Bloodshot Volume 1 Review

Let's do a review of the 1st trade from the series, "Bloodshot," put out by the new publisher Valiant comics. Well, sort-of new, they existed before and these other folk bought the line and have been putting out some quality stuff since. I haven't read too much of it for various reasons, thinking I would pick up the trades. Well,  I did just as I said I would and have enjoyed this first volume of the kind-of super-hero Bloodshot. Let's discuss!

Bloodshot is a character I never read the old material of, so I cannot claim to know much of anything about his 1992-era incarnation. This new version however is pretty cool. He isn't so much a super-hero as he is a marvel of science. He is basically a man pumped so full of nanomachines/nanites that as long as he is kept fed with protein he can heal from essentially any wound and have his mind messed with as easily as reprogramming a computer. This leads to how Bloodshot basically has no memory of who he truly is, due to the many times he's been used by the US on missions of questionable legality and ethics before having his brain wiped.

Bloodshot took part in some really bad things for the US.

Duane Swiercyznski writes and does a good job keeping the momentum going. The trade's first chapter/issue sets up the concept and by the end of the second, Bloodshot is running loose. The third and fourth sections show us a dark secret kept by the government about how the nanites can go horribly wrong, and introduce us to another powered-individual who can send out electro-magnetic pulses and basically fry anything electronic within a decent radius. Seeing as how Bloodshot is powered by machines you can see where the government's need for, "Pulse," as they call her, comes from as she arguably is the only person who can render Bloodshot powerless and possible to kill. By the end of the trade however a team of sorts has been formed between Bloodshot, Pulse, and another female who is an ex-soldier Bloodshot meets along the way named Kara.

Manuel Garcia provides some stellar artwork, with a bit of a Neal Adams-feel to it. I especially like how in the flash-back sequences (both real ones and fake memories implanted into Bloodshot) the style changes to a softer-look as if to represent the haziness of the past.

Bloodshot lives up to his name and gets shot, a lot.

I enjoyed this comic a good amount. Between the mystery of just who or what Bloodshot really is, the interesting characters we meet, and the well-drawn action it is a fun read. In conclusion  I'd check this or some of Valiant's other offerings out if you want to expose your eyeballs to some enjoyable images and story, and isn't that the right thing to do? Your eyeballs must be tired from staring at the computer so much (not that I'm complaining if its my blog your computer is showing).
4 out of 5 stars.

Rant Reviews--Two Teams of Teenage Avengers, Black Panther, And Why Not Some Deadpool?

Avengers in training, Black Panther improves, Young Avengers has some good action, and Deadpool finally gets around to honoring his friend Cable.

 Avengers Academy #8
The issue that provides some closure to the whole "Tigra getting beaten up by the Hood" storyline from New Avengers that made Tigra look like a victimized wimp with it taking some time to get her to this point where she seems like a strong individual who was forced into a weak moment. Also, because this has the character of the Hood, e.g. Parker Robbins, this ties in to the main Avengers book, taking place a bit before issue #7 where Robbins was climbing a mountain--and us readers not knowing how the hell he got out of prison until issue #9 of that series setting that plot in motion. Therefore, if you are reading this book that knowledge may be useful, and if you aren't it may be a bit confusing. Either way a solid book with an ending that I imagine will not stick in future issues, but could have some fun short-term consequences.
3.5 out of 4 stars.

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #515 
 David Liss has improved over the last issue but things still aren't as good as his debut on #513. In this issue Luke Cage doesn't seem as out-of-character, and the fighting scenes have a great flow. Plus, some sub-plots start to form that are interesting. Above-average
3 out of 5 stars.

Young Avengers: The Children's Crusade #4
As I noted in another post, this is the issue where it is explained why Wonder Man is chatting with the Avengers in this book but swearing to take them down in another--thanks to quick piece of dialogue to clear that continuity up. This issue also has hints that while it seems the Scarlet Witch may not have her powers anymore, something is definetely amiss with Doctor Doom himself noting how odd it is for his wanting to marry Wanda. Plus some cool fights happen, and the plot inches forward. A pretty good issue.
3.5 out of 5 stars.

Deadpool and Cable #26
Cable died in the big X-Men crossover event half-a-year ago-ish, so seeing as how he and Deadpool shared a comic for a long time it would make sense to have Deadpool acknowledge this. Wrtier Duane Swierczynski has a pretty good handle on Deadpool (as was shown in the 25th issue of this series that came out a year or so ago) and makes me want to check out his Marvel Knight's title, "Wade Wilson's War". The sad thing is that this comic comes off as an afterthought to a series that ended awhile ago and I have no clue where they are going to collect it. Anyways, the story itself is fun with Deadpool going to a third world country and trying to turn it around in the same way Cable liked to do. There is nothing too amazing, but the peeks into Deadpool's mind and how he is genuinely missing his friend Nate Summers are sweet and show how Deadpool can have depth when written well.
3.5 out of 5 stars.