Roman Empire to the eve of X-O Manowar’s greatest battle

This summer, the legendary X-O Manowar character flies into his first-ever oversized annual with sixty-four pages of armor-busting adventures traversing the universe of Valiant Entertainment flagship hero. Moreover, Valiant Entertainment is proud to present the first look inside the X-O Manowar Annual 2016, issue #1!

From Aric of Dacia’s days on the outskirts of the Roman Empire to the eve of X-O Manowar’s greatest battle yet amongst the stars, jump on board the series that set the Valiant Universe in motion on May 18th as New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Book Of Death, Green Lantern) and Valiant Entertainment-exclusive sensation Pere Perez (Archer & Armstrong) lead off a centuries-spanning look at X-O Manowar’s past and present in a giant-sized adventure too epic for a single issue.

The life and times of the unstoppable X-O Manowar loom large as a massive cast of rising stars and superstar talents – including Amy Chu (Poison Ivy: Cycle Of Life And Death), Adam Gorham (Dead Drop), Jody Houser (Faith), Mike McKone (Teen Titans), and more – come together for tales of Valiant Entertainment’s most powerful hero and his allies and foes alike.

With X-O Manowar #50 just over the horizon, 2016 is primed and ready to be X-O Manowar’s most pivotal year yet. However, before Aric of Dacia can confront the greatest threat Earth has ever faced, he must first ponder on the past and the outcome of a bloodstained battle on the frontier of the Roman Empire that continues to be felt to this day.

X-O Manowar’s sworn enemy, Commander Trill, readies for the war that is to come by undergoing a life-threatening trial-by-fire that will test every ounce of his intellect and fury. Also, then Col. Jamie Capshaw must single handedly protect G.A.T.E from a menace nobody expected just as the Armorines begin an all-new mission at the heart of X-O Manowar’s world.

On May 18th, the legend of Aric of Dacia and the ultra-powerful X-O Manowar armor passes down through the ages as a massive cast of Valiant Entertainment superstars launches into a sixty-four-page barrage of spectacular action and terrifying intrigue in the X-O Manowar Annual 2016, issue #1. It features covers from Phil Jimenez (Infinite Crisis), Carmen Carnero (The Punisher), Brian Level (The Mantle) and Jeff Dekal (Journey Into Mystery).

Plus, one month later, on June 29th, the biggest Valiant Entertainment milestone of all time commences when the countdown to X-O Manowar #50 begins in X-O Manowar #47 – the first issue of “Long Live The King” by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Wrath Of The Eternal Warrior) and acclaimed artists Joe Bennett (52) and Roberto de la Torre (Daredevil).

Witness the grand climax of Venditti’s landmark; fifty-six-issue run here as X-O Manowar faces an unthinkable new foe far more terrible than any that have come before. They are The Torment – and their name means death. Thought to be a legend by the Vine, they have now become Earth’s severe reality. As old as the universe itself, they have traveled for eons to reach us in search of Aric of Dacia and the unstoppable X-O Manowar armor. Can Aric challenge a seemingly omnipotent threat with motives beyond the comprehension of mortal men? Will the armor truly be our world’s salvation, just as the Vine’s myths foretold? Moreover, is this the beginning of the end for X-O Manowar, or the beginning of something even bigger?

On June 29th, Robert Venditti, Joe Bennett, and Roberto de la Torre bring the most critically lauded superhero saga of the modern era to a world-shaking finale and mark the origin of an all-new era for the future of Valiant Entertainment most powerful hero, beginning in X-O Manowar #47 – part one of “Long Live The King”.

In celebration of X-O Manowar’s landmark issue #50 finale, Valiant Entertainment is proud to reveal the X-O Manowar #50 Countdown Giveaway – also beginning in June’s X-O Manowar #47.

For no extra cost, each issue of “Long Live The King” will come bagged with one of fifty exclusive, 4-by-6 inch micro-prints featuring the one and only X-O Manowar as realized by a sensational cast of comics books biggest talents – or full-blown, beautifully rendered original artwork randomly inserted in each issue.

The X-O Manowar #50 Countdown Giveaway will continue all summer long on all issues of “Long Live The King” – including the oversized, blockbuster issue #50 finale.