X-O Manowar #4 Review: Yakiov In America

Cover A by Christian Ward

 

In X-O Manowar #4, writer Dennis Hallum shows us the instability of the dictator. Or at least, a would-be dictator. Having seemingly won in his insurgency movement, and secured his hold on the Ukraine, warlord Vlad Yakiov headed to the U.S., where he captured the mother and child who had taken Aric in. While it seems strange that a foreign military band could carry out such a move in downtown New York City, recent events in our nation's capitol remind us that nothing is impossible.

Here's the preview pages for X-O Manowar #4:

Unlike his adventures in the Ukraine, in which X-O Manowar battled one of Troy Whitaker's robots, and then took on Yakiov's forces single-handed, this time the full resources of Whitaker's technological empire are on Aric's side. As you can see, the resultant battle is spectacular.

Cover B by Paul Renaud

 

 Another development in the last issue was a radical change to Aric's armor. Whitaker found a way to increase the power of Shanhara, which again seems strange, given that the armor is a driven by a sentient alien, and even the extraterrestrial race The Vine never found a means of controlling it. But Troy Whitaker is a billionaire industrialist, and the ruler of a technological empire. If anyone on Earth can hack Shanhara, it makes sense it would be him.

Cover C by Kael Ngu

By far the biggest surprise from last issue was a strange nanite swarm that attacked, and nearly got the better of Aric. Did it come from the newly refunded Project Rising Spirit? Does it have something to do with all the nanites The Burned bled out of Bloodshot? Or does this storm, either remotely controlled or operating a gestalt entity, have origins we can only begin to imagine? While X-O Manowar #4 may not answer those questions, rest assured that this nanite swarm was in no way an isolated, one-time event.

 

Sword of Shanhara Incentive Cover by Michael Walsh

In these last four issues, writer Dennis "Hopeless" Hallum has given us a plethora of storylines, and introduced us to characters we want to see more of. While we may have to wait a few months until the next issue arrives, I suspect the wait will be well worth it.

 

Pre-Order Cover by Jim Towe

In the meantime, I plan on reading through all four issues a couple more times, searching each issue for clues, and enjoying the beautiful artwork by penciler Emilio Laiso and colorist Ruth Redmond. I invite you to accompany me on this journey into this new series of X-O Manowar, overseen by Senior Editor Heather Antos. That is, if you dare. 

Dragon Dave

 

Once Popular Posts

 

My Top Ten posts changed a lot in 2020. Here's some of my favorite posts that fell off the Top Ten page.

 

1.   Looking For Jody Houser
2.   More Valiant Goodness at Knowhere Games & Comics
3.   Mini X-O Investigates Doctor Tomorrow
4.   Mini X-O Lost in Space

Gone But Not Forgotten

Robert Meyers 

Senior Editorial Director 

 

 

David Menchel 

Associate Editor 

 

 

 Drew Baumgartner (on right)

Assistant Editor 

 

 

Emily Hecht 

Digital Marketing Manager 

 

 

Kat O'Neill 

Sales & Live Events Manager 

 

 

Oliver Taylor 

International Licensing Coordinator

 

I've delayed updating the Valiant page, hoping that Valiant Entertainment might rehire these folks as a vaccine approached. Sadly, that hasn't happened, and I felt I needed to bring the page up-to-date. 

I wish these real-life heroes the best, wherever they land. 

Dragon Dave

 

Bloodshot 10 Review: A Welcome Reunion

Cover A by Simon Bisley

 

Bloodshot #10 begins a new story arc for author Tim Seeley. Having faked his death with General Grayle and the Black Bar organization, and shut down the covert espionage and terror network The Burned, Bloodshot locked himself away in a pocket universe, and tore the device from his head which had allowed him to travel there. Never again, he vowed, would he allow others to use him for their own purposes. Then he received an unexpected call to action.

Here's the Preview pages:

 

Bloodshot's decision to no longer perpetuate violence on behalf of others reminds me of Marvel's Planet Hulk storyline, only this time it is Bloodshot who seeks peace and refuge. But the information Wilford Wigans sends him makes Bloodshot realize that, despite the pain it will cause him, the world needs his unique skills and abilities more than ever. So Bloodshot sacrifices himself for the good of others, and works on a means of returning to our world.

 

Cover B by David Nakayama

Continuity matters, and in Bloodshot #10, Valiant Comics delivers. While promising the return of Project Rising Spirit, the organization that created Bloodshot, we also meet up with a character from the first Bloodshot (and Harbinger) series, catch up with the results of the Bloodshot USA storyline, see one character introduced in Bloodshot Salvation, and reunite with another character I'll leave as a surprise. 

Preorder Cover by Shawn Crystal

The Bloodshot movie took a different approach to the character than that utilized by the comic book writers. The way characters like Wigans come into the comics may be different from their Big Screen counterparts. Still, it's nice to see the movies and comics connect. 

That's why, in so many ways, Bloodshot #10 comes as a welcome reunion.

Dragon Dave