Tag Archives: dave lanphear

Preview: A&A: The Adventures of Archer & Armstrong Deluxe Edition HC

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A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG DELUXE EDITION HC

Written by RAFER ROBERTS with FRED VAN LENTE
Art by DAVID LAFUENTE, MIKE NORTON, RYAN LEE, CARY NORD, CAFU, and MORE
Colors by BRIAN REBER, ADAM PASSALAQUA, and MORE
Letters by DAVE LANPHEAR and  DAVE SHARPE
Cover by KANO (MAY182102)
$49.99 | 368 pgs. | T+ | On Sale JULY 11th
OVERSIZED HARDCOVER | ISBN: 978-1-68215-275-1

Join Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (HARBINGER RENEGADE) and superstar artists David Lafuente (Ultimate Spider-Man) and Mike Norton (Revival) as they take Valiant’s (somewhat) dynamic duo on an all-out assault on the senses right here in the complete deluxe edition hardcover.

Meet Armstrong: Since the ancient city of Ur, this immortal adventurer has spent the last 7,000 years drinking and carousing his way through history alongside some of the greatest merrymakers the world has ever known.

Meet Archer: A sheltered teenage martial arts master and expert marksman that was raised for a single purpose – to kill the devil incarnate. Little did he know that this undying evil was actually Armstrong (he’s actually a pretty good guy…once you get to know him) and, since hitting the road together, the two have become great friends and even better partners.

Now: Archer is about to set off on his most dangerous mission yet – a quest into the mystic reaches of Armstrong’s bottomless satchel to liberate his friend and comrade from the clutches of the mad god Bacchus!

Collecting A&A: THE ADVENTURES OF ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #1-12, IMMORTAL BROTHERS: TALE OF THE GREEN KNIGHT #1, and ARMSTRONG AND THE VAULT OF SPIRITS #1 along with more than 20 pages of rarely seen art and extras!

Review: Divinity #0

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DIVINITY_ZERO_COVER-A_RYP“DIVINITY, a lost Russian cosmonaut newly returned to Earth with god-like powers, has successfully restored the world to order after the reality-altering event known as the Stalinverse. But how can a man – even one with near-divine abilities – know for certain that the planet has been truly restored in full? To make sure, Divinity must bear witness to the world as it now stands – heroes, villains, gods, and all – to ensure the rightful order of the Valiant Universe!”

One of the most exciting new characters to come out of any publisher in the last few years is Valiant’s Divinity. A Russian cosmonaut, real name Abram Adams, who ended up with reality warping powers that make gods look like ants, all Divinity wants is to be left alone in peace. There have been twelve issues of Divinity released so far divided into three separate miniseries (I, II and III), with each telling a beautiful and compelling story that, for the most part stood alone in the Valiant universe up until III reimagined the world as we know it for four issues at the hands of another god like Russian cosmonaut (there were three on the initial mission).

Which brings us to Divinity #0. Written by Matt Kindt with art by Renato Guedes, the comic genuinely does provide a fantastic introduction into the Divinity story without giving too much away should you decide to pick up the collected editions if you haven’t read the previous issues, but the zero issue also provides a very interesting direction for the future, and where Kindt will be taking the story next.

Without beating around the bush, this comic is absolutely beautiful. Guedes fully painted each page, and oh boy does it pay off. I could spend three or four hundred words describing it… but why bother when I won’t do the art any justice, and Valiant have provided us with some preview images?

DIVINITY_ZERO_002See what I mean? The entire comic looks just like this, and Dave Lanphear‘s lettering brings out the very best in the art, whilst allowing Kindt’s words to flow seamlessly from the page in what has to be the finest example of a single issue comic from Valiant this year. When each page is a work of art that brings a genuinely excellent story to life you can’t ask for more from a creative team.

This is an utterly brilliant comic in every way.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Renato Guedes Letters: Dave Lanphear
Story: 9.0 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review. I’ll be buying this Wednesday as well.

Shirtless Bear-Fighter #2 Goes Back to Print

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Shirtless Bear-Fighter—from writers Jody LeHeup and Sebastian Girner, artist Nil Vendrell, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Dave Lanphear—is being rushed back to print in order to reinforce the front lines of #WarOnBearror.

After being betrayed by the bears that raised him, the legendary SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER wanders the forest he’s sworn to protect, fist-fighting bears, eating flapjacks, and being the angriest man the world has ever known! When wild-eyed, super-strong bears attack the citizens of Major City, Shirtless ventures into the human world to do what he does best… PUNCH THOSE BEARS IN THE FACE!

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join Shirtless on his bare-chested journey toward glory.

Shirtless Bear-Fighter #2, 2nd printing (Diamond Code JUN178447), Shirtless Bear-Fighter #3 Cover A by Robinson (Diamond Code JUN170800), Cover B by Vella (Diamond Code JUN170801), and Cover C by Chabot (Diamond Code JUN170802) will be available in comic shops on Wednesday, August 23rd. The final order cutoff deadline is Monday, July 23rd.

Shirtless Bear-Fighter! Gets a “Beariant” Cover

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Shirtless Bear-Fighter!—from writers Jody LeHeup and Sebastian Girner, artist Nil Vendrell, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Dave Lanphear—bares all in sizzling new Burt “beariant.”

After being betrayed by the bears that raised him, the legendary Shirtless Bear-Fighter wanders the forest he’s sworn to protect, fist-fighting bears, eating flapjacks, and being the angriest man the world has ever known! When wild-eyed, super-strong bears attack the citizens of Major City, Shirtless ventures into the human world to do what he does best… PUNCH THOSE BEARS IN THE FACE!

The #WarOnBearror continues with Shirtless Bear-Fighter #3!

Shirtless Bear-Fighter! #3 Cover A by Robinson (Diamond Code JUN170800), Cover B by Vella (Diamond Code JUN170801), Cover C by Chabot (Diamond Code JUN170802), and Cover D limited Burt Beariant (Diamond Code JUN178364) will be available in stores on Wednesday, August 23rd. The final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, July 31st.

Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 is a Knock Out and Gets a Second Printing

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Writers Jody LeHeup and Sebastian Girner, newcomer artist Nil Vendrell, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Dave Lanphear launched the #WarOnBearror to overwhelming critical acclaim, and Image Comics has announced that Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 will be fast-tracked to a second printing. The second printing cover will feature a re-colored version of the Andy Suriano artwork.

After being betrayed by the bears that raised him, the legendary Shirtless Bear-Fighter wanders the forest he’s sworn to protect, fist-fighting bears, eating flapjacks, and being the angriest man the world has ever known! When wild-eyed, super-strong bears attack the citizens of Major City, Shirtless ventures into the human world to do what he does best… PUNCH THOSE BEARS IN THE FACE! But all is not as it seems. Someone is manipulating Shirtless… and only by confronting the demons of his past can Shirtless hope to save his future!

Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code MAY178523), Shirtless Bear-Fighter #2 Cover A by Robinson (Diamond Code MAY170715), Cover B by Fox (Diamond Code MAY170716), Cover C by MacLean (Diamond Code MAY170717), and Skottie Young’s Baby Beariant (Diamond Code MAY178584).

Shirtless Bear-Fighter Pulls No Punches with Nude “Beariant” Cover

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From writers Jody LeHeup and Sebastian Girner, newcomer artist Nil Vendrell, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Dave Lanphear comes a modern tall tale for the ages. Image Comics is pleased to reveal a limited Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 Nude variant (or shall we say, “beariant”?) cover.

After being betrayed by the bears that raised him, the legendary Shirtless Bear-Fighter wanders the forest he’s sworn to protect, fist-fighting bears, eating flapjacks, and being the angriest man the world has ever known! When wild-eyed, super-strong bears attack the citizens of Major City, Shirtless ventures into the human world to do what he does best… PUNCH THOSE BEARS IN THE FACE! But all is not as it seems. Someone is manipulating Shirtless… and only by confronting the demons of his past can Shirtless hope to save his future!

Shirtless Bear-Fighter is a an over-the-top action/comedy chock full of humor, colorful characters, larger-than-life battles, and high adventure. It’s the story of a wrathful man at war with himself, what happens when we allow anger to rule our lives, and what we can do to set things right.

The #WarOnBearror begins with Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 available on Wednesday, June 21st. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, May 29th.

  • Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 Cover A Robinson (Diamond Code APR170718)
  • Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 Cover B Fowler (Diamond Code APR170719)
  • Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 Cover C Suriano (Diamond Code APR170720)
  • Shirtless Bear-Fighter #1 Cover D Nude Beariant (Diamond Code APR178205)

Review: Harbinger Renegade #2

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hr_002_cover-a_robertsonKris Hathaway, Peter Stanchek, Faith Herbert, and John Torkelson thought they could go underground. They thought they could get their old lives back. They were wrong. As four psionically powered “psiots” that can defy the laws of physics with a thought alone, this extraordinarily dangerous team of renegades won’t be able to escape the fight that society has brought to their door. As a violent, new superpower movement spreads across the suburbs, America’s only hope will be the teenagers it wished it could forget.

Here’s the thing about Harbinger Renegade; it’s the third chapter in a longer story featuring the same characters (depending on how your reckoning is – I’m thinking of Harbinger and Imperium as the first two chapters), and while starting at the beginning is always ideal, it isn’t always financially feasible for every reader. It is therefore, fortunate that Renegade can be picked up without having read either of the previous chapters in the larger story.

Harbinger Renegade #2 lets us get a glimpse into what drove Peter Stanchek to meditate in Saturn’s rings, as seen last issue, and it’s a well-written part of the comic. Rafer Roberts utilizes a familiar, but no less effective, method of showing Peter’s struggle with his immense power; credit should also be given to letterer Dave Lanphear for placing so much text above Darick Robertson‘s artwork without losing any of the detail. It’s a nice throwback to the first issue’s cover that will remind long time readers of that iconic cover, and convey to new readers the amount of psychic noise that Stanchek has to deal with, and does help in explaining why he ends up meditating on Saturn.

Despite not having read Imperium the final actions of the Renegades in that series are playing a large part of the story here as certain members continue to deal with the repercussions of their actions. As such there’s a lot more story development here than action, and I’m very happy with that, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing interesting to look at. Lanphear is joined on art duties by Richard Clark (inks) and Diego Rodriguez (colours), and they deliver some utterly superb space scenes and layouts.

You may think that nothing much happens in this issue, I did the first time I read it, but there’s a lot of character exploration here, which allow us to get into the minds of Kris, Tamara, and to a certain extent Peter. We also get a glimpse at the man who will more than likely be the “villain” in the story as the series progresses. I use quotation marks, because even Toyo Harada wasn’t as evil as you’d think, so I’m curious how Roberts will set the new guy up.

If you’re a Harbinger fan this is pretty much essential.

Story: Rafer Roberts Pencils: Darick Robertson
Inks: Richard Clark Colours: Diego Rodriguez Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Story: 8.75 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Rai #13

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RAI_013_COVER-A_MACKAs 4001 A.D. teeters on the brink, discover the intertwined origins of New Japan’s very first Rai and his creator, Father – the despotic artificial intelligence that would one day threaten us all. And as the truth behind these long-lost beginnings resurfaces, so too will the questions that have eluded mankind for nearly two millennia. How did New Japan come to orbit Earth? Who created Father? And what happened to the nine previous Rai that once swore allegiance to his empire?

While the story from Rai #12 has carried into Valiant‘s summer blockbuster 4001 A.D., Rai #13 tells the story of the first Rai, set nearly a thousand years into the future (or one thousand years in the past depending on whether you view 4001 A.D. as the future or the present) centuries after New Japan was propelled to the stars. It’s an interesting story, and a must read for fans of Rai that finally reveals the origin of New Japan’s guardian.

Unlike the other 4001 A.D. tie in released last week that I did enjoy, but felt it wasn’t worth picking up if you weren’t going all in on the 4001 A.D. event (like I am), this comic is one you should be reading even if you have no intention of picking up the main event comics.  Matt Kindt delivers more than just an origin story of the first Rai, he explores humanity’s reactions to having everything provided for them by an artificial intelligence. By Father.

Think the Matrix but where the humans are aware that machines are taking care of them.

Powered by some atmospheric artwork by Cafu and colour artist Dave Lanphear this comic is an issue you should treat yourself to if you’re a fan of machine-led science fiction. Rai #13 is a brilliant comic that will stand alone if you’ve only got a fleeting familiarity with Rai, Valiant and their universe, or if you have no intention of reading the rest of the 4001 A.D. story arc. I presume there will be a second chapter in this tale with Rai #14 and I can’t bloody wait.

Story: Matt Kindt Art: Cafu Colours: Dave Lanphear
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Preview: Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #1

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WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #1

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by RAUL ALLEN
Cover A (Wraparound) by DAVID LAFUENTE (SEP151652)
Cover B by RAUL ALLEN (SEP151653)
Cover C by CARY NORD (SEP151654)
Cover D by MARCOS MARTIN (SEP151655)
Emblem Variant by DAVE LANPHEAR (SEP151657)
Artist Variant by LEWIS LAROSA (SEP151658)
B&W Sketch Variant by DAVID LAFUENTE (SEP151659)
Blank Cover also available (SEP151656)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale NOVEMBER 18

For five millennia, the Eternal Warrior has shaped history at the end of his sword. He’s razed empires, toppled civilizations, and broken armies as an immortal soldier in service to the Earth.

But now, the Eternal Warrior has been torn from the world he once protected and finds himself stranded in a hostile alien landscape unlike any he’s faced before. Separated from his earthly environs, can history’s deadliest soldier survive a realm far older, far deadlier, and fare more ruinous than anything he’s ever encountered? Beyond Earth lies eternity…

New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (BOOK OF DEATH, X-O MANOWAR) and visionary artist Raúl Allén (NINJAK, Hawkeye) forge a new legend for Valiant’s master of war with an all-new ongoing series in…WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #1!

WRATH_001_COVER-A_LAFUENTE

Valiant Comics’ Wrath of the Eternal Warrior Trailer

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For five millennia, the Eternal Warrior has shaped history at the end of his sword. He’s razed empires, toppled civilizations, and broken armies as an immortal soldier in service to the Earth. But now, the Eternal Warrior has fallen into the endless abyss of Hell itself…and finds himself stranded in a hostile alien landscape unlike any he’s ever faced. Separated from his earthly environs, can history’s deadliest soldier withstand a unearthly realm far older, far deadlier, and far more ruinous than anything he’s ever encountered before? Beyond the veil of life…eternity awaits…

WRATH OF THE ETERNAL WARRIOR #1
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by RAUL ALLEN
Cover A (Wraparound) by DAVID LAFUENTE (SEP151652)
Cover B by RAUL ALLEN (SEP151653)
Cover C by CARY NORD (SEP151654)
Cover D by MARCOS MARTIN (SEP151655)
Emblem Variant by DAVE LANPHEAR (SEP151657)
Artist Variant by LEWIS LAROSA (SEP151658)
B&W Sketch Variant by DAVID LAFUENTE (SEP151659)
Blank Cover also available (SEP151656)
$3.99 | 32 pgs. | T+ | On sale NOVEMBER 18 (FOC –10/26/15)

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