Harbinger Renegade #5
Publisher: Valiant
Writer: Rafer Roberts
Artist: Darick Robertson
Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
Cover: Darick Robertson & Diego Rodriguez
Massacre begins here and with everything Valiant said was going to happen in this issue I still wasn’t ready for what the creative team was going to deliver. Sure it’s one thing to say that a major Valiant character will actually die but everything here blew away expectations in regards to the story.
Roberts starts the issue off with some familiar beats surrounding the introduction of the H.A.R.D. Corps team preparing for this mission. He lets you know right from the start that things will get bloody while building tension and anticipation. Then he throws a giant Cthullu-like monster in the mix and it’s one intense action sequence after that. As with comics packed with action things tend to get chaotic but Roberts makes knowing who is who first priority which definitely makes for a more enjoyable issue. One that is already packed with some great visceral moments due to the excellent pacing which capitalizes on the action taking place. When things finally do slow down he shows men in power doing what men in those positions usually do and it’s a very ominous series of panels. It’s evident Roberts is setting up what’s to come and that Alexander Solomon cliffhanger is just enough to get you to come back.
The art in this issue is just as much a roller coaster ride as the narrative. Robertson nails every beat and visually makes the big moments even better. With everything that is going on at no point are the pages just cluttered but goes from action to heroism to despair and back again in. There’s plenty of jaw dropping moments but he even finds a way to make the Zygos Twins even more creepier when they attack a H.A.R.D. Corps soldier in a quick and brutal sequence. When that really big moment happens that Valiant promised would happen time just freezes and he captures everything that makes that more effective. The colors throughout the issue raise the visuals to another level thanks to Diego Rodriguez.
Overall, I do feel that depending on your affinity for various characters the outcome of losing [Redacted] will make or break this issue for you. Valiant made bold claims concerning Harbinger Renegade and in some areas the creative team over delivered while in others they did what was expected. All in all you get a worthwhile issue that doesn’t pull any punches and sets up an exciting story arc with Massacre.
Infinite Speech
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