Links

 

X-O Manowar Issue 19
Story, Coloring, and Cover Art (Coloring) by Jorge Gonzalez

Here's a few links to articles and sites I enjoyed.

The Early 1990s was an explosive era in comics. Speculators drove the market to new heights. Old companies took their last gasps, as they were crowded out by newcomers. Valiant rode that market swell, and unfortunately crashed with it also. But one man who helped steer Valiant's ascendancy was Jorge Gonzalez. He's written a post on his blog about his time with the company, and in particular, about his time working on X-O Manowar. Here's a link to that post:

Jorge Gonzalez on Valiant Comics

Online magazine publisher Sequart Organization did a nice article on the rise and fall of Valiant. Titled "Valiant Days, Valiant Nights," the piece offers some fascinating glimpses of the company's history, and interviews with people instrumental in the creation of X-O Manowar, such as Bob Layton and Jim Shooter. Well worth reading.

Valiant Days Valiant Nights


Tony Bedard lettered X-O Issue 19. He went on to become a writer and editor for CrossGen, Marvel, and DC. Here's an interview on his years at CrossGen, in which he compares the company to Valiant, and discusses his relationship with Valiant founder Jim Shooter:

Tony Bedard CrossGen Interview


Jim Calafiore penciled several covers and issues of X-O Manowar. You can check out examples of his work, and read his weekly online comic "Crooks & Nannies" at www.jimcalafiore.com

Jim Calafiore's website

Mike Cavallaro worked as an assistant colorist on X-O Manowar. He's still active in the field today, working on a variety of projects for major publishers. You can read his bio, and see examples of latest work (such as Nico Bravo, Vulcan's Celestial Supply Shop, and Foiled) at his website www.mikecalafiore.com

Mike Cavallaro's website

David Chlystek worked as a colorist on X-O Manowar. Valiant fans will remember him as the person who suggested the name for another popular Valiant character, Bloodshot. After Valiant, he worked for Marvel and DC, and even published a few comics of his own, such as Megahurst, for Image. Since then, he's become a much-in-demand storyboard artist for animated TV shows such as Guardians of the Galaxy and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. You can check out examples of his work on his website, and see all the TV work he's done on his IMDB page.


David Chlystek's IMDB page

Andrew Covalt worked as a colorist on X-O Manowar, doing interior and color coloring. These days, he sculpts retro figures of classic comics figures for retailers like Diamond, and paints backgrounds for animated TV shows like Courage the Cowardly Dog and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He's posted some of his painted backgrounds for these shows on his blog:

Andrew Covalt's Painted Backgrounds


Steve Ditko had a long history in the comics field before working as a penciler on X-O Manowar. He may be best well known as the co-creator of Spider-Man, as well as his work on early Doctor Strange and The Incredible Hulk. At Valiant, then-editor Jim Shooter had trouble finding work for Steve, who held strong views on what a hero should and should not be. The fact that he worked as a penciler on X-O Manowar thus means he held Aric of Dacia in great esteem. You can read Jim Shooter's reminiscences of Steve Ditko, and the early days of Valiant, on these two posts from his blog:

Ditko at Valiant and Defiant Part 1
Ditko at Valiant and Defiant Part 2


Randy Elliot worked as an inker on X-O Manowar. He's worked on lots of titles for other companies, including Bionicle, Scooby Doo, and Archie. He's also done sketches and paintings for collectible trading cards. At his website, you can see a gallery of his comics work (including a page from X-O), other illustrations and paintings, and commission an original sketch.

Randy Elliot's website

Few stores shows more Valiant love than Knowhere Games & Comics. If you're a Valiant fan, you'll enjoy the visit, whether you find an issue or variant cover you don't have, or you just enjoy admiring all the posters, banners, standees, or chatting with the owner Mathias about all things Valiant.

Knowhere Games & Comics