X-O #1 SPOILERS THREAD! Read the book then this thread!

[magnusr]

Was there ever a Old Valiant story of Gilad fighting with the Visigoths?

Yes, a two-parter written rather early that was later released as one book - X-O Manowar Yearbook 1.

I wonder if it might have some connection to the new story, so I will not talk about its plot.

/Magnus

[Zaphod]

Was there ever a Old Valiant story of Gilad fighting with the Visigoths?

Yes, a two-parter written rather early that was later released as one book - X-O Manowar Yearbook 1.

I wonder if it might have some connection to the new story, so I will not talk about its plot.

/Magnus

I think it is okay to talk about plots from the previous version of these characters. I do recall the story but the recollection is a bit fuzzy...but one of the main early plot points was that Aric and Gilad were not friendly and didn't Aric recall fighting Gilad before he was abducted by the Spider Aliens? That would be a really great plot point to set up if, in fact, we are getting another Unity-esque cross-over.

[FormerReader]

Can anyone explain how Aric broke free by killing the guard and spys on the Vine ceremony and then he's in the cage next. Are we to guess that he was captured?

[greg]

Can anyone explain how Aric broke free by killing the guard and spys on the Vine ceremony and then he's in the cage next. Are we to guess that he was captured?

Are you missing a page? (Seriously, it sounds like you might be.)

Aric and Gafti are watching the ceremony when more guards come up behind them, "KRAK" Gafti (first panel) on the back of the head, and drag them both to the cage. It happens between the alien putting on the X-O armor and the page where the armor kills the alien.

[riprap]

This is my first day off from work this week, so I finally read it. I thought that the team did a great job on a first issue. It seemed that they gave us a good sense of the character of Aric. Beautiful art by Cary Nord! I've never read anything by Venditti, but this was a solid, entertaining story. I'm excited to see where they're going to take X-O!

[etos45]

Okay I read XO #1 and the FCBD issue, and now I have read through this thread to make more sense of it all.

Are we saying Avagis was Gilad's child? Is that just a wild speculation? There is nothing in the comics that I can see that tells us that the Avagis's mother was Gilad's wife or who the woman/child were except name. It couldn't be Aric's child since his wife was captured by the Romans and the caption for when the Vine aliens entered the camp clearly sad Visigoth camp.

It's all speculation. There is obviously something important about that particular child, though, since they went as far as to tell you his name. Whether it's going to be the actual child's story, or the "clone's" is yet to be seen, though.

[greg]

Okay I read XO #1 and the FCBD issue, and now I have read through this thread to make more sense of it all.

Are we saying Avagis was Gilad's child? Is that just a wild speculation? There is nothing in the comics that I can see that tells us that the Avagis's mother was Gilad's wife or who the woman/child were except name. It couldn't be Aric's child since his wife was captured by the Romans and the caption for when the Vine aliens entered the camp clearly sad Visigoth camp.

It's all speculation. There is obviously something important about that particular child, though, since they went as far as to tell you his name. Whether it's going to be the actual child's story, or the "clone's" is yet to be seen, though.

Wild speculation. I was pushing the clues as far as I could. The last panel with Gilad has Alaric saying "families" are back at the camp. Why mention "family"? Avagis is "family" to someone there... why not Gilad?

[FormerReader]

Can anyone explain how Aric broke free by killing the guard and spys on the Vine ceremony and then he's in the cage next. Are we to guess that he was captured?

Are you missing a page? (Seriously, it sounds like you might be.)

Aric and Gafti are watching the ceremony when more guards come up behind them, "KRAK" Gafti (first panel) on the back of the head, and drag them both to the cage. It happens between the alien putting on the X-O armor and the page where the armor kills the alien.

This is rather embarrassing. I read the issue twice and both times I skipped the page and was confused by it. Third time I got it after I read your response.

Apparently I'm not going to be the one to find any hidden side stories in the issue.

[greg]

Can anyone explain how Aric broke free by killing the guard and spys on the Vine ceremony and then he's in the cage next. Are we to guess that he was captured?

Are you missing a page? (Seriously, it sounds like you might be.)

Aric and Gafti are watching the ceremony when more guards come up behind them, "KRAK" Gafti (first panel) on the back of the head, and drag them both to the cage. It happens between the alien putting on the X-O armor and the page where the armor kills the alien.

This is rather embarrassing. I read the issue twice and both times I skipped the page and was confused by it. Third time I got it after I read your response.

Apparently I'm not going to be the one to find any hidden side stories in the issue.

The insane completionist in me was actually hoping you had a copy with missing pages... for the "printing error" collectibility.

[FormerReader]

Can anyone explain how Aric broke free by killing the guard and spys on the Vine ceremony and then he's in the cage next. Are we to guess that he was captured?

Are you missing a page? (Seriously, it sounds like you might be.)

Aric and Gafti are watching the ceremony when more guards come up behind them, "KRAK" Gafti (first panel) on the back of the head, and drag them both to the cage. It happens between the alien putting on the X-O armor and the page where the armor kills the alien.

This is rather embarrassing. I read the issue twice and both times I skipped the page and was confused by it. Third time I got it after I read your response.

Apparently I'm not going to be the one to find any hidden side stories in the issue.

The insane completionist in me was actually hoping you had a copy with missing pages... for the "printing error" collectibility.

I was hoping that was the case too! Unfortuanately it turned out to be the "I miss pages when I'm reading variant".

[BugsySig]

Can anyone explain how Aric broke free by killing the guard and spys on the Vine ceremony and then he's in the cage next. Are we to guess that he was captured?

Are you missing a page? (Seriously, it sounds like you might be.)

Aric and Gafti are watching the ceremony when more guards come up behind them, "KRAK" Gafti (first panel) on the back of the head, and drag them both to the cage. It happens between the alien putting on the X-O armor and the page where the armor kills the alien.

This is rather embarrassing. I read the issue twice and both times I skipped the page and was confused by it. Third time I got it after I read your response.

Apparently I'm not going to be the one to find any hidden side stories in the issue.

The insane completionist in me was actually hoping you had a copy with missing pages... for the "printing error" collectibility.

I was hoping that was the case too! Unfortuanately it turned out to be the "I miss pages when I'm reading variant".

[The Dirt Gang]

What's up with the triangular logo on the XO armor? Does it have a corporate sponsor? It really stands out to me and I find it interesting that it has also been incorporated into the XO Manowar logo. Seems like there must be something to it but maybe the Vine are just people too and have corporations.

From the first issue, I got the impression that the Vine were worshiping something they didn't build but I feel like I've heard Venditti mention something about the Vine building the armor.

[BugsySig]

What's up with the triangular logo on the XO armor? Does it have a corporate sponsor? It really stands out to me and I find it interesting that it has also been incorporated into the XO Manowar logo. Seems like there must be something to it but maybe the Vine are just people too and have corporations.

From the first issue, I got the impression that the Vine were worshiping something they didn't build but I feel like I've heard Venditti mention something about the Vine building the armor.

The original was grown. And as the Spider Aliens worshipped nature, it would make sense to worship something that cam from the earth. Perhaps it is the same for the Vine.

[The Dirt Gang]

What's up with the triangular logo on the XO armor? Does it have a corporate sponsor? It really stands out to me and I find it interesting that it has also been incorporated into the XO Manowar logo. Seems like there must be something to it but maybe the Vine are just people too and have corporations.

From the first issue, I got the impression that the Vine were worshiping something they didn't build but I feel like I've heard Venditti mention something about the Vine building the armor.

The original was grown. And as the Spider Aliens worshipped nature, it would make sense to worship something that cam from the earth. Perhaps it is the same for the Vine.

Not to over think this but if grown what's the deal with the triangular logo on his right breast? As I mentioned before it also appears within the 'O' on the XO Manowar logo on the cover. Seems like it could be important.

[BugsySig]

What's up with the triangular logo on the XO armor? Does it have a corporate sponsor? It really stands out to me and I find it interesting that it has also been incorporated into the XO Manowar logo. Seems like there must be something to it but maybe the Vine are just people too and have corporations.

From the first issue, I got the impression that the Vine were worshiping something they didn't build but I feel like I've heard Venditti mention something about the Vine building the armor.

The original was grown. And as the Spider Aliens worshipped nature, it would make sense to worship something that cam from the earth. Perhaps it is the same for the Vine.

Not to over think this but if grown what's the deal with the triangular logo on his right breast? As I mentioned before it also appears within the 'O' on the XO Manowar logo on the cover. Seems like it could be important.

Why does it have a helmet with a face plate? If it is grown, you can engineer it to grow into a certain form, like we can do with vegetables. I don't doubt the symbol may have impotance to the Vine and therefor may have been engineered that way.

[cjv]

I wonder if the plantings from the vine are going to be related to the people with super powers. People who have Vine DNA?

[nutflush76]

Wow, poring through the panels for clues. Flipping through the panels for potential cameos! This is what Valiant comics were all about for me back in the day!

Oh and BTW, I think that the Eternal Warrior definitely is in this story. I think he has gotta be the "my king" guy. Remember Aric and Gilad met in the past in the old comics. Though that wasn't one of the happiest memories for either of those two. So it will be interesting to see what happens.

As for the babies, I wonder if this could be setting the stage for a type of "Secret Invasion" type of storyline?

[etos45]

I wonder if the plantings from the vine are going to be related to the people with super powers. People who have Vine DNA?

That would be an interesting way to do it.

[Big Red]

Really glad they didn't rush to get Aric into the armor and into the present.

Agreed.

I'm glad this time around that we got to get to know Aric on earth as a Visigoth before he was captured.

It was good to see what he was like before he got the armor.

[cjv]

Okay, I reread it again tonight...and I have to say that I don't like some things about that little synopsis in front.

I like the style. I like the idea of it. But c'mon - saying that a person has a life expectancy of 28...then drawing 28 little figures? Saying that visigoth's measure wealth with cows...and then drawing lots of cows = $$$$$$$? Do they think we are 5?

I like the idea of providing some background. I even like the idea of talking about some basic things like wealth and life expectancy. But you don't have to draw 28 little figure to show someone has a life expectancy of 28 years. Let's put those images to better use - like drawing the relative size of the armies, or where the visigoths came from, or even something like pictures of the rulers.


Chris

[greg]

... or even something like pictures of the rulers.

[geocarr]

But c'mon - saying that a person has a life expectancy of 28...then drawing 28 little figures? Saying that visigoth's measure wealth with cows...and then drawing lots of cows = $$$$$$$? Do they think we are 5? But you don't have to draw 28 little figure to show someone has a life expectancy of 28 years.

I thought the same thing when I read that inside cover page of the FCBD issue.

[BugsySig]

I thought it was fun, and likely designed by someone other than nord or venditti. But it did not really suit the tone of the rest of the book, so I can see that argument.

[FormerReader]

... or even something like pictures of the rulers.

[cjv]

I thought it was fun, and likely designed by someone other than nord or venditti. But it did not really suit the tone of the rest of the book, so I can see that argument.

I liked the idea of it, and I liked the style in which it was drawn, but it was HOW the conveyed some of the information that I felt was insulting.

Chris