X-O Manowar #6

Aric proves it’s not the armor that makes the warrior, but the man inside it.

Aric dons his X-O Manowar armor and fights the bandit who stole it and kidnapped Ken. Unfortunately, the bandit has an X-O armor of his own. The Good-Skin tells Aric that his enemy has the ability to talk to computers, and is hampering the Good-Skin’s usefulness. The battle rages from air to sea and (finally) to land as Aric fights both the bandit and his armor until eventually, the Good-Skin becomes immobilized and unresponsive. Aric simply removes the Good-Skin and proceeds to break his enemy’s armor apart with an axe. Totally overmatched, the bandit is defeated and Ken is set free.

Aware of Ken’s treachery, Aric decides to follow the bandit’s example of forced loyalty and has the Good-Skin create and attach an artificial hand onto Ken’s arm. This allows the Good-Skin…and Aric…to keep aware of Ken’s activities, and will kill him if he betrays Aric or the armor again.

Notes of Interest:

1) This issue takes place immediately after X-O Manowar #5. 
2) Aric accepts that Ken’s been less than loyal ever since they met.

3) He also acknowledges that the Good-Skin is intelligent, and trusts it more than anything else, however…

4) …Aric sees the armor as a weapon for battle. What this means is he doesn’t rely on it to make him a better warrior.

5) We also see a more ruthless side of Aric we’ve never seen before. What he does to Ken is something you’d expect the hard-skins to do, but it makes total sense.

WTF? Moment: Did anyone else get the joke where Aric defeats Ax…with an axe?

WTF? Moment #2: There’s also a subtle jab at DC when Aric finds the axe. He says “Ah! Here’s a warrior’s weapon!” while holding the axe in his right hand (which his X-O ring is on), and there’s a lantern sitting right in front of him.