Valiant hitting their first anniversary special, X-O Manowar #25 and they are doing it up as a 48-page special with series regulars Robert Venditti and Diego Bernard to be joined by Bryan Hitch, J G Jones, Justin Jordan, Peter Milligan, Rafer Roberts and others.

The over-sized issue will include:

ARMOR HUNTERS: PART ZERO by Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Flash) & Diego Bernard (Eternal Warrior)

THE ORIGIN OF X-O MANOWAR retold by Venditti & J.G. Jones (Before Watchmen: Comedian, Final Crisis)

retold by Venditti & J.G. Jones (Before Watchmen: Comedian, Final Crisis) Plus: all-new tales of X-O Manowar by Peter Milligan (X-Force), Bryan Hitch (The Ultimates), Justin Jordan (Dead Body Road), Rafer Roberts (Carpool Buddies of Doom), and more special surprise guests!

The issue will feature covers by Jelena-Kevic Djurdjevic (Thor) and Hitch, X-O Manowar #25 will also feature an Armors Variant spotlighting the different incarnations of the X-O Manowar armor throughout the ages by artist Arturo Lozzi (Bloodshot); as well as Valiant's very first throwback cover by Valiant icon Sean Chen (Iron Man); and an iconic, fully painted variant cover by superstar artist Terry Dodson (X-Men) – his first piece for Valiant.

"X-O Manowar #1 was the first issue of a monthly comic book series that I'd ever written, so I didn't know what to expect. I hoped I'd at least make it a year, and I really hoped I'd make it two. So to be at #25 now, and to be planning far beyond, I feel very fortunate," said series writer Robert Venditti.

Since debuting in the pages of X-O Manowar #1 in 1992, X-O Manowar has sold more than 8 million copies and featured work by a distinguished roster of comics luminaries including current Marvel Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada, former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter, and comics legends Barry Windsor-Smith and Bob Layton.