Talking ‘Archer & Armstrong: Assassin Nation’ And Valiant’s ‘Resurgence’ With Writer Fred Van Lente — PLUS Preview Art
by Rachel Bellwoar
Archer and Armstrong make one formidable team but can even they hope to stand their ground against an Assassin Nation? For this brand-new, two-issue event, returning writer Fred Van Lente is joining forces with artist Emiliano Urdinola, and you can find out more about it (and see an early preview) in the following interview with Van Lente below:
Rachel Bellwoar: As someone whose written for Archer and Armstrong before, how has the experience been different this time around?
Fred Van Lente: Well, I started out this book wanting to make fun of conspiracy theories. I’m a strong believer in stupidity theory, the idea that anything mysterious that happens in the world is usually explained by incompetence instead of malice. Armstrong’s cynicism kind of embodies that, because he’s seen everything and been anywhere and knows the BS behind most myths. That was early in the social media age, though, and since the proliferation of people believing in insane nonsense made me take conspiracy theories a bit more seriously. More seriously, that is, not “seriously”– there’s still jokes a-plenty.
Bellwoar: One thing that seems to be new — Archer is now the immortal one instead of Armstrong. For new readers who may be using this issue as a jumping on point, is there anything they should know or read beforehand?
Van Lente: Read my entire run! Buy multiple copies! Then sell them to your friends at a mark-up.
Well, Assassin Nation is very much a sequel to my original run, with a lot of characters from it re-appearing, but, yeah, in the most recent A&A series by other creators Archer got immortality and Armstrong lost his. That does affect this story quite a bit, but since they talk about it constantly, there’s not much of a chance of you missing it, ha ha.
Bellwoar: This first issue begins with Archer and Armstrong looking for pirate treasure. How much fun was it to set events on a pirate ship?
Van Lente: I grew up on The Goonies and any chance I have to put a pirate ship inside a cave I’m going to do it. We of course have an Archer & Armstrong spin on it, because it comes from an actual historical conspiracy theory.
Bellwoar: One of the cool aspects of Archer & Armstrong is how it incorporates real history. For those who only know Aaron Burr from the musical Hamilton, do you think they may be surprised to learn more about him in this issue?
Van Lente: Aaron Burr is one of American history’s great weirdos. As if killing the guy on the $10 bill wasn’t enough, he tried to enlist various European royals in a bizarre scheme to wrest the Louisiana Purchase away from the US (and his true arch-enemy, Thomas Jefferson) for which he was tried for treason.
And in the real world he founded Chase Manhattan Bank, and in the Valiant Universe he founded Archer & Armstrong’s arch-enemies, The One Percent. So this guy’s got a lot going on.
Bellwoar: With a subtitle like Assassin Nation, can readers expect Archer’s adopted sister, Mary-Maria, to be making an appearance?
Van Lente: Yes, and with long term partners Faith and Archer taking a break from their relationship, we can reasonably expect inappropriate sparks to fly between the two.
Bellwoar: You’re also co-writing the second issue of Valiant’s upcoming Resurgence event with AJ Ampadeu. Was there a member of the Valiant Universe you were especially excited to write for?
Van Lente: That’s a great question. I’ve never really written X-O Manowar before, and the relationship he has with his sentient armor, Shanhara, is pretty great. I’d never written Rai at all, and he has a throwdown with Bloodshot that’s so epic we had to give it its own comi– oops, I’ve said too much!
Bellwoar: As a Rai fan, color me interested! Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Fred.
With colors by Exequiel F. Roel, flats by Ludwig Olimba and letters by Marina Leon, Archer & Armstrong: Assassin Nation #1 goes on sale August 21st from Valiant Comics and Alien Books. Resurgence #1 goes on sale September 18th.
