Review: X-O Manowar #25

All heroes get knocked down. It is how they get up that makes them heroes. This issue provided an ideal opportunity for Â Aric of Dacia to show how he gets up after the battle he went through in the last issue. A past he thought he left behind came back to show it was very much alive and perhaps providing to be a bigger challenge than he can handle alone. Luckily, an unexpected ally has returned to provide him some much-needed assistance.

These last two issues of X-O Manowar have been this overextended brutal and bloody battle. Reminiscent of when Matt Kindt first took over the title and brought massive set pieces that quickened the pace and made for quite the exciting read. Over his time with the title, Kindt has crafted a narrative of massive scope that has traveled through solar systems and massive periods of time. With his run set to end this upcoming April, it appears we are entering into his final act. As now this massive story is coming full circle back to where it began.

Perhaps this issue“s biggest downfall is what it is following. While the action here is intense at times, coming off the heels of the previous issue it does suffer from a case of diminishing returns. It properly builds to a proper climax, but once it comes the resolution leaves a lot to be desired. Mostly due to how unclear some of the final moments are. To its benefit, it does end at a more interesting story point that it began, which bolds well for the final act.

Tomas Giorello“s art has a stoicism to it to enhance the power of the action. These are creatures from other planets with technology far beyond our understanding, and he designs the action to fit that description. It works well as it plays against the primal emotion we see from Aric as he is fighting for his life. The one downside is there is a stiffness in Giorello“s movement which hinders some of the fluidity going from one movement to the next. Diego Rodriguez“s colors paint quite a picture. What is fascinating about this sequence is how it has this massive battle is occurring in such a scenic location. He uses this calming blue in great effect that lets your guard down as a reader. Once the action enters into the more violent moments stark reds and oranges punctuate the violence.

Final Thoughts:

X-O Manowar #25 does come off as a necessary step to a more interesting story that is coming. The action may not bring the same level of excitement as the previous, but it does enough to make it well worth your time.

[yasr_overall_rating]

Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: TomÃ¡s Giorello
Colorist: Diego Rodriguez
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist:Â Kenneth Rocafort,Â Leo Colapietro,Â Michael Manomivibul,Â Francis Portela

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Daniel Clark

A fan of all things comics. Growing up on a healthy diet of 90's Batman and X-Men cartoon series ignited a love for the medium that remains strong today.