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Archer & Armstrong (1992) #0-26
Archer & Armstrong: The Complete Classic Omnibus
Get the complete run of the series Ain't It Cool News calls "the best buddy team book of all time" in this next essential omnibus collection from Valiant! Obadiah Archer, left for dead as a boy by his corrupt evangelist parents, has spent the last decade honing his innate abilities in a monastery deep in the mountains of Ladakh before emerging now as the world's greatest hand-to-hand fighter and marksman. His body a temple, his every movement in harmony and his mind perfectly serene except for the overriding desire to avenge his own murder. Armstrong is a 10,000-year-old libertine who may be as strong as a battalion, but abandoned idealism millennia ago. Now he spends his days drinking, carousing and telling tales of outrageous adventures throughout history to anyone who will listen that is, when he's not on the run from an ancient cult whose bumbling agents have been hunting him for two thousand years. But Armstrong counts as the worst day of all his days the one when Archer turned up and decided that they were partners a team chosen by fate to save the world! Featuring work from iconic Valiant creators Barry Windsor-Smith (Conan, Weapon X), Jim Shooter (Secret Wars), Bob Layton (Iron Man), Mike Baron (Nexus), and more, the groundbreaking adventures of the original conspiracy-smashing duo are brought together in their entirety for the very first time right here in this massive, oversized volume. Collecting ARCHER & ARMSTRONG (1992) #0 26 and ETERNAL WARRIOR (1992) #25 along with ARCHER & ARMSTRONG: THE FORMATION OF THE SECT."
- GenresComics
736 pages, Hardcover
First published November 3, 2015
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About the author
Barry Windsor-Smith
483 books154 followersBarry Windsor-Smith (born Barry Smith) is a British comic book illustrator and painter whose best known work has been produced in the United States. He is known for his work on Marvel Comics' Conan the Barbarian from 1970 to 1973, and for his work on Wolverine – particularly the original Weapon X story arc.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 2, 2016
My review is based only on the first twelve issues collected within this omnibus, as those're the only reasons I purchased this; namely the seminal run by Barry Windsor-Smith (Weapon X.) No disrespect to Mike Baron but I had trouble even flipping through the rest of the book at a glance. I could readily recall reading issues 13 on when they were initially published and being justly put off by them. But BWS, he was a master! I wish to God that Valiant had simply m collected his run alone as "The Complete BWS Archer & Armstrong." Seems like a marketing no-brainer and it would've been a beautiful addition to any collection, guaranteed to draw the eyes of discernible collectors. If you love adventure stories mixed with history and cultural evaluation, or even a solid buddy comedy, you should check out this book. Evil societies, dinosaurs, time travel, the 3 Musketeers, lots and lots of alcohol consumption and good ole martial arts combat; the first twelve issues are worth the price tag alone!
It's nice that the entire initial run got collected, that it could all fit in one gorgeous hardcover (and it IS gorgeous) but it ends during a barely remembered crossover and offers no resolution. The second half of the book feels like a subpar sequel that, though unintentionally, proves useful only in marring the classic that preceded it. But don't be deterred. BWS's Archer & Armstrong is the reason to read comics. Search this out and discover it for yourselves.
It's nice that the entire initial run got collected, that it could all fit in one gorgeous hardcover (and it IS gorgeous) but it ends during a barely remembered crossover and offers no resolution. The second half of the book feels like a subpar sequel that, though unintentionally, proves useful only in marring the classic that preceded it. But don't be deterred. BWS's Archer & Armstrong is the reason to read comics. Search this out and discover it for yourselves.
September 6, 2016
First Impressions (0-4). A&A gets off to a rather strange start as their adventures are almost immediately interrupted (in issue #1) by a two-issue trip to Unity. Somehow, it works. Though we scarcely know the characters, they come alive in the Unity comic, as does their strange buddy-ship.
In fact, the Unity issues (1-2) are the best of this initial five-issue sequence. Unity is a superb example of how a crossover can be deeply intertwined, but still allow for individual storytelling. We certainly don't get the whole story of Unity here, but the two issues of A&A are a nicely comprehensive whole (and it's overall a great crossover that fortunately was collected in Unity Saga Volume 1, et al). [8/10]
Beyond that we get an origin for Archer (0), which has somewhat poor writing but is an interesting story, and a running battle with the Sect (mainly in 3-4). They're revealed as an interesting foe, but the constant fighting gets a bit old, even with the strip's humor [7/10]
Trouble in Paradise (5-6). This two-issue story has a remarkably thin premise: Armstrong visits his wife and drags Archer along. Nonetheless, it's an entirely delightful story showing the BWS A&A at its best. It's hilarious, it shows the great dynamic between the two, and it introduces Armstrong's great wife, Andy [8/10].
Fight (7). Armstrong gets into a pointless fight. Archer reads, then fights too. Barry Window-Smith does not provide artwork. As uninspiring as it sounds [5/10].
The Musketeers (8+EW). This is a fun send-up of The Three Musketeers (and of Archer) that's a really pivotal cornerstone of the VH-1 universe for its introduction of the three brothers together (and especially Ivar). Gilam also gets some great characterization [7+/10].
Darque (9). Original author Layton returns for one issue and gives us one of the worst buddy plots: one of them is mind-controlled and then they fight. Then he decides to end the issue with a mass-rape of the villainess as some sort of justice. Entirely disgusting [1/10].
Ivar (10-11). BWS is back and it's nice to see him giving more attention to Ivar. The problems caused by the brothers are also amusingly typical. The literally deus ex machina ending is a bit subpar though [6/10].
Mummy (12). The final issue of BWS' run tries to tie up some long-running plot lines about Mahmud and the missing satchel, but some of it has been so strung out that I no longer remember how we got here [6/10].
Hollywood (13-15). New author Mike Baron takes over and he kind of gets the buddyness of the comic and he kind of gets the humor, but his first plot is pretty uninspiring: Hollywood folks shoot each other up and Sect members attack. Again. [5/10].
Vegas (16). This fill-in by Perham is a little bit of nothing. He gets the humor better than Baron's initial issues, but beyond that it's yet more Sect assaults [5/10].
Duerst (17-19). Sadly, Baron's A+A gets worse with these three issues of random rambling and chance encounters with Duerst. There's no plot, there's no tension, and there's not a lot of funny [3/10].
Yule Be Sorry (20). I was pleased to see the comic back in LA, and thus offering some chance of continuity. But this is another bad story, with unlikely random street violence and a pretty dull plot [3/10].
Darque (21-22). This short arc had more potential, because it made A+A relevant again by putting them in contention with one of VH-1's biggest enemies. Except that the plot comes out of nowhere, the writing is never that good, and then it all disappears with nothing done. Sigh. [4/10].
Bad Karma (23-24). Back to LA adventures, and it's increasingly obvious that despite their continuity, they suck. A gangster and his son just isn't the interesting of a plotline, especially when Baron only thinks to tie it into Archer's own abusive childhood on the last page [4/10].
The Root of the Problem (25+EW). This origin of the Sect is typical shallow Baron hijinks, but at least it has a historical background and feels more important than the Hollywood foolishness [5/10].
The Chaos Effect (26+EW+TCE). We get just a bit of this crossover, so it doesn't entirely make sense ... but it's not really that great anyway. There's big fighting and ... who cares. This was clearly an attempt to be the new Unity, and it really isn't. Still, it's nice to see A+A get a real ending in VH-1 [4/10].
Rai 0. A great story about the future of the VH-1 universe. it tells another final fate for Archer and Armstrong, which is why it's here, but otherwise it's a setup for the second arc of the Rai series [8/10].
Formation of the Sect (2008 Collection). A nice story about the origins of the Sect, but a pretty shallow one [6/10].
Overall, the A+A omnibus is a story of two books. The early Archer & Armstrong is pretty good, especially in its Unity days, but it begins to fizzle out pretty soon. The Mike Baron Archer & Armstrong is shockingly bad (given what a great writer he usually is), and I'm not even sure it's worth reading for the completist.
In fact, the Unity issues (1-2) are the best of this initial five-issue sequence. Unity is a superb example of how a crossover can be deeply intertwined, but still allow for individual storytelling. We certainly don't get the whole story of Unity here, but the two issues of A&A are a nicely comprehensive whole (and it's overall a great crossover that fortunately was collected in Unity Saga Volume 1, et al). [8/10]
Beyond that we get an origin for Archer (0), which has somewhat poor writing but is an interesting story, and a running battle with the Sect (mainly in 3-4). They're revealed as an interesting foe, but the constant fighting gets a bit old, even with the strip's humor [7/10]
Trouble in Paradise (5-6). This two-issue story has a remarkably thin premise: Armstrong visits his wife and drags Archer along. Nonetheless, it's an entirely delightful story showing the BWS A&A at its best. It's hilarious, it shows the great dynamic between the two, and it introduces Armstrong's great wife, Andy [8/10].
Fight (7). Armstrong gets into a pointless fight. Archer reads, then fights too. Barry Window-Smith does not provide artwork. As uninspiring as it sounds [5/10].
The Musketeers (8+EW). This is a fun send-up of The Three Musketeers (and of Archer) that's a really pivotal cornerstone of the VH-1 universe for its introduction of the three brothers together (and especially Ivar). Gilam also gets some great characterization [7+/10].
Darque (9). Original author Layton returns for one issue and gives us one of the worst buddy plots: one of them is mind-controlled and then they fight. Then he decides to end the issue with a mass-rape of the villainess as some sort of justice. Entirely disgusting [1/10].
Ivar (10-11). BWS is back and it's nice to see him giving more attention to Ivar. The problems caused by the brothers are also amusingly typical. The literally deus ex machina ending is a bit subpar though [6/10].
Mummy (12). The final issue of BWS' run tries to tie up some long-running plot lines about Mahmud and the missing satchel, but some of it has been so strung out that I no longer remember how we got here [6/10].
Hollywood (13-15). New author Mike Baron takes over and he kind of gets the buddyness of the comic and he kind of gets the humor, but his first plot is pretty uninspiring: Hollywood folks shoot each other up and Sect members attack. Again. [5/10].
Vegas (16). This fill-in by Perham is a little bit of nothing. He gets the humor better than Baron's initial issues, but beyond that it's yet more Sect assaults [5/10].
Duerst (17-19). Sadly, Baron's A+A gets worse with these three issues of random rambling and chance encounters with Duerst. There's no plot, there's no tension, and there's not a lot of funny [3/10].
Yule Be Sorry (20). I was pleased to see the comic back in LA, and thus offering some chance of continuity. But this is another bad story, with unlikely random street violence and a pretty dull plot [3/10].
Darque (21-22). This short arc had more potential, because it made A+A relevant again by putting them in contention with one of VH-1's biggest enemies. Except that the plot comes out of nowhere, the writing is never that good, and then it all disappears with nothing done. Sigh. [4/10].
Bad Karma (23-24). Back to LA adventures, and it's increasingly obvious that despite their continuity, they suck. A gangster and his son just isn't the interesting of a plotline, especially when Baron only thinks to tie it into Archer's own abusive childhood on the last page [4/10].
The Root of the Problem (25+EW). This origin of the Sect is typical shallow Baron hijinks, but at least it has a historical background and feels more important than the Hollywood foolishness [5/10].
The Chaos Effect (26+EW+TCE). We get just a bit of this crossover, so it doesn't entirely make sense ... but it's not really that great anyway. There's big fighting and ... who cares. This was clearly an attempt to be the new Unity, and it really isn't. Still, it's nice to see A+A get a real ending in VH-1 [4/10].
Rai 0. A great story about the future of the VH-1 universe. it tells another final fate for Archer and Armstrong, which is why it's here, but otherwise it's a setup for the second arc of the Rai series [8/10].
Formation of the Sect (2008 Collection). A nice story about the origins of the Sect, but a pretty shallow one [6/10].
Overall, the A+A omnibus is a story of two books. The early Archer & Armstrong is pretty good, especially in its Unity days, but it begins to fizzle out pretty soon. The Mike Baron Archer & Armstrong is shockingly bad (given what a great writer he usually is), and I'm not even sure it's worth reading for the completist.
February 25, 2019
This is a weird "mismatched" buddy comedy.
Armstrong is an unassuming large man with mysterious skills who is unbeatable in a fight. One of his weaknesses is pretty women because he is lecherous.
Archer is an assuming skinny young man with mysterious skills from training in a Tibetan monastery who is unbeatable in a fight. One of his weaknesses is pretty women because he is often bashful.
Yeah, I get that one is crude and worldly and one is formal and naive. Still, their similarities are interesting.
The other reviewers of this tome have pointed to the big difference in quality between writers. I might be dumb; I didn't quite see it. The big difference always seemed to me to be whether the story was doing a big Valiant-wide crossover (confusing) or just focusing on the main characters (usually better). The whole thing ultimately feels a little directionless. And its treatment of women is poor. . . . . I think there's one body for every female character (tall, slender, young, busty) except the Dr. Ruth send-up.
Armstrong is an unassuming large man with mysterious skills who is unbeatable in a fight. One of his weaknesses is pretty women because he is lecherous.
Archer is an assuming skinny young man with mysterious skills from training in a Tibetan monastery who is unbeatable in a fight. One of his weaknesses is pretty women because he is often bashful.
Yeah, I get that one is crude and worldly and one is formal and naive. Still, their similarities are interesting.
The other reviewers of this tome have pointed to the big difference in quality between writers. I might be dumb; I didn't quite see it. The big difference always seemed to me to be whether the story was doing a big Valiant-wide crossover (confusing) or just focusing on the main characters (usually better). The whole thing ultimately feels a little directionless. And its treatment of women is poor. . . . . I think there's one body for every female character (tall, slender, young, busty) except the Dr. Ruth send-up.
May 4, 2026
This was a really good omnibus. I have been a fan of Archer & Armstrong for many years now and was excited to get this collection all wrapped up in one. Honestly, I have read several of them before, but I have never had the opportunity to read the entire storyline. I do have an extensive collection of these comics in paper format in multiple printing from different publishers but this collection right here just works for me these days. Beautiful artwork throughout and the cover galleries at the end of many collections was really nice.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews