“Robert Venditti’s run on X-O MANOWAR is one of the finest in Valiant’s storied history,” said Valiant Editor-in-Chief Warren Simons. “From his very first issue with artist Cary Nord through PLANET DEATH, UNITY, ARMOR HUNTERS and beyond, Rob’s work on X-O MANOWAR helped cement Valiant as one of the leading publishers in comics today and his contributions to the fabric of the Valiant Universe will continue to resonate for decades to come. But he won’t be leaving X-O MANOWAR quietly. What we have in store for X-O MANOWAR’s grand finale as we head toward issue #50 might just be Valiant’s most audacious turn to date. As Valiant prepares to celebrate X-O Manowar’s 25th anniversary in 2017, ‘LONG THE LIVE THE KING’ will be a colossal turning point for the character…and foreshadow even bigger changes yet to come in the future.”
X-O Manowar #47 is the beginning of the end to Venditti’s historic run on the book. It begins the final arc “Long Live the King.” The arc will detail a striking cosmic showdown between X-O Manowar, Aric of Dacia and heir to the throne of the Visigoth Empire, and The Torment. The Torment are a foe far more terrible than any that have come before. They have traveled for eons to reach Earth and Aric and his X-O Manowar armor. Will Aric be able to challenge a seemingly omnipotent threat with motives beyond the comprehension of moral men? Will the armor truly be Earth’s salvation, as the Vine’s myth foretold? Is this the beginning of the end for X-O Manowar, or the beginning of something even bigger?
“X-O MANOWAR isn’t just the story of Aric of Dacia’s odyssey across time and space. It’s also the story of Valiant’s reemergence as the premier storytelling company in comics today, and Robert Venditti has been an integral member of the creative vanguard behind that success since day one,” said Valiant CEO & Chief Creative Officer Dinesh Shamdasani. “Over the course of 56 issues, we’ve cemented X-O MANOWAR to his rightful place in the pantheon of comics’ greatest heroes and X-O MANOWAR #50 is the ultimate celebration of that achievement. To officiate it, we’ve set out to invest an unrivaled amount of energy and attention into X-O MANOWAR’s final four issues and to formally recognize this as the culmination of one of the greatest, most nuanced character arcs in the history of modern comics. Now, as we march toward issue #50, we’re preparing even greater surprises for X-O MANOWAR’s future – including the anniversary cover to end all anniversary covers. X-O MANOWAR #50 will be a milestone accomplishment in every sense of the term.”
The covers for X-O Manowar #47 come from Kano, Phil Jimenez, Khoi Pham, Clayton Henry, Rafa Sandoval, David Lafuente, and Jeff Lemire. X-O Manowar #47 hits comic book shelves on June 29, 2016.
John is the Editor here at Bounding Into Comics. He is a massive Washington Capitals fan, lover of history, and likes to dabble in economics and philosophy.
Copyright 2018, Bounding Into Comics. Disclosure Information: Some of the organizations with products on our site may pay us a referral fee or affiliate commission when you click to apply for those products.
“I never thought I’d put on the cape and tights. That was never my intention. I was just going to give Nightwing the push he needed to be Robin again.”
Tim Drake has been through the ringer. The third Robin has been very prevalent throughout the DC Universe in the last few years. From his time on Future’s End to a leading position on the New 52 Teen Titans. However, Detective Comics is where Tim Drake shines. James Tynion IV and Eddy Barrows have been making magic for quite a few issues now. Together, this creative team has turned Tim Drake from a creative vortex to one of the most compelling plotlines in DC Comics history.
The Young “Detective” has been trapped within Mr. Oz’s prison for some time now. Now that Batman knows Tim is alive, it’s only a matter of time before the two are reunited. But with the incredible scripts Tynion has been writing it may be at the hands of Drake himself.
In Detective Comics #965, Tim Drake begins his daring escape from imprisonment. Employing his famous intellect, he cracks Oz’s systems and grants himself a small bit of freedom. His ingenuity and resourcefulness are wonderful reminders of how compelling Tim can be. His strength is his mind, his ability to out-think the unthinkable.
Tynion has had plenty of time to develop a relationship with Tim, and it shows. In his Detective Comics run an emphasis is placed on the entirety of Bruce Wayne’s extended family. In his hands, Tim is quickly coming to the forefront of the Bat-Family.
Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira have been an incredible creative team for DC. Their not-so-recent work on Martian Manhunter is some of the most captivating panels in recent memory. It’s no wonder why they’ve remained on Detective Comics with Tynion for a while now. Barrows has a classic style that can create a surprising amount of contrast to make the story even more interesting.
There’s a blend of flashback sequences mixed in with the story. The art team do an eye-catching job of juxtaposing the old and the new, giving a more dramatic touch to the modern day. It’s a small touch but one that makes their work so remarkable.
James Tynion IV, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Adriano Lucas make it look easy. Together, the team have been creating amazing stories featuring all of the characters in Gotham’s ranks. Tim Drake, Red Robin, has been taken to particular heights. After sacrificing himself for his team, he found himself at the mercy of one Mr. Oz. Now that he’s gained back some freedom, Drake is off on an exciting adventure by some amazing creatives.
Unlike the New 52, Rebirth has a plethora of creative teams that are still intact, and with good reason. Some of the best stories in comic history have been put together thanks to DC’s latest relaunch. Detective Comics is being helmed by one such team. One so good it could drive any reader to stand and declare, “Oh Captains, My Captains.”
Daniel Mills is a screenwriter and director working in Los Angeles, California. Far too many comics and Forgotten Realms-novels led him to want to tell stories of his own. From articles and opinion pieces to reviews and screenplays, he sees every new opportunity as another new realm waiting to be explored.