X-O Manowar #26-immediately enjoyable on many levels

Here is what I knew about this comic prior to reading it: nothing.  But I was looking for something new and different that would have enough action and story to keep me curious while enjoying the art.  X-O Manowar #26 is great for action comic fans looking for something fresh.

As I knew nothing about X-O Manowar it’s a good thing that the recap page just inside the comic is brief.  In three sentences we learn that The Armor Hunters are soldiers from around the galaxy and that they’ve landed on Earth to hunt down the X-O Manowar Armor, one of the deadliest weapons in existence. It also alluded to the fact that the leader of the Armor Hunters, Primary Reebo has an interesting back story.

Tall Tales picks up with Reebo in a bar filled with all manner of space oddities.  He’s looking for a job as a bounty hunter and a very burley barkeep alien refers him to Wince, who wants to hire an army to help save his planet.  Through their conversation Reebo learns that it’s just one person who was destroying Wince’s world.  Malgam, Reebo’s assistant convinces him that taking the job, even if it’s a hoax is a good thing relative to their cash and reputation.

Reebo and Malgam go to Wince’s planet and the entire thing has been decimated.  Shortly after they set up camp they discover the source of the destruction, the X-O Manowar.  Basically, he’s a man wearing the X-O Manowar armor, but that suit makes him invincible and possibly insane.

I’m guessing about the insane part from the cover.  I’m also guessing that the wearer of said armor was a normal person until he put it on and went all crazy destroying worlds and stuff.

The art in X-O Manowar is awesome and rich in detailed colors.  Another thing that you’ll notice about the comic is just how well the story is.  There are lots of speech bubbles, development and characters that you can really get behind.  It’s also interesting that the X-O Manowar is on the cover.  Ostensibly, a villain as he’s going around killing worlds, yet he’s on the cover and the subject of the comic.  That’s a great twist.

I suspect that there’s more to the story and this could be a fill in for a larger story, give the large “Armor Hunters” logo on the cover.  However, I’m OK with that as it’s thoroughly enjoyable.  I don’t mind coming to the party late-as long as it’s a good party.

X-O Manowar is a new starting point for the character who is the world’s most wanted hero, according to the press release.  I’m intrigued even more, a hero, yet he’s destroying worlds…I’m also a bit hooked as you will be too when you pick it up.

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