Harbinger #21 Discussion

[jmatt]

Something struck me as off with @x. He has to know who was responsible for the Las Vegas incident, including the Renegades. This whole thing could be a set up for them as well. Let's not forget what VH1 Ax was like. I wouldn't expect a huge departure from Ax as third foil to Harada and Pete.

Absolutely. He's a fox in the henhouse. Pete scanned him though, and may be aware that he is a potential threat.

As for Mingo/Torque/Faith, I got the sense that Charlene realized she was too intimidating for Torque and that Faith would be a better fit, so to speak.

Best line of the issue: "We gonna keep the hat?"

[grendeljd]

Soooo, Monica Jim can only create cartoon animals, even after seeing real ones now? Or, she just prefers that?

I wondered the same thing. I sort of wonder if it's just an issue of artist style/interpretation an Dysart means for them to be more realistic.

Yeah, cause her cartoon cat is what tipped off the Harada homeless spy. I real looking cat wouldn't have been worth reporting back on.

I'd like to see a story where an explanation is given. Then see her switch to real projections vs cartoon looking ones.

My impression is that she projects the animals as cartoons because that was all she saw on TV as she was growing up in the PRS facility. I seem to recall Dysart specifically stating that somewhere when he was describing all the Gen Zero kids abilities.

I don't think she would immediately switch to projecting real looking animals upon seeing some, for the following reasons;

a) It's been ingrained in her to project cartoon images all her life to date. It's instinctive.
b) As we saw with Torque there is a learning curve to consciously altering the projection, so if she wanted to change the projections it would probably take time for her to learn how, not instantly.
c) She may not want to. It could be a kind of escape/coping mechanism to help deal with all the psychological damage received at the hands of PRS.

[Aomalle27]

My thoughts are that ax is a recipient of some of the Harada nanites! Possibly Goldie Boy in a sentient body/host. Thus even with Peter scanning him, there would be no danger of betraying his motivations. He's been sent by Harada to kill Pete. But ultimately, I think he'll kill Kris, realizing it would do the most harm to Pete, and is a better result/probability of success than killing off an omega Harbinger. He had a good rapport with Harada before his face off with bloodshot in the Hardcorps book.

[nonplayer]

Harbinger pays off at 21 with sex

[Watchtower]

Harbinger pays off at 21 with sex

So the Harbinger series is already in legal age? Dang, these kids can't grow up faster.

Faith, you are the luckiest yaoi fangirl to grace American comics. That said, if that book is Naruto/Sasuke I'm burning it for the sake of humanity.

This Ax is easily leagues above the vh1 version. That Ax was a punk who got too hot-headed and quickly became a cackling psychopath. @x (or as I like to call him, Mexican Usopp ), actually has a strong motivation for why he blew the lid on Harada, and he's clearly got the hacker mindset in wanting to "expose the truth". Plus, as mentioned, he does have good reason to turn on Peter if he wants.

I kinda like how Monica clearly doesn't want to be with Pete any longer than she needs to. It'd be funny if it was a jab at the readers, like "Here she is on the team! F$%&! Happy now?" And it's only natural that she chews out Peter just as she unknowingly screws them.

Dysart, you're a freaking genius, man. Valiant's best book keeps getting better, and it's glorious.

[spiderland]

Loved this issue. I completely wasn't expecting Faith & Torque to connect but as soon as it happened it made so much sense. Beautifully written. My deepest fear right now is that Animalia will be the character who dies. If Torque dies now I think the shock would be so much less after the skateboard incident.

[lorddunlow]

I've just decided I'm okay with Torque dying in the upcoming arc if it causes Faith to lose her marbles and turn on Pete. That would be fun.

[bygranddesign]

I've just decided I'm okay with Torque dying in the upcoming arc if it causes Faith to lose her marbles and turn on Pete. That would be fun.

don't give up the dream that it was more than just a dream!

I still think there is more to the Perfect Day arc ... Maybe the Bleeding Monk #0 will provide some clues.

[Shadowman99]

Best line of the issue: "We gonna keep the hat?"

Nah.

"It's bigger than the ones on the internet!"

That was the best line of the issue

[Big Red]

Once again Dysart is trying to mind *SQUEE* us. Every time a character had a scene focusing on them, I would think "damn...foreshadowing...they're a goner." I did that like 6 times. *SQUEE* you Dysart.

It's all a trick. He's got you thinking that Torq or Faith or Flamingo or Peter is a goner when it's really Kris who is going to die.

[leonmallett]

Good strong issue. The only weak point for me is I just don't buy Kris as strategist. I get that is gives her a function within the team, I just don't see or buy into where that has really come from.

That aside, I really enjoyed it, although narratively it felt a little choppy in the narrative at the start, but I think that was intentional by Dysart. Excellent stuff, and a book that has really pushed on from me not liking it pre-Harbinger Wars as much as I do now.

[Captain Craig]

She did rob a bank and set up a remote web cam to give an ultimatum to Harada so I can't say Kris as a strategist came out of left field. Did she not come up with, in whole or part, some of their tactics during HW when they had the Bellagio as a base?

[hunter_peterson]

She did rob a bank and set up a remote web cam to give an ultimatum to Harada so I can't say Kris as a strategist came out of left field. Did she not come up with, in whole or part, some of their tactics during HW when they had the Bellagio as a base?

Which you know, means she was better at strategy than the paramilitary-trained Gen Zero kids were. So she's been consistently shown to be an excellent general. I think the only reason their plan didn't work in Harbinger Wars was because they didn't know as much about the situation as they thought and nobody anticipated HARDCorps as a factor.

[hawkeyeps]

She did rob a bank and set up a remote web cam to give an ultimatum to Harada so I can't say Kris as a strategist came out of left field. Did she not come up with, in whole or part, some of their tactics during HW when they had the Bellagio as a base?

Which you know, means she was better at strategy than the paramilitary-trained Gen Zero kids were. So she's been consistently shown to be an excellent general. I think the only reason their plan didn't work in Harbinger Wars was because they didn't know as much about the situation as they thought and nobody anticipated HARDCorps as a factor.

The whole mess was precipitated by those creepy whiny little Zygot twins and the Bleeding Monk was pulling strings too.

[ShadowTuga]

It took me a second reading to take all of this stuff in. Wow, there's REALLY no comfort zone when it comes to Harbinger- and I think that's the main reason why it's my favourite read every month. I don't know what to expect, simply put.

The "sex scenes" between Torque, Charlene and Faith say SO MUCH about them, I SAY GENIUS. I have no words to describe what I think about the "characterbuilding" master lesson that JD pulls off here in a couple of pages or so. This is the opposite of gratuitious, whatever that word is.

This is a run for the ages.
Thank you, Joshua Dysart. Thank you for writing a superhero book where the superhero part is the least important part of it and yet, it's what makes it so special, and something I will never forget as a reader. These (almost) 2 years on the book have been incredible.

[leonmallett]

She did rob a bank and set up a remote web cam to give an ultimatum to Harada so I can't say Kris as a strategist came out of left field. Did she not come up with, in whole or part, some of their tactics during HW when they had the Bellagio as a base?

But where does that come from; not from her background or experience. Yes it has been part of the series, but a part that has stretched credibility for me throughout.

[Elveen]

She did rob a bank and set up a remote web cam to give an ultimatum to Harada so I can't say Kris as a strategist came out of left field. Did she not come up with, in whole or part, some of their tactics during HW when they had the Bellagio as a base?

But where does that come from; not from her background or experience. Yes it has been part of the series, but a part that has stretched credibility for me throughout.

She has been shown to be "intellegent" and well read. So she is at least book smart.

[hunter_peterson]

She did rob a bank and set up a remote web cam to give an ultimatum to Harada so I can't say Kris as a strategist came out of left field. Did she not come up with, in whole or part, some of their tactics during HW when they had the Bellagio as a base?

But where does that come from; not from her background or experience. Yes it has been part of the series, but a part that has stretched credibility for me throughout.

She has been shown to be "intellegent" and well read. So she is at least book smart.

She had a lot of militant and rebellious books in her bedroom, and I'm pretty sure she had a lot of things like "The Art of War" too. Anyway, clearly she's intelligent enough to have adapted to the situation she finds herself in. Kris probably has done the research. Even without any prior experience she got one over on Harada, which says a LOT about her talents.

[mkb28]

So I am finally catching up with my Valiant reading and just finished Harbinger 21. I have to admit, when I saw the cover a few months ago, I thought it was the worst drawing ever of Kris alongside Peter. It was not until I read the issue that I realized @X was on the cover and not Kris.

Just thought I would share that embarrassing piece of information.

On to the Bleeding Monk and Death of a Renegade!

Michael
Mkb28

[kjjohanson]

So I am finally catching up with my Valiant reading and just finished Harbinger 21. I have to admit, when I saw the cover a few months ago, I thought it was the worst drawing ever of Kris alongside Peter.

If you want to keep posting here, stay off the drugs.

[lorddunlow]

So I am finally catching up with my Valiant reading and just finished Harbinger 21. I have to admit, when I saw the cover a few months ago, I thought it was the worst drawing ever of Kris alongside Peter.

If you want to keep posting here, stay off the drugs.

[Shadowman99]

So I am finally catching up with my Valiant reading and just finished Harbinger 21. I have to admit, when I saw the cover a few months ago, I thought it was the worst drawing ever of Kris alongside Peter.

If you want to keep posting here, stay off the drugs.

Oh man, like you and Dunlow are ones to point fingers...!

Remember what is said about people who live in glass houses!

[mkb28]

So I am finally catching up with my Valiant reading and just finished Harbinger 21. I have to admit, when I saw the cover a few months ago, I thought it was the worst drawing ever of Kris alongside Peter.

If you want to keep posting here, stay off the drugs.

Especially when looking at the covers!