X-O Manowar #29 p.3 (2012) Valiant

X-O Manowar vol 3 # 29 September 2014
"Slow Burn" pg 3
9" x 11", Rodrigues inks over Bernard pencils on cardstock
Pencils: Diego Bernard
Inks: Alisson Rodrigues
Writer: Robert Venditti

Broken kingdom!

The world has changed for Aric of Dacia – the armored earthbound hero known as X-O Manowar. Unable to protect his friends and allies from the interstellar hunters sworn to kill him, the Visigoth warrior who would be king now recoils from the horrendous consequences – even as a threatening new future looms. Everything changes now!

X-O Manowar #29 deals with the immediate aftermath of the Armor Hunters crossover event including the change to Aric’s armor. It’s something that he and his wife try to get used to since the armor replaced the part of his body that was injured yet on the outside the scarred skin still looks human. They don’t have much time to examine this as the Colonel comes wanting to discuss the new state of affairs or rather she has a proposal for him. Since he and Unity beat the Armor Hunters the people will need a protector to look to in future times of need. She wants him to be X-O Manowar, the executive officer that’s second in command to her. She promises there will be no tricks or leverage held over his head so if he joins it’s a completely voluntary decision. He agrees and they prepare to head back to where it all started: Malgam. Malgam is still fearful of the armor hunters finding and killing him but a team arrives at his containment cell claiming to have the cure for the virus from his armor and they want to help him. But who is this mysterious team and is the cure real? And if so, what does this mean for all those who wear armors going forward?

After the Armor Hunters series spectacular conclusion, X-O Manowar #29 was just the type of recovery I needed after all the excitement. However, there were still some questions that needed answering and I was hoping this issue would at least hint at those being addressed at some point. And so the change in the armor, the fact that it doesn’t automatically replace body parts, was touched on at the start of this issue and so it was clear that this would be significant. I also enjoyed the explanation of the X-O Manowar name as the character was being defined in his capacity going forward, and I think there’s a lot of potential there going forward. Aside from that what unfolded in this issue was interesting, and even though I was engrossed in the story, the lack of answers regarding Malgam makes me wonder if it’ll be addressed soon. And I say that because there would be an incident with the team claiming to have the cure for Malgam would create 2 intriguing situations: the cure existing and what that means for armor wearers, and those who wouldn’t want the cure to exist. And with this new conundrum I can see the focus just put on things that lie ahead and not Malgam’s past with the Armor Hunters. But I admit I’m more curious now about those who wouldn’t want a cure to exist as well as those who would want to use the cure for their own means. This issue would address Aric’s new relationship with his armor and he would use it in an impressive way. And I’m impressed with the way the seeds were planted for future story lines and I’m looking forward to them being developed.

X-O Manowar #29 is a solid follow-up to the Armor Hunters event and plants some interesting seeds for future story lines to develop with the new status quo. The existence of those who don’t want a cure to exist for the armor along with the revelation at the end of this issue has me excited for what’s ahead for Aric and the different parties in play.