What no one seems to understand about the X-O Manowar armor is that it is a sentient artifact that chose Aric of Dacia. By working in concert Aric was able to tap into Shanhara and utilize it as a resource. You do not wield sentience like a sword. And that’s why humanity in “4001 X-O Manowar†is doomed to fail.
It begins roughly around 2121 AD. Father uproots New Japan from earth causing cataclysmic destruction. The world then decides to join together for the common cause of self-preservation. Just think about it, a group of humans syphon off pieces of a sentient being (who is considered to several alien life forms as a religious symbol) to defeat an artificial intelligence who lifted up a nation and is sustaining its existence above the earth. How is that supposed to work? What is understood is Father’s power. He knows and sees all, more than anything else he is a planner. And reminiscent of ancient times he allows one witness to ward off any attempts to challenge his authority. Much like heads on a pike, humans are left to fend for themselves and quake in fear. However what happens hundreds of years later demands the X-O Manowar armor to be born again.
The knowledge that there is no hero to save you is very much prevalent in the Valiant universe. The Eternal Warrior is probably fighting back to get to the land of the living – again. Aric of Dacia is most likely long dead and Rai has yet to come to the realization that his “father’s†version of discipline comes with a high mortality rate. He will sacrifice anyone including his offspring to survive. More importantly, Robert Venditti understands how this world works. Even if there’s no one in a red cape or brandishing a shield to come the rescue humans will still find a way to mess everything up. What made these united nations believe they could defeat Father with a group of giant robots? It’s as if someone swallowed every bad science fiction metaphor whole without fully comprehending the consequences. Or worse yet reading a novel and not bothering to read the last chapter because of course everyone survives in the end. Venditti knows that any narrative that exists within this sphere will be comprised of pain, disillusionment and death. Lots of body flailing type deaths that no one will be able to recover from or be resuscitated. It is essentially the end, you’re just waiting to find out how you’re going to die.
Still jettisoning the storyline to 4001 AD brings possibilities and hope. The human race is still around and like cockroaches and Twinkies they may not completely destroy themselves. Perhaps that’s what Venditti is getting at. As long as there is a spark, as long as one person can be saved, then just maybe Father can be defeated.
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