“Yesterday’s” Comic> X-O Manowar #1 (2012)

“I so have to pee right now.”

X-O Manowar #1

Valiant Comics (May, 2012)

“Blades And Open Fields”

WRITER: Robert Venditti

PENCILER: Cary Nord

INKER: Stephano Gaudiano

COVER ART: Esad Ribic’s cover is the one used by ComiXology, seen left

COLORIST: Moose Bauman

LETTERER: Dave Lanphear

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Josh Johns

EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Warren Simons

Northern Italy, 402 AD. The Romans run over the Visigoths, taking prisoners, including the mother and wife of Aric. An obstinate one he leads an attack to rescue them from what he thinks are Romans but are actually aliens, losing to their high tech weapons. Aric’s group is captured but he and his friend Gafti observe the aliens worshiping a morphic armor in hopes of unlocking its secrets. Instead, it kills the intended hosts, but Aric and Gafti don’t see that when they’re recaptured. Aric is still determined to escape here, not knowing he’s in outer space, and use the monsters’ weapons not only against them but the Romans.

What they got right: This is a new version of the original X-O Manowar timeline, and it’s a good place to start. I haven’t read the original series outside of the two issues I own, And somehow this is less violent, or at least less bloody. There’s still blood of course, but it feels less like the 90s gratuitous “violent for the sake of it” stuff and more in line with what should be in the story.

What they got wrong: Our hero’s kind of a dope, letting his anger get the better of him. Yes, I know that’s his character in the original series, but it’s still hard to root for a guy who makes so many bonehead decisions that gets his own people killed. I’m hoping there’s some cost to that and not a Furman’s Grimlock situation where he gets praised for bad decisions.

What I think overall: I already like this better than the original Valiant run. I have a few more issues from this period and I’m curious to see where it goes.