Archer & Armstrong 9 Discussion!

[BugsySig]

The Akashic record is a depository for all knowledge and information: past, present and future. Archer's displaced consciousness (possibly with the help of the Geomancer as she hits the Enemy with a blast just before) learns how to overwrite/delete the Enemy programing by uploading a backup of the original Archer that has been saved as part of the Akashic record.

As for the name change, it makes sense given the Enemy's relationship to the Null. The Null despise anything immortal, like Gilad and Aram, so they would never call their champion "Immortal". Only "Nothing" is Forever. Calling him the "Last Enemy" makes more sense as he is the "Last" before the end of all things.

cool ...thanks for clearing that up. And very good point about the Last Enemy as opposed to Immortal. Makes a lot sense.

I know, right...sometimes I actually have a coherent thought

[jmatt]

I think you just need to embrace the silliness a little bit and just enjoy the show.

I have to go back a read the arc again. I mean, a Cult that can end all of creation with a mathematical formula? That's like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy goofy. But I am enjoying the show, to be sure.

And I must say, I am still confused about TLE. We've been referring to this character as TIE for a few months now and I'm a little surprised other people aren't wondering what's going on. I'm not even sure this is some other character altogether and we will see TIE down the line.

Also, how many covers can we have with Archer unloading 50 arrows into Aram and Gilly and it never having actually taken place in the book? I find this a little annoying about VEI; it does not seem to matter to them that 70% of the cover material has never actually taken place in a title.

[BugsySig]

Also, how many covers can we have with Archer unloading 50 arrows into Aram and Gilly and it never having actually taken place in the book? I find this a little annoying about VEI; it does not seem to matter to them that 70% of the cover material has never actually taken place in a title.

I hate that. I don't mind a "pose" cover, but if its going to be a scene, it better come close to a scene from the book.

[bygranddesign]

Also, how many covers can we have with Archer unloading 50 arrows into Aram and Gilly and it never having actually taken place in the book? I find this a little annoying about VEI; it does not seem to matter to them that 70% of the cover material has never actually taken place in a title.

I hate that. I don't mind a "pose" cover, but if its going to be a scene, it better come close to a scene from the book.

I agree its annoying when the cover has nothing to do with actual story. Harbinger #11 has bloodshot on the cover even though he is no where to be found in the story .. that cover would have fit better as a Bloodshot variant. At least with that A&A cover - it fits with the narrative that Archer is fighting EW and Armstrong.

[hawkeyeps]

I think the Evans cover for #11 was metaphor for Harada's history with PRS, if Neal Adams drew the cover we would have got the 70's guy in helmet and leisure suit.

[bygranddesign]

re-reading this issue - its packed with so many good scenes

in particular - Kay's scene with the Geomancers of the past - great insight into her personality and her struggles to grapple with her new life

and the scene right after where Armstrong goes to save Gilad... Gilad tells him that he is sorry but they have to kill the possessed Archer ... but Armstrong is able to convince Gilad that they can still save Archer ... and the World

Great scene all around ... not only dialogue but the way the art conveys the emotion of the scene .. not only we get a feeling of the brotherly bond of the Anni-Padda's but also Armstrong love for Archer.

The action scene between The Last Enemy and EW was also great battle

This book is a bit too absurd at times... but FVL can write his *SQUEE* off. Inspired issue. (08/10)

Really looking forward to #0 ..

[myron]

Also, how many covers can we have with Archer unloading 50 arrows into Aram and Gilly and it never having actually taken place in the book? I find this a little annoying about VEI; it does not seem to matter to them that 70% of the cover material has never actually taken place in a title.

I hate that. I don't mind a "pose" cover, but if its going to be a scene, it better come close to a scene from the book.

+1

but I don't necessarily think that's only a valiant problem...

I luv when covers give me action, it's makes me think about what's going to happen in the book.

When it doesn't happen it's almost a WTF moment...

[jmatt]

I luv when covers give me action, it's makes me think about what's going to happen in the book.

I'm a sucker for that real "old school" come on: character dialogue on the cover teasing you with whatever kooky scenario was dreamed up for that issue. You were guaranteed that what you saw on the cover would actually appear in the book; it was the inducement to read it and find out what crazy predicament could have led up to that moment.

[myron]

I luv when covers give me action, it's makes me think about what's going to happen in the book.

I'm a sucker for that real "old school" come one: character dialogue on the cover teasing you with whatever kooky scenario was dreamed up for that issue. You were guaranteed that what you saw on the cover would actually appear in the book; it was the inducement to read it and find out what crazy predicament could have led up to that moment.

'zackly!

[erwinrafael]

Just read it. Very very good. Harbinger may be the best written but Archer and Armstrong is the most creative in terms of ideas and has the fun factor.

[Baramos]

I have no problem with covers not really matching what happens in the book. I prefer an over-the-top iconic image. Keep in mind, half the time it's just a generic pose in comic books, as people have said--look at the Shadowman covers. A&A on the other hand usually has something funny happening on the cover (take an earlier one with the same motif, Armstrong filled with a hundred bolts taking a swig of beer while Archer looks on angrily).

I'll take Superman punching Hitler any day over Superman just like, posing, or punching some generic thug.

Besides the cover art conveys the MAIN IDEA--Archer versus Armstrong and the Eternal Warrior. It's metaphorical instead of literal (if you are a fan of DC, take the new Batman #15--Joker inside Batman's brain. At no point in the comic is the Joker actually inside Batman's brain. It's that he has Joker ON HIS MIND. It's a great image.) I mean the actual plot doesn't even have Archer using a bow at all, heck he mostly used explosives. Hard to draw a compelling cover with that content.

RE: The actual plot of this comic

My only problem with it is it felt like they hurried up and ended the arc instead of letting it play itself out--Archer only being possessed by the Immortal/Last Enemy for one issue? Something with promise like that should have lasted more issues. Of course, this A&A reboot has always been very fast-moving, kind of the opposite of the reboot of X-O Manowar, so...

[jmatt]

It's metaphorical instead of literal...

Mmm, fair enough.

My only problem with it is it felt like they hurried up and ended the arc instead of letting it play itself out--Archer only being possessed by the Immortal/Last Enemy for one issue?

I agree it seems like more could have been done with TLE in Archer's body. But I can't complain about decompression and also complain that the arc wasn't stretched enough, so I'm happy with it as is.

I'll also row back on my minor whine on the concept of deconstructing the universe with a mathematical formula. This title is a little more on the fanciful side so while the notion is a little silly, that kinda goes with the tenor of the book.

[Baramos]

Yeah, this one and Shadowman are pretty fantastic--I mean, we got immortals, life-stealing super machines, ghosts taking over dead bodies, anti-life equations, Mother Earth as a literal being, and the spirit of the Last Enemy being beamed directly into Archer's brain with a laser.

Archer & Armstrong #0 looks to up the ante on the craziness with the Faraway, too.

[erwinrafael]

Yeah, this one and Shadowman are pretty fantastic--I mean, we got immortals, life-stealing super machines, ghosts taking over dead bodies, anti-life equations, Mother Earth as a literal being, and the spirit of the Last Enemy being beamed directly into Archer's brain with a laser.

Archer & Armstrong #0 looks to up the ante on the craziness with the Faraway, too.

And they tied in the JFK assasination and the conspiracy theory a out a plane in Las Vegas that could take you to Area 51. I love this comic book.

What are the different incarnations of mother earth that we have seen so far? She presented herself to Gilad as a beautiful lady and to Kay as a hippie monkey.

Also, are there other references in the names of the Geomancers? One of them seems to be a reference to artist Doug Braithwaite who did some covers for VEI.

[lorddunlow]

Anyone else bummed that the Archers are in Mary Maria? I think they seriously could have done a dozen more interesting things with her other than this.
I am also disappointed that the Archer possession ended so quickly and conveniently.

I hate to see Kay go, as she's my favorite character in the book.

Overall, I am enjoying this book. It flip flops with Shadowman for bottom of the VEI stack, though. This month it's slightly above Shadowman.

[bygranddesign]

Anyone else bummed that the Archers are in Mary Maria? I think they seriously could have done a dozen more interesting things with her other than this.

It was a twist that I don't think anyone saw coming so in that sense I thought it was pretty clever.

But there is definitely a huge creepiness factor that this half naked hotty has her fundamentalist parents inside her head. You would think they would have had her dressing more conservatively. I sort of wished FVL played up the mystery a little more and maybe revealed this after the next arc. I have a feeling Mary Maria has a lot more mystery and directions to go in ... and her consciousness is still in there and she will eventually be able to expel her parents from her head.

[grendeljd]

The Akashic record is a depository for all knowledge and information: past, present and future. Archer's displaced consciousness (possibly with the help of the Geomancer as she hits the Enemy with a blast just before) learns how to overwrite/delete the Enemy programing by uploading a backup of the original Archer that has been saved as part of the Akashic record.

As for the name change, it makes sense given the Enemy's relationship to the Null. The Null despise anything immortal, like Gilad and Aram, so they would never call their champion "Immortal". Only "Nothing" is Forever. Calling him the "Last Enemy" makes more sense as he is the "Last" before the end of all things.

cool ...thanks for clearing that up. And very good point about the Last Enemy as opposed to Immortal. Makes a lot sense.

I know, right...sometimes I actually have a coherent thought

Dude, rockin' concept on the reasoning behind the 'Last Enemy' name.

I have a feeling this was intended as a revised version of the immortal enemy, but I'd also love to see the original come along at some point as a distinct character from the 'last enemy'.

[apainter]

What happened to those "akashic definitions" (or whatever you call them)? There were three of them in this issue, and it looks like all three of them got cut off. Is this deliberate? Was the Null weapon deleting the akashic record?

It's a minor thing, but kind of annoying. I mean, the definition of "the fighting style of gilad anni padda" doesn't tell us who developed the fighting style of Gilad Anni-Padda! (My guess: it was Gilad Anni-Padda!)

Art

[jmatt]

What happened to those "akashic definitions" (or whatever you call them)? There were three of them in this issue, and it looks like all three of them got cut off. Is this deliberate? Was the Null weapon deleting the akashic record?

It's a minor thing, but kind of annoying. I mean, the definition of "the fighting style of gilad anni padda" doesn't tell us who developed the fighting style of Gilad Anni-Padda! (My guess: it was Gilad Anni-Padda!)

Art

Hmm, an interesting observation.

[BugsySig]

What happened to those "akashic definitions" (or whatever you call them)? There were three of them in this issue, and it looks like all three of them got cut off. Is this deliberate? Was the Null weapon deleting the akashic record?

It's a minor thing, but kind of annoying. I mean, the definition of "the fighting style of gilad anni padda" doesn't tell us who developed the fighting style of Gilad Anni-Padda! (My guess: it was Gilad Anni-Padda!)

Art

Hmm, an interesting observation.

Hmmm...I guess if the code was deleting existence that would include the Akashic record...or maybe they decided we didn't need to know Gilad Anni-Padda developed the fighting style of Gilad Anni-Padda

[MoonChild]

Great Issue!