The Harbinger #6 Review: Life as an Exercise in Persistence

 

The Harbinger #6 Cover B by Marguerite Sauvage

In The Harbinger #6, writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly argue that Peter Stanchek was the instigator of many of the problems that befell the former Harbinger Renegades team. Or at least the narrator does. While long-term fans would argue that's a simplistic way of summarizing past events, it's worth pointing out that the first story arc was largely narrated by The Renegade, a being who...

Um, anyone want to summarize him for me?

Please?

Well, let's just say he's not a charter member of the Peter Stanchek Fan Club.

In any case, Faith certainly is not the fun-loving, naively optimistic gal from those early days. But then, she's been through some hard times, and trauma has a way of rewriting one's view of history.

At least she hasn't lost her charmingly geeky way of seeing the world.

Artist Robbi Rodriguez and colorist Rico Renzi still find new ways of showing Peter Stanchek using his psiot power.

 

While his depictions of Peter, Cici, Young Ago and the rest of his characters are spot on, at times Robbi seems to struggle to capture Faith. Still, I can live with the way he draws her. I particularly like the panel below.

The writers (or the narrator) lay on the theme of this series heavily in their narrative boxes, drawn in edgy, jagged form by letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. I think my discomfort with Peter and Faith's reunion stems from a fact that they allude to here: that psiots like Peter and Faith are--and have always been--underdogs. When you're standing up alone against superior forces, it's inevitable that you'll lose. And of course, when you lose, it's easy to blame others for not being there, or not being strong enough, or...

"Hey, we lost. It must be your fault!"

If Faith still carries issues from her Harbinger Renegades days, it's nice to see Young Ago and Cici standing resolutely beside Peter. Both exhibit maturity beyond their years. Young Ago in particular takes it upon himself to counsel those whom their new opponent, The Renegade, has scarred.

Ago and Cici don't exactly welcome Faith with open arms, as you'll see when you read the issue. The Renegade will also make an appearance, in a very cool way.

And occasionally, Rico Renzi reminds us that a colorist can transform a moment in a way that no amount of words or drawn lines ever could.

As for Blam, a former member of The Warning, he's still around too. After an allusion to "Batman Vs Superman" early in the issue, he's reminding me a little too much of The Joker. Personally, I'm not sure the Valiant universe needs a flamboyant villain like The Joker. Still, he's a good match for Peter Stanchek and Faith in this issue, at least in thematic terms.

Heroes and villains may not win every battle, but the great ones stick around, and make their presence felt again and again and again.

As a middle chapter, The Harbinger #6 builds upon last issue's return of Faith and Blam, reflects upon the trauma inherent in pursuing one's mission in life, and reveals how evil never takes a holiday. The past may be littered with mistakes, and the way ahead may look harder than ever to navigate. Yet the struggle to achieve one's ambition, fulfill one's purpose, and find meaning always go on.

In short, The Harbinger #6 serves as a satisfying second course in this new, second story arc. Yet my stomach rumbles, and my taste buds are tantalized. I look forward to what Valiant serves up next.

Dragon Dave