#valiant-comics — Public Fediverse posts

A Look Back at X-O Manowar #1 (1992)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Valiant Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s to examine a key part of the Valiant Comics universe through a tale of X-O Manowar.

Valiant – under the banner of Voyager Communications – was established in 1989 by former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Jim Shooter and Steven Massarsky. This happened following their failed attempt to acquire Marvel Comics. Early on, Valiant hired several creators from Marvel and together they brainstormed to create an all-new shared superhero comics universe which will have varied characters of originally creations as well as some licensed creations. In 1991, the company officially launched with titles of Magnus: Robot Fighter and Solar: Man of the Atom.

In 1992, the first wave of Valiant’s original intellectual properties were launched starting with Harbinger in January followed by X-O Manowar in February.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-O Manowar #1, published in 1992 by Valiant Comics with a story written by the late Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart with art by Barry Windsor-Smith.

Early story

The story begins inside an alien space ship traveling through deep space. A brave Visigoth warrior named Aric fights hard against Spider Aliens which he referred to as hard-skins. Even though he is naked and surrounded, he is determined to kill the aliens which have kept him as their slave and prisoner for many years.

Using the makeshift map marked by blood on his right palm, Aric makes his way through the ship until he finds a futuristic, metallic armor which puzzles him as he anticipated something useful in his desperate fight against the aliens. As a Spider Alien approaches him, Aric remembered the map giver advised him to take the ring which he does.

Suddenly, the armor moves to fit into him. Aric calls the armor a good skin and he realizes that it is stronger than fire-light. By instinct, Aric fires a powerful energy blast which not only kills two Spider Aliens but also damaged the hull of the space ship leading him into outer space.

When the space ship blows up near him, the armored Aric is pushed down into Earth’s atmosphere landing him on a snowy hill. He takes the armor off, leaves it behind and walks away fully naked. He still has the ring with him…  

Quality

Reading this Valiant comic book is indeed a great experience and it has indeed aged well. Right from the start, Aric is the protagonist designed to lead readers to get immersed into the story, follow his experiences, learn from his views and discoveries, and experience his development.

The story Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart came up with had a really strong structure and the narrative moved at a consistent medium-pace which allowed readers to follow the developments and learn the details.

As the titular hero, Aric here is a man from the distant past of Earth who got abducted by aliens and spent time as a prisoner and a slave in space for a number of years (note: time on Earth moved faster due to time dilation) before finally being able to free himself using his bravery and the armor.

Aric was written to be a man out of time and in this comic book, you will see how he struggles to not only survive but also adjust to life in 20th century Earth. He no longer has his tribe and the ancient world he lived in has long passed away. With the ring still with him, Aric holds the key and the ability to control the armor, and this makes the people of Orb Industries (a company serving as a front of the Spider Aliens who turned out to be operating in Earth for centuries) bothered. As such, Orb sees Aric as prey (who tasted power with the armor) and they have so much resources to commit mass murder and destruction just to get to him.  

The build-up of the tale gradually intensified as the narrative moved on. The good news here is that the pay-offs are very rewarding to see. The spectacle is a mix of explosive scenes, shooting and superhero action with a strong science fiction flavor.

Conclusion

X-O Manowar #1 (1992) is absolutely a great comic to read and also one of the very best superhero introduction ever told. It has an adulterated tale that is believable and compelling to follow. By the time I reached the end of the story, Aric became a more relatable protagonist and I am convinced to follow the next issue. The story Shooter and Englehart came up with is indeed immersive and there Valiant shared universe itself became even more attractive to discover. There is no surprise that this comic book is one of the most significant comic book launches of Valiant.

Overall, X-O Manowar #1 (1992) is highly recommended!

+++++

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Turok & X-O Manowar by Bart Sears

#comicbooks #comicbook #comicbookart #artist #artists #artwork #artlover #artlovers #illustration #valiant #valiantcomics #artnet #artgallery #artgalleries #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #superhero #superheroes

art from H.A.R.D. Corps #5, cover by Mike Leeke and Tom Ryder, interiors by Bernard Chang (1993)

#artist #artists #comicbook #art #comicbooks #comicbookart #valiantcomics #valiant #illustration #action #scifi #sciencefiction #artlover #artlovers #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #arts

MOAR #comics. The Kickstarter #Harbinger #Omnibus collecting the original #ValiantComics series from the 90s, published by Alien Books. Since this is crowdfunding, there is an additional gimmick, where I claimed a small fame for myself at the first page column 1 of the "Producers" page. These are actually the names of the backers of the campaign.

I saw this flipping through my digital #comics collection. I remember being at a #ValiantComics panel a con in Portland when they unveiled this cover. People gasped and then applauded.

For context, Dr. Mirage could essentially call up and talk to the spirit of any dead person. EXCEPT her husband, for unknown reasons. She traveled to the Deadside and back searching for him. This makes the cover so powerful, beautiful, and a nice spoilery teaser.

Art by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic

art from Rai #4 by Joe St. Pierre (1992) 🔴

#art #arts #comicbook #comicbooks #fantasy #arts #superhero #superheroes #scifi #sciencefiction #illustration #valiant #valiantcomics #geek #nerd #90s #1990s #geeks #nerds

cover of Psi-Lords #1 by Jonboy Meyers (2019)

#comicbook #comicbooks #comicbookart #art #arts #artist #artists #illustration #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #artwork #valiant #valiantcomics

Ninjak statuette by Silver Fox Collectibles 💥💥💥💥💥 #comicbooks #comicbook #figure #figures #statue #statues #arts #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #ninjak #valiant #valiantcomics #artist #artists #design #artwork

The new Harbinger Omnibus (original 90s series) from #ValiantComics lists the Kickstarter backers as "Producers" at the end. They've released the PDF today, the print will follow sometime next year.

#Comics

cover of X-O Manowar: Unconquered #1 by Arthur Adams (2023)

#comicbooks #comicbook #comicbookart #valiantcomics #valiant #xomanowar #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #art #arts #artist #artists #superhero #superheroes #illustration #scifi #sciencefiction

cover of Killers #3 by Jonboy Meyers (2019)

#comicbooks #comicbook #comicbookart #valiantcomics #valiant #art #arts #illustration #artnet #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #artist #artists

art from Solar, Man of the Atom #21, cover by Joe Quesada, interiors by Peter Grau (1993)

#comicbooks #comicbook #art #arts #illustration #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #valiantcomics #valiant #90s #1990s #artist #artists #superhero #superheroes #scifi #sciencefiction #fantasy #fantasyart

cover of Magnus, Robot Fighter #0 by Paris Cullins (1992)

#comicbooks #comicbook #comicbookart #mech #mecha #valiantcomics #valiant #90s #1990s #illustration #scifi #sciencefiction #arts #art #artist #artists #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #superheroes #superhero

art from Armorines #8, cover by Jim Calafiore, interiors by Jose Delbo (1995)

#comicbooks #comicbook #valiantcomics #valiant #mech #mecha #90s #1990s #superhero #superheroes #artist #artists #art #arts #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #comicbookart

advertisement from April 1994 issue of Wizard magazine ✨✨✨

#comicbooks #comicbook #illustration #valiant #valiantcomics #xomanowar #comicbookart #supeheroes #superhero #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #artlover #90s #1990s

💜💜💜✨✨✨ cover of July 1993 issue of Wizard magazine by Bart Sears 💜💜💜✨✨✨

#comicbooks #comicbook #art #arts #illustration #superhero #superheroes #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #artist #artists #comicbookart #wizard #wizardmagazine #artlover #image #imagecomics #valiant #valiantcomics

art from Unity #19, cover by Diego Bernard, interiors by Jose Luis (2015)

#comicbook #comicbooks #comicbookart #valiantcomics #valiant #arts #art #illustration #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #superhero #superheroes #artist #artists

cover of Bloodshot #0 by Joe Quesada (1994)

#comicbook #comicbooks #comicbookart #illustration #geek #geeks #nerd #nerds #valiantcomics #valiant #bloodshot #superhero #superheroes #artist #artists #artnet #90s #1990s

X-O Manowar by Joe Quesada

#comicbooks #comicbook #valiantcomics #xomanowar #superhero #superheroes #artnet #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #sciencefiction #valiant #illustration #90s #1990s #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds #artist #artists

art from Bloodshot #34 by Norm Breyfogle (1995)

#art #arts #comicbook #comicbooks #comicbookart #valiant #valiantcomics #illustration #bloodshot #artist #artists #90s #1990s #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds

Ninjak by Joe Quesada #comicbooks #comicbook #comicbookart #valiantcomics #valiant #art #arts #illustration #artwork #artlover #artist #artists #ninjak #superhero #superheroes #comiccon

Lights! Camera! Action! This week on Dollar Bin Discoveries, we're exploring comics connected to Hollywood.

Listen anywhere but Spotify, or just go here: https://tencenttakes.podbean.com/e/dollar-bin-discoveries-hollywood-edition/
#Comics #ComicBooks #DollarBinDiscovery #Podcast #ValiantComics #DCComics #1990s #2000s #WonderWoman

New episode!
Get ready to read some comics in slow motion! This week we're checking out Baywatch Comic Stories, the so-so comic adaptation of the so-so series that dominated television in the 90s.

Listen anywhere but Spotify, or just go here: https://tencenttakes.podbean.com/e/issue-89-baywatch-comic-stories
#Comics #ComicBooks #PodcastandChill #Baywatch #1990s #Television #ValiantComics #Armada

It's 1992, you're flush with birthday money, and you come across this back cover ad. What're you buying?
#1990s #comics #comicbooks #comiccollector #advertisement #imagecomics #valiantcomics #dccomics #marvelcomics

What’s a masterpiece you’re kicking off the weekend with? I’ll go first.
#comics #comicbooks #solarmanoftheatom #valiantcomics #1990s

If Sony is smart they buy out Paramount for Star Trek and snatch up DMG Entertainment for Valiant Comics. With those two properties in hand they would be able to compete with Disney. After that the smartest thing to do would be selling the Spider-Man rights back to Disney in order to bankroll the sustainable development of their Star Trek and Valiant Comics properties by paying real talent to draw up a ten to twenty year development plan.

There are enough unique Valiant Comics characters in that shared universe to rival both DC and Marvel but no one's done dick with them, and they are less well known so you can try new shit. #sony #paramount #valiantcomics

EDIT: see link below
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valiant_Comics?wprov=sfla1

Falleció a los 94 años Don Perlin, dibujante de #comics que en #Marvel co-creó a #MoonKnight y dibujó por muchos años a los Defenders, para luego ser uno de los principales artistas de #ValiantComics, donde ço-creó a #Bloodshot.

Perlin comenzó su carrera a fines de los 40s, dibujando todo tipo de géneros, como horror, romance, y crimen, en editoriales como Fox Features, Harvey, DC, y Atlas (la futura Marvel). También fue dibujante fantasma de Will Eisner en la tira periódica de The Spirit.

Dibujó durante unos años comics de guerra parar Charlton, pero luego dejó de conseguir trabajos fijos de historieta, y se reconvirtió en dibujante técnico. Ocasionalmente dibujaba algún comic después de su horario fijo, hasta que en 1974 recibió una llamada de Roy Thomas. Thomas le pidió que dibujara historias de horor para Marvel, tomando en primera instancia el arte de Werewolf By night. Allí, co-crearía a Moon Knight junto a Doug Moench.

Por muchos años trabajó en Marvel, dibujando durante The Defenders entre 1980 y 1986, con varios guionistas, incluyendo a JM DeMatteis. También trabajó en otros títulos de la editorial, como Ghost Rider y Transformers, dibujando basicamente todos los personajes importantes de Marvel en algún momento.

En 1991 se fue a Valiant (encabezada por Jim Shooter), tanto editando como dibujando, creando nuevos personajes, entre ellos, Bloodshot, junto a los guionistas Kevin VanHook and Bob Layton, y trabajó en todo tipo de títulos de la editorial, como Solar, Man of the Atom, con guión de Shooter.

Valiant fue comprada por Acclaim a mediados de los 90s, y Perlin basicamente se retiró, aunque hacía comisiones y algún trabajo de comic ocasional. Su último trabajo publicado fue una historieta de Scooby-Doo para DC en 1999, hasta que en 2012 volvió junto a VanHook para una historia corta de Bloodshot.

Perlin ganó en 1997 National Cartoonists Society Comic Books Award. Estaba casado con Becky Perlin, y juntos tuvieron dos hijas y tres hijos.

#obituarios #dibujantes

If you know, you know.
#happymothersday #comics #comicbooks #valiantcomics #mothergod #unity #1990s

cover of Timewalker #7 by Rick Leonardi (1995) #comicbook #comicbooks #valiantcomics #valiant #90s #1990s #artist #artists #superhero #superheroes #comiccon #geek #nerd #geeks #nerds