Archer

Obadiah Archer is one of Valiant Comics' most beloved heroes, a seemingly ordinary young man from a deeply religious family who turns out to be anything but ordinary. Raised in a strict fundamentalist household, Archer was groomed from birth to be a weapon — a sleeper assassin trained in virtually every martial discipline, combat art, and weapon system imaginable. His body instinctively absorbs and masters new fighting techniques after witnessing them just once, an adaptive learning ability that makes him one of the most dangerous hand-to-hand combatants in the Valiant Universe. When he discovers the truth about his origins and his family's dark allegiances, Archer sets off on a wild, globe-spanning adventure that pairs him with the immortal, hard-drinking layabout known as Armstrong — an unlikely friendship that became one of comics' greatest buddy dynamics.

Archer made his debut in Archer & Armstrong #0, released in 1992 as part of Valiant's original universe launch wave. That zero issue serves as a critical origin chapter and is a prized key for any serious Valiant collector. The original series, written by Barry Windsor-Smith, is celebrated for its sharp wit, deep mythological world-building, and surprisingly emotional character work. Archer's journey from sheltered true believer to open-minded hero is one of the more compelling coming-of-age stories in 1990s comics, and the book's blend of action, comedy, and conspiracy kept readers hooked through its entire original run. The series tackled themes of faith, manipulation, and free will long before such topics were fashionable in superhero comics.

When Valiant was relaunched in 2012 under Valiant Entertainment, Archer returned alongside Armstrong in a new ongoing series written by Fred Van Lente. This modern incarnation introduced Archer to an entirely new generation of readers while honoring everything that made the character special in the first place. Archer also crossed paths with the street-level team known as the Renegades and appeared in crossover events like The Delinquents, a hilarious team-up with Quantum and Woody that became an instant fan favorite. His alias Prodigal, used during certain solo and undercover missions, hints at just how many layers there are still to explore in this character.

For collectors, Archer & Armstrong books represent some of the best value and upside in the entire Valiant back-issue market. The original 1992 Valiant run remains affordable compared to Marvel and DC keys of the same era, making now an ideal time to build a complete set. The 2012 Valiant Entertainment relaunch books are increasingly sought after as the publisher's profile continues to rise. Whether you are chasing high-grade copies of that pivotal #0 issue, hunting down the full original Windsor-Smith run, or completing the modern Valiant run, Archer books reward patient, dedicated collectors with stories that genuinely hold up decades later.