X-O Manowar #20 discussion

[tchalla8]

Well....you absolutely HAVE to read Unity #2 before this one or you won't have any idea what's going on. So they're sort of thrown the whole "not required to pick up other titles to follow story" thing out the window here. And they kind of had to.

That being said, it was well written, and I liked the way the handled the characterization. Good exchanges between Aric and both Gilad and Harada. Solid writing all the way around.

But what was up with the art? That didn't look like Cary Nord at all. Especially the first half of the book. In fact, he was just credited with "Layouts" and nothing more.

I confess I'm getting really frustrated with the month to month inconsistencies in the art department with VEI. When a book looks different every month I just don't feel like we're getting a consistent feel to the story. I miss the days when an artist could do 20 issues in a row without missing a beat.

[BugsySig]

I have mixed feelings about this issue. I liked the read. Good action, some insight into the connection between Aric and Shanharra and some advancement of the Unity plot.

The art, while not bad, is no where near the level Nord had it last issue. Whether you liked that style or not, I don't think many would argue that. Apparently he did the layouts only and, while I enjoyed the art on #19 and applaud VEI for letting Nord experiment, if that prevented him from completing the art duties on the rest of the arc, then it shouldn't have been done.

It is also a direct continuation of Unity #2, so anyone who wasn't reading that would be lost. I also have to wonder if anyone only reading Unity will be missing out come issue #3. I would have preferred a slight recap of how Aric got where he was in Unity #2 and then had the issue focus inside his, Shanhara and Livewire's heads. That would have kept the link to Unity, developed the Aric/Shanharra relationship further and not added so many events to the overall Unity arc that people will feel left out.

[swtor1091]

I get where people are coming from that they threw the, "Pick up only the titles you want thing," But this issue was so bad *SQUEE* I could care less Everything in this issue made me squeal like a little kid until the very end and has me very excited for Unity #3. I think though that Aric is being quite reckless again. He knows what the suit can do and yet he is going to try to take it out anyway. Just as reckless as ever

[blujay]

The Art is some of the best i've ever seen, absolutely beautiful stuff. That being said this issue was really cool, very fun and cranking up the tension on the global scale.

[Blood of Heroes]

All I've got to say is that Livewire looks smokin' in the X-O armor!

[iwantvaliant]

My favorite book of the week. Ninjak had a great line "Anyone object to us listening to our gut from here on out?" I think the art was fantastic. So far both tie-in issues have been stronger for me than Unity itself.

[jmatt]

Loved the read, loved the art. Don't care that you'd have to read Unity #2 to follow; that's kinda the point, to pollinate interest across titles. Cover stock in X-O and Unity seems beefier than other titles, I like it.

There seems to be a minor theme here in "hands". We know Aric has a hand the armor gifted him that allows him to control it. We see Livewire raise and examine her hand in the armor. So, what's Gilad got up his sleeve, literally? When have we ever seen him nursing an injury with a cast, especially one that looks like that? There's something going on there...

I liked the panel with the moon shining over a calm sea while a battle royale rages below. Nice juxtaposition.

They finally made an overt point about the armor healing itself (the faceplate). We saw a hint of that just after Aric stole the armor while he's floating in space and again, I think, when he was battling the Vine (the Gafti revival issue). Not entirely sure why we should be amazed by that given the armor's abilities... perhaps we're supposed to be surprised that it's alive, an organic creature of some sort. Or perhaps it's a reference or an homage to VH1, I think we saw Ax crack the faceplate (or was it Aric cracked it with an ax while Ax was in it? Can't recall exactly)

Why is it that Ninjak always looks Asian (the eyes) when he's in costume but Caucasian when he's not?

[conspiracycamel]

I love how polarizing the art is. I thought the art was fantastically unique and the most visually dynamic book Valiant has put out since its relaunch.

How can this book be labelled as a tie-in when it seems to directly follow the plot of Unity #2? I was expecting this book to tell Aric's story of launching the ship.

Anyway, my favorite Valiant release this week.

[pixierosa]

An exciting book! I don't usually go for all action, but the armor, its level of awareness and connection with Aric, is interesting. Also interesting to learn that despite his connection to it via his hand, he struggled to keep the suit from killing himself.

Nice to see Harada struggle for a change, too. He's normally so cocksure. And did I detect actual concern from him regarding Livewire? The world powers are all converging, and the combatants are at a temporary stand-still. Can't wait to read the next Unity!

[Carson]

Haven't read it yet, but scanned and noticed the change of pace on the art. Have we seen preview pages for 21? Curious where the art is headed.

[nonplayer]

Loved the issue. A few problems I noticed... Harada Didnt look like him the art much nicer to me than last month
Still wasent up to par. It really bugs me the swiching of styles. Hard to follow its like a different comic all together.
Cant wait till next month.

[vaevictis]

Loved the flow of the book. Also really liked the art, inking, and coloring. While I really loved Nords work on #19, the tone of the art in this issue seemed to fit the book better.

[greg]

I wonder if Valiant considers the summary information included in every issue as "enough" to say that you don't need to buy all the titles?
(Similar to Harbinger Wars)

My guess is that Unity #3 will summarize what happened in X-O #20, so you don't need to buy X-O #20 if you read Unity #2, then read the summary inside Unity #3.
But you DO need to buy X-O #20 to have the whole story with art sequence and detail.

It's almost like the extra 47 hours of Lord of the Rings trilogy on the DVDs... some people want them, others are satisfied with only the 31 hours of theater version.

[Captain Craig]

Glad the art returned to a more norma look this month. After last issues water color experiment which let me down.

My nutshell point is that this is a great arc, the story is fantastic at showing the characters interaction and in regards to Aric, since it's his book, his connection to the armor and how that's impacted with Livewire now wielding it. Who herself is getting great character development.

My observation is that this isn't playing that smoothly. You absolutely have to read UNITY #2. One could not pick this issue up and seamlessly follow the flow of the XO title from #19-20. In that regard I'm of the opinion this arc should've taken place entirely within XO, yes that means the events of UNITY #1-2 and then when the dust settles the actual UNITY book itself start. UNITY #1 should've been a Mar/Apr '14 release.

[Donovan]

Extremely exciting issue! I enjoyed the art as well, although some of it looked a little rushed (a few hands seemed awkward). The colouring was nice to see after last month's experiment.

[jkingman]

I loved it. I thought the art was good. I understand the complaints about not having a constant art team, but I think it's better than late books. Are there a lot of fans of XO Manowar who are complaining about a crossover event with Unity? I don't like when Marvel has a crossover event that ties into 10 other books (sometimes just barely connecting, sometimes major events happen in random places) with half a dozen new mini-series that also tie in. but if someone only wants to buy XO and skip Unity, the summary does explain what happened...not nearly as detailed as reading the full issue, you don't know how Aric was defeated, but you know he sent the ship to the ocean and Livewire stole Shanhara.

I can't wait for the next issues!

[grendeljd]

I thought this was a great issue, the story was very entertaining. Lots of cool moments, I liked that Aric has such a deep bond with Shanhara, and it's essentially suggested that it's due to his new hand, which acts as a more permanent thing than the original control ring (wonder what effect it would have if it got chopped off again?) Personally, I wouldn't have been bragging so openly to the Unity team about that little secret, but it suits Aric to make a big deal about it.

Loved seeing Livewire in the suit & all the technical ideas about her trying to control it.

Too bad Cary only did layouts (the equivalent of doing rough sketches, for the most part). The other fellow did a decent job of capturing what Nord layed out, but there were some awkward looking panels here & there. The colours were great, it almost had the same vibe as Nords marker rendering in the previous issue.

I don't see an issue with making this tie-in a little closer to the story in Unity - we're talking about trying to get readers into two comics for the sake of a damn good story here, not draining their wallets for a bunch of filler crap spread thin over a dozen titles. And I agree with the sentiments regarding the title page recaps - just enough to keep you from being lost if you don't want the other book, but also enough to potentially tempt you to give it a go to get the whole experience.

[Carson]

I don't see an issue with making this tie-in a little closer to the story in Unity - we're talking about trying to get readers into two comics for the sake of a damn good story here, not draining their wallets for a bunch of filler crap spread thin over a dozen titles.

Amen. I'd rather each issue contain new content than have the same story told twice like we did in some of the Harbinger Wars issues. If they like Unity, hopefully they'll pick up XO. If not, the summary can fill them in on what they missed.

[SJS4]

Liked the story but was extremely disappointed in the art. Nord is a really good artist that VEI has signed exclusively...but at his current output levels we hardly ever get to see him. Garbet was a solid fill in but this art wasn't up to snuff imho (and yes i know Nord did the layouts).

Hope to see improvement in this area. I am worried that with the ongoing sales declines VEI might not be willing to spend on solid artists.

[lorddunlow]

I'm now really enjoying X-O now, but that's because it doesn't read like previous issues of X-O. It reads like Unity .5 issues. I approve.

Awesome to see Livewire gain control of the armor. Obviously this won't last, but I'm not sure how Harada won't just kill everyone in the room with his mind. The only way out of that happening is if Livewire stands against him when he tries. Maybe in the ensuing struggle, Aric will regain the armor.

Loving the Unity storyline.

[BugsySig]

I'm now really enjoying X-O now, but that's because it doesn't read like previous issues of X-O. It reads like Unity .5 issues. I approve.

Awesome to see Livewire gain control of the armor. Obviously this won't last, but I'm not sure how Harada won't just kill everyone in the room with his mind. The only way out of that happening is if Livewire stands against him when he tries. Maybe in the ensuing struggle, Aric will regain the armor.

Loving the Unity storyline.

Yeah, unfortunately Harada suffers from Sentry Syndrome. He has to be taken out of every battle somehow so as not to just wipe everyone else out.

[AnthonyF]

The Art is some of the best i've ever seen, absolutely beautiful stuff. That being said this issue was really cool, very fun and cranking up the tension on the global scale.

Completely agreed, the art was top notch, Cary's layouts were great for the action!

[bygranddesign]

Yeah I would think Harada can BRAIN DOOF everyone in that room ... including Aric ... if he wanted.



I'm about to go a little off the tracks here ... but i have this recurring vision of a Harbinger commercial for TV or Movie where there is this conference room full of executives where they are just *SQUEE* back and forth with each other for whatever reason and Harada silently listens and increasingly gets more and more annoyed until you see him close his eyes ... the camera captures an overhead shot of the entire room ... and everyone of the executives head's gets BRAIN DOOF'd ... and Harada casually walks out of the room.

I just think that would have cool viral video potential for a Harbinger movie or TV show

[jmatt]

Yeah, unfortunately Harada suffers from Sentry Syndrome. He has to be taken out of every battle somehow so as not to just wipe everyone else out.

Yeah, they need to dream up Harada's kryptonite... something that weakens him and holds him at bay.

[leonmallett]

Yeah I would think Harada can BRAIN DOOF everyone in that room ... including Aric ... if he wanted....

I thought it was spelled out he could not attack Aric psychically due to the armour interfering somehow, or I may have got that wrong.