Harbinger Renegade, Vol. 2: Massacre

Harbinger Renegade

by Rafer Roberts, Darick Robertson (Artist), Juan José Ryp (Artist)

MASSACRE brings death to a major Valiant hero! Toyo Harada's former protege – Alexander Solomon, a "psiot" with the ability to predict and analyze potential futures – has been waiting for this moment. With the Harbinger Renegades – Peter Stanchek, Faith, Kris Hathaway, and Torque – now reunited as a result of his covert manipulations, his ultimate gambit can now begin. But he's not the only one who has been watching. Major Charlie Palmer has just re assigned a new division of the militarized psiot hunters codenamed H.A.R.D. Corps to active duty… and they're about to bring a torrent of blood and calamity roaring into the streets of a major American metropolis for an all-out firefight. Harvey Award-nominated writer Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) and superstar artist Darick Robertson (The Boys, Transmetropolitan) begin THE ROAD TO HARBINGER WARS 2 – right here with a bang that will reverberate throughout the entire Valiant Universe…and claim the life of a major hero! Collecting HARBINGER RENEGADE #5-8 and #0.

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Superheroes

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 2018

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★1/2

Holy shit, talk about starting with a bang! I'm all about raising the stakes and I feel like that's something that needs to be strengthened in comics. What happens here in the second volume of the latest Harbinger series definitely does that as the long building tension between the everyday public and superpowered psiots has reached a breaking point and it leads to terrible violence.

*Big note: It's VERY important to read the short Generation Zero series before this volume, in order to have a frame of reference for the events in this story.*

I've always loved how risky, thoughtful, and compelling the Harbinger storyline has been, with very little ambition toward being a standard superhero book. The H.A.R.D. Corps team has been one of my favorite collective characters in the Valiant universe. It's great how based on who's writing them and what story they're involved in can make them look like either heroes or villains. It supports the idea of the fluid morality in Valiant comics.

But this volume seems like mostly a lot of set-up so I hope they keep up the intensity through the story, especially with the villain Solomon. The high point is the opening, but then it loses its focus majorly when the book introduces a new threat that I barely understand.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty awesome!! Despite the fact that Solomon is sort if a K-Mart brand Harada, it’s still a compelling story, and it definitely makes me excited about HWII. Lots of cool players converging, some sick action, and really good character development for old favorites like Kris, Peter and Animalia.

The art was really good too. Like many other reviewers, I was reluctant with this series, especially since I didn’t feel like Dysart had the opportunity to realize his full vision on the title. Turns out, Rafer knows exactly what he’s doing. Can’t wait for more!

[Michael J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writer Rafer Roberts had just a short run of eight issues on this title before it was discontinued, giving way to HARBINGER WARS 2. I’m thinking that was probably the plan as these issues serve as a lead-in, and Roberts’ work here is quite good. Also, who doesn’t enjoy more expressive art from the pen of Darick Robertson? This collection of five issues only contains three that really feature the Harbinger group. The Issue #0 story focuses on an attack by H.A.R.D. on Solomon’s refuge in China that turns out to be a trap, and introduces an even deadlier character. Issue #6 seems oddly out of place, featuring medieval knights in battle in the year 1097. I didn’t mind, as the art by Juan Jose Ryp is amazing. Not until reading Issue #0 did the relevance of this story become clear - - it’s the first appearance of an ancient psiot - the Alpha warlord. If nothing else, this book is worth picking up for two really outstanding issues (#5 and #8). Issue #5 features H.A.R.D. Corps yet again, this time in a bloody melee with Generation Zero in which large-scale numbers of characters on both sides perish. An important event, in that Valiant doesn’t mess around like other companies - - when it’s heroes get killed they stay killed. If you don’t feel even a tinge of sadness after reading the character insights in Issues #7 and #8 then you need to check your temperature on the empathy meter. Very well done, and moving. Issue #8 also stands out in that the Harbinger team chose a creative non-violent approach to solve their dilemma and achieve peace.

[Tomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a setup for the next volume. Finally some big bad boy appears with origin story (kind of). There is not much happening except for one huge story with Generation Zero. It was not mentioned anywhere so I just got 2 books spoiled :-X So read Generation Zero first if you intend to.

H.A.R.D Corps does not work for me as villain here. Harada was way better enemy of the renegades in the original series.

Art is a bit weak and sloppy. I thought that Harbinger was Valiant's flagship together with X-O Manowar, Bloodshot and Ninjak. So why there so little attention being paid art ?

Can I read something without Trump mentioned in it? Was it really necessary to include him in this comic book ? I guess I need to stop reading even comic books if I would like to avoid him

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

In addition to being the second part of Roberts's surprisingly great run on Harbinger, this volume also features a coda to Generation Zero, Vol. 1: We are the Future, and brings back the characters from Bloodshot, Volume 4: H.A.R.D. Corps, who were involved in the formation of Generation Zero way back in Harbinger Wars.

This is an excellent joining of various Valiant properties in preparation for Harbinger Wars 2. I'm actually disappointed Roberts didn't get write that event.

If you read Fred Van Lente or Joshua Dysart's Valiant runs, and enjoyed them, I would definitely pick up Generation Zero, and this series. It's a satisfying conclusion to a bunch of old plots.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a weird volume. Considering how long it's been since the Renegades have been in the spotlight you'd think their short-lived series would focus on them more often.

Instead, we get issue #5 that kills off almost all of Generation Zero and HARD Corps, in one of the most brutal issues I've ever read. I can kind of understand it, because most of Generation Zero are unlikeable and would probably have ended up as villains if not murdered, but it just feels kind of unnecessary overall.

Then we get an interlude flashback issue that introduces a new threat that returns in the final issue of the volume, but neither of these are part of the main story, and don't feature the Renegades at all. Instead, it's HARD Corps' show.

The middle two issues ARE about the Renegades, but they're mostly on the back foot with some super dodgy art that ranges from out of proportion (some characters have HUGE necks) or really scratchily inked.

Disappointing overall, for sure. This is more of a prelude for Harbinger Wars 2, but it doesn't really up my hype levels.

[Peyton F · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I’m saying that the first volume of Harbinger: Renegades was a lot of set up, and this second volume is like seeing a shitton of dominos collapse one after another, it’s a sight to behold. Of the 5 issues, the Renegades only play a major role in 2, while the other 3 focus on the H.A.R.D. corps, a paramilitary organization that massacres a super team in one issue, attacks an ancient eldritch being in another, and overall doesn’t hold any punches. Now, I vaguely understand that the corps is their own group of characters, and this acts as an extended prelude for “Harbinger Wars 2,” but it is such a interesting introduction and it makes me want to check out Generation Zero. Although I haven’t read these other series, I feel like this collection acts as such a major status quo change that you can probably feel the ripples throughout other books. I really liked this. Crazy what one can do in a universe like this.

[47Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

A HARD Corps squad led by major Palmer assaults a city taken over by rebel psiots. Though most of them are minors, they pack some seriously destructive abilities. Half of the assault squad is killed, but the kids also have many casualties. The few survivors are forced to retreat. Palmer's mission is deemed a success, though he doesn't agree. His next task is to go after Solomon.

The Renegades are too weak to fight back, but they are determined to protect other potential psiots. This means they will need to bolster their forces with every able psiot willing to join the cause. They offer the other side a truce.

Palmer is tasked with assaulting a location where Solomon is believed to be. It turns out to be a ruse orchestrated by Solomon to free a dangerous psiot named Alpha. Palmer barely gets out alive with a just one other member of his 5-man team.

[Marcel Monpatron · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a little bit too eager to live up to its "Massacre" name in a way that doesn't reward the reader's investment in the characters, probably as away to set up "Harbinger Wars II", but it feels forced and callous, not organic. I trust Matt Kindt enough for that follow-up, but this part is a clear misstep in what was up until now a highwatermark for Valiant. I suppose Joshua Dysart's shoes are hard to fill, still I can't help feeling disappointed.

Also, especially considering Valiant's great to stellar track record in the art department, I was less than seduced by Darick Robertson's offerings.

I hop this is not a harbinger (get it?) of the decline of Valiant.

[Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwrenching three sided battles as The Harbingers returns whilst Hardcore takes on Generation Zero.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75.

I just don't dig the Renegade brand.

Though, this issue does seem to have major consequences for Valiant...enough so I was shocked and wonder if they will stand.

[Lukas Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything Valiant does is wonderful.

[Ferenc · Rating 2 out of 5]

3/5 - Graphic Novels
2/5 - Superheroes
2/5 - Characters
2/5 - Story

2.25/5 - Rating