X-O Manowar #44
Writer – Robert Venditti
Artist – Robert Gil
Colorist – Ulises Arreola
Letterer – Dave Sharpe
I have to admit that while I loved X-O Manowar back in the day, this week’s issue is the first I’ve read since its comeback a few years ago. Though it is the second part of a four-part story, it was very easy to jump right in, partially because of the “The story so far…” page, and partially due to Venditti’s more than capable writing.
In The Kill List part two the Vine’s search for a new homeworld brings them to Earth, and humans are not happy about it. There are Vine settlements guarded by the Armorines, and tensions between the two races are as high as can be as the Vine High Priest lays injured and a traitorous Commander Trill doing everything he can to destroy the peace process. Aric of Dacia and Ninjak are taking out Trill’s agents across the planet, but Trill is using this as proof of human violence against his kind strengthening his cause.
As with everything Venditti writes, X-O Manowar #44 is not only well written but he takes a pretty basic plot and elevates it creating something greater than the sum of its parts. He writes Aric as a man out of time yet learning to function in his new world and capacity as armored warrior, with all of the confusion and misunderstanding that comes with it. Aric questions Ninjak’s methods after he killed a safe house full of Plantings/Trill’s agents, showing that he isn’t quite understanding how things work in this new type of warfare. Ninjak isn’t trying to put him in his place though, this is a moment of teaching. Ninjak is written as brash yet even-handed, a professional who knows how to get the job done and send a message to his enemy. Arik is Ninjak’s straight man, the guy that’s there to reel him in if need be, and they make a greater team than I had expected. Venditti takes what could have been a typical alien invasion type of story and deftly turns it into a political thriller befitting our current social landscape. And as usual, we see that children learn hate from the adults that surround them.
Gill is a talented artist given plenty of moments to shine. His art is highly detailed but not flashy, and he is an excellent storyteller. His facial expressions and body language add to the story surrounding his characters, giving them weight and subtlety. I hope he stays on the book for months to come. But, what good is an artist with a crappy colorist? It’s a good thing that isn’t the case here. Arreola is a perfect pairing with Gill. His colors are understated with almost a watercolor look to them, and his understanding of light and shadow is on point, son. This is a great creative team putting out excellent work together.
