Comics
Review: ‘X-O Manowar’ #8
Trying to find new ways to rave about Valiant’s books is becoming increasingly difficult each month. The company’s entire line of books are stellar and consistently leading the pack is X-O Manowar. Writer Robert Venditti has taken “X-O Manowar”, and turned it into the crown jewel of the company’s relaunch. “X-O Manowar” combines all the best elements of “300”, “Conan”, and “Iron Man” into one melting pot that is enhanced by spellbinding action, intriguing characters, and some remarkably poignant storytelling.
WRITTEN BY: Robert Venditti
ART BY: Lee Garbett
PUBLISHER: Valiant
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: December 19th, 2012
Issue #8 concludes the second story arc, and reintroduces Ninjak to the Valiant universe. Ninjak is Valiant’s version of James Bond, so he brought elements of international espionage and treacherous treason with him to the series. Since Ninjak’s arrival, the book has been filled with dynamic action scenes and interesting plot twists. Rather than use the guest appearance as a cheap sales gimmick, Venditti actually uses Ninjak to help advance the overall storyline. It’s apparent that the creative team is building to a much larger showdown between Aric and The Vine alien race in the next storyline “Planet Death”, and this issue ends by teasing readers with a glimpse of things to come.
Artist Cary Nord set the bar pretty high on the first four issues. This second arc has featured the artistic talents of Lee Garbett, whose conventional style and sense of storytelling is the perfect complement for the scriptwork. Garbett delivers some blockbuster battle sequences in this issue as Aric Dacia and Ninjak blast and slash their way through the British Secret Intelligence Service.
“X-O Manowar” should be on the top of your reading pile every month, as every issue of so far has been top notch. The first trade is conveniently priced at just $9.99, so why not join in the fun. In a comic book marketplace where most books are plagued with inconsistent creative teams, it’s refreshing to see a book like “X-O Manowar” that is intricately mapped out, building towards a big payoff. Venditti loads “X-O Manowar” with enough energy and excitement to satisfy casual readers and reward longtime fans with some sophisticated comic book fiction.
4/5 Skulls
Comics
‘Curse of the Where Wolf’ Bites Into August Release With Trio of Werewolf Theatrical Screenings [Exclusive Preview]
Larry Chaney‘s hairy misadventures are continuing in the sequel graphic novel Curse of the Where Wolf from creative team Rob Saucedo, Debora Lancianese, and Jack Morelli, and its author is celebrating with a trio of horror’s greatest werewolf films.
The Curse of the Where Wolf hits shelves on August 7 from Encyclopocalypse Publications.
That coincides with the launch of a theatrical screening event in Houston, Texas, featuring a trio of seminal werewolf flicks turning 45 this year: The Howling on August 7, Wolfen on August 14, and An American Werewolf in London on August 21.
Each screening features a “werewolf in film” presentation as well as a book signing from Where Wolf author and River Oaks Theatre artistic director Rob Saucedo.
In the new graphic novel, “Being a werewolf sucks. Reporter Larry Chaney wanted to be a hero. Instead, he became a werewolf. Now, caught between incredible new powers and a desire to eat everything (and everyone) in sight, Larry must find a cure for his curse. Or die trying.”
“With Where Wolf, I wanted to tell a whodunit set in a furry convention, so the story was pretty contained within a very specific setting and genre. With Curse of the Where Wolf, I wanted to celebrate everything I love about the possibility of comic books. Curse of the Where Wolf is a funny book, in every sense of the phrase, but it’s also an earnest look at a person’s struggle to become a better version of themselves, especially when the alternative is to become a literal monster,” Saucedo says of Curse.
The original graphic novel was previously serialized as the first webcomic hosted on Fangoria before being collected by Encyclopocalypse Publications in 2023 and has already been optioned for film, podcast, and television development ahead of launch by producers James Fino (“The Freak Brothers” for Tubi, “Rick and Morty” for Adult Swim) and Charles Horak (First Date for Magnolia Pictures).
Expect Larry to find himself in even weirder situations in the 362-page full color sequel; Saucedo has provided Bloody Disgusting with exclusive art pages from the upcoming graphic novel that showcase lupine humor.
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