Review: X-O Manowar #17
Creative Team:
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Lee Garbett
Color Artist: Moose Baumann
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
The Issue:
We start with a flashback to Aric’s past. Aric’s father raises him to have pride in where he’s from despite living under the thumb of the Romans. This very land that his father said was his is where he has taken over in the modern day. While Aric enjoys his place as king of this new nation, he has his people farming the land.
Not everyone is happy with this current setup. A man named Volo, who was the leader of the Visigoths before Aric came to Loam, is unhappy with the role. He points to his associate Tammus that they might not be as free as they think. At that moment the two decide to wander off eventually ending up in a grocery store. The two are amazed when seeing more food than they’ve ever seen before in their life.
Alexander Dorian, an Earth born member of the Vine, approaches the scene with an offer in a helicopter. Seeing this vehicle as a threat, Aric dons the X-O Manowar armor and blows the helicopter out of the sky. Dorian comes with an offer of asylum in the United States, Aric refuses to leave his rightful land.
Back on the farm with the common folk, Volo returns with carts of groceries for his people. When he turns he looks to find Tammus only to notice that his friend has gone missing. As the issue closes Tammus is on an operating table ready to get operated on.
What I Liked:
I pointed out in the last couple issues how I enjoyed Aric not understanding that the world around him changed. Here he has liberated people and they are grateful that he has freed them from the Vine. What I never considered is that there would be people who would compare this freedom to the slavery they were in before. That kind of surprise was appreciated and I hope they continue to build Volo as a character who brings conflict within the Visigoths. To have Aric fighting two battles at once makes this a much more compelling title.
The point of him really living as a king is driven home by the fact he’s sleeping in an apartment with Sanaa and everyone else is living outside. Aric is of the people but he’s really lost touch of how to be one of them. I don’t find this as much a character inconsistency as I find it interesting.
What I Didn’t Like:
Aric blows up the helicopter and Dorian jumps out just in time to get no damage? This is the second time this has happened in the series. So maybe it is just his special power as a member of the Vine or something?
Overall while the issue has presented some interesting things there is still little depth to Aric’s character. I get that he is a man out of time. As I mentioned in reviewing a prior issue he is Conan in Iron Man’s armor. This is fine. I get that he misses home, but I want them to do more to reach into the essence of the character. The personal scenes seem to fall flat which is weird because we know what he wants. It’s just the character has yet to come to life.
Grade:
Coatesvillain
Just a guy who was into this nerd stuff before it's popular. Now that is I'm just happy I have people to talk about it with.
