DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

[DirtbagSailor]

Just because.

DBS

[Keith]

Holy paradox, Batman!

So that's where the Boon came from.

Dare say we'll be discussing this one for a long, long time.

[greg]

Holy paradox, Batman!

So that's where the Boon came from.

Dare say we'll be discussing this one for a long, long time.

We've already discussed it for a long, long time.

But we better get posting here or else it won't have already happened.

[Ibero]

I like how they were just having a laugh with the hole being your mother thing

[pixierosa]

"Connect the dots." Looks like we all fell for the same trick that Morrison used on Archer (and vice versa). There's a certain satisfaction in following bread crumbs and formulating a theory (it's why I love reading mysteries) but despite this one being a wild goose chase, it was good fun!

[ilzuccone]

ok not sure what the heck is going on in this book. but i love it. the ideas are so outrages i can't help but applaud van lente.

always a good read

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

This was the first book I read this week. Holy cow, did they fit a lot into this book. And, it's basically the only "timey wimey" type arc that actually wrapped up not just well, but in my opinion, really stuck the landing. The question is, will Armstrong ever find out that he was responsible for his and his brother's powers, and the death of everyone else on earth?
Also, and this is a quick note, not sure if it was intentional. But in the box explaining "flight", when Archer was flying with Mary Maria, and Amrstrong, the description said: "Flight is achieved psionically when the psiot propels HERSELF telekinetically. Was this an editorial blunder? Or was FVL insinuating that Mary Maria is capable of flight?
How many times has "Past" Armstrong seen "Future" Armstrong? That was pretty funny to me.
So so so well done. I hope this caliber of writing continues with The Delinquents.

[BugsySig]

What a fantastic end to this arc and potentially the FVL run.

So the Boon/Wheel has no origin...kinda like the, um, sphere from sphere. I loved it. And it played perfectly with Aram's statement about hating time travel.

We also got an explanation for the "Fisher King"...the most famous person in the West! I guess at one point, that was Jesus

Have to say I actually giggled when Morrison killed Percy...though I followed it with a cringe.

As for the "herself", I thought it was a nod to Faith...Archer is uploading info from the Akashik record, likely the explanation for how Psiot abilities work from either HARD Corps files or Harbinger Foundation files.

[cdgodin]

Was it just me, or was Percy Vale supposed to be channeling Justin Beiber with all of those babies.

[grendeljd]

Great hilarious issue, and a fantastic wrap-up to the story arc.

The time-travel seeding of info to mislead Morrison was a stroke of brilliance, and I cant believe they burned the Time-Arc map?! Can Ivar do his thing naturally without it?

Love that Mary Maria did not end up being Archer's mother after all - that was just too many shades of a weird idea for me [and thats saying a lot ]. Also glad to get a clear answer on the status of Archers parents within her. I'm curious about what her personality will be like now without their influence.

I agree with BugsySig - I also thought the Akashic reference to telekinetic flight was drawn from Faith. Wonder if this will be a link to Archer eventually meeting her?

As for the boon as we know it being a tweak to the original function of The Wheel ... and created by the followers of Archer in The Faraway at a undetermined but clearly early point in its creation... well, it makes my head spin a little but I like it.

This has been an instant classic, epic run by FVL - gonna miss him if this is his finale on A&A.

[BugsySig]

Great hilarious issue, and a fantastic wrap-up to the story arc.

The time-travel seeding of info to mislead Morrison was a stroke of brilliance, and I cant believe they burned the Time-Arc map?! Can Ivar do his thing naturally without it?

Love that Mary Maria did not end up being Archer's mother after all - that was just too many shades of a weird idea for me [and thats saying a lot ]. Also glad to get a clear answer on the status of Archers parents within her. I'm curious about what her personality will be like now without their influence.

I agree with BugsySig - I also thought the Akashic reference to telekinetic flight was drawn from Faith. Wonder if this will be a link to Archer eventually meeting her?

As for the boon as we know it being a tweak to the original function of The Wheel ... and created by the followers of Archer in The Faraway at a undetermined but clearly early point in its creation... well, it makes my head spin a little but I like it.

This has been an instant classic, epic run by FVL - gonna miss him if this is his finale on A&A.

I believe Ivar developed a watch to time time arcs after Archer ran off with the map in the Faraway. That's how they were able to go on the ten thousand year bender.

[greg]

Was it just me, or was Percy Vale supposed to be channeling Justin Beiber with all of those babies.

I'm sure someone told VEI they can't shoot Beiber in the head (no matter how much it might be collectively approved).

[grendeljd]

Great hilarious issue, and a fantastic wrap-up to the story arc.

The time-travel seeding of info to mislead Morrison was a stroke of brilliance, and I cant believe they burned the Time-Arc map?! Can Ivar do his thing naturally without it?

Love that Mary Maria did not end up being Archer's mother after all - that was just too many shades of a weird idea for me [and thats saying a lot ]. Also glad to get a clear answer on the status of Archers parents within her. I'm curious about what her personality will be like now without their influence.

I agree with BugsySig - I also thought the Akashic reference to telekinetic flight was drawn from Faith. Wonder if this will be a link to Archer eventually meeting her?

As for the boon as we know it being a tweak to the original function of The Wheel ... and created by the followers of Archer in The Faraway at a undetermined but clearly early point in its creation... well, it makes my head spin a little but I like it.

This has been an instant classic, epic run by FVL - gonna miss him if this is his finale on A&A.

I believe Ivar developed a watch to time time arcs after Archer ran off with the map in the Faraway. That's how they were able to go on the ten thousand year bender.

Aha. I did not remember that detail - I shall have to re-read that issue

[bygranddesign]

My god .... FVL is a genius.

He was born to write this book ... I cannot imagine anyone else writing it.

Valiant cannot let this man go .. No way ... This guy is too good.

It's smart. It's fun. It's perfectly paced. This is the way comics should read. This run is a tribute to the comic medium - it uses every trick and advantage to its fullest.

Pere Perez delivers this story flawlessly - his art is expressive and the layouts are beautiful.

This is Eisner worthy work, IMO.

Wow.

[erwinrafael]

Fred and Pere. THANK YOU. You were the creators for the two best VEI story-arcs so far (Far Far Away, and American Wasteland). I am pretty much resigned that we will miss your work in the near future. But, please, drop by and do an arc or two.

I am almost tempted to petition VEI to not let anybody else write A&A unless Fred writes it. Even if we just get a 4-issue limited series every year, I am ok with that. FVL has made A&A his own baby, like how BWS did the original incarnation.

[BugsySig]

My god .... FVL is a genius.

He was born to write this book ... I cannot imagine anyone else writing it.

Valiant cannot let this man go .. No way ... This guy is too good.

It's smart. It's fun. It's perfectly paced. This is the way comics should read. This run is a tribute to the comic medium - it uses every trick and advantage to its fullest.

Pere Perez delivers this story flawlessly - his art is expressive and the layouts are beautiful.

This is Eisner worthy work, IMO.

Wow.

+1

Fred and Pere. THANK YOU. You were the creators for the two best VEI story-arcs so far (Far Far Away, and American Wasteland). I am pretty much resigned that we will miss your work in the near future. But, please, drop by and do an arc or two.

I am almost tempted to petition VEI to not let anybody else write A&A unless Fred writes it. Even if we just get a 4-issue limited series every year, I am ok with that. FVL has made A&A his own baby, like how BWS did the original incarnation.

+1

Man have we been lucky to have FVL, VDitti and Dysart relaunch their respective titles and the VALIANT universe. Despite some ups and downs with the creative teams on some other titles, who could have imagined three 25-issue runs this good when they launched two years ago??? One day those three runs will be looked back on as setting a new standard for a shared superhero universe.

[erwinrafael]

+1

Man have we been lucky to have FVL, VDitti and Dysart relaunch their respective titles and the VALIANT universe. Despite some ups and downs with the creative teams on some other titles, who could have imagined three 25-issue runs this good when they launched two years ago??? One day those three runs will be looked back on as setting a new standard for a shared superhero universe.

That's true. How I wish Bloodshot was handled better because Duane and Manuel had a very strong opening arc. Oh well...

I would say, though, that of the three core books, A&A had the best run so far. The writing "battle" is quite even, but A&A just had a much better run in the art department, especially with artists finishing full arcs.

[ilzuccone]

+1

Man have we been lucky to have FVL, VDitti and Dysart relaunch their respective titles and the VALIANT universe. Despite some ups and downs with the creative teams on some other titles, who could have imagined three 25-issue runs this good when they launched two years ago??? One day those three runs will be looked back on as setting a new standard for a shared superhero universe.

That's true. How I wish Bloodshot was handled better because Duane and Manuel had a very strong opening arc. Oh well...

I would say, though, that of the three core books, A&A had the best run so far. The writing "battle" is quite even, but A&A just had a much better run in the art department, especially with artists finishing full arcs.

I agree 3 amazing 25 issue runs. I also agree that the original bloodshot arc were the best bloodshot books we got.

[bygranddesign]

And let me add - timewhimy and paradoxes bother me but I think this was handled really well. I like how he tied the Beer crawl across time issue with this one - really clever wirting. Amazing forethought.

But I also like how Armstrong addressed that paradox frustration by burning the time arc map

FVL leaves no stone unturned in telling this story - inspired work.

[dornwolf]

Was it just me, or was Percy Vale supposed to be channeling Justin Beiber with all of those babies.

I'm sure someone told VEI they can't shoot Beiber in the head (no matter how much it might be collectively approved).

Probably right, but all of Canada approves the attempt anyway.


Kinda wish we could see enough of the Future to see Archer tell the Archies enough of the plan to create the initial paradox to begin with.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

My god .... FVL is a genius.

He was born to write this book ... I cannot imagine anyone else writing it.

Valiant cannot let this man go .. No way ... This guy is too good.

It's smart. It's fun. It's perfectly paced. This is the way comics should read. This run is a tribute to the comic medium - it uses every trick and advantage to its fullest.

Pere Perez delivers this story flawlessly - his art is expressive and the layouts are beautiful.

This is Eisner worthy work, IMO.

Wow.

+1

Fred and Pere. THANK YOU. You were the creators for the two best VEI story-arcs so far (Far Far Away, and American Wasteland). I am pretty much resigned that we will miss your work in the near future. But, please, drop by and do an arc or two.

I am almost tempted to petition VEI to not let anybody else write A&A unless Fred writes it. Even if we just get a 4-issue limited series every year, I am ok with that. FVL has made A&A his own baby, like how BWS did the original incarnation.

+1

Man have we been lucky to have FVL, VDitti and Dysart relaunch their respective titles and the VALIANT universe. Despite some ups and downs with the creative teams on some other titles, who could have imagined three 25-issue runs this good when they launched two years ago??? One day those three runs will be looked back on as setting a new standard for a shared superhero universe.

+1

[Brother Darque]

makes sense Jim Morrison would try to do what he did in this issue.

[RogueJedi74]

Man have we been lucky to have FVL, VDitti and Dysart relaunch their respective titles and the VALIANT universe. Despite some ups and downs with the creative teams on some other titles, who could have imagined three 25-issue runs this good when they launched two years ago??? One day those three runs will be looked back on as setting a new standard for a shared superhero universe.

Well said. I just wish more people reading comics understood this. I tried reading the first ten issues of the new Captain America and it was pure rubbish. I don't even want to try and read anything else because I feel like it won't live up to the quality that Valiant is putting out.

Btw, great issue

P.S. When is Armstrong going to find some cloths?

[Brother Darque]

and Mary Maria is pregnant.

[400yrs]

First issue of A&A that I've bought or read in a while. Probably not the best issue to pick up at random, but I was lost throughout. Guess I'll need to read the whole series.