X-O Manowar #1 Reviewed

In this nation of re-makes and re-imaginings, it should be of no surprise that the gods of the paneled page would see fit to resurrect some beloved, albeit somewhat obscure comic book heroes to see if they are a good fit with today's audience. To that end...coming to local comic shops in the coming months are Bloodshot, Harbinger, Archer and Armstrong and X-O Manowar, all from Valiant Comics! We got an advance peek at X-O, so here's the skinny...

It is a time of conflict when the rich get richer and the poor are just happy to be alive. Romans dominate the country side, leaving little room for the nomadic Visigoths who have already been driven from their own lands. With no where left to go, they are forced to clash with the superior might of the Roman war machine..which seem to have acquired powers beyond that of mortal men! Amid the chaos of war, alien visitors have taken advantage of the chaos to cover their clandestine activities. Young Aric of the Visigoths, headstrong and bold, has already sacrificed the life of many a soldier to his recklessness. He is not about to let his surviving brothers in arms be taken by creatures such as these!!

The set up is practically Cowboys and Aliens, with the Cowboys replaced by Visigoths! Give me a sword and armor tale over six shooters and dirt any day. From the look of the covers, we already know what is in store for Aric and it seems we are in for a killer time watching him get there. This first issue has a bit of a slow burn going on, setting up the canvas on which this story will play out, but doesn't skimp on the realities of ancient warfare and the carnage that comes with it. Aric's world is literally falling apart around him, so by the time he comes across otherworldly beings, he has nothing to lose. This makes him dangerous. The writing is serious but not weighed down with it's morose subject matter, creating a fast read that will torment you as you await issue 2! Consider this an intense tease. You are shown the man...and what he could be. Now you have to buy a ticket to the full ride to see what happens next! My prediction? Alien body parts floating through space. Aric is an angry, angry young man.



















X-O Manowar hits comic shops Wednesday, May 2nd!

Valiant Resurrects Four Comic Titles

Valiant is proud to announce four new series for the summer of 2012 -- X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, and Archer & Armstrong -- featuring brand new beginnings for some of comics' most iconic characters! Kicking off with X-O Manowar in May and Harbinger in June, the Summer of Valiant continues this July in Bloodshot #1, from acclaimed writer Duane Swierczynski (Immortal Iron Fist, Birds of Prey) and artists Manuel Garcia (Checkmate, Spider Man: Breakout) & Arturo Lozzi (Immortal Weapons)! Then, in August, the Valiant Universe's greatest duo begins an all-new epic journey in Archer & Armstrong #1 by the New York Times bestselling creative team of Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man, Hulk: Season One) and Clayton Henry (Uncanny X-Men)! Four months. Four titles. Infinite possibilities. The Summer of Valiant is coming!

May: X-O Manowar #1
The Valiant Universe kicks off in this landmark, oversized first issue from New York Times-bestselling author Robert Venditti (The Surrogates, The Homeland Directive) and Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (Conan)! Born into battle, Aric of Dacia - heir to the throne of the Visigoth people - has never known peace. After a brutal encounter with a mysterious enemy known as The Vine leaves him a prisoner on an alien world, the only hope Aric has of returning to his family and saving them from slavery is to seize a weapon of incalculable destruction and become X-O Manowar!




X-O MANOWAR #1 - ON SALE MAY 2nd!
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by ESAD RIBIC (MAR121221)
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CARY NORD (MAR121222)
Variant Cover by DAVID AJA (MAR121223)
QR Voice Variant by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC (MAR121224)













June: Harbinger #1
From New York Times bestselling author Joshua Dysart (Unknown Soldier, BPRD) and Harvey Award nominee Khari Evans (Carbon Grey)! Read minds. Bend steel. Break all the rules! Teenager Pete Stanchek is out of work, on the skids, and - unbeknownst to him - a psionically-powered "harbinger" with the potential to reshape the course of human history. Toyo Harada is a wealthy business magnate, a respected philanthropist and the most powerful harbinger of all - or so he thought. As they forge an uneasy alliance, will Harada offer Pete a chance for redemption ­- or attempt to induct him into a secret network of conspiracy, subversion and control? When this super-hero comes of age, the entire Valiant Universe will have to learn the price of power.




HARBINGER #1 - ON SALE JUNE 6th!
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by KHARI EVANS
Cover by ARTURO LOZZI
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MICO SUAYAN
Variant Cover by DOUG BRAITHWAITE
QR Voice Variant by JELENA KEVIC-DJURDJEVIC













July: Bloodshot #1
From writer Duane Swierczynski (Immortal Iron Fist, Birds of Prey) and fan favorite artists Manuel Garcia (Checkmate, Spider-Man: Breakout) & Arturo Lozzi (Immortal Weapons)! Your name is Angelo Mortalli. Your brother is trapped behind enemy lines and on the verge of -- no. That's not right. Your name is Raymond Garrison. You've retired from the dangers of the field, but a desperate plea from your oldest friend plunges you into a vicious firefight that -- no. That's not right, either. You are Bloodshot. You are the shade of gray that freedom requires. The perfect confluence of military necessity and cutting-edge technology. A walking WikiLeaks that is a reservoir of dirty secrets that could set the world on fire. And you've just been captured.

BLOODSHOT #1 - ON SALE JULY 18th!
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by MANUEL GARCIA & ARTURO LOZZI
Cover by ARTURO LOZZI
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MICO SUAYAN
Variant Covers by DAVID AJA and ESAD RIBIC

August: Archer & Armstrong #1
From the New York Times bestselling creative team of Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man, Hulk: Season One) and Clayton Henry (Uncanny X-Men)! Born and raised to be the perfect assassin, 18-year-old Obadiah Archer has been chosen by The Sect -- a cult of fanatical extremists -- to destroy evil incarnate. But when Archer finally lays eyes on his target -- a surly, hard-drinking immortal named Armstrong -- he finds himself pulled into an unlikely partnership that will take him on globe-trotting quest to stay one step ahead of The Sect's next nefarious plot!
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #1 - ON SALE IN AUGUST!
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by DAVID AJA

A decade in the making, the all-new Valiant Universe is on the rise. X-O Manowar in May. Harbinger in June. Bloodshot in July. Archer & Armstrong in August. This summer, the story starts here!

For more info, check out ValiantUniverse.com