Venditti, Nord and Hairsine Launch
X-O MANOWAR Into PLANET DEATH

Here’s an early look at 3 pages of pencils by Cary Nord from X-O Manowar #9 coming in January 2013 from Valiant Comics.

Press release

Valiant is proud to announce Planet Death — a six-part blockbuster that will see X-O Manowar attempt to save Earth from an alien onslaught by mounting a one-man invasion of The Vine homeworld!

Valiant’s first star-studded storyline of the new year begins with the two-part Prelude to Planet Death in X-O Manowar #9 and #10 by New York Times best-selling author Robert Venditti (The Surrogates) and comics superstar Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis)! Then, the invasion begins in full force with Planet Death — Part 1 (of 4) in X-O Manowar #11, featuring the triumphant return of Eisner Award-winning artist Cary Nord (Conan). The cosmos-quaking culmination of X-O Manowar’s first year in the Valiant Universe starts here!

The Vine armada has arrived on Earth and they’ve brought with them something far more terrible than any war machine. Forced into battle against the most horrifying opponent he’s ever faced, Aric of Dacia will unleash the ultimate sanction against a foe torn from his own past — and, soon, he will commence one, final act of revenge. Using their own perfect weapon, X-O Manowar will invade The Vine’s homeworld and, just as his Visigoth forefathers sacked Rome before him, he will not stop until the capital of their interstellar empire has become a planet of death.

"Planet Death is a story that we’ve been building toward over the course of the entire series, and the threads of it go all the way back to X-O Manowar #1," said series author Robert Venditti. "At his core, Aric of Dacia is a warrior, and, as his conquest of Planet Death begins, we will see him leverage the skills that he knows best — leadership, open warfare, and the all-out brutalism of the battlefield."

"Aric was content to let sleeping dogs lie, but when everything he knew about his past is shattered in a moment, he’s driven to one conclusion – he must take the fight to the Vine and wipe them out at the source," added Valiant Executive Editor Warren Simons.

Aric’s galaxy-spanning quest for vengeance takes root this January with Prelude to Planet Death — Part 1 (of 2) in X-O Manowar #9 — featuring covers by superstar artists Trevor Hairsine, Cary Nord and Clayton Crain!

And to get more exclusive info on Planet Death and where the Valiant Universe is headed in 2013, check out "The Future of Valiant" Panel this Friday at New York Comic-Con at 2:45 pm for an exclusive look at what happens next!

Prelude to Planet Death — Part 1 (of 2):

X-O MANOWAR #9 – ON SALE IN JANUARY!

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art & Cover by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by CARY NORD
Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Prelude to Planet Death — Part 2 (of 2):

X-O MANOWAR #10 – ON SALE IN FEBRUARY!

Art & Cover by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Variant Cover by CARY NORD

Planet Death — Part 1 (of 4):

X-O MANOWAR #11 – ON SALE IN MARCH!

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

– The Comic Book Critic