X-O Manowar: Birth

In 2008, Valiant Entertainment relaunched its classic warrior Aric of Dacia with a single, oversized issue that redefined his origin for a new era. Written by Jim Shooter and Steve Englehart, with stunning art by Barry Windsor-Smith, X-O Manowar: Birth distills the essence of the series—a Visigoth prince bonded to a sentient alien armor—into a dense, cinematic prologue. This prestige-format one-shot serves as both a respectful nod to the character's 1990s roots and a bold, standalone statement of Valiant's ambition to reboot its universe. It matters as the creative cornerstone that set the tone for the modern Valiant line.