Review: Archer & Armstrong: Archer #0

Creative Team:
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Pere Perez
Color Artist: David Barron
Letterer: Tom B. Long

The Issue:
When Obadiah Archer was sent out into the world after “He Who Is Not To Be Named” he discovered that everything he thought he knew about his life was a lie. Since then he has chased down hints of his origins all the way to Project Rising Spirit’s Area 51 base only to find out the system was down. Now we finally discover how he became the man he is today.

As the issue concludes it is revealed that what we read wasn’t just an origin story but a briefing. But who is coming after Archer?

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Summary:
This issue follows the format of Bloodshot #0. So it takes us all the way through his life to the present day. This works so well because what we assumed we knew about Archer proved to be inaccurate. His life starts as a regular kid who taking a gifted test who is identified as a possible Psiot (for those new to Valiant they are this companies version of mutants). He is kidnapped and brought into this world.

We were led to believe that he was adopted and indoctrinated but instead what we get is that he rebelled against the Nursery (where Project Rising Spirit activates Psiots), and later when he was with the Archer’s. Despite being brainwashed he knew that he didn’t belong. How he came to accept them as his parents and family was a cruel act of torture on a child.

On the page you can see the moment when Archer goes from refusing to fight to fighting back. As a result he is accepted by his adoptive parents. This reveal really resonated emotionally. It wasn’t just that they lied and brainwashed him (as we believed), but that he was put through harsh circumstances to reach that point.

Another positive about this issue is the return of series regular artist Pere Perez. The last few issues he was absent and it wasn’t the same book. Much in the same was as the most recent incarnation of Marvel’s Young Avengers was just as much about the chemistry between Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie the same holds true here with Van Lente and Perez. This title is a perfect marriage between their talents.

The last page is a huge reveal. Valiant has had two crossovers so far with Harbinger War, and now  Unity. This time we see that the issue wasn’t simply a backstory but Kozol of Project Rising Spirit briefing Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps on their next mission. This is the first crossover I’m truly looking forward to as both titles are going pretty strong. It is also the first crossover that isn’t built on the machinations of Toyo Harada.

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Final Thoughts:
When I think of Archer & Armstrong I think of a light hearted comic which juggles a lot of (often ridiculous) things. This issue was one of the few in the series that carried a serious tone. Despite this it didn’t feel out of place. It can be difficult to shed light on the mystery of a character and for them to stay interesting but I don’t think this will be a problem with Archer. We already have an idea of the direction he is heading and things seem destined to get darker and more interesting yet.

Grade: 4villains

Just a guy who was into this nerd stuff before it's popular. Now that is I'm just happy I have people to talk about it with.