Straight Forward Reviews : X-O Manowar # 26

The latest issue of X-O Manowar takes a break from Aric and goes into the backstory of some other characters, one which you have already seen another which you'll definitely see more of.

Writer - Robert Venditti

Art - Diego Bernard

Publisher - Valiant

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

The story is an issue long flashback that gives the motivations for at least two of the Armor Hunters. The story reads a little bit like a typical sci-fi story. The bar where a good chunk of the set up for the battle and the set up for the next story during the end, and the technology used during the battle scenes gave a bit of a Mass Effect vibe.

Still though the characters were written very well and the events, though with plenty of science fiction elements still had a gritty, grounded feeling as the characters Malgam and Reebo felt fear and desperation in their fight.


Art

Diego Bernard's line-art has beautiful details and a sense that everything shown is actually alive and part of an actual world, or in this case, universe. Brian Reber's colors add to that and totally make the moods the comic was going for in the different scenes.

Verdict

The world for this flashback or prequel or whatever you may want to call it did seem like plenty of other science fiction space opera stories. But the characters were well written enough and the action was cool enough that it was still a fairly enjoyable read. I give X-O Manowar # 26 an 8 out of 10

Preview: X-O Manowar # 26 (Armor Hunters Tie-In)

X-O MANOWAR #26 (ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Chromium & Standard Edition Covers by CLAYTON CRAIN* (APR141420/APR141419)
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN (APR141421)
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR141422)

ARMOR HUNTERS unleashes an all-new starting point for the world’s most wanted hero – X-O Manowar – right here with a brand new story arc by Robert Venditti (Armor Hunters, The Flash) and Diego Bernard (Red Lanterns)!

Abducted from his own time by a vicious alien race, the courageous Visigoth warrior known as Aric of Dacia spent years in slavery among the stars before escaping with his captors’ most feared weapon – the X-O Manowar armor. Now, stranded in the modern day, the world’s most primitive man also just happens to wield its most powerful weapon. But what is the X-O Manowar armor? And who before Aric of Dacia dared to wield its incalculable power? The ARMOR HUNTERS hold the key to the armor’s untold history and – one way or another – they’ll crush anything that dares threaten their secret.

CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99 | STANDARD EDITION: $3.99
T+ | 32 pgs. | ON SALE 6/25/14 (FOC – 6/2/14)

X-O Manowar # 25 Review

X-O MANOWAR # 25

Written by Robert Venditti, Justin Jordon & Andy Runton

Art by J.G. Jones,Bryan Hitch, Diego Bernard, Barry Kitson, Andy Runton, Rafer Roberts & more

Valiant Comics

This will be a spoiler free review.

                Multiple stories happen throughout the issue. We get a quick look at Aric’s origin as X-O Manowar to him paying respects to a prelude to Armor Hunters starting the team with the same name to the armor having its own little adventure to a small crossover between Valiant Characters.  This issue seemed to have a little of everything to celebrate X-O Manowar’s and Valiant’s relaunch anniversary.

THE GOOD:

                A lot was packed into these pages and it definitely felt worth it. We got some great personal development for Aric as we see him pay his respects to one of his fallen relatives. Venditti definitely uses loss and mourning a lot this issue to kind of set up transitions, not only for Aric but for the Armor Hunters as well. Venditti takes time to not only do more set up for the Armor Hunters event, but also gives us some solid characterization of the Armor Hunters team.

                All of the stories and segments were paced well, allowing each writer to give their own spin on things. And while the other stories didn’t do character building, they were fun in their own way.

                Artistically, you have so many styles in there that it really is a feast for the eyes. To classic comic book strip cartoony to Hitch’s hyper detailed style, there is a buffet of art that surrounds you this issue. Hitch and Bernard have the most significant portions and do a great job showing of their art. This book looks and feels fun while giving strong characterization and great art.

THE BAD:

                Nada. Zero. Zilch.

FINAL VERDICT:

                X-O Manowar # 25 was a strong, fun anniversary issue with great art and excellent story. The varied amounts of stories and extras make the book fun of value and it was great to see so much talent within the book do so many different things.  I give X-O Manowar # 25 5 stars out of 5.

Preview: X-O MANOWAR # 25

Valiant Preview: On Sale May 21st, 2014 – X-O MANOWAR #25 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS) |


 

X-O MANOWAR #25 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with TOM FOWLER and JUSTIN JORDAN
Art by DIEGO BERNARD, SEAN CHEN, TOM FOWLER, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, BARRY KITSON, CARY NORD, RAFER ROBERTS, and ANDY RUNTON
Cover A by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (MAR141400)
Cover B by BRYAN HITCH (MAR141401)
Armors Variant by ARTURO LOZZI (MAR141402)
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN (MAR141403)
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON (MAR141404)

VALIANT FIRST delivers another must-read milestone this May with a blockbuster, 48-page celebration of X-O Manowar’s 25th issue…and an essential introduction to the comic book event of 2014 – ARMOR HUNTERS!

Find out why the galaxy’s most feared team of hunter-killers have journeyed across the stars to destroy the X-O Manowar armor and the Earth along with it in ARMOR HUNTERS: BURIAL by Robert Venditti & Diego Bernard. Then, revisit the roots of Aric of Dacia’s transformation from Visigoth conqueror into the 21st century’s alien-armored guardian, as told by Robert Venditti & J.G. Jones! Plus, all-new tales of X-O Manowar from Robert Venditti & Bryan Hitch, Justin Jordan & Rafer Roberts, Tom Fowler, Sean Chen, Cary Nord, Andy Runton, and much, much more!

$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC – 4/28/14)

1st Impressions: X-O Manowar # 24

X-O MANOWAR # 24
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Diego Bernard, Alison Rodriguez & Brian Reber
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                This issue went by fast with great action and ground work as Aric faces off against Malgam. After his battle, we get more of Aric’s current status quo.

ART:

                Diego Bernard and Alison Rodriguez do a beautiful job this issue. The panels are crisp with solid art, great inking and good perspectives. We open the issue with some good action as Aric takes on Malgam. Bernard and Rodriguez gives us a grand battle. Then, later on, when things get quiet at the second half of the issue. From Aric talking with Colonel Capshaw to his camp in Nebraska, Bernard and Rodriguez do a wonderful job showing us the quieter moments, drawing good emotion and great backgrounds.  Just the look on Aric’s face on the facet was priceless and really shows the skill this team has. Reber delievers some of his best colors yet, making Bernard and Rodriguez’s work look even more amazing and vibrant. A beautiful drawn issue. Bernard will be one of the biggest names in comics if he keeps this up.

WRITING:

                Venditti gives us a great, balanced issue between action and character development. The fight with Malgam goes as long as it needs to, with leaving Aric with enough mysteries to search out.  Yet, Venditti also does a great job giving us enough of a prelude to Armor Hunters at the end there with some members of that team. Giving us hints to what will come without completely spoiling it, I give Venditti kudos for that. Plus, the scene between Aric and Saana in their tent was one of the most powerful scenes in this series yet. Venditti makes the reader remember to not take things for granted … like water and the reactions by both characters really carried along the point that Aric loves his people more than anything.
                The dialogue was good and the pacing was great. Overall, Venditti proves himself among the best writers in the business now with this issue. 

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                A well written, beautifully drawn issue that both hints at what’s to come while still giving us development and beauty.  A great issue.

RATING:

                I give X-O Manowar # 24 a 9 … out of 10. Pick it up Wednesday!

Comics News: PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS Sells Out, Returns with Second Printings in April and May!

PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS Sells Out, Returns with Second Printings in April and May!

 

 

Valiant is proud to announce that both X-O MANOWAR #23 and X-O MANOWAR #24 – featuring the landmark PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS, Valiant's summer 2014 crossover event – have both completely sold out at the distributor level and will soon return to store shelves with new covers featuring the stunning interior art of red-hot rising star Diego Bernard (Red Lanterns, Eternal Warrior)!

"Diego Bernard is a phenomenal new talent, and he's delivering some truly mind-blowing work onPRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS. He's dedicated to X-O Manowar for the long haul and, with his first issues rocketing into a lightning-fast sell-out, this is a perfect opportunity to showcase his jaw-dropping interiors with new covers for X-O MANOWAR #23 and X-O MANOWAR #24," said Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons.

Written by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Flash) with art by Bernard, the road to the Valiant event of 2014 begins right here in PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS as X-O Manowar hurtles toward his first epic confrontation with the galaxy’s most feared team of hunter-killers.  For eons, one threat above all others has brought pain and strife down upon civilizations across the universe – the X-O Manowar armor. And now X-O Manowar has come to Earth. What will follow in its wake? Only the creature called Malgam knows the truth…and, before the ARMOR HUNTERS strike this June, Aric of Dacia is about to be forced into a brutal confrontation with the deadly legacy behind the universe’s most powerful weapon.

"The fact that we're seeing such high demand for ARMOR HUNTERS-related titles months before the event launches in full this June – and even before X-O MANOWAR #24 has arrived in stores – is an excellent indication that Valiant's upcoming crossover will be the event to watch this summer. These two prelude issues are an indispensable introduction to the action-packed blockbuster of a story thatRobert Venditti and Doug Braithwaite have in store," said Hunter Gorinson, Valiant's Director of Marketing, Communications, and Digital Media. "Combine those facts with Diego Bernard's incredible artwork, and you can see why PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS is a pivotal turning point for one of Valiant's flagship series."

Picking up out of the pages of X-O MANOWAR #23 and X-O MANOWAR #24, New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti and superstar artist Doug Braithwaite unleash the first issue of 2014’s must-read crossover event this June in ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4). Then, Valiant’s biggest heroes launch the resistance against the world’s first full-scale cosmic threat with new arcs beginning in UNITY #8 and X-O MANOWAR #26 in June; and ARMOR HUNTERS: BLOODSHOT #1 (of 3) and ARMOR HUNTERS: HARBINGER #1 (of 3) beginning in July!

Don't miss the opening salvo of the cataclysm that is to come right here with the X-O MANOWAR #23 SECOND PRINTING and X-O MANOWAR #24 SECOND PRINTING – featuring new covers from Valiant's next heat-seeking superstar Diego Bernard! Start reading here to find out why PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS is a comic book milestone in the making:

"The fact that this is only the prelude to the Armor Hunters storyline is very good news. If things start off this awesome, they can only get better." – IGN

"✮✮✮✮✮… X-O Manowar always pushes forward towards something greater and that's what makes this just not a top book at Valiant, but also a top book in comics in general. This next arc kicks off with a bang..." – Comic Vine

"Armor Hunters is the next big thing at Valiant… I can dig that for sure." – Multiversity Comics
 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, on Tumblr, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

X-O MANOWAR #23 SECOND PRINTING (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (FEB148213)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 4/23/14 (FOC –3/31/14)

X-O MANOWAR #24 SECOND PRINTING (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DIEGO BERNARD
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC –4/28/14)

X-O MANOWAR #25 (ARMOR HUNTERS PRELUDE)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with TOM FOWLER, JUSTIN JORDAN, and Many More!
Art by DIEGO BERNARD, SEAN CHEN, TOM FOWLER, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, BARRY KITSON, CARY NORD, RAFER ROBERTS, ANDY RUNTON, and Many More!
Cover by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC and BRYAN HITCH (MAR141400/MAR141401)
Armors Variant by ARTURO LOZZI (MAR141402)
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN (MAR141403)
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON (MAR141404)
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC – 4/28/14)

ARMOR HUNTERS #1 (of 4)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Chromium & Standard Edition Covers by JORGE MOLINA*
Character Design Variant by CLAYTON CRAIN
Armor Hunters Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Artist Variant by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
Blank Cover also available
CHROMIUM EDITION: $5.99/STANDARD EDITION: $3.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 6/11/14 (FOC – 5/19/14)

*RETAILERS BE ADVISED: Due to the lead time needed to produce chromium, Armor Hunters Chromium Editions will be available in robust but limited quantities set prior to solicitation, and orders may be allocated.

 

 

        

Straight Forward Reviews : X-O Manowar # 23

In this prelude to Armor Hunters we see Aric get taken on a new mission to space to search for something interesting. Well, it looks like that won't be hard to accomplish at all.

Writer - Robert Venditti

Artist - Diego Bernard

Publisher - Valiant

Story

Aric is tasked with a mission to outer space to look into the debris of a wreckage of a Vine ship and possibly recover something that can interest Uncle Sam. Simple enough for the X-O Manowar.

Of course though there's going to be something that will complicate matters. Something that is such a big obstacle that it can possibly even become Aric's main problem. The dialog and most importantly the tension building with this foray into space is quite well done. However it wasn't anything I wasn't expecting. Well, mostly what I wasn't expecting. There was one scene in the beginning of the issue where I have to wonder if Vendetti has been hanging out with Fred Van Lente or James Asmus because it's a scene that would be right at home in Archer and Armstrong or Quantum and Woody. That was quite a welcome change of pace. There's also the villain himself, while nothing much is known about him his design raises a lot of questions, especially about his connection to the Manowar armor.

Art

Although I admit I did see a lot of this issue's story coming, it was still pretty entertaining and the art is a big reason why. The characters have a presence to them, especially Aric which is what you want since he's always described as quite an intimidating person.

The action looks great too, movement and hits and explosions look great. The art has this added touch to the action that I don't see in many other comics where it doesn't just look good, it looks deadly. Like every punch or shot has a consequence of pain or even death.

Verdict

I already mentioned that this issue was a little bit predictable. However that didn't make it any less enjoyable. Possibly because the action and art were so good. There is good dialog in there, and some character exploration for Aric and his wife and for the woman who gives Aric his orders. I recommend picking this book up it's solid and makes a good segue in Armor Hunters. I give X-O Manowar an 8.5 out of 10.

Preview: X-O Manowar # 23

X-O MANOWAR #23 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Cover by CAFU (JAN141357)
Variant Cover by TOM RANEY (JAN141358)

PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS – PART 1! The countdown to the Valiant Universe event of 2014 starts now!

For eons, one threat above all others has brought pain and strife down upon civilizations across the universe – the X-O Manowar armor. And now the Manowar has come to Earth. What will follow in its wake? The road to ARMOR HUNTERS begins here as Valiant superstars Robert Venditti and Diego Bernard unleash the opening salvo of the cataclysm that is come…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 3/19/14 (FOC – 2/24/14)

First Look: PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS Hungers for X-O MANOWAR #24!

First Look: PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS Hungers for X-O MANOWAR #24!

 

Valiant is proud to present your first look inside X-O Manowar #24 from New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti and superstar newcomer Diego Bernard! Before ARMOR HUNTERS #1 arrives this June, jump on board here for an essential prelude to the summer's blockbuster 18-part crossover event – ARMOR HUNTERS!

Aric of Dacia, a fifth-century warrior bonded to alien armor and transplanted to the modern day, is now the most important weapon in the arsenal of M.E.R.O., the top-secret American intelligence organization that monitors extraterrestrial life on Earth. In order to protect his people, Aric must undergo dangerous missions in space, but nothing can prepare him for the stunning secret that awaits him in the stars.

Who – or what – is the man called Malgam? Find out here on April 16th as the march toward X-O Manowar #25 – and the coming of the ARMOR HUNTERS – continues with a can't–miss introduction to this summer's biggest and most brutal comic book event right here X-O Manowar #24!

This summer, Earth will be the greatest hunt of all... ARMOR HUNTERS is coming!

X-O MANOWAR #24 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (FEB141467)
Variant Cover by CLAYTON HENRY (FEB141468)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 4/16/14 (FOC – 3/24/14)

X-O MANOWAR #25 (ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR)
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI with PETER MILLIGAN, JUSTIN JORDAN, and More!
Art by DIEGO BERNARD, BRYAN HITCH, J.G. JONES, RAFER ROBERTS, and More!
Covers by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC and BRYAN HITCH (MAR141400/MAR141401)
Armors Variant by ARTURO LOZZI (MAR141402)
Throwback Variant by SEAN CHEN (MAR141403)
Variant Cover by TERRY DODSON (MAR141404)
$4.99/T+/48 pgs.
ON SALE 5/21/14 (FOC – 4/28/14)

Preview: ETERNAL WARRIOR # 6

ETERNAL WARRIOR #6 ("ETERNAL EMPEROR" – PART 2)
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ROBERT GILL
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (DEC131332)
Variant Cover by DIEGO BERNARD (DEC131333)

Long live the Eternal Emperor!

The first glimpse into the Valiant Universe in the year 4001 continues here! The Eternal Emperor rules over a blighted landscape, the last hope of a desperate band of survivors. When an enigmatic force appears and threatens to destroy the last remnants of his people, he faces a horrific choice: travel an irradiated landscape in search to kidnap an innocent, or see his people destroyed. Welcome to the Valiant Universe of 4001.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE FEBRUARY 12th!!