 19) & conspiracies (Area 51).

Mary Maria was awesome this issue - I also hope she comes through this story arc free of the Archers.

I also think this may have been the single best issue I've seen of Pere Perez' work - looks like he inked his own pencils this time (unless he draws digitally). Great stuff - page after page of excellent art.

If I was going to nitpick about anything it would still be that I would like to see Armstrong refer to Archer as 'Kid' more often - prime example when they got off the plane; "How you holding up, kid?" would fit in like a glove. But that's just extreme nitpicking on my part.

Interesting that Archer's info is at Gamma's nursery.
Bloodshots nanites developed from tech found at the Faraway? Does that mean that RAI is in the Faraway?

Good point about Rai...though maybe it is just that the Faraway also allows access to future timelines?

Isn't the Faraway (read: The Lost Land) meant to be a timeless place, or exist outside of normal time? Where time is not absolute? The portals to the Faraway probably exist at all points in the 'normal' Valiant timestream, including the past & future.

I tend to agree with Bugsy - nanotech from RAI's time (potentially including RAI himself) has probably filtered into the Faraway from a portal, and something General Redacted sent through was likely based on it. This in turn was instrumental to developing the nanites that make up Bloodshot.

Which begs the question; does Bloodshot exist because of RAI, or does RAI exist because of Bloodshot? An interesting paradox, potentially!

[bygranddesign]

Which begs the question; does Bloodshot exist because of RAI, or does RAI exist because of Bloodshot? An interesting paradox, potentially!

Yep ... i was thinking about this being a potential paradox

Bloodshots nanites influence the future which creates Rai

But the origin of Bloodshots nanites come from Rai via General Redacted and the Faraway

Hence we have a Paradox!

But I think we are ahead of ourselves here ... very excited to see how this unfolds

[400yrs]

This was my first issue since #6. Good stuff. I'll be getting the next one for sure.

[Ramses818]

This issue was awesome beyond a doubt! I love the nod to the Lost Land at the end of the issue. I look at the tech and what not with a different thought. Because it all works in the lost land what if it uses energy differently? What if it is like our tech? I mean you could take a cell phone 100 years into the past and while the battery still ran (couple hours?) you could see it worked but it would never be able to do the things it was reported to do like make calls, surf the web etc etc. Then Rai would be unique and Bloodshot would be the attempt at recreating it which is why they needed the scientist to work on it for them instead of the other way around like in the original Rai. As for the dinosaurs they would think. They would just continue to do all the things they have always done. No other reason then that. The portals to the Far away are probably scattered so it will be cool to see the future since it is all connected. Another interesting thing I wonder about is how hard is it to come back to the right spot in time? The the brothers come back so easily because they had a different type portal? Why hasn't General Redacted come back? Is it because there he can never die? I also thought the far away had no death?

Thats enough for me I think... I wonder what you all think of these points?

[leonmallett]

I am really enjoying Archer & Armstrong, and probably rank it consistently in my top 2-3 from VEI. The book packs in humour, intrigue, adventure, so many cultural references it is hard to keep up, and in all provides a solidly entertaining read for this reader from #1 to now. Great stuff IMHO.

[String]

Fun, fun issue! My first intro to this duo, loved it. (Although it's weird to hear Archer continually call Armstrong 'Sir')

With the first scenes, I kept wondering why the General's dialogue was blacked-out like that, then I saw his namebadge. Hi-larious! "Everyone has to pay two bits to play in my hole!"

Love the tie-ins with actual events like Flight 19 and Area 51, the connection between PRS, One Percent, and the Sect.

Mary-Maria, wow, with a sister like this, who needs enemies?

Is it just me or did the portal to the Faraway look an awful lot like the Stargate?

Which begs the question; does Bloodshot exist because of RAI, or does RAI exist because of Bloodshot? An interesting paradox, potentially!

Yep ... i was thinking about this being a potential paradox

Bloodshots nanites influence the future which creates Rai

But the origin of Bloodshots nanites come from Rai via General Redacted and the Faraway

Hence we have a Paradox!

But I think we are ahead of ourselves here ... very excited to see how this unfolds

Great potential here, given the clues about the source of Bloodshot's nanites. But if this causality time loop is accurate, then what created the nanites in the first place? Timey-wimey stuff is fun but so confusing.

Still, love the fun pace, the characters and the art. Looking forward to the next.