X-O Manowar makes a massive comeback with all-star creative team!

By Liam McGuire

Mar 27th 2023

With a storied 30+ year comic history, X-O Manowar is making a massive comeback to the Valiant Universe in a new series out this week. Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad (Wonder Woman, Batgirls) will be joined by artist Liam Sharp (Green Lantern) for an all-new take on the longtime Valiant Comics hero. For fans of the character, the creative team and previews should stir up excitement about the next chapter of X-O Manowar’s journey.

X-O Manowar first debuted in X-O Manowar #1 by Jim Shooter, Steve Englehart, Bob Layton, and Barry Windsor Smith, becoming one of the flagship heroes for the Valiant Comics universe. In his most notable origin, Aric of Dacia was the heir to the throne of the Visigoth Empire and battled the Roman Empire in the 5th Century. When rebelling against his oppressors, he encountered alien attackers known as the Vine, who captured him for years. In order to break free, Aric stole the Shanhara, a sentient armor that bonded with him and transformed him into X-O Manowar. Aric would return to Earth in the 21st Century, where he tried to balance the past and the present, while using his armor as a hero.

The X-O Manowar franchise has been adapted into video games, including teaming up with Iron Man in “Iron Man and X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal,” appeared in the Ninjak vs. the Valiant Universe web series, and has been rumored to have a live-action film in the works for the past few years.

While Valiant has scaled back its monthly titles, releasing just a single book a month, the next storyline, X-O Manowar: Unconquered featuring the titular hero, will be a big one. The writing team of Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad, best known for their excellent work with DC Comics, will team up superstar artist Liam Sharp, who will bring his unique, trademark style to the new book. The book will feature covers from Sharp, Nimit Malavia, a blank variant cover, a preorder bundle, a 1:250 incentive cover made from actual leather (coming soon!), and a 1:50 variant from Sharp.

Past, present, and future collide as X-O MANOWAR returns for its 30th anniversary in an unforgettable new series by superstar creators Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad, and Liam Sharp that promises to put the king back on his throne and chart a new course for Valiant's flagship series.

The new series is putting X-O Manowar back in the spotlight, as Valiant Comics is taking a big swing with the all-star creative team on the book. X-O Manowar: Unconquered #1 is in comic book stores this week, while future issues can be preordered from CaptCan Comics right now. Check out our site to reserve your copies now.