Reunited, but once again torn from the lives they’d carefully rebuilt, the Harbinger Renegades have found themselves attacked on all sides by a vicious new enemy – a radicalized army of psiot zealots determined to bring the system down by any means necessary. Can this band of former friends become the fighters they once were, or will they succumb to the temptation of a new power that’s more vicious than anything they’ve ever faced before? With Torque and Faith in mortal jeopardy, Peter Stanchek and Kris Hathaway must put the past behind them…and embrace their chosen destiny in what lies ahead.

Of all the comics Valiant released this week, this was the one that surprised me the most.

Rafer Roberts has the unenviable task of following the man who has been guiding the Harbinger story for 50 odd issues, Joshua Dysart, and although Roberts has been subject to some criticism simply because he’s a new writer taking on the property, I’ve been enjoying what he’s been doing with Harbinger Renegade thus far. And honestly? I think this is probably the best of the three issues so far.

Apologies for the minor spoilers to follow. If you don’t want to read past this point, then all you need to know that issue is worth buying.

Alright, so this issue we finally get to see Peter Stanchek arrive back on earth with a fresh new beard and hair style (that of the Unkempt Spaceman) that almost invokes a saviour like image when we first see him actually on earth, except… you can almost see the weight of the world on his shoulders in that first panel. It’s a brilliantly subtle piece of visual story telling from Darick Robertson, but it adds a lot to the rest of the comic as events unfold.

Harbinger Renegade is a departure in tone and style from the other book Roberts was writing for Valiant, the dearly departed A&A, but it’s every bit as good as you want it to be, and then some.

Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Darick Robertson Inks: Richard Clark
Colourists: Diego Rodriguez and Brian Reber
Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review