DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by kjjohanson »

400yrs wrote: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.
You basically read FVL's wrap-up of a two-year storyline. Lots of pieces coming together that you really need to have read the rest of the series to understand.
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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by jmatt »

So, does this mean that there was never an original Boon?

The Wheel of Aten was a recreation of the Boon that Aram built, yes? So then that means the Wheel that was dropped into the Faraway and taken by the Ani-Paddas was the recreation of the Boon that eventually gave Aram his immortality and wiped out Earth's population.

Or did I miss something?

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by greg »

The clue is the final word on the last page... "ouroborus"

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by BugsySig »

jmatt wrote:So, does this mean that there was never an original Boon?

The Wheel of Aten was a recreation of the Boon that Aram built, yes? So then that means the Wheel that was dropped into the Faraway and taken by the Ani-Paddas was the recreation of the Boon that eventually gave Aram his immortality and wiped out Earth's population.

Or did I miss something?
Yes, though you could say it all goes back to Ivar. He was the one who developed the recreation of the Boon, which Aram had and gave to Aten. That then inspired the monks in the Faraway to create the Boon, which inspires Ivar.

See, makes perfect sense :D
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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by jmatt »

That begs the question: In the Faraway, is time absolute? Could someone visit the Faraway and take the Boon before the brothers Ani-Padda ever get there?

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by BugsySig »

jmatt wrote:That begs the question: In the Faraway, is time absolute? Could someone visit the Faraway and take the Boon before the brothers Ani-Padda ever get there?
What has happened has always happened...so said Ivar...but the Faraway exists outside of time...so someone could take the Boon before the Ani Padda, but if it's taken outside the Faraway, then time will cause it to return there before they arrive so that what happened will continue to happen within the time stream. Easy.
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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by Watchtower »

Reading the entire "American Wasteland" arc in one go, I gotta say: this book's become one of the most interesting comics I've ever read.

Sure, it's action-packed and funny as hell, but it's biggest strength is that it's INTELLIGENT. At it's core, the "American Wasteland" arc is a commentary on faith and how the need to be guided by something larger than oneself can give even the most material things a religious power. And it pulls it off spectacularly; not once do I feel like it's talking down or insulting my intellect, and I leave legitimately feeling like I have gained something. Beyond tying together this Myth Arc of a story, it has a moral and a purpose, very rare gems in the American comic industry.

FVL may have very well proven himself to stand with Dysart and Venditti as shining beacons for VEI. Bravissimo.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by jmatt »

BugsySig wrote:...but the Faraway exists outside of time...
If it exists outside of time how do time arcs appear in it, Mr. Smarty Pants? :P

Which gets me to thinking, what do we know about it? We know it's a mechanical construct. I remember people speculating it may be one of the Sentient Cities mentioned by Ivar when he was released from his confinement in some kind of time bubble. Was it ever definitively stated how it came to be or what it is? I don't recall.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by erwinrafael »

Watchtower wrote:Reading the entire "American Wasteland" arc in one go, I gotta say: this book's become one of the most interesting comics I've ever read.

Sure, it's action-packed and funny as hell, but it's biggest strength is that it's INTELLIGENT. At it's core, the "American Wasteland" arc is a commentary on faith and how the need to be guided by something larger than oneself can give even the most material things a religious power. And it pulls it off spectacularly; not once do I feel like it's talking down or insulting my intellect, and I leave legitimately feeling like I have gained something. Beyond tying together this Myth Arc of a story, it has a moral and a purpose, very rare gems in the American comic industry.

FVL may have very well proven himself to stand with Dysart and Venditti as shining beacons for VEI. Bravissimo.
I would most likely get flak for this, but FVL has been the BEST writer in the VEI stable. Too bad they seem to be not retaining him.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by Michael_Ayer »

I agree Erwin. More Van Lente!!!!!
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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by Baramos »

I haven't seen a sorcerer's plan turned around on them like that in a comic since the end of Fullmetal Alchemist! Well done!

As for the Faraway existing outside of time, time-arcs are also not really inside time, either, so that's why they can connect. Time-arcs are like wormholes, they're not part of space/time, they're a hole in it connecting two separate points in space/time. Or something.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by erwinrafael »

greg wrote:The clue is the final word on the last page... "ouroborus"
When I read that word, I got this conflicting happy but sad feeling. It indicates to me that FVL's story has ended and that the cycle has been closed. My guess is that A&A 25 would more likely read like BWS' final issue, which is bittersweet.

I think I will write a long essay about this great run.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by lorddunlow »

Great stuff, but too tired to elaborate right now.
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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by String »

Reading this whole arc in one sitting, wow, mind-blowing.

Sure, there was action, but the concepts involved, the twists and turns, connecting the dots, the characterizations, if this was FVL's coda swan song for this title, he could not have done any better.

Also, being a fan of Arthurian legends and stories, I so want to read more of Sir Bors and Percival now.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by erwinrafael »

Try reading the whole FVL run. That was even more mind blowing. Once you see the circular structure of the whole run, you would be amazed.

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by leonmallett »

erwinrafael wrote:
Watchtower wrote:Reading the entire "American Wasteland" arc in one go, I gotta say: this book's become one of the most interesting comics I've ever read.

Sure, it's action-packed and funny as hell, but it's biggest strength is that it's INTELLIGENT. At it's core, the "American Wasteland" arc is a commentary on faith and how the need to be guided by something larger than oneself can give even the most material things a religious power. And it pulls it off spectacularly; not once do I feel like it's talking down or insulting my intellect, and I leave legitimately feeling like I have gained something. Beyond tying together this Myth Arc of a story, it has a moral and a purpose, very rare gems in the American comic industry.

FVL may have very well proven himself to stand with Dysart and Venditti as shining beacons for VEI. Bravissimo.
I would most likely get flak for this, but FVL has been the BEST writer in the VEI stable. Too bad they seem to be not retaining him.
No flak from me - I agree with this statement 100%, although Dysart is closing in recent months for me. :thumb:
VEI - I look forward to you one day publishing MORE than 9-10 books per month

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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by leonmallett »

A really enjoyable end to another enjoyable arc, mixing fun and irreverence with swipes at pop and celebrity culture, time travel, paradox, misdirection, parallel story threads, and so much more.

Archer and Armstrong has felt artfully constructed throughout, and this only serves to underscore my problem with Quantum and Woody; that book feels like a case of throwing stuff against a wall to see if anything sticks. I have really enjoyed Van Lente's tale as it has unfolded across numerous arcs, and look fowards to taking time to re-read it in the near future. Great stuff VEI. :thumb:
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Re: DISCUSSION: Archer & Armstrong #23

Post by ShadowTuga »

Just read this.
Allow me:
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

One of the best VEI issues of the year, so far. "Bieber" shot in the head was JUST WOW. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Armstrong also "made" the Boon, basically. Full-circle.
Holy sheeeeet. I didn't see that coming in a million years, call me dumb. But I did not. Maybe Archer, somehow in the future/or past/whatever. But Armstrong is also responsible. And his share involved "helping" on destroying mankind. Poor dude, he probably doesn't even know it (or does, I have no idea now).
Fantastic issue, This is my book of the month so far. Crazy comics are fun!
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