XO #40

KXXX · Post by **KXXX** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:17 pm

It's been a long time since I've started one, but here it goes:

Trill being alive is a shocker (almost as much as poor Sergei's brains hitting the floor) and clearly doesn't bode well for the situation, as complicated as it is. We have four distinct factions about to run into battle: the Vine refugees, the Plantings (with Trill), Aric's people and of course the military. I have a feeling something is going to send Aric off the deep end for a bit, regardless of what that last panel plays out to.

Awesome all around, and it went down smooth with the end of Imperium #8.

hunter_peterson · Post by **hunter_peterson** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:45 pm

This arc has been fantastic, definitely the best the book has been so far. Everything I've wanted from a better presence of the supporting cast to old villains returning to the political elements of the story to the Vine Plantlings coming back to the fore... the creative team is knocking it out of the park!

Also, still think that the Vine will end up being the spiders from Mars.

ChiptheRipper · Post by **ChiptheRipper** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 8:46 pm

I agree with everything you said. I'm worried for Saana, but it is nice to see the Vine are going to remain an important factor in the Valiant Universe. The dialogue was good, and the art was pretty solid other than a few weird effects on the Manowar armor at times I think it was supposed to be sunlight glinting off of it, but it kept hitting Aric's head in a way that made it look almost like the horns of a Viking helmet or something.

hunter_peterson · Post by **hunter_peterson** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:08 pm

ChiptheRipper wrote:I agree with everything you said. I'm worried for Saana, but it is nice to see the Vine are going to remain an important factor in the Valiant Universe. The dialogue was good, and the art was pretty solid other than a few weird effects on the Manowar armor at times I think it was supposed to be sunlight glinting off of it, but it kept hitting Aric's head in a way that made it look almost like the horns of a Viking helmet or something.

I think it was the lights on top of the helmet being blurred to show movement.

ChiptheRipper · Post by **ChiptheRipper** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 9:37 pm

hunter_peterson wrote:
ChiptheRipper wrote:I agree with everything you said. I'm worried for Saana, but it is nice to see the Vine are going to remain an important factor in the Valiant Universe. The dialogue was good, and the art was pretty solid other than a few weird effects on the Manowar armor at times I think it was supposed to be sunlight glinting off of it, but it kept hitting Aric's head in a way that made it look almost like the horns of a Viking helmet or something.
I think it was the lights on top of the helmet being blurred to show movement.

Ahh, that makes more sense, thanks!

hunter_peterson · Post by **hunter_peterson** » Wed Sep 02, 2015 10:11 pm

ChiptheRipper wrote:
hunter_peterson wrote:
ChiptheRipper wrote:I agree with everything you said. I'm worried for Saana, but it is nice to see the Vine are going to remain an important factor in the Valiant Universe. The dialogue was good, and the art was pretty solid other than a few weird effects on the Manowar armor at times I think it was supposed to be sunlight glinting off of it, but it kept hitting Aric's head in a way that made it look almost like the horns of a Viking helmet or something.
I think it was the lights on top of the helmet being blurred to show movement.
Ahh, that makes more sense, thanks!

No worries. It was a bit JJ Abrams with the lens flares this issue.

KXXX · Post by **KXXX** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:48 am

Wait, what about Mars?

KXXX · Post by **KXXX** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:48 am

Wait, what about Mars?

BugsySig · Post by **BugsySig** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 7:57 am

hunter_peterson wrote:This arc has been fantastic, definitely the best the book has been so far. Everything I've wanted from a better presence of the supporting cast to old villains returning to the political elements of the story to the Vine Plantlings coming back to the fore... the creative team is knocking it out of the park!

Also, still think that the Vine will end up being the spiders from Mars.

+1 to all of that.

hunter_peterson · Post by **hunter_peterson** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 8:08 am

KXXX wrote:Wait, what about Mars?

Mars has life now, collected from all the worlds Dead Hand razed and released when it crashed there. Given the Vine religion's penchant for interstellar gardens, it seems like a new holy land for them. And with Trill returning this issue, it looks he'll be left behind with the Plantlings on Earth as their leader. Which sounds incredibly ripe with potential, IMHO.

ChiptheRipper · Post by **ChiptheRipper** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 1:05 pm

hunter_peterson wrote:
KXXX wrote:Wait, what about Mars?
Mars has life now, collected from all the worlds Dead Hand razed and released when it crashed there. Given the Vine religion's penchant for interstellar gardens, it seems like a new holy land for them. And with Trill returning this issue, it looks he'll be left behind with the Plantlings on Earth as their leader. Which sounds incredibly ripe with potential, IMHO.

Yup, it looks like there's going to be a factional divide between the peaceful Vine led by the priest and the Plantlings led by Trill. I would love Trill to become Aric's arch nemesis, there's a lot of potential there with their similar backgrounds as warriors, and I'm glad they brought him back. Maybe he could get his own armor, or even some training from Control (if he's still alive)? Imagine Trill with Armor Hunter tech and weapons as well as his Commando armor, that would be a pretty awesome fight.

BugsySig · Post by **BugsySig** » Thu Sep 03, 2015 1:53 pm

ChiptheRipper wrote:
hunter_peterson wrote:
KXXX wrote:Wait, what about Mars?
Mars has life now, collected from all the worlds Dead Hand razed and released when it crashed there. Given the Vine religion's penchant for interstellar gardens, it seems like a new holy land for them. And with Trill returning this issue, it looks he'll be left behind with the Plantlings on Earth as their leader. Which sounds incredibly ripe with potential, IMHO.
Yup, it looks like there's going to be a factional divide between the peaceful Vine led by the priest and the Plantlings led by Trill. I would love Trill to become Aric's arch nemesis, there's a lot of potential there with their similar backgrounds as warriors, and I'm glad they brought him back. Maybe he could get his own armor, or even some training from Control (if he's still alive)? Imagine Trill with Armor Hunter tech and weapons as well as his Commando armor, that would be a pretty awesome fight.

Yes.

Captain Craig · Post by **Captain Craig** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 4:22 pm

One of if not the best regular title month in/out by VALIANT. This issue was no exception. Trill!!!! Crap things are about to get dicy!
Marriage was the first sign of a possible ill fate awaiting Saana wasn't it??

Dallow Spicer1 · Post by **Dallow Spicer1** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 6:10 am

Great issue!!

I've been waiting for the return of Commander Trill for some time and now we get to see what happened since he last appeared in the book. Love that the Plantings are working undercover to rebuild and no doubt there are factions within the Vine army that would welcome Trill back in charge.

VDitti smashing it! 5/5

jmatt · Post by **jmatt** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 8:59 pm

A pretty solid issue; glad to see Trill still around.

Is this the first time we've seen Aric refer to himself as X-O Manowar? I was wondering about this a while back... have we ever seen him called that in the book?

erwinrafael · Post by **erwinrafael** » Sat Sep 05, 2015 10:37 pm

Captain Craig wrote:One of if not the best regular title month in/out by VALIANT. This issue was no exception.

What Venditti really needs to work on is how he ends his arcs. It's almost always anti-climactic, that is, he lays down his plots very logically that he telegraphs his endings. Even if you don't actually predict the ending after reading the penultimate issues of arcs, once you read the ending, you always get this sense that it is something the past issues have already anticipated.

Which is me basically saying, VDitti, surprise us more in your story arc endings.

jmatt · Post by **jmatt** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 9:02 pm

erwinrafael wrote:Which is me basically saying, VDitti, surprise us more in your story arc endings.

I think I've been saying that for two years now. There could have been a cliffhanger in the last issue where the vine cops rescue someone but we don't know who it is, then open this issue revealing Trill. At least we got one this issue with the targeting of Saana.

And what was up with that "I am a king. And you will obey." panel? You're not his king. You're his commanding officer.

While I am enjoying the arc and issue, this book moves like molasses in winter. How much time has transpired in the last two issues? An hour? I know it won't happen but I'd like to see another writer. The concepts are alright but the X-O-cution is lacking.

Blood of Heroes · Post by **Blood of Heroes** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:57 pm

jmatt wrote:A pretty solid issue; glad to see Trill still around.

Is this the first time we've seen Aric refer to himself as X-O Manowar? I was wondering about this a while back... have we ever seen him called that in the book?

Maybe when Capshaw give him the rank of X-O, as in executive officer? I can't remember id XO and Manowar have been paired together specifically.

hunter_peterson · Post by **hunter_peterson** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:29 am

Blood of Heroes wrote:
jmatt wrote:A pretty solid issue; glad to see Trill still around.

Is this the first time we've seen Aric refer to himself as X-O Manowar? I was wondering about this a while back... have we ever seen him called that in the book?
Maybe when Capshaw give him the rank of X-O, as in executive officer? I can't remember id XO and Manowar have been paired together specifically.

I think they first called him that when he joined up with the US government for the first time. Capshaw specifically. Though I recall the Vine classifying it as XO class amongst their armors in captions or dialog, forget which.

BugsySig · Post by **BugsySig** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 10:10 am

hunter_peterson wrote:
Blood of Heroes wrote:
jmatt wrote:A pretty solid issue; glad to see Trill still around.

Is this the first time we've seen Aric refer to himself as X-O Manowar? I was wondering about this a while back... have we ever seen him called that in the book?
Maybe when Capshaw give him the rank of X-O, as in executive officer? I can't remember id XO and Manowar have been paired together specifically.
I think they first called him that when he joined up with the US government for the first time. Capshaw specifically. Though I recall the Vine classifying it as XO class amongst their armors in captions or dialog, forget which.

I think the Vine referred to it as Manowar armor. I don't think they ever said XO, but I could be wrong.

I'm also pretty sure Capshaw first calls him that, as you said.

Watchtower · Post by **Watchtower** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 4:38 pm

Oh man this arc's been so good.

So we've got the American military not happy with dealing with aliens and wanting revenge for their war hero, we've got the Vine torn between keeping calm and retaliating, we've got Trill and the plantlings returning in spectacular fashion to kickstart another invasion effort, and in the middle of it all we've got Aric and his Visigoths trying to play peacemaker.

Oh, Venditti, what beautiful chaos you have sown.

ChiptheRipper · Post by **ChiptheRipper** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 6:55 pm

A thought occurred to me- if things between Aric and the Americans sour, where will the Visigoths go? Maybe the Vine aren't going to be the only ones settling Mars after all...

BugsySig · Post by **BugsySig** » Tue Sep 08, 2015 9:48 pm

ChiptheRipper wrote:A thought occurred to me- if things between Aric and the Americans sour, where will the Visigoths go? Maybe the Vine aren't going to be the only ones settling Mars after all...

Interesting thought...XO Man-o-Mars?

dornwolf · Post by **dornwolf** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 3:00 am

jmatt wrote:
erwinrafael wrote:Which is me basically saying, VDitti, surprise us more in your story arc endings.
I think I've been saying that for two years now. There could have been a cliffhanger in the last issue where the vine cops rescue someone but we don't know who it is, then open this issue revealing Trill. At least we got one this issue with the targeting of Saana.

And what was up with that "I am a king. And you will obey." panel? You're not his king. You're his commanding officer.

While I am enjoying the arc and issue, this book moves like molasses in winter. How much time has transpired in the last two issues? An hour? I know it won't happen but I'd like to see another writer. The concepts are alright but the X-O-cution is lacking.

Aric is seen as a head of state as shown in the wedding issue. So when he says he's king and that you should show respect he damn well means it.

hunter_peterson · Post by **hunter_peterson** » Wed Sep 09, 2015 6:39 am

dornwolf wrote:
jmatt wrote:
erwinrafael wrote:Which is me basically saying, VDitti, surprise us more in your story arc endings.
I think I've been saying that for two years now. There could have been a cliffhanger in the last issue where the vine cops rescue someone but we don't know who it is, then open this issue revealing Trill. At least we got one this issue with the targeting of Saana.

And what was up with that "I am a king. And you will obey." panel? You're not his king. You're his commanding officer.

While I am enjoying the arc and issue, this book moves like molasses in winter. How much time has transpired in the last two issues? An hour? I know it won't happen but I'd like to see another writer. The concepts are alright but the X-O-cution is lacking.
Aric is seen as a head of state as shown in the wedding issue. So when he says he's king and that you should show respect he damn well means it.

If that's the case they should get a spot at the UN. Give Saana more to do. Or Volo, I suppose.

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