Title: X-O Manowar #25
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Cost: $4.99
Storytellers: Robert Venditti, Peter Milligan, and Justin Jordan (writers) with Diego Bernard, Bryan Hitch, J.G. Jones, and Rafer Roberts (artists)
The anniversary special of the new Valiant’s first series! We get multiple stories and features in this issue, which starts off with a one-page origin recap, that nicely sums up Aric’s origin and the story thus far. After that we get the two main stories, the first involving Aric paying his respects to his Uncle, his former King. In this story we get a lot of flashbacks and a nice simple story involving Aric’s past. In the second story, we get to know and follow the Armor Hunters after their kill at the end of the last issue. We learn more about them, their customs and what they do to a planet and it’s civilization after they hunt an armor and it’s wielder. The rest of the issue is filled with several pin-ups, an Owly and Wormy story involving Shanhara, a funny one-page story involving X-O and Shadowman getting a beer, several entries in the X-O Manowar Database, Robert Venditti’s original pitch for the series and an extensive cover gallery that goes all the way back to the original Valiant series.
Wow, what an anniversary issue! Valiant, you spoil me, as both of the big two would have given us a regular sized story with some reprints in the back and way overcharged us for it. You have give us all new stories and some great features that involve X-O. I loved the Owly and Wormy story, as it’s just plain fun! I give us more like the X-O Manowar Database and the Valiant Handbook from Free Comic Book Day. With this issue’s release, the Armor Hunters are almost here and it appears that the Valiant Universe will never be the same!
That’s not a mistake, this issue is double recommended, it’s that good! Happy Anniversary X-O Manowar and Valiant Entertainment/Comics!
I Got Issues... 