What if the X-Men weren't the best mutant show? The proof with Harbinger Renegade published by Bliss comics.
A New Beginning
Following the revelation of the existence of psiotics – human beings with powers, many people attempt the surgical operation to be activated but without any control, this leaves several corpses. The Renegades, separated after the Harbinger Integral , reunite again to help their fellow men.
The first episode begins with a nice introduction by Raúl Allén and Patricia Martin, the artists of Secret Weapons who summarize the episodes published in the Complete Harbinger and Imperium. Bliss comics has once again done everything so that the new reader is not lost even if he has not read anything on Harbinger. Harbinger Renegade marks the arrival of a new creative team with writer Rafer Roberts (A+A) and penciller Darick Roberston (Transmetropolitan, Ballistic).
A divided group
Separated after the death of their friend, the group refuses to see each other again. Some feel they have ruined everything. Aside from Faith continuing her life as a superhero, Harbinger's young adults have evolved. Torque realizes his dream of being a star, Kris has returned to a low-key life while Peter lives like a christ yogi in space. These changes allow the new reader to become familiar with these characters. Jay Tucker, a quiet student, is abruptly pursued by the FBI and the Consortium, a psiotic liberation organization. Faith will try to reunite her old friends to save Jay. This short volume shows how everyone leaves the little life he has created for himself to turn to others and thus reconstitute a family.
Each character brings a different ingredient to the story. Peter, still psychologically fragile, is no longer the most powerful. Torque, basically heavy, brings a dose of humor. Even if we are in a superhero story, Harbinger manages to show the diversity of contemporary life in bodies – Faith is overweight – and in sexuality – Kris is a lesbian.
Each episode always begins with a prologue to the past. At the same time, we follow the past of Alexander Salomon, a traitor of Harada. He sees the possible paths of the future but does not know which one is the right one. He wants to help the world by preventing conflicts, but that would lead to a dictatorship of the strongest.
A major draftsman
Darick Roberston is a cartoonist very good at showing violence without ever embellishing. Here, explosions destroy bodies and blood spurts. Roberston has a direct way – as in horror genre film or to show the suffering of the victims but in other boxes he alludes without showing. He is also very good at showing the faces of naïve idiots who are manipulated by smarter characters. Brian Reber's bright colors are very nice but perhaps darker tones would have suited the story better. As a bonus, pages before colorization indicate it. There are also all the covers. Juan José Ryp performs the game in flashback. We recognize his style but he is much wiser than in Britannia.
Harbinger Renegade is therefore a good launch of a new arc despite a slow start – probably necessary for those who do not know these characters. JustFocus advises you to throw yourself on the Complete Harbinger or Faith to better discover this series too little known. We can't wait to read the sequel that will be released on September 14, 2018.
