Straight Forward Reviews : X-O Manowar # 19

Welcome again to Straight Forward Reviews! Where we take a look at those wonderful things we read and have interesting pictures known as comic books. Was that intro too cheesy? Anyway this time we're looking at Valiant's X-O Manowar # 19. With the events of Unity just beginning you can bet this is going to be important to that story.

Writer - Robert Vendetti

Artist - Cary Nord

Publisher - Valiant

Review by Jeremias de Leon

Story

This issue focuses on Aric's point of view of what happened right after the events of Unity issue 1. Which goes to show how Aric can be seen as both a villain and a hero if you read both of these books.

Besides dialog with Ninjak this issue really isn't about the wider plot as much as it is just about Aric and what kind of man he is. We get to see plenty of action still but it isn't about determining the fate of the world or anything that major. It is however really awesome and gives more insight into Aric and his people.

The dialog in this is very well written, you get the sense these really are people from another time that were forced into our modern world. They are confused and a little lost with the new world but willing to fight. Just as you would expect warriors from another time to be like if they did see our world today.

Art

I remember in previous issues of X-O Manowar that Cary Nord has worked on I mentioned them being some of my favorite art of the year. Seeing this has only made me feel stronger in that belief. The art in this comic has flavors of the art I would see for fighting games. It's a western comic drawn in a realistic style but the style has the flavor of the more realistic art that was made to promote Street Fighter 2 and
King of Fighters. It's what the art invokes memories of, for me.

Verdict

Looking through this book, I couldn't find anything that I didn't like. Not a thing. The dialog and the wonderful art all gelled together so well that all I left with after reading this issue was a smile. With that I have to give X-O Manowar issue 19 a 10 out of 10. It really is amazing to see the different views and worlds of the people of the Valiant universe and how villains can be heroes and heroes, villains.