“That’s the last time we let Aric marathon Survivor!”
X-O Manowar #22
Valiant (November, 1993)
“White Kings And Black Knights” part 1 WRITER: Jorge Gonzalez PENCILER: Paris T. Karounos INKERS: Tom Ryder & Rodney Ramos (no colorist or letterer credits) EDITOR IN CHIEF: Bob Layton
After events involving someone or something named Ax, Aric has gone down to Peru, leaving Orb Industries and the XO Armor with Randy. Aric meets a tribe down there being threatened by a more savage tribe. As he joins them in battle he decides this is his new home. Meanwhile, the power of the X-O armor (which she calls Shanhara) and whatever happened to her during that incident may be having a negative effect on Randy.
What they got right: While a bit violent for my tastes, the art is good.
What they got wrong: There’s so much I can’t judge here because so little happens since the story is split in two directions and it’s after a huge event which made a big change, especially for Aric and Randy. What I do know is that this really isn’t my thing. It’s a bit darker than my tastes but for a 90’s comic I can’t call it bad either.
Recommendation: I really can’t give one up or down. Only that you shouldn’t start on this issue. This wasn’t the first one I obtained but this was the first chronologically so it got reviewed first. It didn’t really impress me but it might work for you.
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