COMMENTARY TRACK: X-O Manowar #1

[CBR News]

Writer Robert Venditti takes readers inside the action of Valiant's reborn superpowered Visigoth warrior, explaining how he and Cary Nord teamed to create "X-O Manowar" #1 from legendary historical battles to the secrets of alien invasions.


Full article here.

[Destro777]

Sounds like he might not get the armor for another 2 issues or so. Regardless, super excited.

[fredmanson]

I am waiting this book with great impatience!!!! And with Cary Nord at the drawing table, it is a pure chef-d'oeuvre!!!!

[mdg1]

Sounds like he might not get the armor for another 2 issues or so. Regardless, super excited.

Which matches the solicits, unfortunately, just as I feared. While I appreciate wanting to start the series off big, and the work Vendetti did to make it look authentic, spending so much time in the past comes off as filler. And at $4 a pop…

[rasx]

Which matches the solicits, unfortunately, just as I feared. While I appreciate wanting to start the series off big, and the work Vendetti did to make it look authentic, spending so much time in the past comes off as filler. And at $4 a pop…

Agreed, by #2 Aric should have the armor and be in the 21st century.

[mdg1]

Agreed, by #2 Aric should have the armor and be in the 21st century.

If I had my druthers, the book would have opened in the 21st century, with a Bondian "teaser" showing Aric in battle with the armor. And THEN start the flashback story of how he got it. That way, a new reader gets at least a taste of where the story is headed.

If you think about it, the only reasons we know he'll end up in modern day are A) we know the character, and B) we read the news sites.

A new reader, coming at this cold, might assume that the whole story will take place in the past.

[rasx]

If I had my druthers, the book would have opened in the 21st century, with a Bondian "teaser" showing Aric in battle with the armor. And THEN start the flashback story of how he got it. That way, a new reader gets at least a taste of where the story is headed.

If you think about it, the only reasons we know he'll end up in modern day are A) we know the character, and B) we read the news sites.

A new reader, coming at this cold, might assume that the whole story will take place in the past.

Good points, let's hope that these barbarian stuff have a payoff in future arcs. Otherwise you can start reading this book at #4.

[Frank]

If I had my druthers, the book would have opened in the 21st century, with a Bondian "teaser" showing Aric in battle with the armor. And THEN start the flashback story of how he got it. That way, a new reader gets at least a taste of where the story is headed.

If you think about it, the only reasons we know he'll end up in modern day are A) we know the character, and B) we read the news sites.

A new reader, coming at this cold, might assume that the whole story will take place in the past.

I disagree because contrary to Marvel and DC, Valiant always had a more linear traditional storytelling and it's actually refreshing to see it told this way in this day and age. Sure it requires a greater effort from the reader but so what Valiant should be its own thing. If readers don't have the patience to go on a journey well screw them.

[Destro777]

Which matches the solicits, unfortunately, just as I feared. While I appreciate wanting to start the series off big, and the work Vendetti did to make it look authentic, spending so much time in the past comes off as filler. And at $4 a pop…

Its definitly a curious decision being that X-O is the big launch of the return of Valiant. That was the hook of the 90's beginning Valiant issues - toss the reader right into the character with little delay. They even saved the past stuff for issue 0 which came out a year+ after the book started. Im hoping they dont draw things out too much because they can ill afford to wait around in this day and age of comics and its competitive market. I liked the new issue and all but there could have been a lot more bite - and the main character in the armor :)