X-O Manowar has had a centuries spanning journey, all over the world, and across the galaxy. He has been a leader, a warrior, and a prisoner at several times throughout his life. Co-created by writer and former Marvel Comics editor in chief Jim Shooter, artist Bob Layton, and Jon Hartz, X-O Manowar made his first appearance in 1992.
When Valiant Entertainment was reestablished in 2008 X-O Manowar came with it. He was born Aric of Dacia, into battle as the heir to the throne of the Visigoth people. He was raised in the oppressive period of the 5th Century Roman Empire, spending his life fighting against Rome. Though he knew war, it was nothing compared to the brutal race of alien colonizers known as the Vine. Aric was kidnapped by the Vine during a scouting mission and taken to the edges of space. He and fellow Visigoth captives were forced into slavery by the Vine with no chance of escape. After spending many years held captive within the Vine colony, Aric led his people in a revolt against their captors. He broke into their temple and stole Shanhara, their most important relic, the sentient X-O Manowar armor.
Aric bonded with the armor as the first living being to survive the process, thereby using the Vine’s most powerful weapon against them. Though the armor was strong, he was not experienced with it and barely escaped the Vine in a rocket bound for Earth. Upon his return Aric learned that 1,600 years had passed on Earth, stranding him in the 21st Century. Heartbroken by the realization that his family was gone, Aric stayed in the Peruvian Jungle.
The Vine, however, were unwilling to leave their sacred weapon with a human. They believed in a Vine legend that foretold of a great champion who would wear the armor one day. The prospect of a human controlling the armor could cause catastrophic problems for their empire. To get the armor back, the Vine put agents on Earth hundreds of years beforehand and made them appear human. They even recruited super spy Ninjak to kill Aric and get the armor back. With Alexander Dorian’s help Aric was able to turn Ninjak against the aliens and led an attack on the Vine’s headquarters, practically eliminating their plants in England. The Vine launched a full scale attack that proved to be no match for the X-O Manowar armor.
Aric realized that he would never have peace until the Vine was destroyed. By taking a Vine ship he fought against them on their home world of Loam, crushing the empire and freeing thousands of captives, including Visigoths that descended from Aric’s own people. After returning to Earth he tried to reestablish his Visigoth home in the present location of Romania. His new home drew the attention of Russia who coordinated military strikes that included the super-team Unity. After being beaten and stripped of his armor he was taken into US custody by the Military Reconnaissance Outpost, known as MERO. He struck a deal with MERO to work with them in the X-O Manowar armor protecting America and Earth in exchange for asylum for his people.
