History ComicBook / ArcherAndArmstrong

Millenia ago, the Anni-Padda brothers, Ivar, Aram, and Gilad, returned to the city of Ur with a strange device known as the Boon. Unfortunately, Gilad was killed in the process, so Ivar, stricken with grief and against Aram's wishes, used the Boon in hopes that it would bring his brother back. The resulting explosion not only revived Gilad, but granted the brothers {{immortality}}.

In the present day, young Obadiah Archer is given one task by his parents: to slay the demon known only as "He Who Is Not to be Named." Venturing into New York City, Archer finds his target in Aram, now a drunk vagabond calling himself "Armstrong". As they fight they are kidnapped by The 1%, a dastardly group of greedy businessmen, where Archer learns a stunning truth: not only are his parents ''allied'' with the 1%, but they are both part of a larger organization called The Sect. Teaming up together, Archer and Armstrong span the globe as they pursue a common goal: taking the Sect down.

* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: There was more than met the eye to numerous historical events, from Archimedes' death to Alan Turing's suicide to the Kennedy assassination. Not to mention how many people just happened to be personal friends with the Anni-padda brothers.

** The entire "American Wasteland" arc is one long series of appearances by celebrities that go unnamed, but whose identities are obvious: Elvis, Tupac Shakur, the Notorious BIG, Kurt Cobain, Bruce and Brandon Lee, and Jim Morrison are just a few therein.

* TheCuckoolanderWasRight: The Promised Land Supervised Fun Center And Learning Park has exhibits showing ancient humans interacting with dinosaurs. It turns out they're right.

* WarriorPoet: Armstrong is fond of quoting poetry, and has a well-known work of his own: [[spoiler: Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh]]

Armstrong, a world-weary, nearly immortal warrior, crosses paths with the young and naive Archer, who can learn any skill after seeing it once. Originally published by Creator/ValiantComics in the nineties, and relaunched in 2012 along with a number of other Valiant titles.

!!The relaunched Archer and Armstrong contains examples of:

* Shout Out:

* BeenThereShapedHistory: Armstrong knew many historical figures on a friendly basis, was a knight on the quest for the Grail in the 6th century AD, and spent the 20th century as a wandering hobo in North America.

Armstrong, a world-weary, nearly immortal warrior, crosses paths with the young and naive Archer, who can learn any skill after seeing it once. Originally published by ValiantComics in the nineties, and relaunched in 2012 along with a number of other Valiant titles.

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''TheIncredibleHercules''. Archer even ''looks'' like Herc (although he looked that way before the relaunch). The ''Eternal Warrior'' spin-off is even written by Greg Pak, Van Lente's ''Incredible Hercules'' co-writer.

* WarriorPoet: Armstrong is fond of quoting poetry, and has a well-known work of his own: [[spoiler: TheEpicOfGilgamesh]]

** Much like ''TheInvisibles'', one of the running points in the series is that most if not all conspiracy theories are absolutely true. This is played largely for laughs, but can get serious again at the drop of a hat.

** One of Archer's army of siblings is named [[TheSimpsons Bort]]. [[FridgeBrilliance: Which is even funnier when you consider he was raised in an amusement park.]]

** One of Archer's army of siblings is named [[TheSimpsons Bort]]. {{FridgeBrilliance: Which is even funnier when you consider he was raised in an amusement park.}}

* {{Expy}}: Elliot Zorn, a rich and evil businessman, totally doesn't look like MittRomney...

** One of Archer's army of siblings is named [[TheSimpsons Bort]]. [[FridgeBrilliance: Which is even funnier when you consider he was raised in an amusement park]].

** One of Archer's army of siblings is named [[TheSimpsons Bort]].

* ThisTropeIsBleep: Played with with General Redacted. Some of his dialogue is censored in such a way that it's not clear whether he's swearing or not; it's implied that he's actually pronouncing the black bars somehow.
* WarriorPoet: Armstrong is fond of quoting poetry, and has a well-known work of his own: [[spoiler: TheEpicOfGilgamesh]]

** When the group needs to answer a security riddle, Kay guesses [[TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy "42"]].

The relaunched Archer and Armstrong contains examples of:

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: The 1%.
* CursedWithAwesome: Armstrong is almost immortal, but the millenia he's lived through come at the cost of "a million stolen lifetimes screaming inside me."

* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: There was more than met the eye to numerous historical events, from Alan Turing's suicide to the Kennedy assassination. Not to mention how many historical figures just happened to be personal friends with an unkillable ancient warrior.

* OddCouple: Archer is young, innocent, celebate, a teetotaler, agile, and a deeply religious Christian. Armstrong is ten thousand years old, has seen it all, is promiscuous, a heavy drinker, a brick, and an atheist.

* OddCouple: Archer is young, innocent, abstentious, agile, and a deeply religious Christian. Armstrong is ten thousand years old, has seen it all, is hedonistic, a brick, and an atheist.

** One of Archer's army of sibling is named [[TheSimpsons Bort]].

Armstrong, a world-weary, nearly immortal warrior, crosses paths with the naive and innocent Archer, who can learn any skill after seeing it once. Originally published by ValiantComics in the nineties, and relaunched in 2012 along with a number of other Valiant titles.

* GoshDangItToHeck: The entire Archer family speaks like this, even when fighting to the death; "flippin' bullcorn" is a signature expression.