“Yesterday’s” Comic> X-O Manowar #1 (Acclaim Comics)

“Where’s the fire extinguisher on this thing?

X-O Manowar #1

Acclaim Comics/Valiant Heroes (October, 1996 according to the indicia, February, 1997 according to the cover)

“Fear Itself”

WRITERS: Mark Waid & Brian Augustyn

ARTISTS: Sean Chen & Tom Ryder

COLORING: Atomic Paintbrush

LETTERER: Dave Lanphear

EDITOR: Lynaire Brust

The US military found a battlesuit in some Nazi remains and tapped boy genius Donovan Wylie to crack it’s secrets. The kid has a chip on his soldier as big as his ego so he’s not happy when Rand Banyon is chosen to use the armor, which bonds to its user, but even he’s won over by the dude’s dedication, fearlessness, and patriotism. Unfortunately, they’re forced into a field test during an attack by the terrorist group RAGE, and Donovan realizes too late that the armor’s limitations are the pilot’s instincts, including the one for fighting over self-preservation. This gets Rand killed, but RAGE has brought out their airship, leaving Donovan to wonder what to do next.

What they got right: Going back and forth between the present time action and flashback training keeps the latter from being dull while giving context to the former. We get a good introduction to the characters, especially the two who are the focus, as we meet the comic’s supporting cast.

What they got wrong: You know, I actually don’t have any major complaints. Where is this Mark Waid today? Or did Bryan do all the work here?

What I think overall: Now I wish I had picked up this comic back in the day. I wasn’t really into the original Valiant idea of X-O Manowar despite being a fan of armored heroes so I wrote this off until the crossovers with the only Acclaim comic I was getting at the time, Ninjak. (I already reviewed those; great stories but a total reimagine of the concept itself so I bet many fans were justifiably ticked off.) Someday I have to look into this series because I probably should have given it a better shot.