X-O Manowar #20 discussion

[leonmallett]

Fairly decent issue in a book that has yet to 'wow' me. Glad to see more typical colouring used, but I suspect there may be more experimentation ahead, which I hope would be contained to whole arcs in future, rather than single issues; sporadic experiments will simply add to the jarring changes that some are feeling with the art styles, not only here but in other VEI books.

If Unity will be a book threading through other titles in future, I hope VEI clarify with a running order indication, either on the cover or on the recap page (maybe using a .5 notation as someone here suggested or Unity #X-plus, something like that, to help out people wanting to get the flow more easily - not everyone will be reading their books new in the week they are released).

[lorddunlow]

Yeah I would think Harada can BRAIN DOOF everyone in that room ... including Aric ... if he wanted....

I thought it was spelled out he could not attack Aric psychically due to the armour interfering somehow, or I may have got that wrong.

Aric isn't in the armor in that scene.

[leonmallett]

Yeah I would think Harada can BRAIN DOOF everyone in that room ... including Aric ... if he wanted....

I thought it was spelled out he could not attack Aric psychically due to the armour interfering somehow, or I may have got that wrong.

Aric isn't in the armor in that scene.

Good point!

[chriskay99]

That Unity tie-in triangle on the lower right corner of the cover kinda irks me. It's a pretty interesting/unique cover and I love the mostly white background. I don't have a problem with them cross-promoting, but my LCS has their comics in racks and you can only see the top 2/3 of the cover anyway. That triangle is wasted down there and sticks out like a sore thumb on the white cover. Seems like it would have made more sense to put a banner across the top like they did with Harbinger Wars.

[jmatt]

That Unity tie-in triangle on the lower right corner of the cover kinda irks me.

I wouldn't miss the gratuitous blurbs from reviewers either. I think wonderful cover art unblemished by marketing come-ons would do more to catch the eye than dressing the books like a box of Tide detergent.

Valiant should experiment with some split sales research: Print half the books with it and half without. Pick shops to receive each kind and keep them that way for a year. Then see which shops have growing orders. Maybe even try something totally new and eliminate the trade dress altogether.

These covers are beautiful. I really do believe a cover with just artwork would be more eye-catching than those with dress.

[leonmallett]

That Unity tie-in triangle on the lower right corner of the cover kinda irks me.

I wouldn't miss the gratuitous blurbs from reviewers either. I think wonderful cover art unblemished by marketing come-ons would do more to catch the eye than dressing the books like a box of Tide detergent.

Valiant should experiment with some split sales research: Print half the books with it and half without. Pick shops to receive each kind and keep them that way for a year. Then see which shops have growing orders. Maybe even try something totally new and eliminate the trade dress altogether.

These covers are beautiful. I really do believe a cover with just artwork would be more eye-catching than those with dress.

Doing that kind of marketing would be a bit of a logistical head-ache I guess, and managing would add cost (printing extra covers, someone employed to manage things etc.).

[Dallow Spicer1]

The art, while not bad, is no where near the level Nord had it last issue. Whether you liked that style or not, I don't think many would argue that. Apparently he did the layouts only and, while I enjoyed the art on #19 and applaud VEI for letting Nord experiment, if that prevented him from completing the art duties on the rest of the arc, then it shouldn't have been done.

+1 Agree the experimental issue of 19 wasn't worth it if the arc cannot be fully completed by Nord. Maybe his desire to 'experiment ' was part of his exclusive deal?
The art was a bit of a 'mixed bag' this month, some panels looked really good but others a little ropey, particular Eternal Warrior who looked chubby in some panels. Also looked to be another editing error when EW has Aric on the floor, his right hand appears to be without a cast? This 'hand reversing ' has happened a few time in BS and EW, is this errors by the artists or have the panels been 'reversed' during the editing process? Either way it's pretty lapse.

As for the story, another solid read and moves along the Unity storyline. I do find it odd that a new book immediately has tie in issues with another book, could be off putting for new readers to Unity that they need to buy another book to get the full story? Not a problem for me though.

Couple of lines of Ninjak's dialogue was a little americanised ('faucet'?), but that's just a minor quibble. Enjoying the female Colonel character, she's developing well as a new addition to the cast.

3.5 / 5 - good story but art inconsistent

[String]

Frankly, the art in this issue looks as if came from a 90s issue of VH1. It's okay, but some of the body posing was off and certain character's facials were off. (Harada looked terrible in some panels)

The story, on the other hand, was strong and intense. Aric may be as reckless as ever but Harada and Co. still continue to underestimate him. I also liked the various govt's' responses to the ship crash. The double page spread of the navies heading towards that spot was poignant of a possible real-world type response to such an event, I thought.

Looking forward to the Battle Under the Sea.