X-O Manowar #13 discussion thread

[erwinrafael]

If last issue, Robert Venditti was the one who wowed us, this issue is Cary Nord's time to shine. Whatever it is Nord was trying to find experimenting with a new style for Planet Death, he seems to have already found it. Amazing work, specially the page of Aric going against the soldiers while an X-O flash was coming out of his hand. One of the best illustrations of X-O that I have seen.

Loved the story also. It's really building up to a big climax specially with the introduction of the other alien races. I also loved the twist of Aric's hand replacing the ring in the VH1 X-O.

[lorddunlow]

If last issue, Robert Venditti was the one who wowed us, this issue is Cary Nord's time to shine. Whatever it is Nord was trying to find experimenting with a new style for Planet Death, he seems to have already found it. Amazing work, specially the page of Aric going against the soldiers while an X-O flash was coming out of his hand. One of the best illustrations of X-O that I have seen.

Loved the story also. It's really building up to a big climax specially with the introduction of the other alien races. I also loved the twist of Aric's hand replacing the ring in the VH1 X-O.

I hate you and your earlier time zone! I can't wait to read the books!

[erwinrafael]

If last issue, Robert Venditti was the one who wowed us, this issue is Cary Nord's time to shine. Whatever it is Nord was trying to find experimenting with a new style for Planet Death, he seems to have already found it. Amazing work, specially the page of Aric going against the soldiers while an X-O flash was coming out of his hand. One of the best illustrations of X-O that I have seen.

Loved the story also. It's really building up to a big climax specially with the introduction of the other alien races. I also loved the twist of Aric's hand replacing the ring in the VH1 X-O.

I hate you and your earlier time zone! I can't wait to read the books!

LOL! it's almost an hour before midnight here and I have read this issue thrice already.

one drawback I see here is unfortunate timing. Aric calling the armor using his hand could be seen as a ripoff of Iron Mn 3. very unfortunate because Venditti looks to alrady have this in mind a year ago

[cavemold]

Best issue yet !! Really loved this issue the battles scenes were great and Nord art was much better 5/5

[Zaphod]

Not much of this issue stood out to me as good, let alone excellent. Not bad, more indifferent. I'm not really a fan of whatever style Nord is going for in these recent issues.

I did like that we almost got another shout-out, but the "Feel My Power" wasn't to be. It wasn't a bad issue but it just wasn't great either.

[BugsySig]

Not spectacular like Zaphod said, but I thought the action scenes were done well, and I liked that Nord was playing around with his panel designs/layouts. You can also see Aric taking on the mantle of King of the Visigoths now that he has found his "people". This was basically a bridge issue to the conclusion next month so, taking it as that, it was pretty solid.

Also, when Aric said they called people like the soldier "Archers" back home, did anyone else think of Obie and the Archies?

And is anyone else as confident as I am that the soldier working with Aric is Commander Trill's kid?

[pixierosa]

I enjoyed the book. I liked the scenes with the slave encampment, and seeing how they are an amalgam of various cultures. I like that Aric's hand is now an extension of the armor. They really can't separate him from it unless the armor rejects him.

Nice use of symbolism; the burning of the pyres and the burning of the aliens. Even showed that Aric is capable of thinking on his feet, having the slaves led through the forest so that the army will pursue them. ("It's a trap!")

The soldier who helped him is not only disobeying his leaders, but he is taking up arms against brothers. He is shown over the body of a fallen gatekeeper.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the rest of the slave races are liberated. I'm sure they can be rallied to the cause of marching on Loam (rhymes with Rome) but it made me a bit sad to see the slaves yelling about freedom. They have no idea where they are, where they originated. They've been on Loam for generations, so in a way, it is their home. But how can they ever live free there? And if the other races remain, too?

Nord did good work here. I especially liked the scene of Aric leaping to attack with his hand in the air, the armor beginning to coalesce around him. He can bring the sword to bear even without the armor fully in place.

[Zaphod]

Also, when Aric said they called people like the soldier "Archers" back home, did anyone else think of Obie and the Archies?

I did think of Obie, not so much the Archies. It was an odd reference, no sure why it fell into quotations.

[blujay]

I really thought we were going to get a "Feel My Power!!!"

Anyways great issue, love Nords art and V-Ditti is spectacular as always. Can't wait to see the slave aliens in action

[BugsySig]

I really thought we were going to get a "Feel My Power!!!"

Anyways great issue, love Nords art and V-Ditti is spectacular as always. Can't wait to see the slave aliens in action

I'm really hoping the next issue comes through to save this arc. The more I go back, the more it seems that everything that has happened in Planet Death so far (except maybe the origin of Shanhara pages) could have taken place in one or maybe 2 issues.

The issues aren't bad, but they are so decompressed that this "event" storyline has boiled down to little more than: Aric lands on planet, fights vine, talks to priest, fights vine, finds other Visigoths, fights vine, finds other aliens, fights vine.

So far I have preferred the two issue prelude more than Planet Death itself.

[Baramos]

one drawback I see here is unfortunate timing. Aric calling the armor using his hand could be seen as a ripoff of Iron Mn 3. very unfortunate because Venditti looks to already have this in mind a year ago

Fortunately (or equally unfortunately?) it reminded me of Thor calling for his hammer in Thor/The Avengers, not Iron Man calling for his suit in Iron Man 3.

The fact that it smashes that Vine scientist's head off on its way out of the containment field (which literally made me laugh out loud) is probably what reminded me more of Thor's hammer, since in The Avengers it smashes through several walls before finally getting to him.

[Blood of Heroes]

And is anyone else as confident as I am that the soldier working with Aric is Commander Trill's kid?

[Blood of Heroes]

I really liked the two page splash of the Vine army marching towards the Visigoth camp.

[erwinrafael]

I really thought we were going to get a "Feel My Power!!!"

Anyways great issue, love Nords art and V-Ditti is spectacular as always. Can't wait to see the slave aliens in action

I'm really hoping the next issue comes through to save this arc. The more I go back, the more it seems that everything that has happened in Planet Death so far (except maybe the origin of Shanhara pages) could have taken place in one or maybe 2 issues.

The issues aren't bad, but they are so decompressed that this "event" storyline has boiled down to little more than: Aric lands on planet, fights vine, talks to priest, fights vine, finds other Visigoths, fights vine, finds other aliens, fights vine.

So far I have preferred the two issue prelude more than Planet Death itself.

you feel that this is a decompressed storyline? I guess if you don't think of action scenes as part of the story/plot it would feel decompressed. but Planet Death is primarily an action story, like a summer blockbuster movie. So I don't mind at all the extended pages showing the action.

[first_citizenx]

I read it last night and I thought it was a great read! I kind of cheated, by looking at some of the pages while Nord was working on them (he posted some of them online while they were on his drawing board), so I was really wanting to see how they looked colored and lettered. His work is rather awesome in black and white!

Anyway, I am looking forward to the wrap up of the storyline and am eager to see Aric's return to earth, especially since we know a confrontation with the Eternal Warrior looms in the near future...

[cdgodin]

And is anyone else as confident as I am that the soldier working with Aric is Commander Trill's kid?

I thought that that Vine said he was the son of that Vine from XO #1 that Shanhara rejected? Or was that some other Vine who said that?

[BugsySig]

And is anyone else as confident as I am that the soldier working with Aric is Commander Trill's kid?

I thought that that Vine said he was the son of that Vine from XO #1 that Shanhara rejected? Or was that some other Vine who said that?

You may be right. I forgot about that. I'll have to go back and look.

[nscc]

Also, when Aric said they called people like the soldier "Archers" back home, did anyone else think of Obie and the Archies?

I did think of Obie, not so much the Archies. It was an odd reference, no sure why it fell into quotations.

I'm not sure why it was quoted, but when I read it I just figured he meant that the soldier was just like an archer. They are not warriors as they just stand back and fire into battle from (relative) safety while the true warriors attack the enemy head first!

I liked how planet death has gone so far. I can't wait for the ending to see exactly how it plays out and how him and Gilad will run into each other in the next arc.

[BugsySig]

Also, when Aric said they called people like the soldier "Archers" back home, did anyone else think of Obie and the Archies?

I did think of Obie, not so much the Archies. It was an odd reference, no sure why it fell into quotations.

I'm not sure why it was quoted, but when I read it I just figured he meant that the soldier was just like an archer. They are not warriors as they just stand back and fire into battle from (relative) safety while the true warriors attack the enemy head first!

I liked how planet death has gone so far. I can't wait for the ending to see exactly how it plays out and how him and Gilad will run into each other in the next arc.

I didn't think it was a direct reference, but being in quotes it drew my attention and made me think of our well-known VALIANT "Archer".

[Johnny America]

"The priest believes I am a god. Others think me a devil. I am neither. I am a Visigoth." This line ruled.

[lorddunlow]

Also, when Aric said they called people like the soldier "Archers" back home, did anyone else think of Obie and the Archies?

I did think of Obie, not so much the Archies. It was an odd reference, no sure why it fell into quotations.

I'm not sure why it was quoted, but when I read it I just figured he meant that the soldier was just like an archer. They are not warriors as they just stand back and fire into battle from (relative) safety while the true warriors attack the enemy head first!

I liked how planet death has gone so far. I can't wait for the ending to see exactly how it plays out and how him and Gilad will run into each other in the next arc.

I didn't think it was a direct reference, but being in quotes it drew my attention and made me think of our well-known VALIANT "Archer".

I wondered that myself. I really think there may be something to this.

[Elveen]

I like that Aric's hand is now an extension of the armor. They really can't separate him from it unless the armor rejects him.

.

Unless it get's cut off again.

[bygranddesign]

I'm really hoping the next issue comes through to save this arc. The more I go back, the more it seems that everything that has happened in Planet Death so far (except maybe the origin of Shanhara pages) could have taken place in one or maybe 2 issues.

The issues aren't bad, but they are so decompressed that this "event" storyline has boiled down to little more than: Aric lands on planet, fights vine, talks to priest, fights vine, finds other Visigoths, fights vine, finds other aliens, fights vine.

So far I have preferred the two issue prelude more than Planet Death itself.

I do agree with some of what your saying but I've enjoyed the arc overall - I think there is a nice epic quality to it. In some ways I enjoy the sort of straight forward nature of the story but I do feel in order to have made it GREAT it could have used some more interesting plot points and some greater character development. I have much respect for VDitti (I think he is a very good storyteller) but the story does feel a bit Michael Bay-ish Like you said... move the plot a little bit (insert epic battle), move the plot a little more (insert epic battle). While we were waiting for the Vine to attack the Human encampment, how about an issue where Aric and his people have some genuine moments of getting to know each other? A nice lull to the action like Dysart did brilliantly in Harbinger #12 was much needed. Lets see a little humor, a little personality, a little character development.

Overall .. I thought this was actually one of the better issues of the Arc. Cary Nords art and the action scenes were really beautiful and brilliant. I like the ending with the introduction of the other enslaved races. I'll give this issue a 7.5/10

[bygranddesign]

It will be interesting to see what happens when the rest of the slave races are liberated. I'm sure they can be rallied to the cause of marching on Loam (rhymes with Rome) but it made me a bit sad to see the slaves yelling about freedom. They have no idea where they are, where they originated. They've been on Loam for generations, so in a way, it is their home. But how can they ever live free there? And if the other races remain, too?

Besides the one cute Visigoth girl who doesn't have much to say ... these Visigoths are pretty much faceless. We have no clue what they know in terms of their history on earth. They have been enslaved for generations (1,500 years?) .. it would have been nice to have a lull in the action where Aric really interacts with his people and talks about where they come from, what earth is like ... etc.

I'm sure that scene is coming ... but it would have made sense to have it now on Planet Death during this Story arc so these people know that if they escape that there is real hope of reaching what must feel like a mythical land to them .. a home planet for humanity

[cdgodin]

Well, unlike you guys, I am getting exactly what I expected out of Planet Death, which is a big action story.