Get Started In X-O MANOWAR

Compilations  |  1st Appearance  |  Origin Story  |  Main Publication History  |  Secondary Publication History  |  Key Storylines  |  Media Source Material  |  Key Issues

by snowbi-wan, updated Nov 2019

X-O Manowar is one of Valiant's original and foundational characters from their initial launch in the early 90's. Aric of Dacia was a Visigoth barbarian living in 400 A.D., his tribe in bloody conflict with the expanding Roman Empire. Unexpectedly abducted by spider aliens, he was enslaved aboard their starship for years until he steals their ultimate weapon--the X-O Manowar armor, a semi-sentient suit of malleable armor with incredible power. When Aric returns to Earth, 1600 years have passed due to time dilation during faster-than-light space travel. Aric must adjust to the 20th century...and fend off aliens intent on recovering their sacred armor. Acclaim significantly altered the character's backstory when in 1997 they relaunched the Valiant line of titles that they had acquired. This Aric was a modern-day scientist, and his armor was an ancient artifact recovered by the U.S. government during WWII. When Valiant reformed in 2012, they relaunched X-O Manowar again as one of their flagship titles with a more faithful reinterpretation of the original version. Incorporating only slight changes to Aric's story for modern audiences, the Valiant New Universe version has also expanded the backstory of the armor itself. The flexibility of X-O Manowar's milieu makes the title equally at home telling man-out-of-time stories on Earth or space opera tales throughout the galaxy.

Related Tags: ACCLAIM UNIVERSEARMOR HUNTERS [2014]BLOODSHOTFREE COMIC BOOK DAY (FCBD)HARBINGERIRON MANIRON MAN FAMILY TITLESMATT KINDT (W)VALIANT NEW UNIVERSEVALIANT ONE DOLLAR DEBUT REPRINTSVALIANT UNIVERSEVIDEO GAME TIE-INX-O MANOWAR

Compilations

In modern comic publishing, it's common (and expected) for individual comic book issues to be collected into compilations of trade paperbacks and/or hardcovers, as well as other special compilations. Unlike the individual source issues, the collected editions typically stay in print for long periods and are less 'collectible.' If individual issues are out of reach or are not of interest to you or if you just need reading copies, the following collected editions of X-O Manowar comic books are the most recent in-print editions and are the perfect alternative to get started right away with X-O Manowar. The following compilations are presented in a chronologically-based suggested reading order with softcover editions before any hardcover editions (unless the only in-print editions are hardcover--these are integrated into the softcover list).

The very first ongoing series from Valiant (classic Valiant Universe) is not in print, but there were trade paperback compilations and a few hardcovers, so they can be found in the secondary market. Valiant's New Universe material has been continually in print.

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CoverRelease MonthSeries / Number / Storyline
X-O MANOWAR VOL 01: BY THE SWORDQuick ViewDec 2012X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 01: BY THE SWORD
CURRENT PRINTING
  (collects issues from X-O MANOWAR [2012])
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 02: ENTER NINJAKQuick ViewApr 2013X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 02: ENTER NINJAK
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 03: PLANET DEATHQuick ViewAug 2013X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 03: PLANET DEATH
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 04: HOMECOMINGQuick ViewDec 2013X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 04: HOMECOMING
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
      
UNITY VOL 01: TO KILL A KINGQuick ViewMar 2014UNITY [2013-TPB] VOL 01: TO KILL A KING
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
      
X-O MANOWAR VOL 05: AT WAR WITH UNITYQuick ViewApr 2014X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 05: AT WAR WITH UNITY
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 06: PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERSQuick ViewAug 2014X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 06: PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
      
ARMOR HUNTERS Quick ViewNov 2014ARMOR HUNTERS [2014-TPB]
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
      
X-O MANOWAR VOL 07: ARMOR HUNTERSQuick ViewDec 2014X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 07: ARMOR HUNTERS
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 08: ENTER: ARMORINESQuick ViewMar 2015X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 08: ENTER: ARMORINES
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 09: DEAD HANDQuick ViewAug 2015X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 09: DEAD HAND
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 10: EXODUSQuick ViewJan 2016X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 10: EXODUS
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 11: THE KILL LISTQuick ViewJun 2016X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 11: THE KILL LIST
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 12: LONG LIVE THE KINGQuick ViewNov 2016X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 12: LONG LIVE THE KING
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 13: SUCCESSION AND OTHER TALESQuick ViewJan 2017X-O MANOWAR [2012-TPB] VOL 13: SUCCESSION AND OTHER TALES
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
      
X-O MANOWAR VOL 01: SOLDIERQuick ViewJun 2017X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 01: SOLDIER
CURRENT PRINTING
  (collects issues from X-O MANOWAR [2017])
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 02: GENERALQuick ViewSep 2017X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 02: GENERAL
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 03: EMPERORQuick ViewJan 2018X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 03: EMPEROR
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 04: VISIGOTHQuick ViewMay 2018X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 04: VISIGOTH
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 05: BARBARIANSQuick ViewSep 2018X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 05: BARBARIANS
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 06: AGENTQuick ViewJan 2019X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 06: AGENT
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR VOL 07: HEROQuick ViewJun 2019X-O MANOWAR [2017-TPB] VOL 07: HERO
  
UNAVAILABLE$12.74
      
X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION VOL 01Quick ViewOct 2013X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION [2013-HC] VOL 01
CURRENT PRINTING
  (collects issues from X-O MANOWAR [2012])
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION VOL 02Quick ViewJul 2015X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION [2013-HC] VOL 02
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION VOL 03Quick ViewJun 2016X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION [2013-HC] VOL 03
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION VOL 04Quick ViewApr 2017X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION [2013-HC] VOL 04
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION VOL 05Quick ViewAug 2017X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION [2013-HC] VOL 05
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
      
X-O MANOWAR BY MATT KINDT DELUXE EDITION VOL 01Quick ViewMar 2019X-O MANOWAR BY MATT KINDT DELUXE EDITION [2019-HC] VOL 01
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon
X-O MANOWAR BY MATT KINDT DELUXE EDITION VOL 02Quick ViewFeb 2020X-O MANOWAR BY MATT KINDT DELUXE EDITION [2019-HC] VOL 02
CURRENT PRINTING
  
Available on Amazon Go to Amazon

1st Appearance

The first appearance of a character in comic book form is often the most valuable issue featuring that character. It's a nice place to get started in X-o Manowar, if it's within your budget. X-O Manowar is one of Valiant's original characters from their initial launch in the early 90's and first appeared in issue #1 of his own self-titled series.

  • X-O MANOWAR [1992] #1  (1st appearance of X-O Manowar)

Origin Story

The original presentation of an origin story or a retelling/recounting of it can be a good place to get started with a character or subject. The origin story of X-O Manowar is the story of how Aric of Dacia comes to possess the X-O armor. The opening issues of each ongoing series details how the host ends up bonding with the armor. Valiant has a history of providing character profile synopses in bargain one-shots, so concise recaps can be found in these as well.

  • X-O MANOWAR [1992] #1-2   (origin of X-O Manowar (Valiant Universe))
  • VALIANT READER [1993]    (2-page character profile)
  • X-O DATABASE [1993] #1   (technical specifications of the X-O armor)
  • X-O MANOWAR [1997] #1-2   (origin of X-O Manowar (Acclaim Universe))
  • X-O MANOWAR [2012] #1-4   (origin of X-O Manowar (Valiant New Universe))
  • FCBD 2014 VALIANT UNIVERSE HANDBOOK [2014] #1   (2-page character profile)
  • VALIANT UNIVERSE HANDBOOK 2015 EDITION [2015] #1   (2-page character profile)
  • X-O MANOWAR: VALIANT 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL [2015] #1   (one-shot dives deeper into X-O armor's history and mythology)
  • VALIANT UNIVERSE HANDBOOK 2016 EDITION [2016] #1   (1-page character profile)

Main Publication History

Series beginnings are always great places to get started in comic books. Here is the Main Publication History for X-O Manowar comic books. As a major, original, foundational character of the Valiant Universe, X-O Manowar has had four major ongoing series: one in the original Valiant Universe, one in the Acclaim Universe, and two in the Valiant New Universe. X-O Manowar also makes appearances regularly throughout all the titles of the Valiant New Universe.

  • X-O MANOWAR [1992] #1-18, 0, 19-34, 1/2, 35-49, [50-X], [50-O], 51-68   (Valiant Universe ongoing series)
  • X-O DATABASE [1993] #1   (loose issue originally polybagged with first trade paperback)
  • X-O MANOWAR YEARBOOK [1995] #1   
  • IRON MAN/X-O MANOWAR: HEAVY METAL [1996] #1   (Part 1 of 2 cross-property crossover, video game tie-in)
  • X-O MANOWAR/IRON MAN: IN HEAVY METAL [1996] #1   (Part 2 of 2 cross-property crossover, video game tie-in)

  • X-O MANOWAR [1997] #1-21   (relaunched Acclaim Universe ongoing series)

  • X-O MANOWAR [2012] #1-29, 0, 30-50   (1st Valiant New Universe ongoing series (relaunch))
  • X-O MANOWAR/HARBINGER [2012] #1   (convention exclusive flipbook contains debut issues of the two relaunched ongoing series)
  • UNITY [2013] #1-26   (antagonist in first arc, then team member)
  • VALIANT FCBD ARMOR HUNTERS SPECIAL [2014]    
  • ARMOR HUNTERS [2014] #1-4   (publishing-wide mini-series event that expands X-O armor mythology)
  • ARMOR HUNTERS: AFTERMATH [2014] #1   
  • DEAD DROP [2015] #1-4   (team member recovering dangerous, alien (Vine) technology on Earth's black market)
  • BOOK OF DEATH: THE FALL OF X-O MANOWAR [2015] #1   (tie-in to publishing-wide crossover event)
  • X-O MANOWAR: COMMANDER TRILL [2015] #0   (origin of X-O Manowar's unrelenting alien antagonist)
  • 4001 A.D.: X-O MANOWAR [2016] #1   (tie-in to publishing-wide crossover event)
  • X-O MANOWAR ANNUAL 2016 [2016] #1   
  • X-O MANOWAR: VALIANT 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL [2015] #1   (FCBD)
  • X-O MANOWAR SPRING PREVIEW [2017]    (16-page promotional for second ongoing series)
  • X-O MANOWAR [2017] #1-26   (2nd Valiant New Universe ongoing series)
  • VALIANT: X-O MANOWAR 2017 FCBD SPECIAL [2017]    
  • X-O MANOWAR [2020] #1-   (3rd Valiant New Universe ongoing series)

Selected Key Storylines

This section contains a curated list of some of the best storylines for X-O Manowar, any one of which can be a good place to get started. The 1992 and the 2012 series are the 'barbarian'-Aric stories from the Valiant Universe and the Valiant New Universe, respectively. You can start with the first arc of either of these series and then binge the whole thing after they draw you in completely.

Key Storyline cover 1 for X-O MANOWARKey Storyline cover 2 for X-O MANOWARKey Storyline cover 3 for X-O MANOWAR
1992X-O MANOWAR [1992] #1-6   (origin of X-O Manowar (Valiant Universe) and establishment of the early Valiant Universe)
2012X-O MANOWAR [2012] #1-8   (origin of X-O Manowar (Valiant New Universe) and establishment of key characters in the Valiant New Universe)
2013UNITY [2013] #1-4   (Valiant New Universe's mightiest try to take down X-O Manowar)

Media Source Material

If you've enjoyed non-comic media for X-O Manowar, this section describes the comic book source material for some of the most popular non-comic media. However, X-O Manowar has not--to date--appeared in any movies as the main subject. Ninjak--another Valiant original, foundational character--headlines a 6-episode web series, in which X-O Manowar makes a guest appearance. The web series is based on the 4-issue mini-series of the same name, NINJAK VS. THE VALIANT UNIVERSE [2018].

Key Issues

A key issue can be an acceptable place to get started with X-O Manowar, but they are more of a collector's checklist, as they can carry high price tags.

Key Issue cover 1 for X-O MANOWARKey Issue cover 2 for X-O MANOWARKey Issue cover 3 for X-O MANOWAR

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  • X-O MANOWAR [1992] #1   (1st appearance of X-O Manowar)
  • X-O MANOWAR [1992] #4   (1st cameo appearance of Shadowman)
  • X-O MANOWAR [1992] #68   (final issue of this series; scarce)