X-O Manowar will end with Issue 50 :(

[greg]

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?

Yeah, what is this... Image?!?

[jeremycoe]

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?

Yeah, what is this... Image?!?

[ShadowTuga]

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?

Yeah, what is this... Image?!?

+1

[Nairbe]

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?

Yeah, what is this... Image?!?

Well played Greg.

[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.

**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.

i totally get that. still, if you look even at the numbers of the big two, periodicals right now are taking a nosedive. and i'm pretty sure relaunching will work any wonders anymore (look at marvel's -failed!- recent attempt). so the only think to create buzz and attract new readers is to play around with the concept/character idea itself. sometimes good stuff comes out of it, but of course the fans of the more traditional interpretation won't like it. look at dc's new52. first they went for the re-interpretations, now they're getting back to classic. or marvel's ultimate line, which has now become part of the main line with different version of the same character idea (spider-man) co-existing in the same universe. it's pretty messy, but every publisher will do anything to get some traction with new readers. just the reality of the market.

[nycjadie]

I'm surprised Valiant will get X-O to 50. I want consecutive numbering, and I feel it's the best method for tracking the narrative story (look at the Hellboy universe). However, economic realities are that new series (not reboots) are a necessary evil. Who gets to 100 these days? TWD? Big books.

[grendeljd]

I'm surprised Valiant will get X-O to 50. I want consecutive numbering, and I feel it's the best method for tracking the narrative story (look at the Hellboy universe). However, economic realities are that new series (not reboots) are a necessary evil. Who gets to 100 these days? TWD? Big books.

Modern reality or not, it mostly turns me off collecting comics, to be honest. I get it, I just don't like it. I mostly read comics that have an end-point to their stories now anyway, outside of the Valiant line. Shame to see it has to happen to XO.

[grendeljd]

Meant to say something more positive as well - I'm glad we got a solid, lengthy & well written run on the title as far as we did, all from V-Ditty. As a whole, I think it ended up miles ahead of the original series (and that doesn't take anything away from the best individual issues of the VH1 run).

Outside of creator owner comics, it's becoming rare to get that kind of continuous volume from one writer/artist/etc.

[Shadowman99]

Man, today is a dark day, I just caught this news. Kick in the pants this one.

I guess if V Ditti feels he's told all the story he wanted to tell at this point in time and VEI are happy to let the book take a breather then I guess that's about as good a way to wind the series down for the time being as any. I doubt very much there's any danger of VEI making any drastic changes to the XO book when the next run comes around, based on what we've seen in the BoD:FoXO book and whatever, so that's reassuring.

Had no idea sales were down on the book. I assumed they must've been fairly reasonable considering the book's been able to run this long in the first place...

I'd love continued numbering in the future, but I think it's highly likely we'll get a new 'subtitled' XO title like 'Bloodshot: Reborn' or whatever with a new #1. Whatever, couldn't care less, I'll just be happy to see XO back on the shelf again. My fave book at VEI.

On the upside, V. Ditti stated in the CBR article there that this isn't the last time he'll be writing XO... Maybe his run on EW is to both give him a breather and give him some time to get some ideas together for a new run on XO in 2017?

[Nairbe]

When X-O comes back, I'd imagine it will be with an entirely new team like A&A.

[JCP]

Comicsheatingup.net posted a thread discussing these final issues as good spec issues based on the inserts and likely lower print run. Make sure these are already on your pull list if they weren't already or order early. I'm grateful this helps Valiant get more press, albeit for the wrong reason of just trying to flip books. It has been a fun run and I'm sure they'll wrap up this series in a solid way.

[jmatt]

X-O should be the cornerstone of this universe; it should be the one title that even non-Valiant fans consider following. X-O should be to Valiant what Batman and Superman are to Marvel and DC.

The sales figures indicate that's just not happening. The next incarnation should have a proven, big name writer and a dedicated killer art team. Like Kirkman or Alan Moore or Gaiman, a writer that makes the entire industry sit up and take notice.

Movies are coming. It's time to pour money on X-O and kick this book into over-drive. What they lose on the comic will be lunch money compared to what an excited fan base and the concomitant media buzz will generate with the movie.

[JCP]

X-O should be the cornerstone of this universe; it should be the one title that even non-Valiant fans consider following. X-O should be to Valiant what Batman and Superman are to Marvel and DC.

The sales figures indicate that's just not happening. The next incarnation should have a proven, big name writer and a dedicated killer art team. Like Kirkman or Alan Moore or Gaiman, a writer that makes the entire industry sit up and take notice.

Movies are coming. It's time to pour money on X-O and kick this book into over-drive. What they lose on the comic will be lunch money compared to what an excited fan base and the concomitant media buzz will generate with the movie.

+10000. I would lose it if Gaiman wrote it. Simply masterful author. He just had a kid but he hopefully would be up for it!

[Dallow Spicer1]

X-O should be the cornerstone of this universe; it should be the one title that even non-Valiant fans consider following. X-O should be to Valiant what Batman and Superman are to Marvel and DC.

The sales figures indicate that's just not happening. The next incarnation should have a proven, big name writer and a dedicated killer art team. Like Kirkman or Alan Moore or Gaiman, a writer that makes the entire industry sit up and take notice.

Movies are coming. It's time to pour money on X-O and kick this book into over-drive. What they lose on the comic will be lunch money compared to what an excited fan base and the concomitant media buzz will generate with the movie.

+1

I'd imagine the book will re-launch next year for the 25th anniversary. I agree on the 'go big' with investment.VDitti will always be the classic XO writer after his run. Although I'm not sure the whole comic reading community appreciates his talent so I can understand why a 'bigger name' might be the way to go.

[krylox]

well, how big are the odds that gaiman or moore would write any superhero stuff, let aside for a 1% publisher? you'd have to pay them in gold or so...

i don't think vei will be able to get a big name. right now things between marvel and dc are heating up again, so every writer who has proven himself in the (superhero-)field will be swamped with offers. and what good would it be, if it's waid's 5th monthly series or lemire's 6th? even someone like warren ellis, who i think would be a great (and affordable) choice for x-o, wouldn't stay for more than 6 (max 12) issues and just hasn't the pull with readers he once had.
also, hiring star writers i isn't vei's strategy at all. they will go once more for an interesting indie name, and i think that a good thing.

i know it's not going to happen, but matt hawkins would be an awesome choice. more likey available would be the team behind invisible republic (hardman and bechko) or a wild card like marjorie liu. pretty sure they're talking right now to a bunch of people...

[Shadowman99]

X-O should be the cornerstone of this universe; it should be the one title that even non-Valiant fans consider following. X-O should be to Valiant what Batman and Superman are to Marvel and DC.

The sales figures indicate that's just not happening. The next incarnation should have a proven, big name writer and a dedicated killer art team. Like Kirkman or Alan Moore or Gaiman, a writer that makes the entire industry sit up and take notice.

Movies are coming. It's time to pour money on X-O and kick this book into over-drive. What they lose on the comic will be lunch money compared to what an excited fan base and the concomitant media buzz will generate with the movie.

Totally agree with this.

I know Bloodshot's forming the central pillar of Valiant at the moment with the movie coming out 'n all, but really my feeling is that XO should be the central pillar. And yeah, he should be Valiant's 'Batman' or 'Superman', so a film definitely needs to happen and the book needs to be re-established as the central core around which the universe (literally) revolves. Frankly, I think it's happened to an extent already even with the current big push on Bloodshot, but it's just been less obvious because BS is getting shoved in the media's face at the moment.

I know Valiant don't really go for the 'big star recruitment strategy', but I think for an anniversary relaunch of XO it'd be a killer tactic that'd get the whole industry talking. Someone massive y'know? And they gotta get that guy for a long run like V Ditti's too: really give strength and longevity to this comic when it next hits the shelves. And killer art team too, some guys to really knock it not just out the park but into the stratosphere and beyond...

[Manaf82]

Guys who are not completely locked into the big two???

I can think of only Greg Rucka and Mark Waid

[Dallow Spicer1]

Guys who are not completely locked into the big two???

I can think of only Greg Rucka and Mark Waid

Waid's done XO before (Acclaim), let's no go there again!

[jeremycoe]

Guys who are not completely locked into the big two???

I can think of only Greg Rucka and Mark Waid

Waid's done XO before (Acclaim), let's no go there again!

To be fair, I'm pretty sure he wrote what was asked of him. He might be able to do something nice with X-O if not told to completely reinvent it.

[Dallow Spicer1]

Guys who are not completely locked into the big two???

I can think of only Greg Rucka and Mark Waid

Waid's done XO before (Acclaim), let's no go there again!

To be fair, I'm pretty sure he wrote what was asked of him. He might be able to do something nice with X-O if not told to completely reinvent it.

I could be wrong but I always got the impression that Waid pretty much had free reign to reinvent the character and that's what he came up with. I seem to remember reading somewhere that he acknowledges it wasn't his best writing which I can well imagine if he's doing lots of books for the big 2 already. I guess that's the same these days if he wrote for VEI, would we get his best stuff?

[Captain Craig]

I'll add my voice of displeasure over canceling XO at #50.
I've enjoyed the hell out of it. I was looking forward to issue #69 but no, as Bloodshot proved, VEI is too much beholden to this gross business model of start/stop/renumber that rarely actually increases readership. The inverse usually is the case. It's what I'm doing with Aquaman for Rebirth. Taking that book into TPB only reading despite buying a monthly Aquaman book since '03. I'm just over it. It means I instantly become a less regular reader just like I have with JLA, Batman, Flash, Avengers, Spider-man, etc etc(any A-level book always to be in print). Studies show, break a habit and it's the first step towards ending a habit.

Contrary to those championing the "number doesn't matter" line I wholly disagree that it does. A glut of #1's followed by the glut of 2,3,4,5'.....becomes hard to track for readers who then have no choice to be look for trades. However, the glut of trades collecting #6-12 starts to also become a bit much. It's a visual clutter and information overload to sort through it at times and I know what I'm looking for.

Changing a creative team...when did this BS line become a sole reason to cancel a book. Look I get the numbers could be better, hell they should be better cause the writing is great. VEI, any of them, would impress the hell out of me by properly advertising the new creative team in the same manner they are going to make a fuss over the future #1. Utilize the same promotions(glut after glut of variant cover).

This industry is one day going to lose me for good as any type of regular reader. Every few years the drop off points get easier and easier. I'll be DC free this summer.

[jeremycoe]

Guys who are not completely locked into the big two???

I can think of only Greg Rucka and Mark Waid

Waid's done XO before (Acclaim), let's no go there again!

To be fair, I'm pretty sure he wrote what was asked of him. He might be able to do something nice with X-O if not told to completely reinvent it.

I could be wrong but I always got the impression that Waid pretty much had free reign to reinvent the character and that's what he came up with. I seem to remember reading somewhere that he acknowledges it wasn't his best writing which I can well imagine if he's doing lots of books for the big 2 already. I guess that's the same these days if he wrote for VEI, would we get his best stuff?

I don't doubt that. But the task was to reinvent X-O, which was the problem in the first place. If he was asked to continue chronicling the story of Aric then we might have gotten a better story - maybe.

I'm not advocating bringing on Waid, his writing is very hit or miss for me. I just don't think a Waid run on VEI X-O Manowar would be anything like his Acclaim run.

[jmatt]

It can't be Waid. Then the industry media narrative would be dragged back to 1997 and invite comparisons and talk of the bad old days. Not what we want.

What's Frank Miller doing these days? Or PAD?

[ShadowTuga]

Would it be crazy money to get Grant Morrison?
(exhales)

[hunter_peterson]

Would it be crazy money to get Grant Morrison?
(exhales)

Morrison on literally anything Valiant would be glorious!