X-O Manowar # 11 Review

X-O MANOWAR # 11
”Planet Death Part 1”
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Cary Nord & Moose Baumann
Valiant Comics


FLIPPING THROUGH:

            Planet Death opens with a tale of the past. A tale that mirrors our main character and his own conflict. We get a very interesting origin of the X-O Manowar armor just in time for the legend to end abruptly with a bang. Aric is on the Vine Homeworld and things are about to get BLOODY.

            As the legend connects to the present, Aric meets up again with a very familiar Vine and the book ends on a stagger revelation.


ART:

            It is great to see Cary Nord back. What is even better is that he is back full of energy. Nord definitely turns up the volume with his pencils and inks for the first part of Planet Death. The Vine actually looked sympathetic, the armor looked impressive and the locals were an interesting feast to the eyes. The slightly bunkier inks really work for Aric in his armor while Nord shows a versatility that really grips you.

            Baumann’s colors really helped bring a lot of life to the book alongside Nord’s pencils and inks. This is an alien world and Baumann’s colors really help Nord’s art set that mood and distinction. Really solid work from this art team.


STORY:

            Venditti … you sir are becoming one of the greatest writers in the current comic book age. The book opened up well with the legend behind the armor and its full origin. We have a character that we as readers understand but at the same time, is definitely not a boy scout cause he intends on genocide. The Vine look sympathetic this issue thanks to both the art and Venditti’s masterful writing. Knowing that the Vine have an enemy worse than themselves is scary and leads to possible story potential.

            Aric’s feelings still help him not only feel human but extremely relatable. And the revelation at the end of part 1 really helps not only make the issue feel balanced but leaves a proper cliffhanger that will make readers wanting more. The pacing of the issue really helped as well. Very strong showing by Venditti.


OVERALL IMPRESSION:

 

            Venditti, Nord, Baumann and the rest of the X-O Manowar # 11 creative team provide an opening to an epic that will not only profoundly change our hero … but the Valiant Universe as a whole. There are new plot threads and revelations that will mean a whole lot to our hero and the readers. The art is fantastic, original and full of life and the writing is superb.


RATING:

            I give X-O Manowar # 11 a 9.5  out of 10. BUY IT NOW!!!