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: 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