Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 Review

 

Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 Cover A by Bernard Chang

 

Archer & Armstrong Forever writer Steve Foxe links his story with the reimagined origins of Valiant's Entertainment's 2012 Archer & Armstrong series. Archer was a member of a Sect which taught that immortals such as Armstrong represented great evil. Personal experience taught Archer otherwise, and he embraced Armstrong as a friend. 

Now, with Armstrong's fabled immortality stricken from him, Archer returns to his upbringings to determine if the Sect's teachings might hold a clue to restoring Armstrong's eternal life.

 

 

Writer Steve Foxe imbues the series with lighthearted fun. Comic readers will doubtless be familiar with this issue's take on a Norse myth, given Dark Horse Comics' recent series based on Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology book. The discovery of a powerful mythological locale so close to the grand city of Oslo, Norway, reminds me of the way Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan locates the gods and their holy places near the people that keep their memories--and therefore their power--alive.

In addition to Steve Foxe and Neil Gaiman, Rick Riordan's another author who's been drawn to the power of Norse Mythology.

Marcio Fiorito's characters move effortlessly through the issue. His depictions of these classic characters--as well as his makeover of the goddess Frigg--are consistent and fun. He also transports us to a land that, while reminding us of Valiant's recent Savage series, provides another link to Valiant's Entertainment's first Archer And Armstrong series a decade ago.

Alex Guimaraes' colors are sumptuous and vibrant. Their pleasantly soft tones will draw readers of all ages and sensibilities into this lighthearted, kid-friendly story.

Despite one seeming inconsistency on the first page, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou's lettering remains as inventive and eye-catching as ever. While pushing the field forward through his innovative style, Hassan also pays homage to the past by showing Archer's thoughts in pleasing thought bubbles, instead of his normal (and industry-standard) narrative boxes.

As always, Valiant provides readers a selection of attractive covers. Cover A is story-specific, symbolizing the issue's focus on the mythological Golden Apples of Idunn. Nick Robles' Cover B focuses on the threat to the pair's longtime partnership with its retro look, while also signalling its imminent demise, should Archer prove incapable of returning Armstrong's eternal youth. 

Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 Cover B by Nick Robles

 

Ro Stein and Ted Brandt's Pre-Order cover celebrates Armstrong's long-life. Like other covers in their Pre-Order series, this latest masterpiece suggests it should hang in the national gallery of one of Europe's capital cities. Oslo, Norway, perhaps?

Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 Pre-Order Cover by Ro Stein & Ted Brandt

Archer & Armstrong Forever #3--in stores today--continues the fun began in the first issue. The story carries the duo forward into unexpected places. Character growth and action walk hand-in-hand toward an unexpected and exciting cliffhanger that'll make you wonder what will happen next, and feel as if the wait until the issue #4 will last...forever.

Dragon Dave