Harbinger #8 discussion

[grendeljd]

I just read it... Can't collect my thoughts yet, so much awesome in this issue! Discuss, y'all!

[BugsySig]

Bout to read...can't wait...posting shortly....

[BugsySig]

Hoe. Lee.

Random thoughts as I continue to put them together:

This new version of Torque is awesome...very different than just another tank...almost like Armor from New X-Men...but with a totally different spin.

Torquehalla is amazing...Kadashian Mermaids? Megadeath playing from the sky? Smells of awesome @$$? Here comes The Condition!

"We're not vigilant, we're valian--"...awesome...

I challenge anyone to read this month's VALIANT books and not be hooked.

[swtor1091]

GREAT F*****N Issue holy S**T.... Flamingo bursting into flames, Peter snatching Kris up and protecting them both, and Torque jumping out of his trailer and attacking a helicopter.... I just hear a lot of people say that he died in the orginal comics from this issue alone I would not be happy if that happend But all in all great issue the best yet I think

[sonicdan]

Fantastic issue. Torque is way more sympathetic this time around, Bro. Hilarious what Pete suggests to his brother (as well as Kris' reaction!)
I love the character moments in the cafe between Kris and Flamingo. It is similar to the rooftop scene between Faith & Kris in issue #6.
I'm glad we get a bit of an explanation on how Flamingo's power works as well. I loved that Pete saves Kris and how she is the one
who orchestrates their counteraction. She is helping Pete discover his potential and abilities. The team is really starting to come together.
Great work by Lee Garbett with the art. He transitioned from his arc on X-O Manowar to Harbinger admirably. I am looking forward to seeing more of his work.
DAN

[grendeljd]

Okay... Wow. Some early impressions;

Everything about the imaginary Torquehalla was so good. From all the humour of the idea ('oh, baby, its raining from your eyes' ) to the empathy it generates when we learn of the true condition of 'The Condition'. That's just a stroke of genius to have him be a small crippled kid with a big naive imagination like that. If he dies this time around... the tragedy of it will be epic (unless he still turns out to be a real jerk, ). And what a powerful & clever way to illustrate how he is activated... Very curious if it is an imaginary 'psiotic armour' or if he physically changed... I'd guess the former at this point since he was also dressed like in his imagination instead of a t-shirt & boxer shorts...

Loved the 'Go find your feminine side' bit, I LOL'ed at the panel of Jake in a dress later.

'We're not vigilant! We're Valian--!' SO cool!

P.R.S. on the attack again - synaptic bombs this issue... How long till they develope HARD Corps?

Loved the two pages of dialogue between Kris & Flamingo... The brief mention of what happened with the charred skin - looks like that was a first time thing only, which is perfect in its poetic quality.

And a great set-up for the 'Faith alone' issue coming up next...

Just an all-around amazing issue.

[sonicdan]

I should have a few pages of original art arriving soon from the UK.







DAN

[grendeljd]

^^ Right on, Dan!!

I forgot to mention, I thought Garbett did a great job drawing this issue. Particularly liked how he drew Kris throughout. Great scores on those pages!

[sonicdan]

Great scores on those pages!

Thank you. I can't wait for them to arrive!
DAN

[pixierosa]

^^ Right on, Dan!!

I forgot to mention, I thought Garbett did a great job drawing this issue. Particularly liked how he drew Kris throughout. Great scores on those pages!

I liked his version of Kris, too. Softer, bit more fem but not girly.
Dan - my favorite of your new pages is the Kris/Flamingo talk.

What an outstanding story! The character interactions, the introduction of Torque, generally clever writing. I agree with what everyone is saying and will add this...

Not only is Kris helping Pete, and possibly eventually the other team members, to develop their talents, she's also keeping them human. She only calls them by their given names "Charlene" - never "Flamingo". I like this version so much more than the useless original version. Hoping that Torque will continue to be a better character, too.

Speaking of Torque - his new "form" does seem more like an avatar. I wonder what everyone else is seeing, and if his avatar will change as his idea of "the perfect man" changes? I don't believe he died. We see him running for cover, wounded, but he will heal.

Faith is cut off from the team physically and telepathically since she is out cold. Looking forward to her storyline - she's been on the backburner the last couple of books.

Absolutely loved this.

[Keith]

Echoing the consensus... loved this issue! What great introduction to Torque, and I'm hoping he sticks around way longer then the original version! Interested to see if he physically changed with activation!

While I wasn't too much a fan of the "new" Kris, I am quickly coming around to really liking her! Such a much better fleshed out character than the hand wringing, "Magnus Baby Mama" from the original Valiant, and love that she is just as integral part of the team with her brains as anyone else with their powers. Kudos to Dysart on creating such a strong character!

[cavemold]

Loved this had romance, laughter , girl talk imo. Just all around kick *SQUEE* issue. MAN IN A DRESS. DUDE LOOKS LIKE A LADY

[jmatt]

Agree with most of the observations made here. Enjoyed the issue immensely, nice to see Kris take a day off from her David Corn schtick.

[carter3175]

Great book! Harada had ,my attention from the start. This series is my favorite Valiant book.

[Dr. Solar]

Wow. Stunningly great and awesome.

[depluto]

So that's what Harada is like ...

Wow, wow, wow, what a great book. Can not wait for the next one!

[betterthanezra]

Amazing read just finished it...

Have to read it again.

-Brian

[hawkeyeps]

Between this and XO it was an amazing week from Valiant, these 2 issues are perfect examples of books that get better month after month.

Could not be more pleased with these 2 juicy reads, I was rewarded for not looking at the previews.

The conversation between Charlene and Kris was my favourite scene and the debut of Torque was excellent.

My anticipation for the next issues is at an all time high!

[Carson]

I say this at the risk of sounding like I'm off my rocker....

I freaking shed a couple tears when big Torque saw little Torque in Torquehalla and said "Come on, little man. I'll take care of you."

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Then when he emerged with that huge smile and started thrashing PRS... man, I was there with him. Epic moment.

The rest of the book was great but that scene touched me in a way not many comics do.

Hell of a job to Dysart.

[lorddunlow]

Holy crap was his good! Torque is much better already. I'm sure he'll manage to be a d-bag this time as well, but with a much cooler twist. He's bound to get a big ego suddenly becoming nearly invincible and literally his dream come true.

No one has mentioned the Livewire scene yet. It was actually my favorite part as it shows Harada's true colors. He seemed to be overdoing it a bit on the psychic screw-job just to punish her. Very analogous to Pete's treatment of Rachel.

[BugsySig]

Agree with most of the observations made here. Enjoyed the issue immensely, nice to see Kris take a day off from her David Corn schtick.

I actually thought of you while reading that diner scene. When Kris said they were going after "The Man", I thought it sounded so cliche that, for all her intellectual political jargon, it made her look kinda foolish. In my mind, it evened her portrayal out a bit between that intellectual and the misguided youth.

And I really like the Livewire scene. Dysart is definitely building her up as an integral character ripe for an eventual spinoff role.

[vaevictis]

Again, Harbinger proves why it's my favorite title. The revelation of Torques condition stole the show. It was a real curveball. There was so much going on in this issue, yet it was easy to follow. I think this is an excellent issue to try to get someone to start reading the series.

I really can't see how the introduction of H.A.R.D. Corps could be too far away.

[SJS4]

I will go against the grain here a bit, I didn't actually like this issue that much...mainly because of the changes to Torque. I did enjoy the interaction between Flamingo and Kris and the bit between Zephyr and Peter, but I am having trouble figuring out what to think of this new Torque. I guess we'll see more of him in the future and we'll learn more about what's going on (ie: is the "new torque" just a psychic projection or did his body actually change?).

I did enjoy Garbett's art very much. I actually think his art here was better than what he did on X-O (which I also enjoyed). Can't wait to see more of Evan's, but if they use Garbett more onm this book I will be a very happy camper.

[Phoenix8008]

Wow, I can't wait to get my hands on this to read it next week! You telling me that Torque is a wimpy girly-man before Peter 'pops' him? And maybe that the 'big muscled' version is just a temporary projection when he uses his powers? That's a rather large twist from the original! I remember seeing the 'dream sequence' preview and that showed the Torque we all expected to see based on the covers that had been released. Really epic twist Dysart has pulled here, especially if Torque isn't permanently musclebound. I think I'll like it even more than the original. Wow, even more reason to empathize with the guy if he was just a wimpy nerd with an awesome imagination! I hope Dysart bucks history and doesn't kill Torque. If they don't have to use him to set up the whole Magnus thing, then he doesn't need to get Kris pregnant and have that be a tension point, therefore he doesn't need to die to get him out of the picture, right?

[grendeljd]

Wow, I can't wait to get my hands on this to read it next week! You telling me that Torque is a wimpy girly-man before Peter 'pops' him? And maybe that the 'big muscled' version is just a temporary projection when he uses his powers? That's a rather large twist from the original!

The more I think about it, the more I'm sure that we saw a psychic projection rather than a physical change... It actually makes more sense as an ability, keeping more in line with the overall concept of psiot-based superpowers in the Valiant U. These aren't 'mutants' or 'para-normals' like in the Marvel U or their old 'New U', these are people with variations on psionic powers. Mental powers. I like this new concept of Torque much more than the original as it fits in better.

If they don't have to use him to set up the whole Magnus thing, then he doesn't need to get Kris pregnant and have that be a tension point, therefore he doesn't need to die to get him out of the picture, right?

Agreed, good point! I read somewhere that Dysart isn't going to kill off Torque too quick, as he is aware that most of the old-school fans will be expecting it - he doesn't want it to be too predictable when it happens. If it happens. I'd love to see Torque stick around longer this time, depending on his personality from this point forward...