REVIEW: 'X-O Manowar' #2 by Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Liam Sharp

 

X-O MANOWAR: UNCONQUERED #2

Writer: Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad

Artist: Liam Sharp

Letters: Troy Peteri

Publisher: Valiant Comics

Release Date: April 19, 2023

Cover Price: $3.99

X-O MANOWAR... conquered??  Wounded and with Shanhara badly damaged, Aric gets captured by the menacing Novus Romanus Legion.  What hidden horrors lie aboard the Theodosius I wait for our hero? From the acclaimed writing duo of Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan and superstar artist Liam Sharp, X-O MANOWAR UNCONQUERED #2 promises to deliver the grand space epic you've been waiting for!

Score:

★★★★☆ (4/5)

'X-O Manowar' #2 by Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Liam Sharp finds Aric in big trouble. Still reeling from the impact of Scythia, Aric and the sentient armor Shanhara have to withstand an onslaught of incoming fire from the Novus Romanus ship. General Cadmus and Commander Aurum are resolute in retrieving the armor that will elevate their own military forces. Ever the determined warrior, Aric tries his best but is no match for the big gun - Thyria Antius. 

Aric is feeling some deja vu as these futuristic Romans remind him of the Romans he fought eons ago. The conquering horde that now has him in their grasp isn't without manners and invites him to feast. Cloonan and Conrad inject a sort of medieval stratocracy, the kind of ruthless power sought by rulers who wield their military might. Yet, Aric remains confident he'll overcome his oppressor when he regains his strength. The issue establishes the power and desire of the enemy in clear terms and just how formidable they are. The real key to Aric's future is the soothsayer Nimane. His strength and determination are always evident but perhaps showing some more vulnerability would do him some good in humanizing him. 

Sharp's visuals are smoky, dark, and shadowy creating a juxtaposition between an advanced futuristic galaxy still mired in its own dark ages. The aesthetic is more the red pill version of 'The Matrix' than say the sleek ultramodern world of 'Star Trek' for example. It fits Aric's personality who's no stranger to fighting under hellish conditions. Sharp's use of color can be subtle to form the shapes of the figures within the panel but electrifying at times to emphasize the impact of pain, anger, or passion. Overall, the art blends expressionism with futurism to create a unique raw vision of the future. 

'X-O Manowar' takes Aric into the hands of the enemy and the stakes could not be higher. The visually stunning and atmospheric sci-fi action thriller sets the table for a hero's redemption in what is sure to be an explosive next issue.