Review: X-O Manowar #26

I’ve been reading X-O Manowar since the first iteration of the title way back in the 1980’s and this current run has been a tour de force. The current issue brings Matt Kindt’s epic run to a poignant close, although the overarching plot came to a conclusion in the penultimate issue of X-O Manowar. Kindt uses this final issue as an introspective epilogue via the dialog between Aric of Dacia and his sentient bio-armor Shanhara. While there are obvious comparisons to be made between Aric’s relationship with Shanhara and Tony Stark with his armor’s A.I., either Jarvis or Friday, those comparisons are superficial at best. Shanhara is much more of a sentient being than any of Stark’s creations. Kindt writes the X-O armor as a fully actualized character, thus the interaction between Aric and Shanhara has a real chemistry with emotional weight.

The narrative of Kindt’s final issue consists of a series of shorter adventures connected by Aric’s running monologue. It unfolds like an inventory of self-exploration and emotional growth that has taken place over the last 25 issues. Aric of Dacia has developed as a complex, multi-faceted character the likes of which are seldom seen in a single run. Kindt has written the protagonist as a soldier, a leader on the battlefield as well as an emperor all before ultimately becoming the hero we see in this final chapter. Along the way Kindt has woven elements of Conan, Iron Man, Star Wars and Nick Fury into his epic saga of intergalactic adventure. Although Kindt’s run on X-O was almost exactly half the size of Robert Venditti’s previous run, the degree of character development is substantially greater under Kindt’s direction. This was due mainly to the chemistry created by Kindt between Aric and Shanhara. The armor was given not just a voice, but was written as a counterpart to Aric, a companion for him to relate to on a more human level thus allowing for a deeper degree of character development for both components.

This is an introspective chapter in the X-O saga, as we see Aric ultimately reunited with Schon. He lovingly takes her hand and they walk off into the proverbial sunset. This reads like an ode to love, a poetic end to Aric’s hero’s quest that is satisfying and poignant. There are subtle nuances that make this sequence so effective, both written and visual like the dramatic lighting and deliberate pace at which the scene unfolds. Kindt and artists Tomas Giorello, Isaac Goodhart and colorist Diego Rodriguez work in concert to create a fitting final issue that brings closure to their run while leaving the door open for Aric and the next creative team taking over the helm of X-O Manowar.

Visually, Tomas Giorello fills this issue with meticulously detailed pages that more often call to mind classical paintings than other comic book work. His page compositions are thoughtful and aesthetically pleasing while conveying an energetic sense of action and movement. Giorello has been the artist of record for the lion’s share of this run, consistently raising the bar with each successive issue culminating in this spectacular artistic swan song. In contrast, Isaac Goodhart’s solid style of more traditional comic book art works well in this issue because of Kindt’s creative story structure. The visual shift isn’t quite jarring however it is noticeable, but in light of Kindt’s storytelling approach all things work together for the good. While the differences between colorist Diego Rodriguez’s more nuanced work and Andrew Dalhouse’s use of a brighter pallet are slightly more stark, the issue still maintains a visual consistency throughout.

Overall this is a fitting finale to one of Valiant’s most consistently engrossing and visually stunning series to date. Writer Matt Kindt has done a fantastic job of bringing X-O Manowar to the forefront of what can be done in comic books and sequential art storytelling. The high standard maintained throughout the run is evident in the culmination of Kindt’s epic narrative here in this issue. If you haven’t been following X-O Manowar in single issues I highly recommend picking up the trades. 5/5

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer- Matt Kindt
Artists- Tomas Giorello, Isaac Goodhart
Colorists- Diego Rodriguez, Andrew Dalhouse
Letterer- Dave Sharpe