OTV is counting down the greatest X-O Manowar moments as we count down to the new X-O Manowar coming on May 2nd!

Number 2, Paul Becomes The New X-O Armor, Pol Bekhara

The nice thing about being editor here at Only The Valiant is that I can ram my editorial decisions down the pipeline without a ton of resistance. Is this the second greatest moment? Probably not, but I wanted to feature this one, because I personally like it.

X-O Manowar 30, page 19, Paul becomes Pol Bekhara

In a previous issue, Paul Bouvier lost his legs and was poisoned in an effort to rescue Aric. Also, the previous X-O armor, Shanhara, was destroyed by a Spider Alien plot.

Paul Bouvier becomes the X-O Armor Pol Bekhara

In X-O Manowar issue 30, Solar finds the last remaining X-O armor seed attached to the armor of a dead Spider Alien near Saturn (that he faced way back in Solar #7).

He gives the seed to Aric, who is faced with a dilemma: the seed must bond with a sentient being in order to become a suit of X-O armor. Aric knows he cannot ask anyone to sacrifice themselves to become the X-O armor, and he can’t force anyone either.

Paul overhears that the seed needs a human host to bond with, and decides to sacrifice himself to bond with the seed.

He knows he is dying, and decides that becoming part of the next X-O armor suit is the right choice for him. He cuts his chest, and presses the seed against his chest…

The process is violent, and gives us one of the creepiest panels ever seen in an X-O Manowar comic, the violence of the X-O seed ripping apart the flesh and changing it into machine and electronics.

That panel always struck me, and I still think it is one of the most creepy, brutal, and fascinating panels ever printed in a Valiant comic.

That’s number 2!

If you’ve been following along, you know there is one moment we haven’t featured yet, and it’s a big one. Stay tuned tomorrow!

Or does it? Check back tomorrow.