Reviews»Comic Books»X-O Manowar #27
XO_027_COVER_SEPULVEDA
Kareem Ali 4.5

X-O Manowar #27

 

  • The good

    Origin of the armors revealed as well as the way to kill it permanently. Engrossing back story that gives more depth to the armor hunters and their intentions

  • The bad

    Reebo learned from his training what doesn't work against an armor yet wanted to use those tactics in main series. The role the virus plays in an armor laying waste to an entire planet isn't shown?

  • The ugly

    • X-O Manowar #27 continues the story of Primary Reebo and Malgam right after they joined the Armor Hunters and are preparing for their initiation along with other recruits. They recognize some of the others on the transport ship but due to bad encounters at Broker’s Place, where they were found. They meet the leader of all the armor hunter squads, and when they land on their destination planet they’re in awe of what they see. It’s not just the vast number of recruits and armor hunters but the advanced weaponry that includes massive units called GIN-GR, which also serve as ships. Seeing all of this Reebo asks why don’t they just use this massive arsenal to track down the armors source so they can’t produce more. The leader tells them that the scorched planet they’re standing on is the armors original planet, and the point of training on it is so it serves as a constant reminder of what the armors are capable of doing. And how the armors won’t stop until every planet ends up the same way. They can see the harsh reality for themselves, and the returning vessels that lost all squad members just adds to that. The leader takes Reebo aside and tells him that he sees he’s different from the others and that he possess leadership qualities. And instead of being reluctant he wants Reebo to embrace it. And he tells Reebo there is a way to kill the armors despite what he witnessed, and he will be taught how.  Seeing as how fully trained armor hunters still lose their lives when facing the dangerous armors, can Reebo truly command a squad capable of ending the threat completely?

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    I really enjoy the fact that this series is focusing on the backstory of the armor hunters because it gives more depth to characters who are already intriguing, and sheds light on the origins of the armors. It’s definitely in a position to enhance the event’s main series, and last issue was a great start. This one picks up from that point and it was interesting to see Reebo and Malgam’s reaction to the armor hunters incredible arsenal because it’s similar to the reaction Earth had as well. And it did raise the menacing status of the armors because anything that could go against these massive units and well-equipped squads and hold its own was indeed a dire threat to all. I enjoyed seeing Reebo being pulled to the side and being addressed as a potential leader because it felt organic and not the result of the other characters being made to look incompetent in a ridiculous fashion. Although all he was being taught about how to kill armors makes me question some of his initial decisions in the present currently being attributed to a weariness from the long war against the armors and the lost of so many, such as what won’t work against the armors. Half of this issue would show Reebo and his squad’s first hunt and the action here was thrilling especially considering the particular way they have to kill armors. And even though I can see how an armor could lay waste to an entire planet over time due to that planet not possessing what’s necessary to kill it since it can keep regenerating, this issue doesn’t show how an armor actually accomplishes that. I don’t mean I need to see every hit but after seeing this hunt and knowing how there’s also a virus connected to the armor that spreads my mind is thinking of all these possibilities. This is due to a very intriguing moment towards the end of the issue involving the armor, and I may be reading too much into it but it was fascinating. And that’s the real joy of this series right now, and that’s the fact that it makes an already entertaining event even more engrossing. And I’m not even mad at that.

     

    SUMMARY

    X-O Manowar #27 is a very enjoyable issue that continues to build an engrossing back story for the armor hunters and in doing so makes the crossover event that much more exciting, and richly complex. The origin of the armors is shown to an extent and the convincing of Reebo to jump completely into this task was believable, as was choosing him as leader. The setup is perfect to show how a squad initially eager to undertake this task can become weary after a long war and just want to get the job done. And the revelation of how an armor has to be killed makes the potential climax in the main series very interesting. And in the moment that made all the other members of the squad hesitate, any doubts I had about this series ending strong were erased.

     

    Release Date: 7/30/14

    Writer: Robert Venditti

    Artist: Diego Bernard

  • Rating ( 8.5 )
  • Total score 8.5

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