Brandon I would say this issue is better than most issues of the series but not even close to being on the level of the last issue. The ending worked as it sets the table for the Vine to either make a change and be a future ally or to return as an even more menacing force for Aric after being off screen for a bit. Yet, it felt unsatisfying. There just wasn’t that, “FUCK YEAH!”, moment like there was last issue.
What about you? You aren’t usually high on this book. Did this issue feel like the same business for you or did it tickle your fancy?
David: Hilariously enough, I thought this issue felt light years better than the last issue. I mean, not even close in any sort of way. This was the best issue of X-O Manowar since the heyday of Ninjak being involved for me.
I suppose I could see why you would like this issue less – it quickly wraps up “Planet Death” in a nice little bow – but man, I dug the character stuff with the Vine, I thought Aric for once didn’t seem horrible (actually, kind of interesting and badass) and Cary Nord crushed this issue. I actually thought this was really, really solid, truth be told.
I still don’t know what the “Fuck yeah!” moment was in the last issue, but for me, I thought the battle sequence Nord brought to life in this one was so fuck yeah it was crazy. It was beautiful and quite badass.
So I have to ask, what felt unsatisfying? What do you feel was missing, besides a “Fuck yeah!” moment that I really, truly cannot remember from last issue?
Brandon: Well the lack of an excellent moment to latch onto hurt it. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the art. I felt that it got sloppy at times and even in the action moments that I thought really shined last issue, lacked that pop off the page badassery of the first. I could see there was action but it just didn’t have as big of an impact.
Truth be told it wasn’t the worst issue by a long shot. If anything it is my second favorite of the series. I just didn’t enjoy it as much as last issue. I felt last issue that everything was dialed in and the pop was there. The series though overall has been on a tremendous upswing the last two issues for me.
What worked so well for you in this issue compared to all the issues before it? Light years is a long way.
David: Well, I kind of highlighted the key reasons previously – and I didn’t mean all of the issues, I said it was light years better than the last issue – but hilariously enough, I’d say the main reason was the art. I thought Cary Nord was tremendously on-point this issue, compared to the last one where it felt like he had 30 minutes per page and he didn’t get to have any cohesive finishes.
This one was filled with broad battle scenes and well played out character moments in art, and I thought Venditti did a great job of setting him up to have those moments to work with. The full pages laying out the whole battleground, the individual flourishes of Aric attacking the fleet…I even think he had some wonderful Mignola-esque moments of playing with scale to show off what exactly Aric was facing off against.
There were three other things I really liked: I loved the Vine general turning against the Council because of seeing Aric’s control of the armor first hand, I loved the Council’s vindictive explanation of the true story behind Shanhara, and I liked the truth behind the arc title of “Planet Death.” I always thought it was going to mean Aric was going to scorch the Earth, but it was the Vine. They were willing to kill Loam for the purpose of defeating Aric. It was really well played.
Continued belowFrankly Brandon, I think this is the best issue I’ve read from Valiant this month besides Harbinger Wars and Archer & Armstrong. I REALLY enjoyed it.
Brandon Wow, bold statement. Although I would argue that last month was one of the best months for Valiant and this month seems to be going through the hangover of that. I just don’t feel the books this month are as strong as last month. This book included obviously.
One thing this book did have going for it though…one artist!
David: Yeah, I think that’s at least partially tied to this month not being as strong, but still: I’m stoked I liked an issue of X-O Manowar, and I think it’s at a good place going forward especially I actually enjoyed Aric as a person in this one.
It did in credits, but I was going to bring something up: I think that was a different artist at the end. When Aric and the Visigoths were peacing out? I think that was someone else filling in, because to me, that did not look entirely like Cary Nord’s work. I could be wrong about that, but to me, the styles were pretty different (although so were the circumstances). Did you notice that?
Brandon: I did not notice the change. It’s possible though that there was another artist who was not credited. I’m not entirely sure to be honest.
David: I’m 75% certain that was the case. Who knows, maybe we’ll find out. Anything else to add before we grade?
Brandon Not really. I am just hoping the book can continue to be more enjoyable than it has in the past. Next issue, based on the preview page in the back, looks pretty awesome.
David: Confirmed: it was all Cary Nord! I am 75% right, 0% of the time.
And agreed. The next arc looks really fantastic, and I like that Lee Garbett is joining the book just in time for Gilad and potentially Archer & Armstrong to join the party. There’s a lot of potential in them thar hills of the next arc, and I really think this is a book on the upswing. I’m going to give this issue an 8.0. I thought it was rock solid on writing and art, and is a sign of things to come for the book going forward. What about you?
Brandon I thought the issue was better than most X-O issues aside from the last issue. I’d give this issue a 6/10.
