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With solid story and art -- as well as slick packaging -- Valiant's X-O Manowar is poised to be that midway comic between the Big Two and the independents that might grab fans from both. The first issue features a smartly-designed infographic (!) in the inside front cover to set the historical tone, and the battle between the Visigoths and the Romans that opens the story is both convincing and swiftly paced. How do we get to a highly-developed suit of armor in the middle of 402 AD? Spoilers!

I could position this review for readers familiar with the long history of Valiant Comics, that unique publisher that launched in 1989, went on to produce such memorable comics as Magnus Robot Fighter, Shadowman, Archer & Armstrong, and the aforementioned X-O, and had several sea-changes as the company fell into different hands. But as loyal as that fanbase is, I don't think they alone are going to be enough to put this current run of "rebooted" titles to the top of the charts.*

And I don't think the new Valiant thinks that way either. Instead of resting on the laurels of an older brand, advanced quality is evidenced in everything about X-O Manowar #1: such as the writing, art, coloring, even the trade-dress and logo (thanks to noted designer Rian Hughes). But that's the sort of high bar set for talent that was the calling-card of most of the previous Valiant incarnations, and what provided them with the conceit goal of being the publisher closest to becoming Number Three to the Big Two. Read More...