As “MASSACRE” continues to tear the Harbinger Renegades apart, the battle lines reveal themselves… On one side, the fugitive psiot named Alexander Solomon and the concussive killers of the H.A.R.D. Corps…and on the other, the Harbinger Renegades and a growing army of newly activated recruits – untrained, unpredictable and potentially unstable. As their paths converge toward an inescapable confrontation, Peter Stanchek will be forced to make an impossible decision that will change the destiny of everyone in the Valiant Universe…and lay the fault lines for HARBINGER WARS 2!

Here’s the thing with this comic – and I apologize for derailing the review right off the bat – I read this comic when I needed a distraction from some personal events (that had a positive outcome), and as a result of that my views on this issue may be a little rose coloured. However despite that I still feel comfortable in saying that Harbinger Renegade #8 is one of the better issues in Rafer Roberts run on the series.

After the events of issue five’s Massacre, we got to see a little fall out last issue among the Renegades, but Harbinger Renegade #8 really seems to kick into gear regarding the story as the young psiots start doing more than just talking about reacting to the events in Rook. Although it feels like a long time coming (especially with issue six’s interlude), the pacing actually feels very right. I may have complained about the pacing before (possibly in the last review, maybe just online), but I’m happy to say that I was quite wrong – Rafer Roberts clearly had a plan and I should have had more faith (pun unintended); he’s certainly earned that from his previous work.

Although I’m still not overly fond of Darrick Robertson‘s art style (which is entirely personal preference), it seems a bit more fluid and less phoned in this issue than in the previous one – the question should be asked whether I dislike his art less because Roberts story, pacing and dialogue are much stronger in comparison to Harbinger Renegade #7, or whether Robertson is simply having a better showing the eighth issue.

Whether you read this series in trade form or in single issues, we’re starting to see a nice build up toward Valiant’s 2018 mega event Harbinger Wars 2, and if you’re a Valiant fan then I’d highly advise you to be keeping tabs on the events in this series.

Overall this is a really enjoyable read that builds upon the catastrophic events of issue five in a very natural way; nothing seems forced or out of the natural flow of the story, and while I’m still not completely on board with with art it has improved. A better comic than the previous issue, and a perfect distraction when I needed one the most – and isn’t that what comics should do? Help us forget the real world for twenty or thirty minutes?

Story: Rafer Roberts Art: Darrick Robertson
Inker: Tom Palmer Colourist: Diego Rodriguez
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a Free copy for review