X-O MANOWAR: UNCONQUERED #3, from Valiant Entertainment on 5/24/23, uncovers the deadly plan behind the Romanus Legions designs on Aric and Shanhara.
The Details
- Written by: Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad
- Art by: Liam Sharp
- Colors by: Liam Sharp
- Letters by: Troy Peteri
- Cover art by: Liam Sharp (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: May 24, 2023
Is It Good?
Well, well. X-O MANOWAR: UNCONQUERED #3 is a pleasant surprise. We’ve been hard on the series so far because the combination of dialog and plot was so overwritten that the story buckled under the weight of its attempt to come off like a Shakespearean version of Conan in Space. In issue #3, the crippling weight is lightened considerably with alliances forming, mistrust building, and a greatly heightened sense of stakes.
When last we left Aric, he got into a scrap with Thyra because she believed a primitive had no right to Shanhara and a more worthy warrior (her) should be the one to lead the glory of Romanus to victory. Now, the scrap finishes in a stalemate, Aric gets a firsthand look at why he’s being courted by the Romanus Legion for cooperation, and Nimone’s visions show a future Aric would rather avoid.
To be clear, the overwritten language and dialog are still present, but the big plot reveals and increased pacing lighten the load. Cloonan and Conrad infuse forward momentum into the plot, the Romanus plan (which is shown rather than told) is immediately clear and dangerous, and each reveal unfolds with a high degree of drama. Again, this issue is a significant improvement.
The one area we’ve never had a problem with in this series is Liam Sharp’s spectacular art. Sharp’s style assaults your eyes (in a good way) with mesmerizing textures, deep, dramatic shadows, and powerful character designs. Almost every panel in this issue is a collectible work of art.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our X-O MANOWAR: UNCONQUERED #2 review to find out how Aric was treated after his capture.
We begin with Aric and Thyura continuing their “sparring match.” Aric gets in a few blows, but he’s pushed back on his heels when Thyra’s armor surprisingly moves to protect her. Soon, the fight is broken up by General Cadmus.
Later, Thyra is ordered to keep Aric alive until the Visigoth can be convinced to side with the Romanus leadership. Elsewhere, Nimone explains how she came to be in service to the Romanus leaders and how one vision shows Manowar’s place in an impending genocide.
As proof, Nimone takes Aric to a special room where the fruits of Romanus experimentation using Vine tech yield toxic fruit. We conclude the issue with unnatural bonding, deadly visions, and a perplexing host.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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X-O MANOWAR: UNCONQUERED #3 escalates the pace and the stakes for the series by unveiling the secret reason the Romanus Legion is interested in Aric. While still weighed down with heavy dialog and posturing, the art is consistently gorgeous, and the series takes a big step up in engagement for the reader.
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