X-O MANOWAR/IRON MAN: HEAVY METAL (Valiant/Acclaim 1996)
"The Reality Alchemists." Cover art: Script: Fabian Nicieza. Art: Andy Smith.
In this part one of two Marvel/Valiant crossovers, Iron Man and X-O Manowar misguidedly battle one another while lackeys of the alternate world villains "The First Ones" mine the Earth for fragments of the Rock of Reality, which will enable them to meld alternate universes into one. However, hasty resort to the fragments' unbridled power leads to premature amalgamation . . . which threatens the existence of not one, but all the alternate universes. The story is hard to follow, but this issue is historically significant in that it marks the end of the Valiant comic empire, which was taken over and re-made by Acclaim (in disappointing fashion, according to some).
Steve Kim's Recommendation: 2 repulsors!
IRON MAN/X-O MANOWAR: HEAVY METAL (Marvel 1996)
"The Interlock Crunch." Cover art: Script: Fabian Nicieza. Art: Tom Grindberg, Bill Anderson, Al Milgrom, Larry Mahlstedt, and Joe Andreani.
The conclusion of this mini Marvel/Valiant crossover series opens with the Avengers battering the Agents of R.A.G.E. However, the Avengers' sure victory is interrupted as the Earth begins to fade away due to the premature amalgamation of the multi-universes, which collapses the alternate realities, and remakes them in a state of historical and temporal disarray. The patchwork result is that young Tony Stark becomes X-O Manowar, while Aric the Visigoth stumbles upon and dons Iron Man's armor, which has been misplaced in the year 408 A.D. Together, Aric-I.M. and Tony-X-O intercept a powerful fragment of the Rock of Reality, which enables them to regain their own identities, and re-weave the alternate realities into proper order. Confusing? Well, this two issue crossover simply bites off more story than can be chewed in a mere two issues as decent plot and art are lost in a too-ambitious storyline. Still, most serious I.M. collectors will crave these issues if only to round out their collections.
Steve Kim's Recommendation: 2 1/2 repulsors!
