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X-O Manowar (2012)
X-O Manowar, Vol. 1: By the Sword
The beginning of the all-new Valiant Universe starts here!
Aric of Dacia is a brash warrior and heir to the throne of the Visigoth people. He has lived his life under the heel of the Roman Empire, but now a far more terrible enemy has come to subjugate him. Taken from his home and family, Aric is enslaved aboard a starship belonging to a brutal race of alien colonizers known as The Vine. If he is to have any hope of escaping and returning to Earth, he will have to steal the Vine’s most powerful weapon – a sentient suit of indestructible armor – and become X-O Manowar!
This volume of the acclaimed, breakout series by New York Times best-selling author Robert Venditti (The Surrogates, The Homeland Directive) and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (Conan)!
Collecting: X-O Manowar 1-4
Aric of Dacia is a brash warrior and heir to the throne of the Visigoth people. He has lived his life under the heel of the Roman Empire, but now a far more terrible enemy has come to subjugate him. Taken from his home and family, Aric is enslaved aboard a starship belonging to a brutal race of alien colonizers known as The Vine. If he is to have any hope of escaping and returning to Earth, he will have to steal the Vine’s most powerful weapon – a sentient suit of indestructible armor – and become X-O Manowar!
This volume of the acclaimed, breakout series by New York Times best-selling author Robert Venditti (The Surrogates, The Homeland Directive) and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (Conan)!
Collecting: X-O Manowar 1-4
112 pages, Paperback
First published December 5, 2012
49 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Robert Venditti
794 books391 followersRobert Venditti is a New York Times bestselling author of more than three hundred comic books and graphic novels. Some of his works include the monthly comic book series Justice League, Superman ’78, Hawkman, and Green Lantern for DC Comics, X-O Manowar, Armor Hunters, and Wrath of the Eternal Warrior for Valiant Entertainment, and the graphic novel Six Days, inspired by the story of his uncle’s participation in D-Day. He has also adapted Rick Riordan’s global bestselling Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus novels, as well as Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia and Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz. His graphic novel The Surrogates was adapted into a feature film by Touchstone Pictures, and his work on The Flash was the basis for season three of the CW television series.
Venditti lives in Atlanta, where he both writes and serves as a storytelling consultant for some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world.
Venditti lives in Atlanta, where he both writes and serves as a storytelling consultant for some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
June 23, 2018
I had no idea what this was about when I started reading it. A friend recommended it to me as something that showcased Valient in a good light, and I decided to check it out. Looking at the cover I just assumed it was some sort of space thing, but it turns out it's some kind of Time-Travel/Alien Overlord/Roman Empire (actually the main character was a Visigoth fighting the Romans) mash-up.
I also thought this was a new concept. It's not. This has apparently been a Valient title for quite some time. <--better geeks than I already knew this
Ok. So the gist is that the Romans have taken over their lands and these Visigoth warriors are fighting back when (unbeknownst to them) these aliens called the Vines show up. The main Visigoth guy, Aric, along with some of his fellow soldiers gets taken prisoner and taken up on the alien ship to be used as slave labor.
Spoilery things happen, and Alric ends up with this high tech suit (Manowar) that has religious significance to the Vine. He escapes and heads back to his wife. But due to (as of yet unexplained) stuff, he ends up in modern day Rome.
There's more spoilery stuff that has to do with (basically) alien changelings, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
This was pretty cool and definitely different than what I expected. It didn't blow my mind, but it's something that I wouldn't mind checking out again to see how it all pans out.
I also thought this was a new concept. It's not. This has apparently been a Valient title for quite some time. <--better geeks than I already knew this
Ok. So the gist is that the Romans have taken over their lands and these Visigoth warriors are fighting back when (unbeknownst to them) these aliens called the Vines show up. The main Visigoth guy, Aric, along with some of his fellow soldiers gets taken prisoner and taken up on the alien ship to be used as slave labor.
Spoilery things happen, and Alric ends up with this high tech suit (Manowar) that has religious significance to the Vine. He escapes and heads back to his wife. But due to (as of yet unexplained) stuff, he ends up in modern day Rome.
There's more spoilery stuff that has to do with (basically) alien changelings, but I don't want to ruin it for anyone.
This was pretty cool and definitely different than what I expected. It didn't blow my mind, but it's something that I wouldn't mind checking out again to see how it all pans out.
April 9, 2018
The 2nd Valiant series in a row that I quite enjoyed the start of.
May 3, 2017
What a brilliant concept and execution. A 4th century warrior acquires holy alien armor? Adventure? Sword fighting? Space battles? Sign me up!
So this is a relaunch of a well-established series. Like many newer comic readers I haven't read the original series, but this didn't hinder my understanding in the least. I think if I love this series I'll go back and read the old stuff, which is what I usually do.
I won't ruin the plot, but I will say that it's a perfect blend of historical fiction, other world, and science-fiction. The hyperbolic introduction boldly claims that X-O Manowar is "epic" and "rewrites history," the first I completely agree with, the second is plausible but yet to be determined. Although I haven't read that many sci-fi comics, this is one of the most captivating ideas I've ever heard of. I was going to buy the trade paperback, but I loved this so much I'm going to jump right into Deluxe Book 1.
January 3, 2017
My first Valiant comic!
It's awesome. I'm hooked.
Let the fun begin.
It's awesome. I'm hooked.
Let the fun begin.
May 2, 2017
Find this and other Reviews at In Tori Lex
I was pleasantly surprised by how great this time traveling, alien adventure is. It was funny, engaging and full of action. Aric is a wonderful protagonist who wants to defend the Visgoth people and his honor at all costs. When the story begins in 400 AD, Aric is Visgoth Warrior leading his men to battle. Despite being quickly captured by aliens and facing technology he has never seen before, he was able to adjust to his circumstances and rise up to escape the grasp of The Vine Alien's. The action while non-stop is accompanied by a fast paced plot, that hints at more mystery and intrigue to come.
This first volume included characters to love, plots to remember and well done art work. The Vine alien's are intelligent but uncaring towards humans. They enslave Aric and other Visgoth people they capture so that they can care for their extensive revered gardens. I'm excited to learn more background and history, about the Visgoth and The Vine in later volumes.
This short volume ends introducing a story arc set in present day. I can't wait to see how Aric adapts and maneuvers in present times while facing time traveling enemies. I noticed the diversity of the individuals illustrated in present day. I would recommend this comic to readers who enjoy science fiction, action and historical fiction.
I was pleasantly surprised by how great this time traveling, alien adventure is. It was funny, engaging and full of action. Aric is a wonderful protagonist who wants to defend the Visgoth people and his honor at all costs. When the story begins in 400 AD, Aric is Visgoth Warrior leading his men to battle. Despite being quickly captured by aliens and facing technology he has never seen before, he was able to adjust to his circumstances and rise up to escape the grasp of The Vine Alien's. The action while non-stop is accompanied by a fast paced plot, that hints at more mystery and intrigue to come.
This first volume included characters to love, plots to remember and well done art work. The Vine alien's are intelligent but uncaring towards humans. They enslave Aric and other Visgoth people they capture so that they can care for their extensive revered gardens. I'm excited to learn more background and history, about the Visgoth and The Vine in later volumes.
This short volume ends introducing a story arc set in present day. I can't wait to see how Aric adapts and maneuvers in present times while facing time traveling enemies. I noticed the diversity of the individuals illustrated in present day. I would recommend this comic to readers who enjoy science fiction, action and historical fiction.
May 23, 2022
Good fun.
Valiant reintroduced their very cool X-O Manowar series when they relaunched in 2012. This one, collecting the first four issues featuring writing by Robert Venditti and a host of art talent, was a pleasure to read.
For those unfamiliar with the title, here’s a quick summary:
Aric, a Visigoth in the early 5th century was fighting Romans – as Visigoths did back then. He throws down on a weird looking Roman transport – EXCEPT! – it’s not Roman at all but ALIENS – and they abduct him and take him to live with them, making him a slave – BUT WAIT! - Aric is chosen by some sentient ALIEN armor to wear it and become a KICKASS warrior.
He was a great warrior before the armor – Visigoth and all – but after the Armor? Yeah.
So this is fun, ancient warrior ethos plus ALIENS and then more ALIENS and lots of fighting and the armor is AWESOME.
Like – Remember that time you got the aliens armor and you kicked everyone’s ass? That was awesome!
Valiant reintroduced their very cool X-O Manowar series when they relaunched in 2012. This one, collecting the first four issues featuring writing by Robert Venditti and a host of art talent, was a pleasure to read.
For those unfamiliar with the title, here’s a quick summary:
Aric, a Visigoth in the early 5th century was fighting Romans – as Visigoths did back then. He throws down on a weird looking Roman transport – EXCEPT! – it’s not Roman at all but ALIENS – and they abduct him and take him to live with them, making him a slave – BUT WAIT! - Aric is chosen by some sentient ALIEN armor to wear it and become a KICKASS warrior.
He was a great warrior before the armor – Visigoth and all – but after the Armor? Yeah.
So this is fun, ancient warrior ethos plus ALIENS and then more ALIENS and lots of fighting and the armor is AWESOME.
Like – Remember that time you got the aliens armor and you kicked everyone’s ass? That was awesome!
September 26, 2013
Aric is a 5th century Visigoth warrior fighting the Roman Empire who have driven his people from Dacia, their homeland (modern day Romania). During a fateful battle, he loses his father and wife thanks to his brash, immature tactics and later, while leading a rescue party, he encounters what he believes to be a Roman slave vessel only to discover it's an alien craft. The alien race - known as the Vine - abduct Aric and a number of his people, taking them to their ships to toil as slaves, cultivating their holy plants. And it's here that Aric discovers Shanhara, the legendary sentient X-O Manowar armour, one of the most powerful weapons in the universe, that has rejected everyone who has tried to wear it. Everyone - until it chooses Aric to bond with. Now after years of torture at the hands of alien overlords, suddenly the boot is on the other foot and Aric is one angry dude with one hell of a weapon to exact his revenge! But then Aric returns to Earth to make a shocking discovery...
This was the first series in Valiant's 2012 re-launch and is definitely my favourite of the titles I've read so far. I didn't read Valiant back in the 1990s so can't compare this one to the original series, but as it's a total reboot of the series, new readers needn't worry about jumping on with Book 1 - they start Aric's story all over again. This is also my first Robert Venditti book and I'm really impressed with his writing - the story could go a completely different direction under the stewardship of a less talented writer but Venditti's ideas and writing style have made X-O Manowar a hugely enjoyable read and a master-class in comics writing.
Conceptually, X-O Manowar is what you get when you give Conan the Barbarian Iron Man armour, though it appears semi-organic in assembly so Manga fans will spot a resemblance between Shanhara and the Guyver armour minus the hilarious breast cannons (but seriously Guyver is a super awesome series when you're a teenager). It's amazing that this book is just four issues because Venditti manages to put so much into them that it feels like you're getting more than you realise. The ambitious story of a Bronze Age character making it into a sci-fi story and becoming a superhero is a complicated one but Venditti breaks it down to the characters and it feels more personal and affecting as a result.
I also enjoyed the way he depicted the Vine - rather than lazily writing them as evil alien overlords with one facet to their personality, he gives them depth with multiple layers to their culture and society. For example, the fact that they have a strong religious foundation juxtaposed with their obviously militant approach to their endeavours could be a parody of the 21st century USA, but even if it's not, it makes a change for a writer to tackle the villain as being more than single-minded cartoons. Worshipping Shanhara, plants and fruit, and abducting other aliens and replacing them with their own, all speak to a more complex type of character than simply the arbitrary bad guy.
You also get some fantastic space superhero action once Aric bonds with the Manowar armour and takes on the Vine forces. Artist Cary Nord draws some outstanding fight sequences throughout, from the initial basic fighting between the Visigoths and the Romans, to the scenes between Aric and the Vine. Nord has won awards for his artwork on Conan the Barbarian so he's a perfect fit for Conan in space and it really shows in his work on this book.
X-O Manowar, Book 1: By the Sword is an excellent first book featuring first class storytelling, writing and art. Aric's story is a compelling one - what will the unsophisticated barbarian do with one of the most powerful weapons in the universe only he can use? I'm definitely on board to find out what he does next. This is an absolutely quality title that's well worth your time.
This was the first series in Valiant's 2012 re-launch and is definitely my favourite of the titles I've read so far. I didn't read Valiant back in the 1990s so can't compare this one to the original series, but as it's a total reboot of the series, new readers needn't worry about jumping on with Book 1 - they start Aric's story all over again. This is also my first Robert Venditti book and I'm really impressed with his writing - the story could go a completely different direction under the stewardship of a less talented writer but Venditti's ideas and writing style have made X-O Manowar a hugely enjoyable read and a master-class in comics writing.
Conceptually, X-O Manowar is what you get when you give Conan the Barbarian Iron Man armour, though it appears semi-organic in assembly so Manga fans will spot a resemblance between Shanhara and the Guyver armour minus the hilarious breast cannons (but seriously Guyver is a super awesome series when you're a teenager). It's amazing that this book is just four issues because Venditti manages to put so much into them that it feels like you're getting more than you realise. The ambitious story of a Bronze Age character making it into a sci-fi story and becoming a superhero is a complicated one but Venditti breaks it down to the characters and it feels more personal and affecting as a result.
I also enjoyed the way he depicted the Vine - rather than lazily writing them as evil alien overlords with one facet to their personality, he gives them depth with multiple layers to their culture and society. For example, the fact that they have a strong religious foundation juxtaposed with their obviously militant approach to their endeavours could be a parody of the 21st century USA, but even if it's not, it makes a change for a writer to tackle the villain as being more than single-minded cartoons. Worshipping Shanhara, plants and fruit, and abducting other aliens and replacing them with their own, all speak to a more complex type of character than simply the arbitrary bad guy.
You also get some fantastic space superhero action once Aric bonds with the Manowar armour and takes on the Vine forces. Artist Cary Nord draws some outstanding fight sequences throughout, from the initial basic fighting between the Visigoths and the Romans, to the scenes between Aric and the Vine. Nord has won awards for his artwork on Conan the Barbarian so he's a perfect fit for Conan in space and it really shows in his work on this book.
X-O Manowar, Book 1: By the Sword is an excellent first book featuring first class storytelling, writing and art. Aric's story is a compelling one - what will the unsophisticated barbarian do with one of the most powerful weapons in the universe only he can use? I'm definitely on board to find out what he does next. This is an absolutely quality title that's well worth your time.
March 9, 2025
Good story!
May 4, 2017
A wild ride, albeit a rather generic one: 2.5 stars for this barbarian in space.
July 24, 2016
I've heard nothing but good things about the Valiant Universe and since my brain seems to give me this undying need to read every comic ever written, I eventually found a detailed reading list for the the entire Valiant line since 2012 (because I am a sadist) and dove right in with this first volume of their original flagship title, X-O Manowar. I had no idea what to expect, outside of a few comics written by Robert Venditti that I'd read before (primarily his Green Lantern and Flash runs).
The story opens in 400 AD, when a Visigoth warrior and his comrades are captured by an alien race known as the Vine; he conspires to escape, only to find that everything isn't exactly as he left it...
X-O seems to merge some Iron Man and Captain America together; man out of time + super suit = X-O, which works pretty well. We get a good sense of who Aric is across these issues, how he never gives up despite overwhelming odds, his loyalty to his friends, and even some of his more negative traits like a terrible temper and brashness. He feels like a well-rounded character very quickly, even in only four issues.
This arc feels like the first movie in a series; we have the prologue of Aric in Rome trying to save his family, then the middle act on the Vine ship as he tries to save his friends, and then the final act against the secondary threat, complete with last minute twist and post-credits scene. It's a solid formula, and a good set-up for more. I'm definitely interested to see what happens next, and how he adapts to his new surroundings.
The artwork is a little lacking in detail for my taste, even if Cary Nord is meant to be a very acclaimed artist. It feels sometimes unfinished, and looking at the pencils in the back of the trade, this is definitely the case. Nord seems to pencil quite lightly and then leave the inker and colourist to put in the rest of the details, which is a little detrimental to the overall story. It's not a game-changer, but seeing someone like Lee Garbett on volume 2 makes me look forward to that a little more.
Despite some dodgy visuals at points, this is a good introduction to the Valiant Universe, giving us an origin story for their main hero as well as a set-up and springboard for a lot of their other titles too. Looks like I've got another series to plough through.
The story opens in 400 AD, when a Visigoth warrior and his comrades are captured by an alien race known as the Vine; he conspires to escape, only to find that everything isn't exactly as he left it...
X-O seems to merge some Iron Man and Captain America together; man out of time + super suit = X-O, which works pretty well. We get a good sense of who Aric is across these issues, how he never gives up despite overwhelming odds, his loyalty to his friends, and even some of his more negative traits like a terrible temper and brashness. He feels like a well-rounded character very quickly, even in only four issues.
This arc feels like the first movie in a series; we have the prologue of Aric in Rome trying to save his family, then the middle act on the Vine ship as he tries to save his friends, and then the final act against the secondary threat, complete with last minute twist and post-credits scene. It's a solid formula, and a good set-up for more. I'm definitely interested to see what happens next, and how he adapts to his new surroundings.
The artwork is a little lacking in detail for my taste, even if Cary Nord is meant to be a very acclaimed artist. It feels sometimes unfinished, and looking at the pencils in the back of the trade, this is definitely the case. Nord seems to pencil quite lightly and then leave the inker and colourist to put in the rest of the details, which is a little detrimental to the overall story. It's not a game-changer, but seeing someone like Lee Garbett on volume 2 makes me look forward to that a little more.
Despite some dodgy visuals at points, this is a good introduction to the Valiant Universe, giving us an origin story for their main hero as well as a set-up and springboard for a lot of their other titles too. Looks like I've got another series to plough through.
July 2, 2021
This was such a great volume!
It picks with this guy named Aric of Dacia as he is a visigoth and they are fighting the romans when he loses his close ones and even more surprisingly they get abducted by the aliens called Vine and they are forced to work as labor but one day they make plans for escape and he stumbles upon the Armor of Shanhara and using it he knocks them down and loses his companions and returns to earth only to see a changed world.
Its a great volume and is a great origin start for the character and I love the simple writing style which shows this world and how its different but yet familiar and showing a man whose so much out of time and lost so much thanks to these vines and we learn the aliens secret motive and their affiliation with Earth and its intriguing. I like where its going and a mysterious man in the end. Plus the art was so good. Nord knows how to get into the heart of the characters and shows them wonderfully and the colors compliment it really well.
It picks with this guy named Aric of Dacia as he is a visigoth and they are fighting the romans when he loses his close ones and even more surprisingly they get abducted by the aliens called Vine and they are forced to work as labor but one day they make plans for escape and he stumbles upon the Armor of Shanhara and using it he knocks them down and loses his companions and returns to earth only to see a changed world.
Its a great volume and is a great origin start for the character and I love the simple writing style which shows this world and how its different but yet familiar and showing a man whose so much out of time and lost so much thanks to these vines and we learn the aliens secret motive and their affiliation with Earth and its intriguing. I like where its going and a mysterious man in the end. Plus the art was so good. Nord knows how to get into the heart of the characters and shows them wonderfully and the colors compliment it really well.
August 7, 2021
X-O Manowar volume 1 kicks off the new Valiant Entertainment comic line that restarted in 2012. I really want to get into Valiant comics but there aren't at on in the library system and I haven't started buying them yet. Amazingly this popped up in the library's database recently and I was exceptionally happy to finally give it a try. X-O Manowar is an Iron Man type of hero, he has a suit of armor that makes him strong, but the biggest difference is that X-O is from the 4th century. Aric is a barbarian that is attacking the Roman Empire when he comes across aliens on Earth. Thinking they are a part of the Roman Legion, he attacks, only to get captured, and sent into space. Aric ends up stealing a mythical suit of armor from the aliens and returning into the present time of 2012.
This was a lot of fun with great art. I really appreciated the historical aspect to the story, it gave Aric a very different personality than most superheroes. I will definitely continue this story.
This was a lot of fun with great art. I really appreciated the historical aspect to the story, it gave Aric a very different personality than most superheroes. I will definitely continue this story.
June 6, 2021
For deeper analysis, check out the Club Valiant episode on IFLC. It’s a channel I co-host with my friends: https://youtu.be/rgaInLcMY9w
*****second read*****
I love X-O.
I’m doing a very serious Valiant readthrough where I read it all in order, because I’m interviewing Heather Antos soon for my YouTube and I don’t wanna sound like a schmuck... and I fucking love it. Valiant rules.
I can’t wait to read the next 300 trade paperbacks!!!
*******first read*******
Bad fucking ass.
It’s Spartacus, but with aliens and super powered armor.
The writing is a little clunky and almost dated... but to be honest, it works. This feels like a golden age of something, in a weird way. It feels like unabashed, bold, honest comic book writing without even a hint of pretentiousness. I think that the way this book made me feel is similar to how Stan Lee’s work made people feel in the 60s. There’s something so fresh to it.
The art is cool (if not a bit dated looking in it’s own way.)
there’s obviously some universe building at play, as well as things that may have to be retcon corrected... but who cares. It’s a kickass premise and i was engaged with every panel.
I really can’t wait to see what the world has in store for X-O Manowar.
*****second read*****
I love X-O.
I’m doing a very serious Valiant readthrough where I read it all in order, because I’m interviewing Heather Antos soon for my YouTube and I don’t wanna sound like a schmuck... and I fucking love it. Valiant rules.
I can’t wait to read the next 300 trade paperbacks!!!
*******first read*******
Bad fucking ass.
It’s Spartacus, but with aliens and super powered armor.
The writing is a little clunky and almost dated... but to be honest, it works. This feels like a golden age of something, in a weird way. It feels like unabashed, bold, honest comic book writing without even a hint of pretentiousness. I think that the way this book made me feel is similar to how Stan Lee’s work made people feel in the 60s. There’s something so fresh to it.
The art is cool (if not a bit dated looking in it’s own way.)
there’s obviously some universe building at play, as well as things that may have to be retcon corrected... but who cares. It’s a kickass premise and i was engaged with every panel.
I really can’t wait to see what the world has in store for X-O Manowar.
June 2, 2022
Took a break from my Spider-Man Epic Collection to finally check out X-O Manowar. And I was pleasantly surprised. A crazily unique character and origin. Every page of this first volume enforces the story.
It’s TROY meets District 9, but with Tony Stark armor. Our hero Aric isn’t exactly the noble do-gooder, yet we feel his anger towards Rome and his longing for his wife.
The volume ends with a tease towards his possible opposition or reluctant ally in Alexander. There’s also a Changeling/Bodysnatchers thing going on in the background. I think I’ll keep diving into these Valiant Comics. If this is any indication of their quality, I’m sold.
It’s TROY meets District 9, but with Tony Stark armor. Our hero Aric isn’t exactly the noble do-gooder, yet we feel his anger towards Rome and his longing for his wife.
The volume ends with a tease towards his possible opposition or reluctant ally in Alexander. There’s also a Changeling/Bodysnatchers thing going on in the background. I think I’ll keep diving into these Valiant Comics. If this is any indication of their quality, I’m sold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2018
My first Valiant comic - a good start to a promising new Universe.
An enjoyable read with some great action illustration, however I feel like a lot of key points were glazed over in this first issue, I’m hoping they are flushed out in further issues. I’m intrigued enough to continue with the next volume.
An enjoyable read with some great action illustration, however I feel like a lot of key points were glazed over in this first issue, I’m hoping they are flushed out in further issues. I’m intrigued enough to continue with the next volume.
May 4, 2015
3.5 stars if I could.
I don't know jack in regards to the whole Valiant universe from the 90's. I don't know jack about the Valiant reboots of now. I do know, however, that this was a pretty fun read. I mean seriously, A barbarian in space?
Yes, please!
August 5, 2015
While I had no interest in this one I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did. I think the midway twist really got me into the story. The way the story is allowed to jump around through different times keeps it interesting.
June 8, 2018
This supposedly relaunched the line for this company but I'm not feeling it. This was just okay, and didn't think that this was that great, to be honest. Am I missing something?
May 3, 2018
Robert Venditti - writer
Cary Nord - illustrator
Stefano Gaudiano - inker
Moose Baumann - colorist
This is pretty much a direct re-telling of the original X-O Manowar series origin from the 1990s, and the idea that made the original so compelling in the first place is still just as interesting: What happens when a literal barbarian appears in the modern world with the most powerful weapon in the Universe? The story is captivating, cheers to veteran writer Venditti. No insult intended to Nord, Gaudiano, and Baumann but at times the art is somewhat amateurish - the linework feels a little dirty (for lack of a better term), action scenes can be confusing, and the backgrounds are often completely blank or poorly developed. The art improves noticeably in later volumes, but unfortunately it clearly detracts from the overall product here. Still, a very solid story that modernizes the X-O Manowar mythos and sets the stage for a lot of great stories to come.
3.5/5
Recommended.
Cary Nord - illustrator
Stefano Gaudiano - inker
Moose Baumann - colorist
This is pretty much a direct re-telling of the original X-O Manowar series origin from the 1990s, and the idea that made the original so compelling in the first place is still just as interesting: What happens when a literal barbarian appears in the modern world with the most powerful weapon in the Universe? The story is captivating, cheers to veteran writer Venditti. No insult intended to Nord, Gaudiano, and Baumann but at times the art is somewhat amateurish - the linework feels a little dirty (for lack of a better term), action scenes can be confusing, and the backgrounds are often completely blank or poorly developed. The art improves noticeably in later volumes, but unfortunately it clearly detracts from the overall product here. Still, a very solid story that modernizes the X-O Manowar mythos and sets the stage for a lot of great stories to come.
3.5/5
Recommended.
January 24, 2020
Ez egy kellemes kis sci-fi képregény, ami arról szól, hogy egy vizigót harcost, Aric-ot - a rómaiakkal folytatott háború pillanatnyi szünetében - néhány társával együtt elrabolja egy idegen faj, nevezetesen a Vine, akiknek Aric és társai csupán rabszolgának kellenek. A Vine-ról azt kell tudni, hogy egy különleges páncél, az X-O Manowar képezi imádatuk tárgyát, melyet hitük szerint csak az arra legérdemesebb harcos tudja viselni. Ennek köszönhetően bizonyos időközönként a páncél el is fogyaszt egy-két harcost. Aztán na, találjátok, ki, hogy vajon mi fog történni! :) De attól függetlenül, hogy az egyik főbb fordulat gond nélkül kitalálható, a másik azért szolgált némi meglepetéssel, és biztos, hogy folytatni fogom a szériát, mert nagyon kíváncsi vagyok, hogy mi fog ebből kikerekedni. Bár azt nagyon remélem, hogy a következő részekben nem lesz ennyire kapkodós a sztori.
A rajzolás nekem bejött, igazából semmi extra. A borítók viszont nagyon jól néznek ki.
A rajzolás nekem bejött, igazából semmi extra. A borítók viszont nagyon jól néznek ki.
January 13, 2024
Lo leí exclusivamente por el reto xd quería leer x-me pero tiene tantas sagas y nuevos inicios que me hice bolita jajaj no sabía cual era el principio y entonces llegué a este comic.
Está en el año 402 D C en medio de estas luchas por conquistar terrenos y a su vez defenderlos. De esta forma seguimos la historia de los Visigodos vs los romanos. Esta claro quien tiene la ventaja xd pero tras un enfrentamiento y la captura de esclavos, que en un principio se pensó fueron los propios romanos, resultó que no. Los prisioneros fueron capturados por una raza alienigena que algo hizo con los bebes y resulta que ahora el protagonista les quitara las armas y hay un traje especial que ahora lo hará más fuerte así que en teoría, el giro de la guerra cambiará.
Popsugar reading challenge 50. Un libro en el que el título empiece por la letra X
Está en el año 402 D C en medio de estas luchas por conquistar terrenos y a su vez defenderlos. De esta forma seguimos la historia de los Visigodos vs los romanos. Esta claro quien tiene la ventaja xd pero tras un enfrentamiento y la captura de esclavos, que en un principio se pensó fueron los propios romanos, resultó que no. Los prisioneros fueron capturados por una raza alienigena que algo hizo con los bebes y resulta que ahora el protagonista les quitara las armas y hay un traje especial que ahora lo hará más fuerte así que en teoría, el giro de la guerra cambiará.
Popsugar reading challenge 50. Un libro en el que el título empiece por la letra X
June 11, 2015
Find this and many other reviews at Geekritique!
I'm on a Valiant kick. And no, don't worry, I won't spam your feeds like I did last week with three reviews in a day. But that was fun. Valiant Entertainment is at the top of their game, in seemingly every book of theirs I get my hands on. And with their recent 5-film deal with Sony Pictures, many of their most acclaimed characters will be brought to life on screen. For those who don't know what their deal is, Valiant is a comic book company that was extremely popular in the 90s, but failed investments took the company south. Recently (as in 2012), Valiant was reborn, and has since accrued a cult following for their mature, gritty universe full of believable superheroes.
'X-O Manowar' was one of the more popular original characters in the 90s (and with a name like that, he has to be a 90s kid). It's no wonder he was one of the first to be brought back to the printed page in 2012, alongside Harbinger and Bloodshot. The story is beyond epic. Volume 1: By the Sword collects issues 1-4. Spoilers from here on out.
We're thrown right into an ancient battle between the Roman Legion and the Visigoth nomads. Aric of Dacia, a Visigoth warrior, leads an attack that ends in his father's passing, and the Visigoth army falls back. That night, several Visigoths confuse an alien ship with Roman ingenuity and totally get abducted; Aric included. These aliens, aptly called Vine, use them to farm on their ship, growing vines, fruits, and other harvestable items that the aliens hold sacred. Something else the Vine hold sacred? Shanhara, or the Manowar armor.
The Manowar armor appears to be a living organism of immeasurable power, capable of determining who is worthy of donning its royal shininess. Aric is worthy, odd enough (didn't see that coming), and he breaks free of the ship to head back to earth, to save his wife from the Romans. But when he gets to earth he fails to realize this is totally not 402 AD anymore. It's modern-day. He causes a ruckus at the colisseum, potentially kills some soldiers, and is, by the end of Volume 1, considered a terrorist, armed and dangerous.
This book has a whole lot of awesome going on, and does an excellent job of whetting your appetite for the fight in the issues and volumes to follow. It consistently delivers satisfying resolutions to problems, with plenty of action and sci-fi elements to keep you turning page after page. I personally love the idea that a barbarian is flying around in some sort of sentient armor with godlike abilities, akin to Marvel's Iron Man.
My concern is that he, Aric, is extremely rash, and often just stupid. As I mentioned, he confused a spaceship with Roman weaponry. And he confused modern day Rome (he landed on a military aerial base) with the Roman Empire of his time. Fool me once...
They never do explain the 'X-O' part of his name. But wow, this was a cool read. I'm really starting to fall in love with Valiant's trade paperback catalogue. They've seriously got such consistently good storytelling that it pains me I haven't yet read more. X-O Manowar appears to be no different. And it looks like there's plenty to look forward to, as it's an ongoing series.
I'm on a Valiant kick. And no, don't worry, I won't spam your feeds like I did last week with three reviews in a day. But that was fun. Valiant Entertainment is at the top of their game, in seemingly every book of theirs I get my hands on. And with their recent 5-film deal with Sony Pictures, many of their most acclaimed characters will be brought to life on screen. For those who don't know what their deal is, Valiant is a comic book company that was extremely popular in the 90s, but failed investments took the company south. Recently (as in 2012), Valiant was reborn, and has since accrued a cult following for their mature, gritty universe full of believable superheroes.
'X-O Manowar' was one of the more popular original characters in the 90s (and with a name like that, he has to be a 90s kid). It's no wonder he was one of the first to be brought back to the printed page in 2012, alongside Harbinger and Bloodshot. The story is beyond epic. Volume 1: By the Sword collects issues 1-4. Spoilers from here on out.
We're thrown right into an ancient battle between the Roman Legion and the Visigoth nomads. Aric of Dacia, a Visigoth warrior, leads an attack that ends in his father's passing, and the Visigoth army falls back. That night, several Visigoths confuse an alien ship with Roman ingenuity and totally get abducted; Aric included. These aliens, aptly called Vine, use them to farm on their ship, growing vines, fruits, and other harvestable items that the aliens hold sacred. Something else the Vine hold sacred? Shanhara, or the Manowar armor.
The Manowar armor appears to be a living organism of immeasurable power, capable of determining who is worthy of donning its royal shininess. Aric is worthy, odd enough (didn't see that coming), and he breaks free of the ship to head back to earth, to save his wife from the Romans. But when he gets to earth he fails to realize this is totally not 402 AD anymore. It's modern-day. He causes a ruckus at the colisseum, potentially kills some soldiers, and is, by the end of Volume 1, considered a terrorist, armed and dangerous.
This book has a whole lot of awesome going on, and does an excellent job of whetting your appetite for the fight in the issues and volumes to follow. It consistently delivers satisfying resolutions to problems, with plenty of action and sci-fi elements to keep you turning page after page. I personally love the idea that a barbarian is flying around in some sort of sentient armor with godlike abilities, akin to Marvel's Iron Man.
My concern is that he, Aric, is extremely rash, and often just stupid. As I mentioned, he confused a spaceship with Roman weaponry. And he confused modern day Rome (he landed on a military aerial base) with the Roman Empire of his time. Fool me once...
They never do explain the 'X-O' part of his name. But wow, this was a cool read. I'm really starting to fall in love with Valiant's trade paperback catalogue. They've seriously got such consistently good storytelling that it pains me I haven't yet read more. X-O Manowar appears to be no different. And it looks like there's plenty to look forward to, as it's an ongoing series.
Grab this in:
Hardcover | Paperback
May 26, 2013
Conan the barbarian meets space opera.
A Visigoth warrior, fights for freedom against the Romans – used to spilling blood on the battle field he’s accustomed to the sticky red coating his person and soddening the ground beneath his feat. Fearless in the face of death, Aric of Dacia fights to preserve his family’s life and the way of the Visigoth people. The opening pages of #1 of BY THE SWORD conveys this message through beautiful rendered graphics and tightly formulated dialogue. Aric’s warrior nature and thirst for battle are well established and lay the foundation for his eventual capture aboard a Vine colony ship.
The Armour of Shanhara – the X-O Manowar suit, cherished by the priests aboard the space ship chooses it’s beholder – time and time again mighty Vine warriors succumb to a painful death upon donning the powerful armour. Aric, a slave , treated little more than cattle orchestrates a plan to rise up against his captures which ultimately leads him to the armour. From there things get interesting. “Shanhara has chosen a human.” - #2
Of the four issues that comprise BY THE SWORD, the opening 3 are the best. I liked the space opera feel aboard the Vine colony ship and look forward to reading more along these lines in the third arc PLANET DEATH (which follows the very good second arc ENTER NINJAK which I bought as individual comics).
While the Vine have some interesting characters, this title is really all about Aric (for this edition anyway). As a result the reader gets to become familiar with the character and is able to feel for his misplacement (some sixteen centuries post his abduction – time has a different meaning in deep space).
Though I have some time to wait until PLANET DEATH is released as a collected trade edition, BY THE SWORD easily caters to my space opera need.
I’ve got to say, the aesthetics of X-O MANOWARD VOL.1: BY THE SWORD is one of the most pleasing I’ve come across in recent times. The issues are separated by their original covers, a heap of information and timeline are provided at the beginning of the book and the extras contain images of alterative covers, listings of other Valiant collections and a blurb of VOL.2 ENTER NINJAK.
Given the ever expanding Valiant interconnected universe, this title has a tone of re-read appeal. Bring on PLANET DEATH – I can’t wait to read more of the Vine on their home turf. 4 stars.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
A Visigoth warrior, fights for freedom against the Romans – used to spilling blood on the battle field he’s accustomed to the sticky red coating his person and soddening the ground beneath his feat. Fearless in the face of death, Aric of Dacia fights to preserve his family’s life and the way of the Visigoth people. The opening pages of #1 of BY THE SWORD conveys this message through beautiful rendered graphics and tightly formulated dialogue. Aric’s warrior nature and thirst for battle are well established and lay the foundation for his eventual capture aboard a Vine colony ship.
The Armour of Shanhara – the X-O Manowar suit, cherished by the priests aboard the space ship chooses it’s beholder – time and time again mighty Vine warriors succumb to a painful death upon donning the powerful armour. Aric, a slave , treated little more than cattle orchestrates a plan to rise up against his captures which ultimately leads him to the armour. From there things get interesting. “Shanhara has chosen a human.” - #2
Of the four issues that comprise BY THE SWORD, the opening 3 are the best. I liked the space opera feel aboard the Vine colony ship and look forward to reading more along these lines in the third arc PLANET DEATH (which follows the very good second arc ENTER NINJAK which I bought as individual comics).
While the Vine have some interesting characters, this title is really all about Aric (for this edition anyway). As a result the reader gets to become familiar with the character and is able to feel for his misplacement (some sixteen centuries post his abduction – time has a different meaning in deep space).
Though I have some time to wait until PLANET DEATH is released as a collected trade edition, BY THE SWORD easily caters to my space opera need.
I’ve got to say, the aesthetics of X-O MANOWARD VOL.1: BY THE SWORD is one of the most pleasing I’ve come across in recent times. The issues are separated by their original covers, a heap of information and timeline are provided at the beginning of the book and the extras contain images of alterative covers, listings of other Valiant collections and a blurb of VOL.2 ENTER NINJAK.
Given the ever expanding Valiant interconnected universe, this title has a tone of re-read appeal. Bring on PLANET DEATH – I can’t wait to read more of the Vine on their home turf. 4 stars.
This review also appears on my blog: http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
April 17, 2013
I was never a fan of the original Valiant line way back in the early 90's, and thought that books like Rai and Turok were just basement bargain comics that deserved to be in the 10 for $1 box beneath the other back issues. So when I heard that someone was resurrecting the Valiant line, I was severely skeptical and even after reading two volumes of XO, I remain a skeptic.
I'll say that this doesn't exactly live up to its hype, and that I'd much prefer to read Wood and Cloonan's Current Conan series. I just don't think most writers understand what it takes to build a world, let alone characters that we are emotionally invested in to inhabit that world.
I'll give XO all the credit it deserves for not having any lulls in action. It is seriously action-packed from start to finish. But I assume this to be the case because Venditti lacks the necessary skills to give us interesting scenes where there isn't some sort of war or fight or plotting going on. The book suffers for not giving us the time to connect to the protagonist on an emotional level, and just having flashbacks of him having sex with his old lady isn't enough to humanize him. So for now, things feel pretty stiff. I'm hoping Venditti can limber up and make things feel more real, more human, and give us a reason to care about Aric. Because as of now, it's just mildly intriguing.
Nord's art isn't anything stellar, and feels purposely unfinished. To what end, I'm not certain. I think we could have benefitted from cleaner inks than this, especially during battle scenes. The sloppy and erratic shading bugs me, but I can't say that it's bad. It's just completely average. The coloring saves it most times with its clean and clear style.
Writing: C+
Art: C
I'll say that this doesn't exactly live up to its hype, and that I'd much prefer to read Wood and Cloonan's Current Conan series. I just don't think most writers understand what it takes to build a world, let alone characters that we are emotionally invested in to inhabit that world.
I'll give XO all the credit it deserves for not having any lulls in action. It is seriously action-packed from start to finish. But I assume this to be the case because Venditti lacks the necessary skills to give us interesting scenes where there isn't some sort of war or fight or plotting going on. The book suffers for not giving us the time to connect to the protagonist on an emotional level, and just having flashbacks of him having sex with his old lady isn't enough to humanize him. So for now, things feel pretty stiff. I'm hoping Venditti can limber up and make things feel more real, more human, and give us a reason to care about Aric. Because as of now, it's just mildly intriguing.
Nord's art isn't anything stellar, and feels purposely unfinished. To what end, I'm not certain. I think we could have benefitted from cleaner inks than this, especially during battle scenes. The sloppy and erratic shading bugs me, but I can't say that it's bad. It's just completely average. The coloring saves it most times with its clean and clear style.
Writing: C+
Art: C
December 25, 2016
Sou assinante do Social Comics. E uma das coisas mais interessantes do serviço é ter a oportunidade de ler os títulos da elogiada editora Valiant, publicados no Brasil pela editora HQM. Seus super-heróis são uma boa alternativa para quem quer fugir da dobradinha DC/Marvel. No caso de X-O Manowar, temos uma premissa interessante: um guerreiro visigodo que luta, no século 5, contra o Império Romano é capturado e escravizado por alienígenas e acaba vestindo uma armadura sagrada. Shanhara é uma armadura senciente e dá poderes ao seu escolhido que deixariam o Homem de Ferro se borrando. O roteiro desenvolve bem a melhor sacada da série que é acompanhar o comportamento de um "bárbaro" num universo de FC de alta tecnologia. Arte e cor têm seus momentos de impacto. Não é uma HQ que você vai ficar boquiaberto, mas há bons motivos para continuar acompanhando.
March 1, 2014
I spent some time with Valiant in the 90s as a kid. I had an X-O Manowar poster, and even his weird crossover Playstation game with Iron Man. When the "Summer of Valiant" happened, it was almost surreal to see new takes on characters I had grown to see as dated. This reboot is wonderful, re-inventing some truly unique concepts that were well worth revisiting. The time-displaced barbarian in plant-monster ritual armor is an awesome character, that still has a lot to offer the comic book world. I am stoked for his return.
March 1, 2021
I've never read Valiant comics before and I am not familiar with the characters either. Went in totally blind. And I've to say, I'm pretty impressed.
This is the first comic in the Valiant Universe and if the other characters are anything like Aric, this is going to be a great journey.
The art is top notch, the storytelling is awesome and I loved the character. The series is heavy on graphic blood and I'd not recommend it to a younger audience. But somehow it draws you in with a morbid fascination.
This is the first comic in the Valiant Universe and if the other characters are anything like Aric, this is going to be a great journey.
The art is top notch, the storytelling is awesome and I loved the character. The series is heavy on graphic blood and I'd not recommend it to a younger audience. But somehow it draws you in with a morbid fascination.
August 24, 2017
How do you rate a book that is basically exactly what you were expecting it to be?
This relaunch of X-O Manowar certainly met my expectations in those regards, but I seem to have breezed through the 4 issues so quickly no lasting impression was really made.
This relaunch of X-O Manowar certainly met my expectations in those regards, but I seem to have breezed through the 4 issues so quickly no lasting impression was really made.
August 5, 2024
Visigoths in space.
I mean, it's more complicated than that, and includes aliens, abductions, and sacred living weapons. It's a bit brutal, but I honestly sometimes crave that in my reading: it can be cathartic for me and I was in a stressful enough place that I needed that catharsis.
I mean, it's more complicated than that, and includes aliens, abductions, and sacred living weapons. It's a bit brutal, but I honestly sometimes crave that in my reading: it can be cathartic for me and I was in a stressful enough place that I needed that catharsis.
July 8, 2016
Really interesting! I can see why this is the main Valiant title, it definitely has that "Batman/Superman/Ironman/Cap. America" feel to it, if that makes sense.
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