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Archer & Armstrong issue 4 (Comic) Review

 
Archer Armstrong issue 4 featured image
Archer Armstrong issue 4 featured image
Archer Armstrong issue 4 featured image

 
At a Glance...
 

Page Count: 31
 
Genre: ,
 
Author:
 
Year Published:
 
Final Score
 
 
 
 
 
4.5/ 5


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We liked?


  • Neat end to first arc
  • Humour continues
  • Nazi monks

Not so much?


  • Deus ex machina at the end


Final Fiendish Findings?

There are two pretty awesome things in this issue: one is martial arts trained, telepathic, Nazi monks with little mustaches. Second is Archer and Armstrong continuing their bizarre mentor-hero relationship.

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Posted November 25, 2012 by

 
Full Fiendish Findings...
 
 

In this issue we reach the end of the first story arc for Valiant’s relaunched Archer & Armstrong. It’s been a sweet ride and Fred Van Lente doesn’t let-up in his bizarre, action filled, hilarious take on supernatural and spiritual tropes and legends.

Archer & Armstrong issue 4 finds the unlikely team on the tip of either saving the world or failing, and considering that the series is set to continue for a long time yet – it’s pretty obvious that one basic outcome will happen. But that outcome was not what I was expecting after the end of issue 3.

There are two pretty awesome things in this issue: one is martial arts trained, telepathic, Nazi monks with little mustaches. It’s like what would have happened if the Nazis in Bulletproof Monk had been a bit more forward thinking. Second is the sense of humour, which has prevailed in each issue in the series so far.

The continued relationship between Archer and Armstrong is such that it really bends the old hero-mentor dialogue on its head. And it’s one of the things that I’ve been glad for as the comics have progressed. The older mentor is the one that’s wisecracking and immature while the younger hero is all business and serious.

This kind of contrast doesn’t happen very often and it’s fantastic that Van Lente keeps this humorous pairing going, even in the face of an impending apocalypse. Not that this issue isn’t without its tragedies – but there’s a balance.

By the end, we’re nicely set-up for issue five and all the madness that will bring for Archer & Armstrong. Though I did feel that the last page or so had a touch of deus ex machina about it  and I hope this subsequent bit of plot will be properly explained in later issues.

Haven’t been keeping up with Archer & Armstrong? Not to worry. Valiant have been making it easy for people to get into their series. There’s a handy write-up at the beginning of the issue.

Archer & Armstrong issue 4 is out now in comic stores and online.


Emily King

 
Games, film and comics lover, I'm helping out with comics coverage here & I'm behind the Nerds Assemble podcast.


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