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thestylishreader's review
5.0
This is one of those books that I thoroughly enjoyed and genuinely made me chuckle to myself at times. I actually enjoyed it so much that I have difficulty putting an actual review into words! Definitely my favorite thing I've read from the rebooted Valiant Universe thus far. In the context of Valiant, it fits perfectly, giving the reader little tidbits into how the story impacts the universe, while being so thoroughly self-contained and story driven that you certainly don't have to read any other Valiant comic to enjoy yourself. If you're into history/conspiracy related superhero comics or are just looking for save-the-world escapism with the synergy of a buddy cop flick, Archer & Armstrong is the book for you.
While my MVP of the creative team is by far Fred Van Lente for his insanely quirky storytelling elements spread throughout the book, I would like to briefly mention the consistency the art team brought to this run. Normally when you read a collected edition of 14 comics where the lead artist switches several times of the course of the book, you may be greeted by jarring changes in stylization or radically different depictions of the same character. However, this book's transitions are practically seamless, which in my opinion attests to both the talent of the artists and the commitment to Valiant's plans for the characters.
Overall, you should read this book. It's literally got something for everyone: A drunken immortal. A naïve disoriented religious assassin. Geomancers with immortal sworn protectors. Secret sects warring for control of the world. Nazi monks. Ambrose Bierce. I will go on, so just save me the time and give the book a try!