The Valiant #3

By Former Contributor
On 18 February 201531 January 2017
0

by Jeff Lemire, Matt Kindt, Paolo Rivera

The Valiant has been a terrific series so far and after the events of the second issue, I wondered just how series writers Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt could make this book any better – yet somehow they did. Of course, nothing less should be expected from two superstar writers as Lemire and Kindt, but what they managed to accomplish in this issue is spectacular.

One of the key goals of The Valiant has been to introduce new readers to the Valiant universe and the writing team has definitely managed to do that. There are a lot of characters and concepts being introduced in this series and yet none of it seems to be overwhelming. Nearly every character in the Valiant universe makes an appearance in this issue in one way or another and it is so fascinating to see, largely because of the masterful art of Paolo Rivera.

To say that Rivera is an artistic genius would be an understatement. The panel layouts in this book are stunning; there are several panels of the Valiant heroes fighting the Immortal Enemy and you can feel their energy and fear as they give all they have to defeat this powerful villain. The consistency in Rivera’s pencils should be applauded, and it is obvious that he spends a great deal of time preparing and perfecting each and every line.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Bloodshot has not been my favorite character in the current Valiant universe as he has often come off as dull and robotic, but what Lemire has done with his character is something truly unique. In fact, I would say that Bloodshot’s personality is among the standout moments of this issue and I cannot wait to see in which direction Lemire takes his on the upcoming Bloodshot Reborn. Bloodshot’s sense of duty is really strong here and his mission to protect the Geomancer at all costs is unwavering. Their dynamic is really interesting with personalities and a sense of humor that definitely balances each other out very well.

The Valiant #3 was a terrific issue with plenty to love by both new and old fans alike. If you’re not reading this book, you’re missing out on one of the finest stories in comics today and a testament to Valiant’s devotion to quality storytelling.