“EXODUS”…excised!

As the Vine make a desperate, final stand against G.A.T.E. for a rightful home, only Aric of Dacia can bring peace. But X-O Manowar’s fed up with being manipulated… and makes a decision that will change Earth forever.

As the current four part arc, Exodus, reaches its  conclusion, Robert Venditti delivers an epic conclusion rife with tension.

Aric Of Dacia finds himself caught between the two sides of a rapidly escalating conflict, desperately trying to reach a truce between the Vine and G.A.T.E. as each side seeks to use the X-O Manowar armour to turn the tide of battle. What’s interesting here is that you can easily empathize with both sides Aric has to make a choice this issue, and that’s what the story arc has been building toward; do his loyalties lie with humanity, or with the vow he made to protect the Vine?

It’s an interesting position to put a character in, especially the time displaced Visigoth wearing the X-O Manowar armour, the choice that Aric is forced into making leads to some absolutely stunning comic book story telling and artwork.

With Exodus Robert Venditti brings this potential world ending conflict to a fantastic conclusion. The issue is a fast paced, emotionally tense confrontation that has in which Robert Venditti ihighlights just how reliant both G.A.T.E. and the Vine have become on the time  displaced Visigoth. Venditti is joined again this issue by artist Rafa Sandoval, who delivers some superb layouts and page construction here; his artwork is absolutely splendid, indeed I feel like I’m running out of superlatives when talking about his pencils. Complimenting Sandoval‘s pencils are inker Jordi Tarragona and colourist Ulises Arreola; both are on top form with this issue, and as a team the artists have delivered a comic book  that just stunning.

When it comes to a character as powerful as X-O Manowar the potential for him to be used as a game changing weapon every time a writer needs a deus ex machina moment for their story arc is always there, and sometimes it works so well. This story is a great example of the heroes within the Valiant universe expecting X-O Manowar to fulfill that role, but when both sides are waiting for his reinforcement? What choice does Aric Of Dacia make?

Confession time: a few months ago, I honestly felt that X-O Manowar was an idiotic concept, admittedly it was one that I really knew next to nothing about until I started reviewing Valiant‘s comics, but it never really resonated with me until I started reading Exodus.  I can now see just how wrong I was only six months ago by judging a character based on a preconceived notion because in the right hands, he’s a rich character that is rife with great story telling opportunities.

Robert Venditti is most definitely the right hands.

Writer: Robert Venditti Pencils: Rafa Sandoval
Inks: Jordi Tarragona Colours: Ulises Arreola
Story: 9 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation:  Buy

Valiant Entertainment provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.