The Processors Find Aric In X-O Manowar #23
by Josh Davison
[*Mild Spoilers Ahead!]
The Processors are back and ready to take revenge on Aric for the defeat they faced at his hand on Gorin. They attack a group of massive mechanized lifeforms and hijack one of their bodies for a quicker ride to Earth. Meanwhile, Aric is hiding out in Italy and attempting to learn more about his armor, Shanhara. This relative peace is interrupted when the Processors destroy a G.A.T.E squadron and arrive in Italy to kill X-O Manowar.
X-O Manowar #23 brings the series to another climax, as Aric faces the enemies he made on Gorin, the bounty hunters known as the Processors.
This issue brings us to the inevitable battle fairly quickly, with the Processors showing up in the first three pages and beginning their journey to Earth. Before you know it, they’re on our planet, killing G.A.T.E agents and hunting Aric.
Aric’s part of the comic is more comedic than anything. He asks Shanhara questions about how she works, she gives some awkward answers, and it ends with the Processors ambushing Aric.
The comic is a swift read, as it seems eager to get that fight started. This issue brings us the prologue and circumstances that lead to this battle, and, presumably, the remaining issues in this run will be the battle between Manowar and the Processors.
Tomas Giorello’s artwork is gorgeous, giving the comic fantastic detailing and texture work. Each scene is dripping with personality and emotion, and it builds up to some spectacular action scenes. Diego Rodriguez’s color work adds to this with a brilliant palette that further builds the tone and atmosphere of the book.
X-O Manowar #23 begins the “Hero” arc with a briskly-paced prologue to the coming duel between Aric and the bounty hunting Processors. It’s a solid read with beautiful artwork from Giorello and Rodriguez, and the comic earns a recommendation. Feel free to check this one out.
X-O Manowar #23 comes to us from writer Matt Kindt, artist Tomas Giorello, color artist Diego Rodriguez, letterer Dave Sharpe, cover artist Kenneth Rocafort, and variant cover artists Diego Yapur with Rodriguez, Michael Manomivibul, Giorello with Rodriguez, and Francis Portela with Leonardo Paciarotti.
