ARCHER & ARMSTRONG FOREVER #4, from Valiant Entertainment on August 10th, 2022, pits A&A against Maw in the frozen wastes of the Faraway, only to have their tiff interrupted by an armed retrieval squad.
The Details
- Written by: Steve Foxe
- Art by: Marcio Fiorito
- Colors by: Alex Guimarães
- Letters by: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Cover art by: Bernard Chang (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: August 10, 2022
Is It Good?
Nothing earns a comic a high mark like a shakeup in the status quo. ARCHER & ARMSTRONG FOREVER #4 not only has great art, and a few heartfelt moments of emotion, but it shakes up the status quo in a big way.
Admittedly, this series has had some ups and downs from the beginning. Too many in-jokes, jokes that don’t land, crazy wackiness that tries too hard to be absurd at the expense of clarity, and so forth. Thankfully, this issue takes what’s been established and settles into a clear story with a little action, a little humor, and a whole lot of development for the future of this eclectic duo.
The highlights of this issue are the fantastic art and the banger of a conclusion.
First, Fiorito and Guimarães deliver gorgeous visuals in this comic. Fiorito’s character designs are unique, memorable, and expressive. Guimarães’s coloring work is super detailed, creating a polished look that rivals paintings in a museum. Truly, this is some of the best art Valiant has to offer.
Second, the conclusion turns everything about A&A upside down. It’s the type of ending that opens up a world of storytelling possibilities. If Valiant can capitalize on the change, this series will become one of the top two comics coming out of Valiant for the foreseeable future.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our review of ARCHER & ARMSTRONG FOREVER #3 to find out how the duo found themselves in the clutches of The Maw.
We begin with Armstrong about to get his face gnawed off by The Maw when suddenly, a squad of armed men arrives via a portal and zaps The Maw unconscious. The Eccentric apparently can generate portals to the Faraway at will, and he sent his men to bring everyone back.
While the men make preparations, The Eccentric explains how he knows Armstrong and why he’s keen on capturing him, partly for gain and partly for revenge. As a show of his control, The Eccentric orders his men to gather up the immortality-granting Golden Apples (except one) and blow them up. When the men follow their orders, the explosion is more damaging than anyone expected. The Maw wakes up and starts killing anyone who gets in his way as he starts to like the taste of freedom.
We conclude the issue with biting, death, and rebirth.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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ARCHER & ARMSTRONG FOREVER #4 is one of the strongest issues in the series with spectacular art and a game-changing ending. If Valiant can build on this new status quo, this will become one of the best books in Valiant’s lineup.
Related Information
Is Armstrong immortal?
Yes, Armstrong is immortal. However, the current series, Archer & Armstrong Forever, explores what happens when Armstrong loses his immortality.
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