Harbinger #25

[betterthanezra]

I just finished reading the issue. Obviously not as powerful as the last few issues but a solid end to the book as we currently know it. All of the other stories are great and I really loved Vivek Tiwary story. Laugh out loud moments from the Justin Jordan Fan Fiction story. Cold Brains from Dan Goldman with Clayton Henry art is also very solid involving Pete and Joe.

My only complaint is Evans art was just a little uneven in the main story just not as consistent as it has been in issues before this one. I'm really trying hard to find a problem honestly.

8/10 main story

9/10 Into Memory from Vivek Tiwary

10/10 Fan Fiction from Justin Jordan

9/10 Cold Brains from Dan Goldman

-Brian

[Keith]

Just finished... man, that was satisfying. Valiant seriously needs to sign Dysart to a lifetime contract. A triumphant coda to the series while setting up Chapter Two. Amazed to see that the grim future from Harbinger 21 is coming to pass, and can't wait to see how this is dealt with in the Universe at large. I can't see Unity sitting idly by and letting Harada run rampant. Kinda bummed to see Peter's resolution in all this. I'm hoping we aren't done with him yet as this is not how I would like to see his story end.

Liked the Into Memory story, as well as Cold Brains. Could do without the Fan Fiction story, though it is amusing.

Bring on Omegas!

[somewhatlazy]

Obviously not as powerful as the last few issues

I vehemently disagree. I think Peter's fate (and the world's) was even more tragic than Flamingo's. Main story was a masterpiece.

Still on the fence on the Omegas mini (or anything Valiant) after the Shadowman implosion, the Eternal blunder, the Bloodshot merry-go-round, and the impending end of FVL's A&A. Might be good to just let the masterpiece that is Harbinger #25 be the end for me. Will probably "wait for the trade" though; that appears to be the model Valiant is adopting anyway. If I remember to pick it up when it comes out that is, smh.

Harbinger was the best "superhero comic" by far on the stands, and I already miss it.

[hkupo]

This was a great issue and I enjoyed the extra stories.

I used to like Kris a lot but now pretty much done with her. Also I'm wondering whether Harada and Peter actually healed or if it's just a projection. I know they can both heal faster than normal people but the damage was huge last issue.

[BugsySig]

Thought this was a great issue and way outdid XO #25, even though I liked that issue a lot. The biggest difference was including a full issue that wrapped up the "Death of a Renegade" storyline and came full circle to issue #21.

Very interested to see what is going to happen now that Harada is full on Military Dictator now, as well as if Stronghold really sticks with Harada or winds up as another Unity member down the line with Livewire.

As for their injuries. Harada seemed to allude to being able to heal himself, and we know Pete has done so before as well. But the repercussions of Pete requiring meds for a while and reverting to his addiction could be massive. I don't think Pete is done, however. The last scene with him suggests he may be realizing his actions didn't destroy the Harbinger Foundation after all, and have really just made things worse. For now he might retreat into despair and addiction, but eventually he will need to return to the fight to balance Harada.

A lot of Joe Irons in the issue, which was nice to revisit for the faithful fans who have been there from the beginning, but might have been confusing for any new readers.

I thought the Justin Jordan story was pretty funny, even though that art does absolutely nothing for me. Between this and his XO story, I'm actually thinking he might be good on Q&W if VEI were to bring him back into the fold full time.

The little Faith story was stupid. We get it: she's a geek.

[depluto]

Just finished... man, that was satisfying. Valiant seriously needs to sign Dysart to a lifetime contract. A triumphant coda to the series while setting up Chapter Two. Amazed to see that the grim future from Harbinger 21 is coming to pass, and can't wait to see how this is dealt with in the Universe at large. I can't see Unity sitting idly by and letting Harada run rampant. Kinda bummed to see Peter's resolution in all this. I'm hoping we aren't done with him yet as this is not how I would like to see his story end.

Liked the Into Memory story, as well as Cold Brains. Could do without the Fan Fiction story, though it is amusing.

Bring on Omegas!

I was going to comment on this but it seems Keith has already said everything I want to say. A beautiful book.

[ilzuccone]

i liked everything about this book. These characters lend themselves to a variety of genres.

liked seeing Joe again. its awesome that a long dead character can continue to influence a storyline/ character arc.

Faith was the break away star of the book. IMO. the panel in fanfic where she says "Well, There's a lot of slashfiction." is probably the best drawing of faith i've ever seen. Really nails the fan girl/boy look.

the only thing that took me out of the story is joe and pete talking star wars vs g.i. joe. This ages up the character to probably 30-37. my guess is the writer is in that age group.

[BugsySig]

the only thing that took me out of the story is joe and pete talking star wars vs g.i. joe. This ages up the character to probably 30-37. my guess is the writer is in that age group.

I hadn't thought about that, but you are right. I'm 34 and that is exactly the type of conversation I would have

Perhaps since they were in and out of institutions, they only had old, hand-me-down toys? Just a possible explanation.

[slack]

I thought the same about the star wars/gi Joe thing, but I remembered that both were available from 95-current day... and the articulation complaint was still valid.

[ilzuccone]

good to know i'm not the only one. it's such an odd thing to point out.

[David_Cody]

I enjoyed this issue a lot. Liked it WAY more than X-O 25. Though I would have to say there were times I thought the art was sort of a hack job to some degree. Writing: top notch and I think he wove a great finale to end this chapter of Harbinger.

My only gripe is that I could NOT find the Mustang car cover variant. Went to 5 LCS's in town and none of them got it. Weird.

[pixierosa]

Verrry good book. Pete's story is a tragedy. I have faith that he will come out of it, but for now, he has to sink low. A lot happened to him in a short space of time.

Kris peeved me off. Running away to "deal" means you're not going to deal. I was glad she made peace with Faith. I knew she would eventually go back looking for her parents, but I'm disappointed it happened now (disappointed in her, not the story).

Overall enjoyed the short stories, especially the Joe flashback. Lots of good stuff there.

Harada. Hmpf. I hate that guy. I felt bad for Stronghold. His loyalty is to Ingrid, so we'll see how long she is able to hold sway over him. I thought the personal vanguard choices were interesting. Wondering if there will be any significance to the Hidden Moon student once Pete and Harada inevitably clash in Omegas. Perhaps that was just a way to reassure that Harada is still being choosy.

[KXXX]

Torque's wearing a *SQUEE* Monster Magnet shirt.

I can't even tell you guys how *SQUEE* happy this makes me.

Think about your two most obscure favorite things and how there's no way or reason they'd ever come together. Then think about turning a page in a comic book and THERE'S TORQUE WEARING A *SQUEE* MONSTER MAGNET SHIRT

[400yrs]

Awesome. Definitely felt like I got my money's worth on this one and it left me wanting more.

[jmatt]

Thought this was a great issue and way outdid XO #25, even though I liked that issue a lot. The biggest difference was including a full issue

Very satisfying, much moreso than the X-O #25 issue. And what great stories. I laughed, I cried, etc.

I loved this issue.

[ValiantCentral]

This is how you do an anniversary issue. Into Memory and Cold Brains filled in some gaps about Joe, Peter, and Chris really nicely, and both were pretty moving. The main storyline really has me very excited to read Omegas and see what happens beyond.

[BugsySig]

Verrry good book. Pete's story is a tragedy. I have faith that he will come out of it, but for now, he has to sink low. A lot happened to him in a short space of time.

Kris peeved me off. Running away to "deal" means you're not going to deal. I was glad she made peace with Faith. I knew she would eventually go back looking for her parents, but I'm disappointed it happened now (disappointed in her, not the story).

Overall enjoyed the short stories, especially the Joe flashback. Lots of good stuff there.

Harada. Hmpf. I hate that guy. I felt bad for Stronghold. His loyalty is to Ingrid, so we'll see how long she is able to hold sway over him. I thought the personal vanguard choices were interesting. Wondering if there will be any significance to the Hidden Moon student once Pete and Harada inevitably clash in Omegas. Perhaps that was just a way to reassure that Harada is still being choosy.

I honestly think the Hidden Moon student thing was to cover for the fact that way back in #21, Harada was shown with two students who appeared to be Stronghold and Ion on the carrier. I think the decision to kill Ion may have occurred later and a bit of retconning had to happen there.

[wwise03]

Well I started reading Valiant a few months ago from the very beginning. I literally caught up with everything (except Shadowman, which I just ordered back issues of and will be reading shortly) today when I read Harbinger 25 (though I haven't started Armor Hunters or Rai yet).

I have loved virtually everything I have read from Valiant. Harbinger 25 was just fantastic and heartbreaking at the same time...even moreso for me because now I am going to have to start waiting for the books to come out monthly instead of plowing through them.

I am really going to miss the Renegades. I hope we will have some version of them reunite at some point in time.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Pretty much everything everyone here said. Main story is fantastic, and I agree with Bugsy on the re-con of the Ion looking character. Heh.
The Joe stories were good, but did we need two of them?

Not to sound harsh, but I couldn't even read the Justin Jordan story because that art hurt my eyes so badly, I couldn't get over it to read what was happening. Sorry. I know some people like that style, but it is not my taste at all.

Overall, very satisfying, and top notch writing. Love me some Dysart. Very much looking forward to Omegas.... and possibly (just speculating) a Harbinger Omnibus?!?!!

[Shadowman99]

Thought the issue was great, but like a lot of other people I was happy with the writing in the 'Fan Fiction' story, but would happily trade the weird frog-people for proper drawings of the characters.

Loved seeing the 'Alex Jones' video in the one panel featuring a close-up of Pete's video playing on youtube. That bloke's such a *SQUEE* nutter, but the mention next to the 'leaked' video was perfect really. What a *SQUEE* nutjob...

[ShadowTuga]

I liked the issue a lot more than the X-O special, when compairing the goods delivered. I'm sad to see my favourite VALIANT title to end, just like everybody else, but optimistic about the shared universe continuing to give us more amazing runs like this one by JD. The best.

And I have a whole new level of respect for Ingrid. I used to hate the character (in the good way) now I'm divided. She's not an evil person, or a Harada fangirl.

[leonmallett]

Thought this was a great issue and way outdid XO #25, even though I liked that issue a lot.

I also thought Harbinger #25 was a far superior package, although with X-O it was only the main stories that I enjoyed, there was too much worthless filler in there for me.

[leonmallett]

the only thing that took me out of the story is joe and pete talking star wars vs g.i. joe. This ages up the character to probably 30-37. my guess is the writer is in that age group.

I hadn't thought about that, but you are right. I'm 34 and that is exactly the type of conversation I would have

Perhaps since they were in and out of institutions, they only had old, hand-me-down toys? Just a possible explanation.

That thought had occurred to me too. The issue with pop culture references is to use them to enhance the story or add to characterizations, or to set a sense of time and place. Pulling the reader out by causing them to question the validity of the reference pretty much does the opposite.

[leonmallett]

Torque's wearing a *SQUEE* Monster Magnet shirt.

I can't even tell you guys how *SQUEE* happy this makes me.

Think about your two most obscure favorite things and how there's no way or reason they'd ever come together. Then think about turning a page in a comic book and THERE'S TORQUE WEARING A *SQUEE* MONSTER MAGNET SHIRT

As a Monster Magnet fan (although I have only seen them once when touring Superjudge), I am glad I am not alone.

[leonmallett]

Awesome. Definitely felt like I got my money's worth on this one and it left me wanting more.

I agree; X-O Manowar felt like it was padded for page count, and therefore not really worth the price IMHO. Structurally and in terms of content, this felt more akin to what i would expect for that kind of milestone issue number package.