Bloodshot #1

The military has created the perfect black ops killing machine code named Bloodshot. A host’s body is inserted & programmed with nanites, billions of microscopic machines that give the host enhanced strength, speed & agility, along with incredible endurance and the ability to heal at an alarming rate. Armed to the teeth with the highest caliber of firepower, Bloodshot is the ultimate soldier. When soldier and family man Ray is summoned by an old friend for a routine search & rescue mission in Afghanistan, to save the life of man who once saved his own, Ray as Bloodshot wilfully accepts the mission. When the mission goes awry and he’s captured in enemy territory, his captors want to do some programming of their own.

The Pros

The summer of Valiant continues with its third series entitled Bloodshot. This was a slightly entertaining look at one man’s identity crisis as his life is programmed and reprogrammed as the ultimate soldier in modern warfare & technology. Writer Duane Swierczynski pens a straight forward action yarn with a weak beginning, but I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt with the next couple of issues. Pencillers Manuel Garcia & Arturo Lozzi give us life-like characters with incredible panels filled blood & gore to satisfy any Punisher fans. The last full page drawing will make you say “Holy shit!” and the cover screams gung-ho, but is still stunning.

The Cons

Reading this I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not terribly original and that it didn’t bring anything new to the table.

The Outcome

My point is that I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it, I’m sort of in the middle. However, I do think it has potential and in the next couple of issues I hope I’m right. From Valiant.