X-O Manowar will end with Issue 50 :(

[Aport]

Wow...50... And stop.
God bless V-ditty. I cant thank him enough for what he has done for XO and Valiant.

Still.....
I was hoping to see them pass the #68 mark. Here are a few reasons / dreams:

It would have been nice to see VE pass VH1.
VE started with XO, so every issue is like a time marker for VE, 'XO up to 46!", but really VE is up to 46. In that way XO is like valiant's Action or Detective comics.
I would have loved to see a #68 variant cover that looked like VH1 #68, but have "not the end" on the cover.
How great would it be to have a #69 cover by Bob Layton to celebrate.

One last thought... XO is like valiant's Batman, Superman, or Spiderman. Therefore, in order for XO to be on par with these heroes, i wish they would have tried to continue the series while changing the writer. This would have shown how loyal we are as fans to the character not just the writer.
Dont get me wrong, I'm now a V-ditty fan, but I was a XO fan before V-ditty, and after V-ditty.

I will follow Aric wherever the new writer will take him.

[FormerReader]

It was a great run and I'm looking forward to his run on Eternal Warrior and whoever picks up X-O writing duties next.

[jmatt]

Venditti had a good run but it's time for new blood, imo. I'm hoping it's a totally new writer for Valiant.

[hunter_peterson]

Wow...50... And stop.
God bless V-ditty. I cant thank him enough for what he has done for XO and Valiant.

Still.....
I was hoping to see them pass the #68 mark. Here are a few reasons / dreams:

It would have been nice to see VE pass VH1.
VE started with XO, so every issue is like a time marker for VE, 'XO up to 46!", but really VE is up to 46. In that way XO is like valiant's Action or Detective comics.
I would have loved to see a #68 variant cover that looked like VH1 #68, but have "not the end" on the cover.
How great would it be to have a #69 cover by Bob Layton to celebrate.

One last thought... XO is like valiant's Batman, Superman, or Spiderman. Therefore, in order for XO to be on par with these heroes, i wish they would have tried to continue the series while changing the writer. This would have shown how loyal we are as fans to the character not just the writer.
Dont get me wrong, I'm now a V-ditty fan, but I was a XO fan before V-ditty, and after V-ditty.

I will follow Aric wherever the new writer will take him.

I'd prefer they do what the Hell boy books used to do before they made BPRD ongoing. Have miniseries, or whatever, with the newest number on the front and the overall number on the inside. Best of both worlds.

[IMJ]

Xo ManOwar Reborn.
I really liked the continuing numbers. I don't like re boots or do overs. I understand it's good for business but give me a break.

When a series ends it's contiguous numbering nowadays, I'm basically done with it. The comics business is killing itself with this re-launching - not only does it not bring in new, permanent buyers, but these companies are finally alienating the old mainstays with this stuff.

Why end a series just because a long-term creator is leaving? Cherished creator or not.... Is that what's happening with this book? I can see the current Valiant turning into a mini-series company at some point, which is a terrible shame if that happens.

[QUARTZ]

I'm sad that it ends at 50. I'm sick of modern comics never making it to #100 like there is some sort of stigma about long running books. Everyone needs to talk to Eric Larson.

I LOVE Savage Dragon. I have a complete run, but its sales numbers are so low it would be long cancelled if it wasn't a one man operation. I'm not sure what Erik Larsen would tell people if they asked about the business-sense of long-running series.

Oh I did not know about the business end of it. I just assumed it did okay because it sells out at my shop all the time but they could be just ordering low numbers. Still it's very impressive in modern comics to do like over 200 issues of a funnybook as a one man operation, and for the last few months he has been pulling double duty with Spawn and conventions and traveling...when doth he sleep?

[Nairbe]

Totally bummed to see the current run of X-O ending. I know the sales have been down, but I despise this new trend of constant reboots.

But I agree, X-O will be back mid to late 2017 with 6 covers, + a 1:10, 1:20,1:25,1:50,1:100 and 1:150 for the first 5 issues. But that's a separate grip.

[Newton]

End of an era. How crazy X-O is up to #50 already? It still feels like VEI just launched in my mind.

[mkb28]

Totally bummed to see the current run of X-O ending. I know the sales have been down, but I despise this new trend of constant reboots.

But I agree, X-O will be back mid to late 2017 with 6 covers, + a 1:10, 1:20,1:25,1:50,1:100 and 1:150 for the first 5 issues. But that's a separate grip.

... But true!

[krylox]

pretty sure it won't be aric wearing the x-o in the relaunched book. it will be a soft-reboot kind of thing, where the history is respected, but a new character will pick up the legacy. pretty sure a female protagonist, but we'll see.
however, with such rather elementary changes a relaunch kind of makes sense. the numbers won't change that much and will settle in a few month after release. but it will be a good way for vei to promote x-o as a new book with a new concept.

[Nairbe]

pretty sure it won't be aric wearing the x-o in the relaunched book. it will be a soft-reboot kind of thing, where the history is respected, but a new character will pick up the legacy. pretty sure a female protagonist, but we'll see.
however, with such rather elementary changes a relaunch kind of makes sense. the numbers won't change that much and will settle in a few month after release. but it will be a good way for vei to promote x-o as a new book with a new concept.

**Not directed at you Krylox, just grumpy over this.**

Sure and when Bloodshot dips in sales, lets just reboot him into a "new" female character....edgy!!
Since Harbinger ended, lets reboot Pete into a Visitor/Alien hybrid. We've seen how "well" these types of changes have worked for other properties at other companies (oh look, Rogers is Cap again). The initial reboot would have been a better time to remove Aric. But to me, X-O is Aric..period. These reboots are short term gains and can start to annoy the real fans who stick around for more then just the first 5 issues. You eventually just have to make this work. There would have been nothing wrong with just switching up the X-O team on issue #51.

Then again, maybe I'm just old and my view of comic industry in general is dated.

[mkb28]

I recently added X-O Annual #1 to my DCBS order, but I had planned to switch to trades starting with X-O #47, but now why bother. The series is ending in 4 issues, so I might as well just wait for the Deluxe HC version to come out and be done with it.

[Nairbe]

I recently added X-O Annual #1 to my DCBS order, but I had planned to switch to trades starting with X-O #47, but now why bother. The series is ending in 4 issues, so I might as well just wait for the Deluxe HC version to come out and be done with it.

You are not raising my morale with this comment Michael.

[Daniel Jackson]

Wow, what a shame. Was hoping to see it go past the original run. Out of all the titles, I thought this one would easily last the longest. Go figure..

[mkb28]

I recently added X-O Annual #1 to my DCBS order, but I had planned to switch to trades starting with X-O #47, but now why bother. The series is ending in 4 issues, so I might as well just wait for the Deluxe HC version to come out and be done with it.

You are not raising my morale with this comment Michael.

Sorry, Brother. I am in "rant" mode too. I just hate to see this flagship series coming to an end and I hope they don't end it with one of those mockery finales. Let the comedians write in Q&W and keep X-O as a serious title.

[Phoenix8008]

pretty sure it won't be aric wearing the x-o in the relaunched book. it will be a soft-reboot kind of thing, where the history is respected, but a new character will pick up the legacy. pretty sure a female protagonist, but we'll see.
however, with such rather elementary changes a relaunch kind of makes sense. the numbers won't change that much and will settle in a few month after release. but it will be a good way for vei to promote x-o as a new book with a new concept.

**Not directed at you Krylox, just grumpy over this.**

Sure and when Bloodshot dips in sales, lets just reboot him into a "new" female character....edgy!!
Since Harbinger ended, lets reboot Pete into a Visitor/Alien hybrid. We've seen how "well" these types of changes have worked for other properties at other companies (oh look, Rogers is Cap again). The initial reboot would have been a better time to remove Aric. But to me, X-O is Aric..period. These reboots are short term gains and can start to annoy the real fans who stick around for more then just the first 5 issues. You eventually just have to make this work. There would have been nothing wrong with just switching up the X-O team on issue #51.

Then again, maybe I'm just old and my view of comic industry in general is dated.

It may be an old fashioned view of how the comics industry could/should work, but you're not alone in feeling that way. I know it's how VEI has been operating, but I also would rather see them continue the series from #51, even if there was some break between 50 and 51 for ramping up the new series. I don't like it, but I can understand them ending a series when the creative team finishes the story it was telling. They're not rebooting it JUST to get the new #1. At least I can still say that VEI isn't doing universe reboots yet. That would likely be a finisher for me.

[Nairbe]

I recently added X-O Annual #1 to my DCBS order, but I had planned to switch to trades starting with X-O #47, but now why bother. The series is ending in 4 issues, so I might as well just wait for the Deluxe HC version to come out and be done with it.

You are not raising my morale with this comment Michael.

Sorry, Brother. I am in "rant" mode too. I just hate to see this flagship series coming to an end and I hope they don't end it with one of those mockery finales. Let the comedians write in Q&W and keep X-O as a serious title.

That is one positive. It sounds like this last arc, which includes 50, is supposed to be epic. They've been building up issue 50 for a few months now. So while I don't mind the Unity 25 type issues, I feel it would be a HUGE letdown to do something similar for 50. I'm guessing they are going to send Aric off into deep space for awhile. I'm hoping he doesn't "die" or hand the armor over to someone else..etc.

[Nairbe]

pretty sure it won't be aric wearing the x-o in the relaunched book. it will be a soft-reboot kind of thing, where the history is respected, but a new character will pick up the legacy. pretty sure a female protagonist, but we'll see.
however, with such rather elementary changes a relaunch kind of makes sense. the numbers won't change that much and will settle in a few month after release. but it will be a good way for vei to promote x-o as a new book with a new concept.

**Not directed at you Krylox, just grumpy over this.**

Sure and when Bloodshot dips in sales, lets just reboot him into a "new" female character....edgy!!
Since Harbinger ended, lets reboot Pete into a Visitor/Alien hybrid. We've seen how "well" these types of changes have worked for other properties at other companies (oh look, Rogers is Cap again). The initial reboot would have been a better time to remove Aric. But to me, X-O is Aric..period. These reboots are short term gains and can start to annoy the real fans who stick around for more then just the first 5 issues. You eventually just have to make this work. There would have been nothing wrong with just switching up the X-O team on issue #51.

Then again, maybe I'm just old and my view of comic industry in general is dated.

It may be an old fashioned view of how the comics industry could/should work, but you're not alone in feeling that way. I know it's how VEI has been operating, but I also would rather see them continue the series from #51, even if there was some break between 50 and 51 for ramping up the new series. I don't like it, but I can understand them ending a series when the creative team finishes the story it was telling. They're not rebooting it JUST to get the new #1. At least I can still say that VEI isn't doing universe reboots yet. That would likely be a finisher for me.

**not directed at you...yelling at the air right now**

But why is restart needed? X-O is a cornerstone, he's not going anywhere. He's going to be back. A restart just feeling like a gimmick now, used to temporary inflate numbers. Now if it's just a long break, I'm totally fine with that. Take a 6 month break, find a new team, brainstorm some ideas..etc. A new number 1 just feels pointless, and yes I feel the same way about A&A. Would it have been terrible for them to restart at #26?

[jeremycoe]

But why is restart needed? X-O is a cornerstone, he's not going anywhere. He's going to be back. A restart just feeling like a gimmick now, used to temporary inflate numbers. Now if it's just a long break, I'm totally fine with that. Take a 6 month break, find a new team, brainstorm some ideas..etc. A new number 1 just feels pointless, and yes I feel the same way about A&A. Would it have been terrible for them to restart at #26?

After 17 months? Even in the "old school" it would have been a new #1. Terrible? No. Unrealistic? Completely.

[Nairbe]

[quote="Nairbe"
But why is restart needed? X-O is a cornerstone, he's not going anywhere. He's going to be back. A restart just feeling like a gimmick now, used to temporary inflate numbers. Now if it's just a long break, I'm totally fine with that. Take a 6 month break, find a new team, brainstorm some ideas..etc. A new number 1 just feels pointless, and yes I feel the same way about A&A. Would it have been terrible for them to restart at #26?

After 17 months? Even in the "old school" it would have been a new #1. Terrible? No. Unrealistic? Completely.[/quote]

Agreed. But 20+ years ago I can't recall too many examples of a series being restarted 1.5 years after being cancelled. At least not at the rate they are now.

**EDIT**

Sorry I know I've been getting off topic.

[IMJ]

When X-O is relaunched, Valiant should number it like this 51.
That way they can have their marketing B.S., but continue with the original numbered series. Seriously.

[Nairbe]

When X-O is relaunched, Valiant should number it like this 51.
That way they can have their marketing B.S., but continue with the original numbered series. Seriously.

I could go with that.

[QUARTZ]

When X-O is relaunched, Valiant should number it like this 51.
That way they can have their marketing B.S., but continue with the original numbered series. Seriously.

HA that's funny.

And I agree with the commentator who essentially said "X-O sales are low now, but watch when they relaunch it'll have 50 variant covers to pick from". That's exactly what is going to happen.

[ShadowTuga]

The OG architects are done with their stuff. Makes me sad, but I completely understand this.
As for the renumbering, I'd be happy if the series continues as 51, but in today's market...

Sad.

[Sven the Returned]

Maybe they can ride a movie announcement buzz when they restart...