Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Harbinger Volume 1: Omega Rising by Joshua Dysart - Book Review


From the publisher: “Super-powered teenager Peter Stanchek is on a dangerous path. Skipping across the country in a desperate attempt to stay one step ahead of the authorities, Peter is quickly realizing that he's a psionically-charged "harbinger" with the potential to reshape the course of human history. But Peter's plight has not gone unnoticed. Respected philanthropist and fellow harbinger, Toyo Harada, is about to offer Peter the chance at the things for which the boy has always longed - family, inner peace, self-control - and induct him into the sprawling, secret network of conspiracy and subversion known as the Harbinger Foundation. Now, Peter begins his long road towards a destiny that will shake the very foundations of the Valiant Universe. His first lesson? All power comes with a price!” 
This volume contains issues 1-5 of Valiant’s new take on the Harbinger title from the ‘90’s.  I had only a passing knowledge of the previous series, but was usually impressed with the stories Valiant put out, so I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to read Omega Rising.  It was an interesting story.  It was mostly set-up, involving Peter’s background and involvement with Toyo Harada and the Harbinger Foundation.  I found Peter and Toyo to be unsympathetic characters and hard to relate to, but I’m sure that my opinion will change as the story develops.  As of now, I’m not really clear who the “good guy” is or who the “bad guy” is.  It was not apparent what the Harbinger Foundation is trying to accomplish, either. I would have liked several more issues to broaden the story, because it seemed like things were just beginning to start when the volume ended.  As it stands, I will look to the next volume, releasing in June, before I make a final judgment.
Dysart’s writing was decent and the art was nice, adding a realistic touch to the story of people with superhuman abilities. 
Omega Rising was a good origin point for the Harbinger series.  I would recommend it to fans of Valiant’s other books.
I received a review copy of this book from Netgalley and Valiant Entertainment, LLC in exchange for an honest review.

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