REVIEW: X-O Manowar, #5

[CBR News]

"X-O Manowar" #5 sees the ancient warrior come to grips with being in the present day as well as becoming the prey of a new foe: humans.


Full review here.

[BugsySig]

Great issue! Best one since the first. We finally get to see Aric developed in the modern day, kick ass action in the armor AND more plot development. Plus the introduction of Ninjak? That's an A+.

People were wondering how Ninjak would possibly manage to match up with XO and the answer was simple...he didn't. He approached it as a stealth operative would and got the job done. Very well executed by Venditti.

Looks like I was also right about Alexander serving in the role of Ken this time around...he doesn't seem too keen on the invasion and was more concerned about talking to Aric than anything. I think he is going to be a key part of the series from here on out.

[thewarning]

Great issue. Confused by the review's praise and, yet, 3 1/2 stars.

Whatever!

[BugsySig]

Great issue. Confused by the review's praise and, yet, 3 1/2 stars.

Whatever!

Yeah, while I love CBR for their news and coverage, I have stopped paying any attention to the actual ratings they give a book. It just never seems to measure up.

[Sentinel Supreme]

Yeah, while I love CBR for their news and coverage, I have stopped paying any attention to the actual ratings they give a book. It just never seems to measure up.

I have the same problems with The Buy Pile. Every time I read it I just shake my head and say "what the hell was he reading? Was he even looking at the same book?" Yes, CBR is not so good in the review department unfortunately, and their complete bias towards Marvel and DC shows, but their forums are generally pretty great and blogs like Comics Should Be Good and She Has No Head are what keep me coming back.

And, oh yeah! Great issue!

I have the same problems with X-O that I've had since the beginning, but this was a pretty great issue. Ninjak is still pretty meh as far as I'm concerned, but he was introduced pretty well in this comic and I'm curious to see what effect he's going to have on the Vine's plans in the future. Also, the art in this issue was so good I didn't even notice the change.

[nosocialize100]

I reviewed it and recommended it at the link in my signature. This Valiant relaunch continues to satisfy, largely because it’s not revealing too much too soon. Instead, the stories are allowed to grow organically in their own books as the larger universe begins to reveal itself. This issue continues to open things up and the art continues to excel.

[BugsySig]

I reviewed it and recommended it at the link in my signature. This Valiant relaunch continues to satisfy, largely because it’s not revealing too much too soon. Instead, the stories are allowed to grow organically in their own books as the larger universe begins to reveal itself. This issue continues to open things up and the art continues to excel.

Well said. Espescially about the universe unravelling slowly. Their was a hint in Harbinger that Harada knows about the Vine invasion and have no doubt that briefcase will come into play at some point.

[nosocialize100]

Well said. Espescially about the universe unravelling slowly. Their was a hint in Harbinger that Harada knows about the Vine invasion and have no doubt that briefcase will come into play at some point.

Oo thanks for the info. I haven't been reading Harbinger in the single issue format. My plan is to read X-O and Archer+Armstrong single issue and catch up with trades on the other books.

[md62]

Wow. This book just exploded. The pace, the violence, the action, Ninjak. Fantastic issue !!

[Hawkeyeps]

You were right BugsySig, Alexander will be the new Ken and the fact that he is Vine makes him even more untrust worthy than Ken was (at least he was human).

It will be interesting to see where this goes, the Vine must have something pretty bad in store for Alex to make him want to ally himself with Aric who had him tied up and was going to torture him to death. Maybe going to "Loam" isn't so great, sure as hell doesn't sound very good even though the other "plantings" seemed all jazzed about it.

"Coward? You're the one torturing a bound man." Ninjak is awesome!

[Mechano]

I was a little worried about how they would handle ninjak, but he came across perfectly... cold and professional. The part where aric's ear is clipped off by ninjak's star was great.

[Hawkeyeps]

That's how Ninjak taps you on the shoulder

[nosocialize100]

The ultra violence was shocking this issue. I love it, but I'm curious if they'll toy around with the "hero" being a murderer as well. I know he was a soldier in a time where brutal violence was necessary, so I'm thinking they'll toy around with this person having to stop himself from such violence.

[Darknet]

Pretty damn good issue. I liked Ninjak. He's smart by not taking on Aric head on. Because he'd be slaughtered. I also liked the little flashback with his wife. That "Nothing in this world can keep us apart" was clever, I thought.


I am hoping that we start to develop a cast of side characters for Aric here in the future. Don't get me wrong, I love Aric and the whole comic up to this point. But the comic can't continue to be good if we just only have Aric.

[Captain Craig]

Great issue. On several fronts.
I like how the issue showed us Aric coming to grips with the era he's now in by being in a place he understood, an old battlefield, while the innocence of a child was his touchstone. Aric and a child aren't normal companions in a panel, in my mind, which is why the irony of that moment worked so well for me.

I liked the Ninjak set up and felt it adequate. He gives us an understanding of his place and function in a confined world yet still leaves many mysteries about the man Ninjak to be uncovered later. His intellegience was keenly in play in how he dubdued Aric.

Looking forward to next month.Where is a DeLoreon when you really need it?!