With Harbinger, Valiant continues to deliver quality comics, effortlessly balancing character-driven narrative with the epic scale of a blockbuster event.
Following up on the finale of Harbinger Wars, the rejuvenated Valiant Comics’ first mega-event, we now come to the last of the crossover’s tie-in issues. Spearheaded by Joshua Dysart and Duane Swierczynski, Harbinger Wars has seen the introduction of characters such as Cronus, Charlie Palmer, and the H.A.R.D. Corps. Now, as the conflict draws to a close, this comic gives us a parallel look at the miniseries’ conclusion, from the point-of-view of the Renegades.
On one track, this issue of Harbinger takes a look back in time. In the year 1969, we get an as-yet unseen look at the beginning of the conflict between Toyo Harada and Project Rising Spirit, giving valuable insight on both as Harada leads an attack on the Rising Spirit base. In the present, meanwhile, Faith Herbert — also known as Zephyr — is the focus of the story during Harada and Rising Spirit’s final battle for control of the Psiots.
Running parallel to the events of Harbinger Wars #4, our comic follows the plot from the perspective of the Renegades, and Faith in particular. The conflict with Bloodshot has reached its climax, the ultimate fate of Faith is revealed, and we get hints of new plotlines to come in this and Valiant’s other titles, perhaps most notably among them the new batch of Psiots joining the ranks of the Harbinger Foundation.
While the story of Harbinger Wars has already concluded in the eponymous miniseries, this issue is definitely worth picking up for anyone who has been following Valiant’s recent titles. Dysart’s script is evenly paced, the dialogue smooth and believable. The story is bolstered by Khari Evans’s art, as crisp, clean, and dynamic as ever. With recent issues of this title, Dysart and Evans have succeeded in crafting a series of tie-in issues that not only mesh well with the main story, but add to it in a unique way. More than that, though, Harbinger is a great comic. If you’ve been reading it, you already know that, and if you haven’t, you really, really should be.
Joshua Dysart (W), Khari Evans (A) • Valiant Comics, $3.99, July 24, 2013.
