Publisher: Valiant
Writer: Rafer Roberts
Artist: Mike Norton
Colourist: Allen Passalaqua with David Baron and Andrew Dalhouse
Release Date: OUT NOW!
Price: $3.99
Oh, no! Say it ain’t so. Can this really be the final issue of Armstrong and Archer? That’s what they’re saying and, although I don’t believe it because A&A: The Adventures Of Archer & Armstrong #12 is just too darn good, you can understand why Rafer Roberts would want a wee rest because expecting anyone to wrap up all the loose ends in A&A: The Adventures Of Archer & Armstrong #12 is enough to make your head explode.
If you’re not familiar with Archer & Armstrong, let me give you a quick (?) re-cap: Armstrong is a 6,000 year old hedonistic immortal and Archer is a teenage expert marksman and martial artist who was raised with the single purpose of killing the devil incarnate who just happens to be Armstrong. With me so far? Instead of killing each other, they become friend and go on a road trip which, amongst others has brought them into contact with Ninja Nuns, Greek Gods, Russian scientist Bears (yes, I said Bears) and Davey The Mackerel who lives in Armstrong’s magic satchel.
Right now, Archer’s mind has been accidentally swapped with a deformed Armstrong clone called Gub Gub who has been decapitated by his former Communist scientist masters so they can extract the immortality they believe he carries within him. Along with Armstrong’s long forgotten wife, Andromeda, Archer (with Gub Gub’s mind) and Armstrong have broken into the facility run by Austin of the 1% (a gold, horned mask wearing megalomaniac) where Gub Gub’s head is stored in an effort to switch then back. Confused?
Think how Rafer Roberts feels! The question is: can he bring all this to a satisfactory conclusion? The answer is: YES! Oh, yes, yes, yes! A&A: The Adventures Of Archer & Armstrong #12 is an all-out donnybrook with bath salt infected maniacs, a blazing mad Ivan the Russian bear and Tatiana the cute chainsaw wielding scientist whilst Andromeda tries to get Archer’s head on straight and all before they get blown to smithereens. If that wasn’t enough, Faith gets a booty call!
To quote Armstrong: ‘Just once I’d like for an adventure to make sense.’ But where would be the fun in that? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: A&A: The Adventures Of Archer & Armstrong #12 is comic book perfection and no matter what they say, this cannot be the end. Take a sneak peek at the last panel and you’ll see that Armstrong agrees with me and you wouldn’t want to argue with a 6,000-year-old immortal with a magic satchel, now would you?
Reviewer: Gary Orchard
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker