X-O Manowar #3
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Tomàs Giorello with David Mack and Zu Orzu
Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: Valiant
A review by Josh Rose
Aric is up to his neck in trouble and still learning who he is as a person without the armor. X-O Manowar #3 sees the Visigoth on a suicide mission to infiltrate enemy territory and disarm their defenses. That was a success. Now the trick is managing their escape from the Cadmium Army before the Azure’s begin bombing the city.
X-O Manowar #3 is a very quick issue with lots of action where we see Aric promoted from foot soldier to Captain. Matt Kindt takes the time to give us a bit of background on the planet and it’s peoples. Aric isn’t the only one to see the parallels to the Cadmium Empire and the Roman Empire on Earth. Kindt also shows us an Aric that feels conflict within himself to parallel the war he is fighting against others.
There are few things more fantastic to see than alien cities and spacecrafts, and there are few things more exciting than epic car chases/escapes. Tomàs Giorello, does an excellent job creating a spacecraft chase through the alien city. Their panel layout is fun to look at just as much as the art it contains, while still being easy to follow the story. Its a bloody issue, full of violence and explosions, precisely what a Sci-Fi/Fantasy series requires. David Mack and Zu Orzu’s introduction to the Cadmium history is reminiscent of Roman artwork and beautifully done.
The Verdict
Buy It – In X-O Manowar #3 we are still waiting to see Aric of Dacia finally don the armor again, but this is going to be an emotional journey that will make the wait so totally worth it. This is a brilliant issue featuring beautiful art, explosions, and a spacecraft chase!
