Armorclads #5 Review

 

Cover A by BAGUS HUTOMO

Four short months ago, writers J. J. O'Connor and Brian Buccellato swept us away to a galaxy far, far away. Now, with the help of writer Ryan Cady, they conclude the first chapter of their extraordinary Armorclads saga.

It is a rule of life that what goes up must eventually go down. So it is with the tether that transports all personnel and goods between the spaceships and the surface of the troubled planet Xeru. 

Naturally, this includes the precious Pure mined by the Ironclads, which sustains the Alphans' war efforts. (Not that that's important or anything). 

After his Alphan soldiers arrested Ironclad Peris, Governor Domahn offered the genetically-engineered Ironclad a partnership. Now, both men will meet their fates. 

Peris' friend Lela, who led an Ironclad insurrection, will also discover hers.

Armorclads #5 closes off all the essential plot points satisfactorily. We're left wondering what happens next on the planet Xeru, and if, just possibly, the Armorclads might find their way to our own galaxy.

Oh yes, and the Bugs are back. Weapons hot, everyone!

Penciler Miguel Sepulveda does a fine job, imbuing each panel with realism. Inker Raul Fernandez helps him pack each page with incredible detail.

Colorist Hi-Fi and letterer Dave Sharpe breathe life and stereophonic sound into this final, tumultuous battle.

Bagus Hutomo's Covers A and C showcase the tremendous scope of this final battle. 

Yunggeun Yoon's Cover B reminds us that the Ironclad Peris is somehow key to bringing peace to this war-torn galaxy.

Cover B by YUNGGEUN YOON

Kael Ngu's fifth Pre-Order Cover features Lela again. I guess that means she's twice as important as any of the other Ironclads. At least, among those who don't have the super-genes that the Governor was searching for--and found--in Peris.

 

Cover C by BAGUS HUTOMO

 

Watch the Ironclads' bid for freedom!

See Governor Domahn's quest for the god-weapon-wielder!

Feel the Legionnaires' battle with the Alphans!

Experience one final Battle Of The Bugs!

Pre-Order Cover by KAEL NGU

It's all in Armorclads #5, an action-packed story brought to life with panoramic splendor. Weapon up today with the cover of your choice, available at your local comic shop or favorite internet provider.

Dragon Dave

Armorclads: An Orderly Transition

 

A page from Armorclads #1

In Armorclads #1, we met our team of hardworking heroes known as the Ironclads. In addition to writers J. J. O'Connor and Brian Buccellato, this was due to the efforts of penciler Manuel Garcia, Raul Fernandez, and Rex Lokus.

 

A page from Armorclads #2

Overseeing the team's efforts was editor David Wohl, who formerly edited Top Cow series The Darkness and Witchblade. Unfortunately, he left before Armorclads came out. Valiant replaced him with editor Rob Levin.

 

A page from Armorclads #3

As the series progressed, Valiant announced that Armorclads had grown from four to five issues. With Armorclads #3, Miguel Sepulveda stepped in to assist penciler Manuel Garcia. In Armorclads #4, Miguel took over sole penciling duties, while Hi-Fi replaced Rex Lokus as colorist.

 

A page from Armorclads #4

Often, a difference in a penciler or colorist's style can be glaringly obvious. Editor Rob Levin is to be congratulated for extending this exciting series, and keeping the art and story moving forward in seamless fashion. 

March on, Armorclads!

Dragon Dave

Armorclads #4 Review Part 2: The Space Tether

 

Armorclads #4 Cover A by Bagus Hutomo

Warning: This post intrudes into the issue itself beyond the preview pages. Spoilers--hopefully not too many--may apply. Read carefully.

Armorclads ushers us into an alien world. It is a world packed with its own mythology, and backed by speculative ideas not currently possible. While I'm not a scientist, I thought one aspect of Armorclads #4 worthy of an indepth discussion.

In Armorclads #4, the Ironclads see a spaceship docking with the other end of the tether. By definition, a tether, or space elevator, should be attached to a counterweight out in space, well beyond the planet's atmosphere.

According to Wikipedia, Earth's atmosphere extends as high as 10,000 kilometers above our planet's surface. A tether would be anchored to a counterweight beyond geostationary orbit, or 35,786 kilometers away. Obviously, both distances extend beyond human eyesight. 

I normally envision a tether's counterweight as an asteroid. In science fiction novels, this is usually effected by moving an asteroid into the planet or moon's orbit. According to Wikipedia, the tether's counterweight could also be a large space station. In Armorclads #4, penciler Miguel Sepulveda and inker Raul Fernandez portray an orbiting space station that looks of a similar size to the city on Xeru. 

 

 

Of course, the science behind space tethers, or space elevators as they're often called in novels, is highly speculative. Also, keep in mind that the action in Armorclads #4 takes place on the planet Xeru, which is very different to Earth. Xeru is so different from Earth, in fact, that people have to be bioengineered to live and work there. 

At least in the long-term. 

 

Armorclads #4 delivers an epic battle fought on four fronts. I'll leave you to discover the full intensity of that battle, and the roles the Ironclads, Legionnaires, and the Alphans play in that battle when you read the issue. I just thought this notion of the space tether, and how authors J. J. O'Connor and Brian Bucellato utilized it in this issue, merited further discussion.

I hope you agree, and that it enhances your appreciation of this military science fiction series.

Dragon Dave

 

Armorclads #4 Review: The Battle for Xeru

 

Armorclads #4 Cover B by Jeremy Roberts

Armorclads #4, written by J. J. O'Connor and Brian Buccellato, opens with Governor Dohman explaining to Peris the purpose of the fabled godsuits. This seems a little premature, as the governor only seems to have found part of one. But hey, a guy's gotta dream, right?

Kidnapped Ironclad Peris points out the obvious: that peace achieved by the threat of deploying a superweapon is really tyranny.

What's less clear is how people who have been genetically engineered by the Alphans could somehow possess the unique genetics Dohman has spent his life searching for. Whatever the reason, in Peris he believes he has found someone who could wield such an overwhelmingly powerful weapon.

While he promises Peris a partnership, is a man who dreams of gaining absolute power really someone with whom one can partner? Personally, I doubt Lela would think so. But then, she's arrived with her army of Ironclads to rescue Peris. She hasn't met Governor Dohman yet.

Oh, and in case I haven't mentioned it yet, they've arrived on a dark and stormy night, one richly colored by Hi-Fi.

While Peris once served as the Ironclads' leader, Lela has grown into that position. Lela and Cole, penciled by Miguel Sepulveda and inked by Raul Fernandez, clearly are working in harmony.

She's learned how to motivate her people, and channel their abilities, as these scenes--lettered by Valiant stalwart Dave Sharpe--ably illustrate.

 

What she wasn't expecting was for another force to enter the fray.

We haven't learned much about the Legionnaires yet. The Ironclads view them as a group of mercenaries who have somehow found a way to control the giant bugs. We caught a glimpse of them watching the Ironclads battling the bugs in the last issue. 

Now, they choose to attack the city as well.

You've got Lela's Ironclads, the Legionnaires, Governor Dohman's forces, and the Alphan soldiers aboard an arriving spaceship all itching to launch into each other. It'll take a cool head to limit oneself to the scheduled objectives, and not get caught up in the frenzy of battle.

 

While clearly influenced by movie franchises like Starship Troopers and Avatar, Armorclads stands on its own. Armorclads #4 showcases more of this complex universe filled with interesting characters, powerful factions, and more story elements than the series' five scheduled issues could ever exhaust. Answer the call, Valiant readers. Buy up every available copy of Armorclads #4, and demand that Valiant publish many more issues of this fantastic series.

If nobody quits on Armorclads, everybody wins!

Dragon Dave

Armorclads #3 Review: The Rise of the Everyman

 

Armorclads #3 Pre-order Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON

In Armorclads #3, a Utility-class Ironclad really comes into his own. His name is Jac. Unlike Lela, he's not a miner, or in Alphan terminology, an Excavator. He's a mechanic, or a Utility-class Ironclad, and rarely leaves the perimeter of Outpost 12. 

Because of Peris' act of rebellion, the only home he had ever known--Outpost 12 on the planet Xeru--was abandoned. Soldiers force-marched Jac, along with other Ironclads stationed at Outpost 12, to Outpost 14. There he got caught up in a battle between their Alphan overlords and the mysterious Legionnaires. 

This battled destroyed Outpost 14. So that won't be his home either.

Now Lela wants Jac to leave the wrecked Outpost 14. She asks him to march for several days through difficult terrain to reach yet another outpost. Ultimately, she wants him to take part in a rescue effort, march on the city where Peris is being held, and help secure his release. Is she crazy, or what? 

After all, Jac's no fighter. He's not even an Excavator, used to leaving the periphery of his outpost, and facing the dangers that entails. He's just a mechanic: a Utility-class Ironclad.

Still, even an Everyman like Jac can use his skills to save the day.

One of their Alphan overlords, a man trained as a soldier, and shipped to Xeru to keep the genetically-engineered Ironclads in line, isn't afraid to point out how crazy Lela's scheme is. 

But Jac, and the rest of the Ironclads aren't willing to give up.

Meanwhile, a new territorial governor arrives on Xeru. While he's presumably been tasked with keeping the shipments of the Pure--necessary to the Alphan war effort--on schedule, the governor has his own agenda. One that touches on mythology underlying Alphan society.

While Armorclads evokes great science fiction franchises such as Starship Troopers and Avatar, and perhaps the video game Halo, issue #3 reminds me of Frank Herbert's classic novel Dune. There's talk of great families, and a breeding program the governor believes could lead to one gifted individual who could stop the interstellar war and unite the cosmos. 

Technically, I think Valiant has got the mix just right on this series. The writing, art, character design, worldbuilding are great. Likewise, there' a balanced mixture of drama and action. Dialogue and exciting events drive the plot forward. Midway through this developing story, Armorclads really satisfies.

Armorclads #3 will show all the Ironclads--even the Utility-class Everymans like Jac--stepping up to tackle world-changing events. 

And yes, for fans of monster movies, powered-armor warfare, and in particular, the movie Starship Troopers (as well as Robert Heinlein's immortal novel), there will be giant bugs.

I don't usually rate comics. That said, I don't hesitate to give Valiant an A+ on Ironclads Armorclads #3. So march on down to your local comic shop and secure a copy. I mean...

"Come on, you apes, you wanna live forever?"

Dragon Dave

All the details...

ARMORCLADS #3
Created by JJ O'CONNOR
Written by JJ O'CONNOR AND BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Pencils by MANUEL GARCIA
Inks by RAÜL FERNÁNDEZ
Colors by REX LOKUS
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by BAGUS HUTOMO
Cover B by IKHWAN WALLIYUDDIN
Cover C by BAGUS HUTOMO
Pre-order Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON 

After getting their first taste of combat, the Ironclads realize their construction-class suits aren't suitable for battle. They'll need to add some upgrades before they head after their missing leader. Meanwhile, Peris comes face to face with the Alphan Governor and discovers there may be much more going on than mining Pure on the planet Xeru.

Armorclads #3 Preview Pages

 

Ready for the return of the Armorclads? Well here it is, peeps: bigger and better than ever. In Armorclads #3, we learn the fate of Peris, more about the planet Xeru, and the purpose of the Alphans' breeding program. Get ready for the rise of the Ironclads, 'cause after this issue, nobody's gonna be calling 'em grubs anymore!

Enjoy the inside front cover, and the first four pages of Armorclads #3, courtesy of the good folks at Valiant Entertainment.

 

 

Hungry for more? Then head down to your local comic shop Wednesday, May 18, 2022!

Dragon Dave

 

Details, details...

ARMORCLADS #3
Created by JJ O'CONNOR
Written by JJ O'CONNOR AND BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Pencils by MANUEL GARCIA
Inks by RAÜL FERNÁNDEZ
Colors by REX LOKUS
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by BAGUS HUTOMO
Cover B by IKHWAN WALLIYUDDIN
Cover C by BAGUS HUTOMO
Pre-order Cover by JUNGGEUN YOON

After getting their first taste of combat, the Ironclads realize their construction-class suits aren't suitable for battle. They'll need to add some upgrades before they head after their missing leader. Meanwhile, Peris comes face to face with the Alphan Governor and discovers there may be much more going on than mining Pure on the planet Xeru.

On sale May 18th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Armorclads #2 Review: Infinite Possibilities

 

Armorclads #2 Cover B by LIVIO RAMONDELLI

Spoiler Alert: If you have not yet read Armorclads #1, please do so before reading this review!

Armorclads #2 begins with the miners' compound under siege. Any of the genetically engineered teens who dreamed of restructuring the stratified Alphan society must think again.

The dark, moody sky signals the brewing trouble ahead. 

The spikes jutting from the dome, and the armored ground level, remind us how dangerous Xeru can be.

The art also gives us a view from inside the mechs--either the the soldier-class armor, or what they call the heavy cruisers. (Presumably, the latter are what Sam referred to as god-suits in Armorclads #1). This targeting-view neatly re-introduces us to the members of the mining community we know best, and reminds us that not all Armorclads actually spend their days extracting the precious substance known as the Pure from the rocky caverns on Xeru.

 

The stated ages beg the question of the miners' cost to Alphan society. Are the genetically engineered miners birthed as babies? If so, how long did the Alphans have to care for their needs as they aged and were trained in their skills?

In Armorclads #1, Sergeant Troy maintained that Sam's life wasn't worth the risk of losing another Ironclad suit. Does this mean that the miners are born as young teens, and somehow gifted with the knowledge and skills they need? If so, does the age signify their equivalent age (when compared with the Alphans), or like the replicants in Blade Runner, their years of service?

Their appearance certainly matches the ages listed.

The artists build mood, drama, and tension into every scene.

The characters are expressive, and drawn consistently well.

Armorclads #2 makes clear that the Alphans are quick to stamp out the sparks of any potential insurrection.

One miner's decisions can have implications for all Armorclads in an entire base.

When danger threatens, the colorist and letterer work hand-in-hand to foreshadow this. Show, don't tell, is their watchword.

Armorclads #2 reveals more of the dangers that threaten the Alphans and their precious mining operation on Xeru. The scene below casts additional light on what happened to the Pure convoy, and explains why Sergeant Troy was so hypervigilant in Armorclads #1.

Even the heavy cruisers, or Sam's so-called god-suits, are vulnerable.

Armorclads #2 opens up the series in unexpected ways. It introduces us to new characters, gives us a fuller understanding of Alphan society, and deepens our knowledge of conditions on Xeru. Thankfully, it leaves plenty of questions to be answered in future issues.

 

Armorclads #2 Cover C by BAGUS HUTOMO

 

In issue #1, our characters became heroes. In issue #2, they showcase their abilities and individuality, and flex their hero-muscles. By the end of the issue, they face new dangers, but also, perhaps, new possibilities for the future.

 

Armorclads #2 Pre-order Cover by IKHWAN WALLIYUDDIN

 

New characters. New dangers. Higher stakes. This Armorclads series--already a winner as of the first issue--just keeps getting better!

Dragon Dave

Armorclads #2 Credits

Created by JJ O'CONNOR
Written by JJ O'CONNOR AND BRIAN BUCCELLATO
Pencils by MANUEL GARCIA
Inks by RAÜL FERNÁNDEZ
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by BAGUS HUTOMO
Cover B by LIVIO RAMONDELLI
Cover C by BAGUS HUTOMO
Pre-order Cover by IKHWAN WALLIYUDDIN

To read my review of Armorclads #1:

Armorclads #1 Review: A Revolutionary Tale