X-O Manowar #9 Coloring

 

X-O Manowar #9 Pre-Order Cover by Tyler Kirkham & Arif Prianto

In X-O Manowar #9, we find a New York City swathed in green. Normally, we think of things like nanites and the Singularity as machines, and associate them with evils like industrial pollution. Yet Troy Whitaker offers humanity a vision of technology that would transform our world into a garden planet, lush and verdant.

The only cost? The individual freedoms that you hold dear.

We've seen Tina Morris grow from a closed-down insular person in X-O Manowar #1, to a woman who has opened up her home--and her life--to new people and influences. Her striking red hair seems emblematic of the strength she has found during this series, as she takes on the newly transformed robots constraining her son.

Troy Whitaker's actions in this series suggest that he believes only the end result matters. The way he has clothed himself in white armor suggests that, no matter how many he deceived along the way, he views himself as a noble and blameless knight. 

He certainly believes that achieving his vision qualifies him as the savior of mankind.

Yet the diversity that he would wish to extinguish, for the sake of conformity to his grand vision, shows all of humanity's creativity and vibrancy. All these billboards, and signs or monitors, reveal all the colors of mankind. Yes, green is good, but we wouldn't want to smother out all those other colors either.

In X-O Manowar #9, colorist Ruth Redmond reminds us that, while humans are adept at capable of creating our own evils, diversity and vibrancy make our world a very rich place indeed.

Dragon Dave

X-O Manowar #9 Lettering

 

X-O Manowar #9 Cover B by Michael Cho

X-O Manowar #9 finds Aric bound in nanite chains, with billionaire technology genius Troy Whitaker seemingly in charge of the Singularity that has taken control of New York City. When Aric foiled Troy's rocket-fueled publicity stunt in X-O Manowar #1, Troy spun the narrative his way. He does so again in the final issue of this groundbreaking series.

You can tell he's used to speaking in soundbites and getting his message across. Notice how he stresses the word spectacularly. He wants to convey not just how big a change has occurred, but the manner in which it came about.

 

Equally, letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou wishes to convey how much young Desmond disagrees with Troy's assertion. His message reads large and bold. It's italicized. It's followed by exclamation points. Even the narrative balloon and arrow that conveys his message to us is ripped out of anything approaching gentleness or symmetry.

But that's not half as shocking as Troy's reaction to Desmond's defiance.

In previous issues, Troy has acted as Desmond's benefactor, bringing him into his luxury home, and rebuilding the apartment complex destroyed by the Ukrainian warlord Yakiov. When we saw the two together, both during the rebuilding and after Desmond and his mother moved into their rebuilt home, Troy seemed congenial, concerned, and caring. His body language, and his closeness to the boy and his mother, suggested that he viewed the two as family. 

The big sound effect in the panel above, colored warm like fire...

It hurts.

 

The Singularity's messages come across as slightly rounded narrative boxes, perfectly symmetrical, and gently laid atop one another. Unlike Troy, the way the Singularity talks to Desmond, and repeats its message, seems like a concerned parent, guardian, or friend.

Aric might have saved Desmond from getting arrested in X-O Manowar #1. Perhaps he even saved the boy's life. But Aric's soft, barely circular dialogue balloons in the panel above, as well as his tiny lower-case words, convey exactly how he feels about not being able to save him now.

Dragon Dave

X-O Manowar #9 Covers

 

X-O Manowar #9 Cover A by Rahzzah

Rahzzah has contributed some hauntingly beautiful Cover A's for this second story arc, and each looks ripped directly from that issue's pages. Here we see Troy Whitaker in control of the world, drunk with the power of the nanite storm that he wields, while Aric lays defeated before him. Can there be any hope for Aric and Shanhara? 

I'm especially drawn to the nanite swarm, or the Hive Mind, or the Singularity (whatever you want to call it) in this cover. The pixels remind me of how Whitaker used the singularity to entrap and control Shanhara. But notice the shape they form above and behind Whitaker. It hints at a theme, and a key plot point you'll discover in X-O Manowar #9.

X-O Manowar #9 Cover B by Michael Cho

Michael Cho's cover is beautiful in its simplicity. He certainly has a gift for depth and proportion. The colors also form stark contrasts. Aric's hand looks as if it is reaching out beyond the cover. "Careful, Aric! I don't want your laser sword to burn me!"

And what about those shards of Shanhara behind and above Aric's thigh? Does it suggest that the armor is breaking down? Or is Shanhara reforming?

This is an exceptionally strong portrait. Valiant already used it for their X-O Manowar #5 Cover B. If you loved it then, but couldn't locate a copy, you've got another chance to pick up this beauty.

X-O Manowar #9 Pre-Order Cover by Tyler Kirkham & Arif Prianto

Valiant used this beautiful image by Tyler Kirkham and Arif Prianto as an advertisement in an earlier issue. When I saw it, I thought, "It's so good. I wonder why Valiant didn't use it as a cover?" Well, now they have! 

I love how it shows Aric in his gleaming new Whitaker-upgraded suit, with a closeup profile of his face seemingly formed by the rising smoke--or by clouds--in the background. The glowing moon in the sky also brightens this scene. But nothing shows more brilliance that Aric's sword, which sends flames searing through the titles.

With New York City seemingly in flames, I can't help thinking back to the story of Aric fighting the warlord Yakiov in X-O Manowar #4. Well, we know how that battle went! But can Aric and Shanhara defeat Troy Whitaker and the Singularity in X-O Manowar #9? 

You can learn the answers to all your questions, and see how this groundbreaking series ends, when you pick up your favorite cover--or all three--at your local comic shop this coming Wednesday.

Dragon Dave

X-O Manowar #9 Preview Pages

 

X-O Manowar #9 Cover A by Rahzzah

Aric and Desmond fared poorly amid the chaos Troy Whitaker unleashed in X-O Manowar #8. But just as Aric discovered on Gorin, the billionaire technology inventor will discover that taking over the planet doesn't mean everything goes your way. In X-O Manowar #9, you'll learn the ultimate fate of Aric, Desmond, Troy, and the entire human race.

And what about Shanhara, Aric's sentient alien armor? Does a shred of her even exist anymore? There's much to discover in this final issue of writer Dennis Hopeless Hallum and penciler and inker Emilio's Laiso's groundbreaking run.

Enjoy!

Yes, I hear you. Only three preview pages? Sorry, that's all the good folks at Valiant Comics sent me. 

Don't worry. You can read the entire issue this coming Wednesday, December 15th, when it arrives in your local comic shop. Until then, stay tuned for more on X-O Manowar #9.

Dragon Dave

X-O Manowar #4 Covers Part 1

 

X-O Manowar #4 Cover A by Christian Ward

British artist Christian Ward has done some terrific covers for X-O Manowar, and this certainly counts as one of them. With the yellow world or sun behind him, the red background with the dots and circles suggests a colorful and symbolic view of the cosmos. Aric, our Visigoth hero, speeds into action, with Shanhara struggling to keep up with him. 

This will be the first full issue with Aric taking the fight to the Ukrainian warlord Yakiov his upgraded armor, and Christian hints at this change in appearance.

Incidentally, one of Christian Ward's favorite novels is Weaveworld. Perhaps Clive Barker's classic tale inspired Christian to weave Shanhara around Aric in this trippy cosmic cover?

X-O Manowar #4 Cover B by Paul Renaud

French artist Paul Renaud gives strong Fantasy heroines like Red Sonja and Athena a classic feel, and imbues the places they inhabit with grandeur. His portrayal of Shanhara, sans Whitaker's upgrade, is elegant and powerful. The cavalry soldiers behind Aric remind us of his youthful battles leading the tribes of Dacia against the armies of Rome, while the planes or spaceships shooting overhead remind us of more recent battles. 

Whether serving in Earth's armed forces with GATE, or during his exile on the planet Gorin, Aric has demonstrated his leadership abilities time and again. The way his laser sword bursts out like a star is another nice, classic touch.

X-O Manowar #4 Cover C by Kael Ngu

Malaysian artist Kael Ngu gives us a truly radical take on X-O Manowar. The blue on his armor looks like hammered, shaped, and strapped on, while the yellow suggests the ripped muscles of a bodybuilder posing before contest judges. But the power crackling from his hands suggests what Aric might do with the armor if he threw off all notions of chivary, dispensed with his moral code, and used Shanhara to wreak as much havoc as he possibly could. 

Aside from this more villainous portrayal, I'm also struck by the placement of the lights glowing on Shanhara's armor. Does the fact that Shanhara is displaying more glowing lights mean that she's channeling more power than ever before?

Colorist Candace Han not only colors Aric brilliantly here, but gives depth and ambiance to the fog Aric is trudging through. Altogether, an atmospheric and thought-provoking piece by Ngu and Han.

Congratulations of Christian Ward, Paul Renaud, Kael Ngu, and Candace Han for contributing three stunning visions of Aric of Dacia for X-O Manowar #4! If you love great art, and admire X-O Manowar, you really do need to get them all!

Dragon Dave

X-O Manowar #4 Preview Pages

X-O Manowar #4 Cover A by Christian Ward

 

Maybe you've discovered Valiant Comics, and the glories of X-O Manowar recently. Or perhaps you just need a refresher. Either way, here's the inside front cover and first four glorious pages of Aric's fight for his adopted hometown of Harlem, New York City, in X-O Manowar #4.

Enjoy!

 

 

If you missed any of the insane action in this first story arc, or just need it all in one place, you can pick up all four issues of this first complete story arc in X-O Manowar Book One by Dennis Hopeless Hallum and company. Plus, it also sports another beautiful cover by Christian Ward!

X-O Manowar Book One Cover by Christian Ward

Don't forget, the epic finale of this current series arrives next Wednesday. So mark December 15th as 

X-O Manowar Day, 

and help keep your local comic shop in business by picking up X-O Manowar #9!

Dragon Dave

The Harbinger #2 Review: Part 2

 

The Harbinger #2 Cover A by Robbi Rodriguez

While The Harbinger #2 offers Peter Stanchek time for reflection, it also throws him into difficult situations. This plot-intensive series, following the events in recent series such as Harbinger Renegades, also arouses memories of the original 90s series. Writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly pay homage to both eras--the old and the new--while fusing the best of both into their entrancing new series.

Robbi Rodriguez enhances the authors' rapid-fire storytelling with frenetic artwork that tries, but cannot quite capture, the sheer speed and power of the psiot-enhanced action. Like stills from your favorite anime, sometimes the characters simply move too fast to be viewed with perfect clarity. The superteam known as The Warning whoosh through panels, leaving the reader breathless, and demanding a reread (or several) to fully understand all that is going on.

The stranger who stole Peter's memories shortly before the events in The Harbinger #1 regards him as a coward. Yet when his friend Cici and the people of Psiot City are threatened, Peter defends them. He may not be a born fighter like X-O Manowar, but he doesn't turn his back on those in need.

In The Harbinger #2 we also learn more about the enigmatic man who stole Peter's memories. What was he like, before sucked all of Peter Stanchek's pain, struggles, and neuroses into his psyche? At least now, he's not afraid to use his newfound powers for his own ends.

His actions suggest all that Peter Stanchek could have been, had Peter emulated Toyo Harada, and channeled his abilities into empire-building.

Some will always look at the people Peter has hurt and label him a villain. But isn't the real test of a hero that he continually questions his motives and actions?

In The Harbinger #2, writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, ably assisted by penciler and inker Robbi Rodriguez, colorist Rico Renzi, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, whisk us off to a world where the powers of the mind can be fully unleashed. Yet the issues the characters struggle with remain contemporary and all-too-real.

Dragon Dave