Armor Hunters 2

If you’re following Valiant’s Armor Hunters four-part series, then you understand the enormous threat that Earth faces. Armor Hunters #1 sought to leave the reader with a pit in their stomach in its conclusion; in this second issue, Valiant wants to take that pit and leave a chasm in its place. The Armor Hunters only move forward in this issue, and we see, in grim and bloody detail, more of the devastation that they are capable of causing.

This issue picks up immediately after #1 left off, showing us the aftermath of a ruined Mexico City and the reaction of an unknowing, unprepared world. Given that this is supposed to be Valiant’s supreme crossover event, characters like Bloodshot, Livewire, and Ninjak are weaved in, introduced, and placed squarely against the Armor Hunters. This issue soon becomes one of increased tensions. Aric Darcia, the U.S. government, and even the Hunters show signs of stress. Revelations surface regarding Darcia’s alien armor, revealing that he may not be able to keep the planet safe, even if the Hunters fail their mission. Despite the raised stakes, however, decisions get made quickly, rashly, and are essentially reactionary. Two distinct groups of beings are defending their entire existence, so it only makes sense.

The emotional payoff throughout the comic, though, largely depends on your investment in the Valiant universe. A reader who has followed Darcia throughout his current run – which began back in 2012 – will definitely feel more at home than a reader who is picking up the universe from Armor Hunters. I want to feel a connection to Darcia, to his people, to the entire population of the Earth, but it’s becoming clear that in this series, some prior involvement in Darcia’s story will only serve to help. Of course, I cannot hold this against Armor Hunters. I can only say that new readers will have to set aside a bit of time to really digest this series.

Nonetheless, this issue delivered on building off of the events that transpired in #1. It touched (though, sadly, only briefly) on the more human elements that come with facing certain extinction, but readers will have a more action-oriented, plot-moving read in this issue of Armor Hunters. You can’t really fault this comic for not focusing on the emotional side of things. The world might be ending, after all, and the end comes fast.
If you lend yourself to this universe, as I am slowly doing, you may end up in my position, hoping that there will be an Earth left to root for in the final issues of Armor Hunters.

You can purchase Armor Hunters #2 at Valiant’s website, and you can also follow them at their Facebook page for upcoming releases.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.

Armor Hunters 1

Before I begin, let me preface this by stating that I have never read a single issue of Valiant’s X-O Manowar. I walked into this issue with a blank slate of a mind. I have never heard of the ludicrously powerful super-armor, nor have I heard of the super-armor’s wearer, Aric Darcia, and his time-displaced, worlds-spanning adventures. Naturally, this also kept me unaware of the fiercely determined title group, the Armor Hunters, and their objective of eliminating the threat that the X-O Manowar and other armors present for the entire universe.

So, there was a lot for me to catch up on.

But with that said, I believe I can safely say this: If you are aching for a read that involves a deadly, multi-species assassin group, a government that desperately wants to hold on to its most prized weapon, and one man that stands as the target and one of the few lines of defense that Earth holds, then now is the time to jump on with Valiant’s Armor Hunters #1.

This beautifully drawn and colored first issue sets up (and, thankfully, briefly brings readers up to speed on past events) the main conflict that will be explored during these four issues. We see the Armor Hunters ready – nearly desperate – to eliminate the X-O Manowar armor, and we also witness the lengths that the Hunters will go to fulfill their mission.

Since I am not filled in on the backstory very well, I cannot say for sure how well I’m supposed to know these Armor Hunters individually, what their histories are, or how many members of their group have fallen in the line of action. Still, I felt that the variety of characters presented here, though filling in some common tropes, shows promise in both providing a very deadly threat to Darcia and in keeping us invested through the Armor Hunter’s dynamics. They are essentially a dwindling group of super-soldiers intent on cleansing the universe of all armor super-weapons. This mission has a serious weight attached to it, and if the effects this has on the Armor Hunters is explored in future issues, this series could really reach some emotional depth.

But of course, the Hunters still loom as the main antagonists in this series, which is proved through the use a somewhat-expected, though still mortifying tactic at the end of the issue. Aric Darcia, along with the American military defense, see first-hand the destruction an inter-galactic strike-team can cause, and it leaves the reader wondering where this will all head.

I can only hope that the series reaches its full potential in later issues, as the set-up is ripe with possibilities. Will the US government stay by Darcia’s side after meeting the Armor Hunters, or will they attempt to hand him off to save the planet? Will Darcia, already obligated to help the US military, concede to the Hunters, or fight back due to the destruction they caused? How deeply will the concept of the needs of the few versus the needs of the many be explored?

For me, I’m excited to uncover the answers to these questions.

You can purchase Armor Hunters #1 at their Valiant website and follow them at their Facebook page for other updates.

Geek-o-Rama received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments and opinions are those of the individual reviewer.