At New York Comic 2023, Marvel revealed what’s coming for the Avengers in the next few months during the Avengers Assemble: A This Week in Marvel Special Event. The panel was held on Thursday and revealed teases of art and more for issues coming out between now and February 2024.
Avengers United
Avengers United #1 is out now on Marvel Unlimited having launched during the panel. The start of a new Avengers epic as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes assemble in response to an impending interstellar disaster! Avengers United is by writer Derek Landy, art by Marcio Fiorito, and color by Erick Arciniega.
Avengers #7
Out on November 1, interior artwork for Avengers #7 was revealed. Avengers #7 is from writer by Jed MacKay, art by C.F. Villa, and color by Federico Blee.
Avengers #9
The Avengers battle the Twilight Court…for the sake of Kang the Conqueror? The Twilight Court wishes to bring Kang to justice, but the Avengers still have need of the comatose conqueror. Which side can claim to truly be just?
Avengers #9 arrived January 10 from writer Jed MacKay, art by C.F. Villa, and a cover by Stuart Immonen you can see below.
Avengers #10
As the Avengers battle the Twilight Court, the mysterious Myrddin has his rival within reach. With Kang being the only source of information the Avengers have regarding the Tribulation Events, can the Avengers save him before Myrddin strikes?
Written by Jed MacKay, with art by C.F. Villa, and cover by Stuart Immonen you can see below, Avengers #10 comes to shops on February 7.
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #2
Khonshu VS. Khonshu! Fist of Khonshu fights Fist of Khonshu as the new Moon Knight brings the fight to the Midnight Mission and Hunter’s Moon – but what could drive brothers to battle? And with the Mission a battleground, what of those who seek aid?
Vengeance of the Moon Knight #2 arrives February 14 from writer Jed MacKay, art by Alessandro Cappuccio, and cover by David Finch which you can see below.
Immortal Thor #3
Interior artwork from Immortal Thor #3 was revealed. You can get it October 25 with the issue from writer Al Ewing, art by Martín Cóccolo, and colors by Matt Wilson.
Immortal Thor #6
A LEGEND FROM THE PAST! The All-Father sought answers to his new troubles in memories of old. And to refresh those memories, he consulted his Skald… to tell a tale of when Young Thor and Young Loki journeyed out beyond Asgard – on a quest that would determine the fate of all the Realms. This is the story of the IMMORTAL THOR…and of his first Journey Into Mystery.
Immortal Thor #6 arrives January 24 from writer Al Ewing, art by Martín Cóccolo, and a cover by Alex Ross.
Immortal Thor #7
THE TRIALS OF UTGARD! Young Thor faced the tricks of the Utgard-Loki, with all that lived at stake – in a tale twice-told and now told again. Yet the teller was the Skald of Realms, in their aspect as Thor’s enemy. And thus, the tale could twist upon itself – and if Thor faltered, it could make a new end. This is the story of the IMMORTAL THOR…and the story may yet destroy us all.
From writer Al Ewing, art by Martín Cóccolo, and a cover by Alex Ross, Immortal Thor #7 comes to shops on February 28.
Doctor Strange #11
In the aftermath of the war with General Strange, Stephen and Clea must set things to rights. But what about Clea’s new sister? Will they really return her to her warlord parents? Can the Stranges reckon with the legacy of the Faltine?
Doctor Strange #11 arrives January 3 from writer Jed MacKay, art by Danilo S. Beyruth, and a cover by Alex Ross.
Doctor Strange #12
Doctor Strange is a busy man — sometimes, it seems like the busiest man. But that man has a best friend. So when there’s something strange haunting the Sanctum Sanctorum, who can we turn to? Why, BATS THE GHOST DOG, of course! But can Bats solve the mystery on his own, or is this good dog in over his head?
From writer Jed MacKay, art by Danilo S. Beyruth, and cover by Alex Ross, Doctor Strange #12 conjurs itself into shops on February 7.
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
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
With Armstrong more mortal than ever, it’s up to Archer to find the secrets of immortality. One of history’s myths has to be true…right? Their quest will take them across the globe, from the Fountain of Youth to mythical creatures, with the deadly Maw in hot pursuit.
Archer & Armstrong Forever is quickly becoming one of my most anticipated comics each month. For two issues running, I’ve closed the PDF with a genuine smile on my face because this book is just doing everything right. Valiant’s editorial have kept the same sense of familiarity to the characters, keeping the sense of who they are consistent across the three volumes we’ve had since the relaunch a decade ago. There’s a genuine enjoyment to be taken from this series, and the comic’s humour works because of the story and how it’s implemented; rather than forcing a joke in, writer Steve Foxe allows the jokes to flow into the story in the most natural of ways.
Foxe is joined on the book by artist Marcio Fiorito, colourist Alex Guimaraes and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou – a creative team that hit all the right notes.
Archer & Armstrong Forever #2 follows, in a rather time-skippy way, the duo’s journey to try and restore Armstrong’s immortality (not quite against Armstrong’s will, but he’s certainly accepted his newfound mortality better than his best friend). You’ll get several little laughs thrown into the pages, both visual and verbal, as the duo check the boxes on their to-do list, giving the comic a not-quite-montage, not-quite-road-trip, but yet a blend of the two kind of feeling. It’s a story that excels in comic form, and I don’t think would work in any other format.
I’ve enjoyed the first two issues of this series immensely, and in more ways than one it’s like coming home to visit an old friend.
Story: Steve Foxe Artist: Marcio Fiorito Colourist Alex Guimaraes Letters Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Story: 8.9 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Written by STEVE FOXE Art by MARCIO FIORITO Colors by ALEX GUIMARAES Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU Cover A by BERNARD CHANG Cover B by CHRIS WILDGOOSE Pre-order Cover by RO STEIN/TED BRANDT On sale JUNE 8th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
The triumphant return of Valiant’s best besties!
With Armstrong more mortal than ever, it’s up to Archer to find the secrets of immortality. One of history’s myths has to be true…right? Their quest will take them across the globe, from the Fountain of Youth to mythical creatures, with the deadly Maw in hot pursuit.
Written by STEVE FOXE Art by MARCIO FIORITO Colors by ALEX GUIMARAES Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU Cover A by BERNARD CHANG Cover B by DAVID TALASKI Cover C by DAN HIPP Pre-order Cover by RO STEIN/TED BRANDT On sale MAY 4th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
The triumphant return of Valiant’s best besties!
When Armstrong seemingly loses his immortality, Archer refuses to let his best buddy go gentle into that good night. But when you live for millennia, you rack up plenty of enemies who’ll be thrilled to find out you’re no longer indestructible. Archer & Armstrong’s globetrotting quest for (more) immortality begins here!
The triumphant return of Valiant’s best besties with Archer & Armstrong Forever #1!
When Armstrong seemingly loses his immortality, Archer refuses to let his best buddy go gentle into that good night. But when you live for millennia, you rack up plenty of enemies who’ll be thrilled to find out you’re no longer indestructible. Archer & Armstrong’s globetrotting quest for (more) immortality begins here!
I have a lot of feelings about Archer and Armstrong in general as characters, and they’re all warm and fuzzy. These books have never not been fun, and while some will lean more into the comedic element than others, you can be sure that with an Archer and Armstrong comic, you’re going to have a good time. And so it was, with this expectation of a fun book, that I first read Archer & Armstrong Forever. The comic – written by Steve Foxe, with art by Marcio Fiorito, colours by Alex Guimaraes and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou – did not disappoint.
Archer & Armstrong Forever has one of the more unique promotional items attached to it in the form of a severed ear that doubles as a stress ball. It’s both hilarious and oddly disturbing. I love it.
The comic starts out with a fantastic chase sequence showcasing the differences between our two leads, and brings back one of my favourite parts in any Archer and Armstrong story; the little blurbs explaining what Archer is doing, because some of those explanations will elicit a little more than a stifled chortle and a head shake. Fiorito’s panel layouts and choreography is so perfectly fitting what the characters are capable of; I’m hesitant to go to far into hyperbolic territory, but this book is freaking amazing to look at. There’s so many things on the page that will catch your eye, and yet you’re never losing site of the story itself.
Whether that’s because of how Otsmane-Elhaou has laid out the letters to keep you on track, or how Guimaraes’ colours blend perfectly with Fiorito’s artwork…. man this book is just pretty to look at. It’s a lot of fun, and it’s exactly the kind of book I love to read. There’s an emotionality to the pages that hides behind the bombastic artwork, but once you notice it, the book just sings.
It’s spectacular.
One of the more interesting things to me about Armstrong was that due to the nature of how he became immortal, he always knew it would end at some time, and so it’s brilliant seeing his casual nonchalance about the potential imminent end he’s facing whereas Archer is less than thrilled. Given that a lot of the stories around the pair tend to have Armstrong acting as a damage sponge in darkly humorous ways, I’m looking forward to following the series to the conclusion of the arc.
Story: Steve Foxe Artist: Marcio Fiorito Colourist Alex Guimaraes Letters Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou Story: 8.8 Art: 8.9 Overall: 8.8 Recommendation: Buy
Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Written by STEVE FOXE Art by MARCIO FIORITO Colors by ALEX GUIMARAES Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU Cover A by BERNARD CHANG Cover B by DAVID TALASKI Cover C by DAN HIPP Pre-order Cover by RO STEIN/TED BRANDT On sale MAY 4th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+
The triumphant return of Valiant’s best besties!
When Armstrong seemingly loses his immortality, Archer refuses to let his best buddy go gentle into that good night. But when you live for millennia, you rack up plenty of enemies who’ll be thrilled to find out you’re no longer indestructible. Archer & Armstrong’s globetrotting quest for (more) immortality begins here!
It’s the triumphant return of Valiant‘s best friends, Archer and Armstrong! When the hard-drinking immortal Armstrong seemingly loses his ability to heal, the young and optimistic Archer refuses to let his best buddy go gentle into that good night. But when you live for millennia, you rack up plenty of enemies who’ll be thrilled to find out you’re no longer indestructible…
Archer & Armstrong Forever is out May 4 written by Steve Fox, art by Marcio Fiorito, colors by Alex Guimarães, and lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Covers for the first issue are by Bernard Chang, David Talaski, Dan Hipp, Ro Stein and Ted Brandt, a black variant, and special 1:250 Burnt Wood variant that is yet to be revealed!
For longtime fans, this is a continuation of the duo’s adventures. For new fans, this is a perfect jumping-on point – no previous knowledge required!
Even better, the series will feature two brand-new villains!
We got a chance to take to the series’ executive Rob Levin about what we can look forward to.
Graphic Policy: Hi Rob, how’re you doing?
ROB LEVIN: I believe it was the poet, Pitbull, who said, “Every day above ground is a great day.” Happy to be talking with you today.
cover by David Talaski
GP: What can you tell us about the series that hasn’t been teased?
RL: I feel like there’s a habit, and depending on your perspective, a problem, of people trying to book various books in very specific boxes. And I think ARCHER & ARMSTRONG FOREVER is a book that a lot of people might think of in recent years as a comedy book, and assume they’re not getting anything other than jokes. But for me, A&AF has always been a book about this fantastic and unexpected friendship first, an action-adventure series second, and then a fun (and often funny) book third. I think what Steve Foxe, Marcio Fiorito, Alex Guimarães, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou are doing really emphasizes of all of the title’s strengths and even pushes in some new, hopefully unexpected directions.
And if you think you have the book figured out after issue #1, the end of the first arc is going to pull the rug right out from under you.
GP: When it comes to editing books, what does your process look like? Can you take us through a day in the life?
RL: Editing is a mixture of herding cats, scheduling wizardry, moral supportive, and creative prodding to get the right mix of elements to come out the right way, and make sure it happens on times. There isn’t a day that goes by where something isn’t on fire or there aren’t 19 things you wanted to get to but didn’t have the chance because the moving of comics never stops.
My days are both similar and widely divergent, but between each book’s unique identity, books, calls, meetings, development, and more, it’s hard to really break down a single day. I live in my inbox and my calendar, and I’m always trying to be as available and responsive as I can to people inside and outside the company. Which is a struggle because some of the best parts of the job — like reading scripts and reviewing art — require a degree of focus that you can’t deliver if you’re constantly looking at emails or responding to messages. I couldn’t live without my to-do list app (I’ve been using Things since 2008), and that and some nimble email management are the only ways I can stay on top of things.
cover by Dan Hipp
GP: What do you feel sets Archer and Armstrong apart from other buddy comics?
RL: It’s the odd couple pairing taken to the extreme. One is a guy who’s been around for millennia and either encountered or inspired so many myths from our past, and the other is a sheltered, naïve young man — who just happens to be one of the well-trained, highly skilled, and dangerous people in the Valiant Universe — with a giant heart. I love a Riggs & Murtaugh (or a March & Healy if you’re looking for a more recent) pairing as much as the next guy, but what I think sets A&A apart is that they really do care about each other. They’re the best of friends, and no matter how different they are, the core of their relationship is that they care about each other, not that they’re oil and water together. My love for them comes from their love for each other.
Steve’s pitch for the series had that front and center, and it tests, bends, and maybe breaks that bond, and I can’t wait for readers to experience it. If you’ve never read the book, I think you’ll find a lot to like. If you’ve read every issue, I’m confident we’re going to cover some new ground and remind you why they’re such a fantastic pairing.
GP: Archer & Armstrong has featured crazy cults and conspiracy theories, usually with a lot of humor about it all since it’s so exaggerated. Considering our reality, how can you pull that off today? Do you even try?
RL: We’re always cognizant of real-world events and how that changes how our content is viewed, but that wasn’t really something that entered into my thinking when developing this book. It’s always been like comfort food for me, a book I can read when I’m feeling down and just want to lose myself in an adventure. But while I love an exciting adventure, I don’t usually find myself reminiscing about the big set pieces or over the top action when I think back on a story. I go back to how it made me feel, and what the characters did, learned, or overcame. And that’s what draws me to A&A in the first place. I want to see how they react to the situations they end up in, but the situations aren’t what get me in the door. It’s their relationship, their interplay, and what we learn about them as a result. So while I’m super happy with the story here, I’m very invested in seeing these specific characters go through these specific events.
cover by Ro Stein and Ted Brandt
GP: Part of the magic about Archer and Armstrong is the vast difference in age between the two; we often see Armstrong at least half drunk – do you think this was a way for him to cope with the knowledge that his friends will all leave him eventually?
RL: Almost certainly. When you’ve lived as long as Armstrong has and the only people that seem to be there century after century are your brother and a number of enemies you’ve made along the way, that has to take a toll. Armstrong has the soul of a poet, and that means he’s very much in touch with his feelings and emotions. But I don’t recall ever seeing Armstrong talk about those emotions with a therapist, so I imagine he’s spent more time hiding from those emotions than processing them in a healthy way. All I’m going to say for the moment is that the Forever in the title has a number of meanings in the series, so you’ll see plenty of drinking and plenty of emotions.
GP: Armstrong’s lack of healing is bound to shift the dynamic between the duo; did you help guide [writer] Steve Foxe with the new status quo?
RL: I’d love to take more credit for this, but Steve’s pitch came in extremely well-formed. The status quo shift provided the inciting incident and a story engine for where things go from there. Having those very general things were likely part of our initial discussions, but the rest came from his brain and his love of the characters.
To bring it back to something I said earlier, the status quo shift is just the high-concept. Everything else that supported the pitch came from character and choosing the right things to explore that shift and see how that affects their relationship.
GP: Valiant has had some interesting marketing ploys over the years; the Eternal Warrior axe, Dr. Tomorrow’s Baseball, the odd beer… if you had a choice, what would you do for this series?
RL: One man’s ploy is another man’s must-have collectible. Valiant has definitely been at the forefront of innovative marketing and promotions — from chromium covers to Valiant Vision and beyond — and that’s something that remains part of the company’s DNA to this day. We’ve got some very cool promotional items planned for the series, including a 1:250 Burnt Wood variant by Marcio that might be a not-so-subtle nod to something you just mentioned… I hope we have your ear as more gets revealed.
GP: If you had to pick just one, Archer or Armstrong, which would it be?
RL: I should probably hem and haw over this, but I did an earlier interview where I tipped my hand. I’m happiest when these two are together, because like chocolate and peanut butter, it’s a perfect combo. They really do play so well off each other, and they provide such different energies and experiences. But…
I have to go with Archer. There’s something about his perspective on the world, his gentle nature, and his ability to, you know, hurt people… There’s a lot to like, with or without Armstrong. But given my druthers, I’m choosing them as a duo.
GP: Are there other characters in the Valiant pantheon you’d like to get your hands on?
RL: I think the better question is whether there are any characters I don’t want to explore at some point. I think it was our Publisher, Fred Pierce, who once referred to the Universe as “a wonderful forest,” and I think it’s an apt metaphor. You can go for a walk in the woods and take in all kinds of different scenery, plants, etc. And that’s one of the benefits of the Valiant Universe, we have so many different characters that are either built around different genres or tones, or can easily fit into them.
So yes, there are a couple dozen characters I want to tell new stories with, from heavy hitters like X-O Manowar (who I’d like to do more with) and Bloodshot to characters whose potential has yet to be fully tapped including Doctor Mirage, Divinity, and more. I also want to see us create new characters and let them explore this forest and play off the characters people already know and love. 2022 is The Year of Valiant, and so I think it’s safe to say you’ll see a number of things we’re itching to do, and we definitely have plans well beyond that.
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1 marks the eagerly anticipated return of Valiant Entertainment’s fan-favorite and adventurous duo. When the carefree, hard-drinking, and immortal Aram Anni-Padda, a.k.a. Armstrong, seemingly loses his ability to heal from any wound and believes his days as an immortal are finally coming to an end, his young and optimistic best friend Obadiah Archer will travel the world in search of mythical artifacts to save his dear friend.
A buddy comedy adventure with a lot of heart, the new series Archer & Armstrong Forever is written by Steve Foxe, illustrated by Marcio Fiorito, colored by Alex Guimarães, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The first issue will have a limited 1:250 Burnt Wood Variant Cover, and yes, it really is made from burnt wood.
Archer & Armstrong Forever is the latest series to spin out of The Year of Valiant, the year-long campaign focused on putting fans first with each and every comic. The supernatural Deadside War storyline is unfolding in the pages of Shadowman, Faith makes her triumphant return to The Harbinger later this month (2/23), and the new sci-fi series Armorclads will launch in March. More news about The Year of Valiant’s comic releases will be revealed very soon.
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1 goes on sale May 4th.
