It’s world-building. It’s ground-shaking… from Valiant, it’s Armorclads #1.

And just what are Armorclads? Well, they are advanced mechs, (mechs are the mobile tank-like suits of armor, basically giant robots).

Anyway, here’s the deal. Sam, or #357, is one of a team of workers who has had enough of the ‘company line’. He’s fed up, heard it all, and just wants to do some mining and get drunk. He’s an Ironclad, you see; a genetically engineered worker. Well, the Ironclads are getting the bad end of the stick. Bullied, ignored, pestered, and so on, until a situation develops that escalates things.

It’s quite well written. Brian Buccellato gives us the worldbuilding intro, shows the baddies and good guys, and tells us what’s what. And penciller Manuel Garcia is adept with the various environments: the jungle, the jumbled crew quarters, the mining sites. There are some nicely inventive angles and scenes throughout. Inking is by Raül Fernández, colourist is Rex Lokus, letterer is Dave Sharpe.

Includes a Bonus preview of pages from issue 2, which looks really really good already, in black and white inks!

Valiant Armorclads #1, #3.99 for 28 pages of content

By Alan Spinney

After a career of graphic design, art direction and copywriting, I still have a passion for words and pictures. I love it when a comic book comes together; the story is tight, and the drawings lead me forward. Art with words... the toughest storytelling technique to get right. Was this comic book worth your money? Let's see!!