X-O Manowar Part 20: Harbinger #9 (September, 1992)

Aric reunites with the other Valiant heroes as they launch their final assault on Mothergod.

I have this issue in the Unity Saga Vol. 4 Trade Paperback.

Aric reaches Mothergod’s tower and teams up with Gilad, Sting, Archer, Armstrong, Zephyr, Flamingo, Solar, Magnus, Geoff and…the other Gilad as they attack Mothergod. He helps fight off an aerial attack and then witnesses Sting push through Mothergod’s force fields, allowing them to reach the reactor that’s powering her Unity machine.

Notes of Interest:

1) Although it isn’t mentioned, remember that Aric is mortally wounded at this point and held together by the X-O armor.

WTF? Moment: Four panels total here and he doesn’t say a word.

WTF? Moment #2: I’m confused. It shows here that Aric reaches the reactor with Sting, Zephyr and one of the Gilads. But in Unity – The Lost Chapter #1 we see Aric entering with Solar who tells him to attack the reactor head on as a distraction. Now, it’s possible that Aric is the only one who gets close enough to attack it, where Solar meets him and tells him to do so, but it’s pretty vague. I’m more inclined to disagree with Lost Chapter than this issue though since this one came out first.

X-O Manowar Part 13: Harbinger #8 (August, 1992)

Aric joins the battle in the Lost Land and helps save one of the Harbinger kids.

I have this issue in the Unity Saga Vol. 2 Trade Paperback.

Aric is recruited and arrives in the Lost Land with the Harbinger kids and geomancer Geoff McHenry. After meeting several other Valiant heroes, he disappears during the initial battle. Aric reunites with Magnus, Gilad and others who launch an attack/rescue mission after Sting goes off and faces Mothergod alone.

Notes of Interest:

1) Aric is limited to four panels here, but at least they’re different panels this time.

2) We get a glimpse of Aric fighting alongside Magnus and Gilad, which makes us wonder how they got together…

WTF? Moment: We totally skip over Aric’s recruitment, which is sad because of all the moments to repeat from various perspectives it would have been nice to see the Harbinger group suddenly appear in Aric’s office.