Do you know that feeling you get when you line up with what you get? Well, Harbinger Renegade #4 gave me that feeling, and don’t get me wrong, it was an amazing issue to be sure, but I was expecting something bigger, wilder and filled with lots more action. This one seems to be a hard stone to swallow in order to fully enjoy it as it sort of feels like more of a filler than anything.
There’s a lot, and I really mean a lot, in terms of bold, neon lettering filling us in on what’s going on. I felt we almost got too much background story, with many things happening at the same time, and I think it’s just more than a reader can handle in a single issue. Something not that sure about now.
Harbinger Renegade #4 was a very heavy and slow read in general. Despite this I managed to like it, finding myself comfortable with everything that was taking place, and seeing where things were going to end. I just didn’t like it as much as I thought I would with all that was leading up to this point in the series.
However, the overall structure is impressive, and I’m pretty impressed by how much work was put into putting together all these elements and make them fit in a single issue. I take off my hat before such monumental work, despite the love-hate relationship I have with this pseudo final chapter for Harbinger Renegade.
Also, it surprised me to see how the book played with shadows and in how light played a major role for the story as a whole. That was one of the key elements that kept me going and really invested in what was happening. I feel this is a new experimental style that the team is playing with and I liked it.
As has happened to me with other comics, I’m not really impressed with the overall inking this time around. It looks nice, pretty and soft, with very natural and fluid lines, but it doesn’t elevate the work in any serious way. The beauty of Harbinger Renegade #4 lies in the panel distribution. It’s amazing to see how much they can fit in such little space without feeling cluttered.
Another thing that impressed was the lettering throughout. There was a lot here, but it matched the art quit well and didn’t interfere or block the view of the art. I never felt I was missing important or key elements that may be covered by the word balloons. Again, it all came together very nicely and kept me reading.
Maybe Harbinger Renegade #4 is not what I was waiting/looking for, and I may have some issues with it, but the book is still a very enjoyable read and a solid chapter in a great overall arc. I can’t wait for July, when the next issue comes out, and luckily it seems we’ll get what we/I want when it hits. Let’s cross our fingers!
Final Score:
3.5/5
Publisher: Valiant
Written by: Rafer Roberts
Art by: Darick Robertson
Page Count: 45 Pages
Release Date: February 22 2017
Age Rating: 12+ Only
About Author
