For decades, Toyo Harada’s Harbinger Foundation and the government’s own Project Rising Spirit have been waging a secret war over the rarest resource known to man – the unruly superhuman telekinetics known as Harbingers. Over the years, they’ve each collected a small army of these empowered children to inflict their agendas on the world. But now, the reformed Harbinger hunter known as Bloodshot needs to atone for his crimes – and he’s going to start by releasing two dozen of the most volatile Harbingers from their PRS prison and into the world.

This is it, the beginning of a chaotic event. No winners, just survivors. Harbinger Wars is Valiant’s  first major crossover event since it’s return and trust me, it will be a bloody, battle royale. Three factions are front and center, tied to an outcome guaranteed not to be all sunshine and rainbows. Bloodshot sworn himself to protect the psiot children, Toyo Harada and his Eggbreakers wants to keep them in control, and Peter and The Renegades wants to give them freedom. The conflict alone has great consequences that can not only determine the fate of psiots, but the fate of the world.

Joshua Dysart and Duane Swiercynzski handle the story and writing as they’re tasked to weave in the both Harbinger and Bloodshot. It is well done, with both of the stories’ past events are revisited leading up to the confrontation. The characterization is strong and personal, even when some characters have little time within the panels. There is a lot to be taken in being the first issue, but it is pivotal as it does lay down the groundwork for the war to begin.

Art team Clayton Henry, Clayton Crain, Mico Suayan, colorist Brian Reber and letterer Dave Lanphear are fantastic. I loved the change of styles and tones in the book, being strong and perfectly executed. It’s evident that the artists separate the duties amongst each other when the past, present, and the psiot realm are display in rich visuals that will capture the attention of the reader. Where it would prove to be a distraction when not handled properly, the communication within the art prevents it from falling apart.

Harbinger Wars is a great start for this major event. I’m looking forward to reading more and seeing how it will unfold. With the story and art being well done, we’re in for a great ride.

Muy Mareado!, Review: Harbinger Wars #1

The Amazing Spider-Man is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents’ disappearance leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father’s former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors’ alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero.

And as always, you can click to see the posters full sized.

Cody "The Thorverine" Ferrell, Two New Amazing Spider-Man Posters

Thanks to Modern Mythology Press’s Eric M. Esquivel and the gang at Tucson’s sensational comic book store chain, Heroes and Villains, we have compiled five of the greatest comic book romances of all time. Here We go!!

SUPERMAN AND LOIS LANE

Of course I had to talk about this lovely couple…

Supes and Lois! The Man of Steel and Metropolis’s own news scoop chasin’ sweetheart… Life, secret identities revealed, death, resurrection! marriage!! KIDS!! This couple has seen it all… From the earlier days when Clark Kent first strode into the Daily Planet, aced his interview and totally OWNED the Daily Planet’s(if not, the ENTIRE Earth’s) title record for fastest typist for a reporter gig, Lois still saw Kent as nothing more than a small town boy fish-out of-water and stern competition for the big scoops.. As his alter/true blue boy ego starts making waves across town and the world, Lois gets hungry for the exclusive story on him and ends getting more than she bargained for… Adventure with a hero she falls for (and him for her) that plays into a tangled web of conflicts and battles with everyone from Lex Luthor, to Livewire, Darkseid and more…all the while growing closer to each other. Yes folks! It is an obvious pick but one of necessity! Com’on..them not getting a mention is like Hawkman or Hawkgirl without wings….

- DocBBanner

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Which leads into our next entry….

HAWKMAN AND HAWKGIRL

There’s no shortage of stellar romances in comics, but my personal favorite has to be  Hawkman and Hawkwoman.  Hands down.

They’re a pair of cursed souls, damned to be reborn time and time again–only to die violently at the hands of their immortal foe Hath-Set before they can grow old together.

It may seem macabre at first, but the beautiful thing about the books is that Prince Khufu and Princess Chay-Ara don’t waste all of their waking hours lamenting their fate.  They take the bad with the good, and they recognize that the promise of impermanence only makes the time they share more precious.

That’s life.  That’s love.

- Eric M. Esquivel

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YORICK and AGENT 355, Y: THE LAST MAN

I’m going to have to take the non-superhero route on this one and go with Yorick and Agent 355 from Y: The Last Man.  The last guy on earth and his body guard and of course, how could they not fall in love? 

355 travels across the world with him, helps save his monkey, talks him out of suicide, knits him a scarf, and then falls for him.  It was created and worked at through an understanding of eachother and their inner demons, desires, hopes, and dreams.  It’s not fairytale, it’s real life.  So thats a happy ending, right?

Wrong.

They realize their feelings and tell eachother just in time for 355 be sniped in the head–A reminder for us never to stuff our feelings down, we should embrace them because the next second or hour or day that someone could be gone.  The fear of rejection or it not being the right time should never be so paralyzing that nothing is ever said.

- Matt Warnstedt

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BATMAN AND CATWOMAN

Batman & Catwoman…because, duh, Catwoman!!!

But yes, all joking aside, it’s the classic opposites attract scenario…and I myself being married to an opposite, I can see the connection, and the amazing nature of that connection, quite easily. For all his calculated tendencies, Catwoman makes no sense for Bruce, and he makes no sense for her need for out of control adventure, but their love allows them to fulfill a need that they themselves cannot.

- Mike Camp

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SPIDERMAN, PETER PARKER AND GWEN STACY

Here’s what I see as the greatest love in comics:  Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy.

This is a love that has not only stood the test of time, but, also stood the test of marriage. Before Marvel did their reboot of Spider-Man and made him single (essentially divorcing him from Mary-Jane Watson), I always believed that he had one true love.

Yes, he was married to Mary-Jane, but I know that there was one love for Peter. One that even MJ had to understand. Nothing stays with you like your first love, and no one will ever resonate in Peter the way Gwen Stacy did or has.

- Robert Acosta

As Eric said, that is life…  that is love.  In the comics..

See you all next time!!

DocBBanner, Top 5 All Time Best Comic Book Romances!