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Harbinger (1992) #1-4
Harbinger: Children Of The Eighth Day
Bagged with blue version of Harbinger #0, Blue variant of the TPB also exists.
Comments (cont.): There is both a first and second printing of this "black bird" version.
Comments (cont.): There is both a first and second printing of this "black bird" version.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
104 pages, Comic Trade Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
35 people want to read
About the author
Jim Shooter
1,028 books85 followersJames Charles Shooter was an American writer, editor and publisher in the comics industry. Beginning his career writing for DC Comics at the age of 14, he had a successful but controversial run as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comics, and launched comics publishers Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 6, 2019
A better version of the X-Men of the time. The modern version of Harbinger pulls a ton from this book, updating it for modern audiences and getting rid of some of the tone deafness. Some of the characters are incredibly cruel to one another. Faith definitely is fat shamed nonstop, enough to be off-putting. David Lapham's first comic art is very good right from the gitgo. I'm glad this was as good as I remembered it to be.
August 9, 2020
One of the best teen team superhero books ever done.
May 2, 2022
There’s some nice ideas here with jarring execution, which mainly comes down to the fact that Jim Shooter has a clue about the kind of kids he wants to feature in Valiant’s X-Men equivalent but zero clue about how to write them. There are lots of scenes which almost ring true but ultimately feel way too pat, full of daytime soap psychology and made worse by the impatient, staccato storytelling.
Still, points to Shooter for making his mutant misfits include actual misfits. Everyone’s bullying of overweight Faith reads even worse now, but Faith’s constant comparison of everything she meets to geek culture has turned out to be all too accurate an observation. He’s on shakier ground with Torque and Flamingo, who are so caricatured they feel like they’ve stepped out of a New York Times diner full of Trump voters. Even then, the idea that the US has - gasp! - different social classes isn’t one you generally find at Marvel or DC at this point. It’s a lumpy read but everyone involved is at least trying to do something different.
Still, points to Shooter for making his mutant misfits include actual misfits. Everyone’s bullying of overweight Faith reads even worse now, but Faith’s constant comparison of everything she meets to geek culture has turned out to be all too accurate an observation. He’s on shakier ground with Torque and Flamingo, who are so caricatured they feel like they’ve stepped out of a New York Times diner full of Trump voters. Even then, the idea that the US has - gasp! - different social classes isn’t one you generally find at Marvel or DC at this point. It’s a lumpy read but everyone involved is at least trying to do something different.
July 11, 2014
Just put a bunch of depressed, anger teenagers with super powers into a battle against a powerful corporation ruled by a megalomaniacal 'mutant' and you have something cooler than the X-Men! Harbinger was (and still is) one of the most interesting superhero group of my generation, a fat, ugly, and anger generation Y, Marvel pretty much took a lot from Harbinger to create their own 'Ultimate X-Men' and it succeded to a certain point but no mutant can beat Peter Stanchek, the iconic hero of this rebel group of Harbingers.
September 11, 2020
I'm planning on reading the entirety of the modern Valiant Universe in a month or so. To get into it, I decided to read some of the classic nineties stories that they're based on.
This volume is a case of Intriguing Premise, Terrible Writer. We get a group of runaways with powers in the vein of the X-Men. And because it's Jim Shooter, whose writing peaked when he was fourteen, it's derivative and bitter with weird references to Marvel properties. The characters are all terrible to each other and the dialogue relies heavily on characters being cruel to each other to show their tragic, edgy backstories. Women are either "ice queens" or whores until Shooter decides the characters can see each other's inner-depths.
While it's true that the characters are teenagers, and teenagers are often cruel, the writing isn't strong enough to make it clear that the way everyone talks to each other is representative of the weakness of their character not its strength.
David Lapham's art is decent' 90s superhero team book, but this is one of the few books where I wish he had been the writer as well as the artist.
This volume is a case of Intriguing Premise, Terrible Writer. We get a group of runaways with powers in the vein of the X-Men. And because it's Jim Shooter, whose writing peaked when he was fourteen, it's derivative and bitter with weird references to Marvel properties. The characters are all terrible to each other and the dialogue relies heavily on characters being cruel to each other to show their tragic, edgy backstories. Women are either "ice queens" or whores until Shooter decides the characters can see each other's inner-depths.
While it's true that the characters are teenagers, and teenagers are often cruel, the writing isn't strong enough to make it clear that the way everyone talks to each other is representative of the weakness of their character not its strength.
David Lapham's art is decent' 90s superhero team book, but this is one of the few books where I wish he had been the writer as well as the artist.
August 29, 2018
Book contains the first four issues of Harbinger.
The Harbinger Foundation places ads in newspapers across the US, looking for pople who are different and have strange things happening around them. They weed out the responses to find people with special powers who are trained to develop their special abilities. Toyo Harada, the head of the foundation is bent on world conquest.
By the end of the first four issues, we have a small group of people who are trying to thwaart Toyo Harada by getting more informaiton about the Harbinger Foundation. As a second story line, there are aliens on the moon that are planning to invade the Earth.
Overall impression is a grittier version of the X-Men. The leaders are teenagers, the team members argue between themselves, some members have low self esteem, and the only money that they currently have was taken/stolen from the Harbinger Foundation.
The Harbinger Foundation places ads in newspapers across the US, looking for pople who are different and have strange things happening around them. They weed out the responses to find people with special powers who are trained to develop their special abilities. Toyo Harada, the head of the foundation is bent on world conquest.
By the end of the first four issues, we have a small group of people who are trying to thwaart Toyo Harada by getting more informaiton about the Harbinger Foundation. As a second story line, there are aliens on the moon that are planning to invade the Earth.
Overall impression is a grittier version of the X-Men. The leaders are teenagers, the team members argue between themselves, some members have low self esteem, and the only money that they currently have was taken/stolen from the Harbinger Foundation.
September 26, 2024
Prepare for excess use of the term "butt lick'. Lol I remember my older brother calling me that in the 90's.
This is okay. Raw. Certain frames are well thought out and beautifully rendered, others approach middle school art level. The writing is a little lame but funny at times. Kind of mean spirited and grotesque at times. The amount of fat jokes is insane.
This is okay. Raw. Certain frames are well thought out and beautifully rendered, others approach middle school art level. The writing is a little lame but funny at times. Kind of mean spirited and grotesque at times. The amount of fat jokes is insane.
December 17, 2020
The Art and story is good, The characters are good but the fat references are more than a little overdone, I hope that in the newer versions and the upcoming movie or series they back off the name calling a lot better than was done in this story. This was still a good read.
November 9, 2012
While the overall idea and story was decent, a groups of psionically superior kids band together to fight an evil corporation, the dialogue and art stunk of the early 90's. It was hard to read a story where the characters talked their thoughts and read through ever other character like they were glass. Even the slight turmoil is quickly glossed over with a snide insult and lackluster action. I know why/how Valiant got the means to bring this title back in 2012, but it runs laps light years around the older volume.
August 29, 2012
As effusive as I am in my praise of early Valiant comics generally, and although "Harbinger" is an interesting element of the Valiant universe, this was bad, an "edgier" but distinctly tone deaf take on the X-Men.
July 21, 2012
I remember liking these. Seemed realistic and well-drawn right up to the end issues of the series.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews