X-O Manowar Part 31: X-O Manowar #15 (April, 1993)

Aric makes a friend for life.

I have this issue.

Aric brings Turok to New York, and they learn that bionisauruses have made their way into the city. Aric dons the X-O, and with the dinosaur hunter track the beasts into the sewers where they rescue a human prisoner. After taking care of the remaining reptiles, they find a nest, which Aric destroys.

Later, Aric learns of Turok’s plan to travel the country in search of his people. Aric respects his decision but is disappointed to see his new friend go, so before Turok leaves he and Aric become blood brothers.

Notes of Interest:

1) Aric considers Turok a friend, even though the dinosaur hunter calls him “Lord Aric”.

2) Turok is a better hunter than Aric when he’s not wearing the X-O armor.

WTF? Moment: I like that writer Bob Layton gave Aric a kindred spirit to relate to. We’ve seen Aric as a confident, adaptable person, but it’s good for him to have someone to rely on besides the Good-Skin.

WTF? Moment #2: One of the sub-plots of this story is that Aric sent the X-O to Ken before he left Columbia with Turok, meaning that Aric is without the Good-Skin at the beginning of the hunt. Aric had to “aquire” passports for both of them before they could enter the States, and not only that, they arrive on a commercial airline. Why didn’t Aric just wear the armor and carry Turok across the border? Was it Turok’s fear of “not being on solid ground”? Why didn’t Aric, who has a TON of money, buy a private plane or use the Orb Industries jet to get them home? They’d still need passports, but there’d be a lot less hassle.

WTF? Moment #3: Bart Sears’ art hasn’t improved here, and some of the blame has to go to inker Randy Elliot. More chunky clunky-ness with both Aric and the armor.