Harbinger #22 discussion

[jmatt]

Just had a thought: The Gen Zero kids are being held in that building, yes? Doesn't one of them (Hive?) absorb and store the minds of deceased psiots?

[pixierosa]

He does, but Hive escaped with Traveler, if I remember correctly.

[jmatt]

He does, but Hive escaped with Traveler, if I remember correctly.

So then they can travel...

[Heath]

This would have been a GREAT issue if with each panel I wasn't anticipating an over-publicized death that never happened.

I have one foot in the camp that doesn't want to know and one foot in the camp that thinks it adds drama. Other than general knowledge of the event, I, too, had no idea the death comes in issue #23.

It's weird. I don't want to know what's gonna happen -- but I can't deny that knowing something big is afoot is making it more exciting.

For me, it doesn't make it more exciting. It makes me miss a lot of things (like the Peter-Kris switcharoo) because I'm too focused on what I know is going to happen. Whether it's trying to forget that I know, or trying to see the clues leading up to it. It just gets in my way.

[rpellech83]

It is hard to wait for the big event each month. I'm so invested in these stories and characters that it sucks that one of them will die and we lose those stories. Dead is dead in Valiant and I dread to see who goes. He'll I was even relieved when Torque didn't die. It's all a testament to the writing and direction to this point.

[Captain Craig]

Very solid issue. As noted by so many already I feel the Faith/Torque elements being so heavy can be seen as misdirection.
The Flamingo coming onto Peter was a bit overdo really from a VU1 perspective.
I've said before my money is on Kris and I'm still going with her. I also like how at the end of last issue it seemed Animalia was highly indifferent to the point of subordinate leading to their hideout being discovered. It now seems like that while that was unintentional, she still recognizes that Peter & the Renegades are her best chance to free her friends. Told Peter and Kris used that strategically to their advantage.

Harada did seem more diverse in his powerset than we've seen before. That inconsistency without an explanation would be my one minor gripe on the issue as a whole.

[rpellech83]

I could be wrong bit based on the old continuity I'm not surprised Pete and Harada can use various powers. I thought that what separated the Omega psiots from the rest was that they could activate others and access just about the entire spectrum of abilities. Don't know if it is still completely the same bit makes sense as they are the most powerful.

[BugsySig]

I could be wrong bit based on the old continuity I'm not surprised Pete and Harada can use various powers. I thought that what separated the Omega psiots from the rest was that they could activate others and access just about the entire spectrum of abilities. Don't know if it is still completely the same bit makes sense as they are the most powerful.

I agree. That was always my thoughts on the Omegas, then and now.

While we haven't gotten a definitive answer on Harada's appearance, if he is creating a "hard-shell projection" of a younger/older Harada (or the dog he has appeared as) then its not a stretch to think he could create psionic claws, etc.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

Great issue. Loved how the messed with Harada.
What if Pete switched minds with Kris? imagine her strategic mind inside the powerful body of Pete? Maybe Kris dies, but it's really with Pete's mind. Pete lives, but it's with Kris's mind intact?

Not sure how I felt about the random come on by Flamingo to Pete. Made me think that Harada was messing with them somehow.

Clayton Henry is the best. Loved this issue, and of course, looking forward to the next one!

[BugsySig]

Great issue. Loved how the messed with Harada.
What if Pete switched minds with Kris? imagine her strategic mind inside the powerful body of Pete? Maybe Kris dies, but it's really with Pete's mind. Pete lives, but it's with Kris's mind intact?

Not sure how I felt about the random come on by Flamingo to Pete. Made me think that Harada was messing with them somehow.

Clayton Henry is the best. Loved this issue, and of course, looking forward to the next one!

If Kris and Pete did "switch minds" then perhaps what Flamingo suddenly finds attractive in Pete is what she sees in Kris?

And put into the perspective of the last regular issue where Flamingo was seeking some male company, it's actually not that random.

[kjjohanson]

This would have been a GREAT issue if with each panel I wasn't anticipating an over-publicized death that never happened.

I have one foot in the camp that doesn't want to know and one foot in the camp that thinks it adds drama. Other than general knowledge of the event, I, too, had no idea the death comes in issue #23.

It's weird. I don't want to know what's gonna happen -- but I can't deny that knowing something big is afoot is making it more exciting.

For me, it doesn't make it more exciting. It makes me miss a lot of things (like the Peter-Kris switcharoo) because I'm too focused on what I know is going to happen. Whether it's trying to forget that I know, or trying to see the clues leading up to it. It just gets in my way.

Well, the switcharoo hasn't been confirmed (and really hope that my gut instinct is wrong, because I think that's an overused plot device in genre fiction). Still, if it is the case, the upcoming Kris cover could take on a whole new meaning if Pete (his body, anyway) is the one to go.

[kjjohanson]

On a side note, has anyone else ever noticed that Clayton Henry draws foreheads bigger than the average artist? I'd love to see him do a Leader sketch.

[ilzuccone]

[bygranddesign]

on a different note - I really appreciate the fact that Harada was wearing an appropriate uniform for battle and NOT a suit and tie. One thing I disliked about the 1st arc in Unity was the fact that he was wearing business attire when he was going to war against XO Manowar. As much as I like Matt Kindt's work - I'm happy that Harada is gone from Unity so Dysart can have full control over how to shape and represent Harada.

[jmatt]

On a side note, has anyone else ever noticed that Clayton Henry draws foreheads bigger than the average artist? I'd love to see him do a Leader sketch.

I was thinking the same thing with this issue. Everyone seems to have a pinched face.

I also think that the mind swap conjecture is premature. Kris could just have been referring to him communicating with her mentally. Recall that in HW they communicated via headsets.

Also wanted to mention that I thought the communication via signs about being eavesdropped on was a nice touch.

[Heath]

Well, the switcharoo hasn't been confirmed (and really hope that my gut instinct is wrong, because I think that's an overused plot device in genre fiction). Still, if it is the case, the upcoming Kris cover could take on a whole new meaning if Pete (his body, anyway) is the one to go.

While it hasn't been confirmed, it certainly fits. "Peter" was definitely exhibiting "Kris"-like strategy. It also makes Flamingo's come on more interesting.

[kjjohanson]

On a side note, has anyone else ever noticed that Clayton Henry draws foreheads bigger than the average artist? I'd love to see him do a Leader sketch.

I was thinking the same thing with this issue. Everyone seems to have a pinched face.

I don't necessarily mind it, but it's something that's distinctive about his art.

[jmatt]

On a side note, has anyone else ever noticed that Clayton Henry draws foreheads bigger than the average artist? I'd love to see him do a Leader sketch.

I was thinking the same thing with this issue. Everyone seems to have a pinched face.

I don't necessarily mind it, but it's something that's distinctive about his art.

This issue more than usual. I don't ever recall thinking this about his Armstrong, Archer (maybe a little), Gilad or Ivar.

[kjjohanson]

On a side note, has anyone else ever noticed that Clayton Henry draws foreheads bigger than the average artist? I'd love to see him do a Leader sketch.

I was thinking the same thing with this issue. Everyone seems to have a pinched face.

I don't necessarily mind it, but it's something that's distinctive about his art.

This issue more than usual. I don't ever recall thinking this about his Armstrong, Archer (maybe a little), Gilad or Ivar.

Has he done any issues with Gilad? Emanuela Lupacchino did the second A&A arc.

[hkupo]

I could be wrong bit based on the old continuity I'm not surprised Pete and Harada can use various powers. I thought that what separated the Omega psiots from the rest was that they could activate others and access just about the entire spectrum of abilities. Don't know if it is still completely the same bit makes sense as they are the most powerful.

I agree. That was always my thoughts on the Omegas, then and now.

While we haven't gotten a definitive answer on Harada's appearance, if he is creating a "hard-shell projection" of a younger/older Harada (or the dog he has appeared as) then its not a stretch to think he could create psionic claws, etc.

I've been wondering a lot about Harada's power set. In issue two it's stated that he was projecting the image of the dog into everyone's minds within a certain amount of miles of his location. So I thought it was just an illusion like a Prof. X deal. But then he appears young to Kris on her webcam which maybe she could be within range but then he also was young looking in front of Bloodshot who is immune to TP. And then there's issue 20 when he changes on camera to the whole world. What's the point of changing if he's recorded as an old man?

Also do him and Peter have an advanced healing?

[etos45]

For the mind switch, my memory is absolutly terrible, but he could only speak telepathically with Faith, right? I just assumed that's all that was going on there and the scene was put in place to show that Kris is starting to trust Pete. If they do the mind switch, then Harbinger just officially got stupid.

I'm thinking Flamingo is safe now... she seems more detached from the group and I don't think her dying would really impact the group all that much. Maybe they're trying to work on the Flamingo / Kris / Pete love triangle in the future? It felt unnatural and rushed, but no more than Torque / Faith did. I think Dysart might just be another George Lucas of telling love stories. I think it's going to be Torque... he makes the most sense and his dying would SERIOUSLY impact Faith which could in turn affect others. Him loving her makes him weak and gets him killed. I don't think that everything should be a misdirection or twist... why can't they just tell a good story? Torque's story has been told, a lot of focus has been spent on him, but I kind of feel like he really doesn't have anywhere else to go (am I the only one that doesn't care about a Faith/Torque love story?). Could they kill Faith and send him off the deep end? Sure, but the story loses more with Faith than Torque.

[jmatt]

Has he done any issues with Gilad? Emanuela Lupacchino did the second A&A arc.

[kjjohanson]

Duh. Forgot about the 0 issue. And I guess the beginning of #1 as well, even if Gilad is mostly dead there.

[jmatt]

Duh. Forgot about the 0 issue. And I guess the beginning of #1 as well, even if Gilad is mostly dead there.

And no big foreheads / pinched faces. Clayton Henry is my favorite comic artist, bar none.

[Aomalle27]

Just a random thought here, but in light of Bleeding Monk issue, and Harada morphing into a dog, what if all psiots are nanite endowed?! Thus the ability to track "potentials" since nanites must give some kind of resonance or possibly radio frequency etc!? Monk can alter his appearance and has lived thousands of years, Bloodshot can also morph his appearance, although only temporarily, Harada as well, and presumably Peter ( he's an omega). Of course what would differentiate the Omegas from the rest of the psiots? Possibly alien blood ala the Vine?! ( you also have Darpan as an omega, but in past issues he's a simpleton, in this issue, he's depicted as anything but, although he looks smaller and quite a bit younger now, is he also projecting a different exterior like Harada?)