The Eccentric will stop at nothing to add Armstrong to his collection. Archer will stop at nothing to restore his best friend’s lost immortality. And who the heck is going to stop The Maw when he catches up with Archer and Armstrong? Only one thing is certain: Archer & Armstrong Forever #4 will change Archer & Armstrong…FOREVER!

I’ve been largely enjoying this series; the irreverent fun and pacing has often been a welcome distraction while reading the comic. Because Archer & Armstrong Forever hasn’t really picked up on the threads from the previous volumes, it has been the kind of series that new readers can use to introduce themselves to one of comics’ more unique duos. The fourth issue is the first one this series where you can’t really pick up and read without having read the previous one, as it picks up exactly where the Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 left off with the Maw having subdued Archer, Armstrong and Frig, which is exactly where we start this issue. I’ve really enjoyed how writer Steve Foxe has brought these characters to life, but this issue had a little less of the magic from the first three; the jokes didn’t quite hit the same way for me as in the past, and consequently the book fell a little flat for me. It’s still far from a bad book, and was still enjoyable, but hasn’t been as solid a comic as its predecessors.

Visually, the comic is still a triumph; Marcio Fiorito, Alex Guimaraes and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (artist, colourist and letterer respectively) continue to deliver a top notch book – this is visually genuinely enjoyable from start to finish.

I ended the review last month with this: “you really can’t go wrong with any book featuring Archer and Armstrong together, but when they’re written well, holy shit, is that a comic that you should be reading. Archer & Armstrong Forever is a book where the characters are written really well – don’t miss this.” Ultimately that’s still entirely true even with the falter (and you know, there’s every chance that I read this on an off day – I’ll happily admit that), this is still a comic I’ll be adding to my physical collection.

Story: Steve Foxe Artist: Marcio Fiorito
Colorist Alex Guimaraes Letters Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.1 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

A&A’s quest takes them to the snow-covered mountains of Norway, but whether or not they find the secret to restoring Armstrong’s immortality, they’ll definitely meet Frig — the sensational character find of 2022! But is she friend or foe, and what’s her connection with the Faraway…? There’s Maw that meets the eye in Archer and Armstrong Forever #3, a jam-packed issue!

Archer & Armstrong Forever is the kind of series that you can pick up and read without entirely remembering the previous issue (whether because of the fog of Covid brain, general forgetfulness, or just generally age is ultimately irrelevant). The third issue, much like the second, contains a story that takes all you know from the recap (or even the preview text copied above) and then builds a quirky, fun title that still celebrates the core relationship of Archer and Armstrong. Steve Foxe has such a brilliant way of writing this book that you can’t help but just have fun; his dialogue is brilliant, and the jokes brought to life by letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou hit every single time. It’s long been a hallmark of the character that whenever Archer uses a technique learned because of his powers that a little box pops up to inform the reader as to the nature of said technique. This issue has a pop up that had me laughing out loud.

Marcio Fiorito and Alex Guimaraes (artist and colourist respectively) again hit all the right notes; the comic is bold, bright and the visual gags add another level of enjoyment for this curmudgeonly old bastard.

Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 is essentially the story of a classic comic team up; fight, friendship, fight, and it works so well because of how the creative team pull together to tell the story. There isn’t a weak link on this comic, and despite the fairly straightforward and fairly simple nature of the story on paper, there’s a lot to unpack hidden within the panels and gags that will reward multiple readings.

You really can’t go wrong with any book featuring Archer and Armstrong together, but when they’re written well, holy shit, is that a comic that you should be reading. Archer & Armstrong Forever is a book where the characters are written really well – don’t miss this.

Story: Steve Foxe Artist: Marcio Fiorito
Colorist Alex Guimaraes Letters Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.1 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW