Archer & Armstrong are finally back together to fight against the Sects all vying for control of the Wheel of Aten but it seems as though the reunited partners is temporary and fragile. How this will play out in this crazy time traveling civil war is anybody’s guess but it’s some great reading.

Official Description from VALIANT:
Showdown on the lowdown! The secret factions of Sect Civil War steam roll into their biggest battle yet! The multiple Sects that secretly govern our world have stepped out of the shadows and right into each others’ faces! Now the newly reunited Archer and Armstrong (for now) must stand tall in this conspiracy free-for-all and find a way to not only survive, but save the world in the process (again)!

Archer & Armstrong has some of the most bizarre and fun villains in all the Valiant universe. The Sect Civil Wars has been a bit of a slow burn but we are inching closer to a massive event. For the first time in several issues we finally have all the main characters back in the same time stream and Fred Van Lente layers on the plot lines and danger. This issue kicks off with a battle between the Black Boc, which must been seen to be believed, and the Sisters of Perpetual Darkness who hold  Archer’s “sister” and mark her for death.

Armstrong wakes up after his bender through time at the end of several gun barrels. Which longtime readers are not shocked to come to expect. It’s par for the course that even during a massive fight sequence Armstrong is looking for forgiveness form his pal Archer which won’t come anytime soon. Van Lente dynamics between Sects is so colorful and fun even though the danger and serious is palpable.

Khari Evans seems to enjoy the outlandishness of the Sects but still maintains a certain amount of drama within the craziness. What’s great about Archer & Armstrong is that both Van Lente and Evans understand what this book is and how to best handle it’s often bizarre and complex plot and balance it with fun and action. A rare breed indeed but well managed by this creative team.

Archer & Armstrong has always been a solid, fun read with a dynamic, imaginative plot that is easily accessible and comprehended by the reader. There aren’t many books like this on comic book shops shelves these days but it’s well worth your time to seek it out. This is another example of Valiant’s unique approach to the comic medium and how they are both bold and daring with their storytelling.

4/5