Armorclads #4: Covers To Die For

 

Armorclads #4 Cover A by Bagus Hutomo

In Armorclads #4, our hearty squad of Ironclads--along with a few friends they've picked up at other outposts--arrive at the city where their friend Peris is being held. Bagus Hutomo's Cover A shows the vast city arrayed before them. 

The city forms an intriguing circle. Is this for defensive purposes? Or is this series of progressively larger rings, along with interlinking spokes, designed to support the tether that transports goods and personnel between space (or at least the upper atmosphere) and the surface?

Either way, Hutomo's Cover A shows the scope of the Alphan's interplanetary engineering expertise.

Armorclads #4 Cover B by Jeremy Roberts

Jeremy Roberts' Cover B is hands down one of the best covers I've seen all year. And yes, I mean from any publisher. The artist has captured all the energy, tension, and fear that a futuristic science fiction/military fiction/space opera can dish out. I know I'm a Pre-Order guy, and it's rare that I even consider getting another cover. But...

Wow. I mean, wow! I've gotta get me one of these!!!

Armorclads #4 Cover C by Bagus Hutomo

Bagus Hutomo's Black & White & Yellow Cover C shows the mammoth engineering of the city supporting the space tether more clearly than in his Cover A. Space tethers--or elevators, are staples of science fiction stories because they make it far easier to transport people into space without having to build vehicles and power sources to lift them out of a planet's gravity well. Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy, and David Gerrold's novel Jumping Off The Planet, are but two literary sources that highlight what incredible marvels space elevators would be. 

As the space tether plays a crucial role in this issue, that makes Bagus Hutomo's Cover C one to die for.

Armorclads #4 Pre-Order Cover by Kael Ngu

Kael Ngu has been bringing Pre-Order customers a focus on each of the primary Ironclads. First off was their leader Peris, followed by Lela, who stepped into the breach after he was arrested and transported to the city. Unlike Jac, the mechanic showcased on his Armorclads #3 Pre-Order Cover, this month's featured Ironclad, Pulo, probably hasn't bowled readers over much yet. But Pulo is younger than Jac and Peris, and despite his doubts about Lela's choices, has proven one of her loyal followers. 

His fellow Ironclads are thankful Pulo didn't carry out his threat to do number one or number two in his armor. I'm likewise grateful, as the resultant smell would have distracted Lela from her efforts to unite Xeru's oppressed Ironclads. So as a Pre-Order customer, I'm happy to include Pulo in my gallery of Valiant's mighty Ironclads. 

Well, there you have it, Valiant Cover fanatics: all the cover options for Armorclads #4. Make sure you pick up the one you want this coming Wednesday, whether its one, two, or all of them!

Dragon Dave