Preview: X-O Manowar Annual #1 From Valiant

Valiant’s flagship hero gets his very first annual as X-O Manowar begins the countdown to his fiftieth issue.

As most are aware by now, Valiant is bringing the current volume of X-O Manowar to a close with issue #50 later this summer. While it’s a shame Valiant has decided to end the series, you can rest assured that no one has seen the last of Aric of Dacia.

To celebrate X-O Manowar hitting issue #50 and the series finale, Valiant is pulling out all the stops counting down to the big event, which includes the first ever X-O Manowar annual which will go on sale next month.

The massive 64-page annual will feature a main story by the superstar creative team of regular X-O Manowar writer Robert Venditti and Valiant-exclusive artist Pere Perez that looks back at the history of X-O Manowar and the armor. In addition, the book will include numerous short stories by some of the best talents in the industry, including Amy Chu, Adam Gorham, Jody Houser, Mike McKone and more.

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From the Valiant press release:

"With X-O MANOWAR #50 just over the horizon, 2016 is primed and ready to be X-O Manowar’s most pivotal year yet! But before Aric of Dacia can confront the biggest threat Earth has ever faced, he must first reflect on the past…and the outcome of a bloodstained battle on the frontier of the Roman Empire that continues to be felt to this day! Then: X-O Manowar’s sworn enemy, Commander Trill, readies for the war that is to come…by undergoing a life-threatening trial-by-fire that will test every ounce of his intellect and fury. And then Col. Jamie Capshaw must singlehandedly defend G.A.T.E from a menace nobody expected… just as the Armorines begin an all-new mission at the heart of X-O Manowar’s world!"

From there the story will continue into X-O Manowar #47 and the first chapter of “Long Live the King” which will mark the beginning of the end as Aric prepares to face his most dangerous foe yet. It will set the stage for the next evolution of X-O Manowar and what will follow once the dust settles after issue #50.

Since issue #1 X-O Manowar has been one of the most consistently enjoyable titles Valiant has published and I’m a bit surprised it took this long for Aric to get an annual. But as they say, good things come to those that wait.

X-O Manowar Annual 2016 arrives in comic shops on May 18, 2016 and will include covers by Phil Jimenez and Carmen Carnero with variant covers by Brian Level and Jeff Dekal.