BLOODSHOT SALVATION #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artists: Lewis LaRosa and Mico Suayan
Color Artist: Brian Reber
Publisher: Valiant Comics
To call this series highly anticipated would be an understatement (at least among the Valiant fanbase). Bloodshot has been a tentpole character since the re-launch of the universe in 2012, and he was brilliantly re-defined by recent Eisner-winner Jeff Lemire in Bloodshot Reborn. In addition, the art is being handled by Valiant’s two finest artists, Mico Suayan and Lewis LaRosa, both of whom delivered incredible runs in Bloodshot Reborn. Now these three exceptional creators are collaborating in every single issue. This first issue of the series explodes out of the gate with adrenaline-pumping action in the future timeline, mixed with rich character development in the present-day scenes, setting the stage for the incredible ride we have in store.
If there’s any project where I should start with a discussion of the art, this is it. Suayan and LaRosa create absolutely incredible photo-real images that are unlike any other artist I’ve seen in the medium. Valiant has an embarrassment of talented artists in their stable, but these two defy belief, and I’m sure they push and elevate each other to some degree. I’m struck by the contrast between their styles here: while Mico’s near future scenes are a gritty horror flick, Lewis’ scenes are tender and domestic. They seem more like a family sitcom, although more likely the start of a family thriller about a city family newly relocated to the country. This is undoubtedly facilitated by the work of master colorist Brian Reber, who beautifully sets the mood with his color palettes. I’m struck by the amazing direction by LaRosa in his facial expressions: these feel like real people having real emotions. I’m also blown away by the cinematic action of Suayan’s scenes. I sometimes say that the art of a comic is worth the price of admission: in this case, I would argue that the art in this series is a bona-fide event that is not to be missed. From start to finish it defies belief.
Amazingly, the writing is just as ambitious and dazzling. For starters, I think that it’s incredibly brave to be publishing this kind of story in our current political climate. At its core, one of the large structural elements of this series is a conflict with militant white supremacists in positions of power within the government. It’s perhaps a sad note of our modern times to think that anyone would actually defend white supremacists (especially violent ones), but unfortunately this is a reality in the United States, seemingly more by the day. Recent experience in general pop culture, and also in certain Valiant comics specifically, is that perhaps any attempt to be political is met with hate from some quadrant(s). I wouldn’t be surprised if they get some backlash for this series due to some perceived slight to Republicans, although there’s nothing so direct in this issue. The creepy and shadowy paramilitary organization OMEN have a conservative white nationalist bent and they have already been loosely connected to the Trump Administration in Harbinger Renegade 5. Its leader’s figurative prescription for America in this issue was a bullet to the head of the marginalized and vulnerable. In addition, we’re clearly going to get religion thrown into the mix courtesy of Magic’s cult family, who clearly represent church encroaching on the state. One interesting element to consider in all of this is that Leff Lemire is not an American, which might cause some to bristle. However, good art is provocative, and this is a topic that needs to be addressed head-on. It’s probably worthwhile to get an outsider’s perspective given the relative ease for Americans to stay in their own bubbles. I really salute Lemire and Valiant for having the courage to make a bold statement in these troubling times.
From a character perspective, this series is all about Ray and his duty to his newfound family. Ray clearly loves his daughter and his wife Magic like crazy, and he seems to have left his Bloodshot days behind in order to take care of them. He is a family man, and he’s never been happier, although he’s been kept unaware of troubles on the horizon. In this issue, Magic clearly gives him the choice: let sleeping dogs lie, or lose his family. She’s convinced that trouble won’t find them if Bloodshot stays buried forever, but ultimately Bloodshot is a hero. He can’t stay hidden on the sidelines and wait for trouble to come to him. Sooner or later their enemies will find them (not to mention his old allies, whenever the next global crisis rolls around*). It’s also worth noting that I’m not sure Magic is entirely wrong in urging Ray not to get involved. His actions will probably catalyze or accelerate their confrontation with “the Family”. Magic feels a bit like Bloodshots’s Skylar White in that aspect, often in the right but also at odds with the main protagonist. I’m hoping that as this series progresses, Lemire will continue to explore Ray’s attachment to his family, even as he gets swept away in the tide of war and begins to understand the price of his actions. We’ve already seen remarkable growth in the character under Lemire’s watch, and Bloodshot’s family is the most important development in this latest chapter.
Speaking of which, this series also introduces a major new character** in Bloodshot’s daughter Jessie. From the very opening pages, we see that Jessie is a killing machine, quickly and brutally dispatching a squad of assassins. However, we’re immediately confronted with the reality that she still is a child, and she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. She is scared, as any tween would be on the run from government hit squads. I expect this to be the central narrative around Jessie: the balance between Jessie’s conscious identity and the nanites’ subconscious control. Also, I’m very curious to see the development of adolescent identity with the added influence of nanites. Jessie will be around for a very long time in Valiant, and I’m curious how they will set her apart from Bloodshot, especially as she grows into adulthood.
This is a hell of a first issue, flawlessly executed on all fronts, and setting the stage for a meaty, action-packed series. They establish the stakes by showing Bloodshot at his happiest with wife and daughter, juxtaposed with future scenes where he’s about to lose it all, and we’re left to piece together the clues about how we get there from here. This series promises a compelling mix of complex character drama and larger societal themes, with a healthy (possibly unhealthy) dose of cinematic action. I’m tempted to say that the superb art is the icing on the cake, but that simply wouldn’t be fair. The art is so dumbfounding that the icing is another full cake. This book is a flawless collaboration of creators at the top of the comic game. Better grab some popcorn.
*See Harbinger Wars 2 (2018)
**Or maybe two (no spoilers!)
Artists: Lewis LaRosa and Mico Suayan
Color Artist: Brian Reber
Publisher: Valiant Comics
To call this series highly anticipated would be an understatement (at least among the Valiant fanbase). Bloodshot has been a tentpole character since the re-launch of the universe in 2012, and he was brilliantly re-defined by recent Eisner-winner Jeff Lemire in Bloodshot Reborn. In addition, the art is being handled by Valiant’s two finest artists, Mico Suayan and Lewis LaRosa, both of whom delivered incredible runs in Bloodshot Reborn. Now these three exceptional creators are collaborating in every single issue. This first issue of the series explodes out of the gate with adrenaline-pumping action in the future timeline, mixed with rich character development in the present-day scenes, setting the stage for the incredible ride we have in store.
If there’s any project where I should start with a discussion of the art, this is it. Suayan and LaRosa create absolutely incredible photo-real images that are unlike any other artist I’ve seen in the medium. Valiant has an embarrassment of talented artists in their stable, but these two defy belief, and I’m sure they push and elevate each other to some degree. I’m struck by the contrast between their styles here: while Mico’s near future scenes are a gritty horror flick, Lewis’ scenes are tender and domestic. They seem more like a family sitcom, although more likely the start of a family thriller about a city family newly relocated to the country. This is undoubtedly facilitated by the work of master colorist Brian Reber, who beautifully sets the mood with his color palettes. I’m struck by the amazing direction by LaRosa in his facial expressions: these feel like real people having real emotions. I’m also blown away by the cinematic action of Suayan’s scenes. I sometimes say that the art of a comic is worth the price of admission: in this case, I would argue that the art in this series is a bona-fide event that is not to be missed. From start to finish it defies belief.
Amazingly, the writing is just as ambitious and dazzling. For starters, I think that it’s incredibly brave to be publishing this kind of story in our current political climate. At its core, one of the large structural elements of this series is a conflict with militant white supremacists in positions of power within the government. It’s perhaps a sad note of our modern times to think that anyone would actually defend white supremacists (especially violent ones), but unfortunately this is a reality in the United States, seemingly more by the day. Recent experience in general pop culture, and also in certain Valiant comics specifically, is that perhaps any attempt to be political is met with hate from some quadrant(s). I wouldn’t be surprised if they get some backlash for this series due to some perceived slight to Republicans, although there’s nothing so direct in this issue. The creepy and shadowy paramilitary organization OMEN have a conservative white nationalist bent and they have already been loosely connected to the Trump Administration in Harbinger Renegade 5. Its leader’s figurative prescription for America in this issue was a bullet to the head of the marginalized and vulnerable. In addition, we’re clearly going to get religion thrown into the mix courtesy of Magic’s cult family, who clearly represent church encroaching on the state. One interesting element to consider in all of this is that Leff Lemire is not an American, which might cause some to bristle. However, good art is provocative, and this is a topic that needs to be addressed head-on. It’s probably worthwhile to get an outsider’s perspective given the relative ease for Americans to stay in their own bubbles. I really salute Lemire and Valiant for having the courage to make a bold statement in these troubling times.
From a character perspective, this series is all about Ray and his duty to his newfound family. Ray clearly loves his daughter and his wife Magic like crazy, and he seems to have left his Bloodshot days behind in order to take care of them. He is a family man, and he’s never been happier, although he’s been kept unaware of troubles on the horizon. In this issue, Magic clearly gives him the choice: let sleeping dogs lie, or lose his family. She’s convinced that trouble won’t find them if Bloodshot stays buried forever, but ultimately Bloodshot is a hero. He can’t stay hidden on the sidelines and wait for trouble to come to him. Sooner or later their enemies will find them (not to mention his old allies, whenever the next global crisis rolls around*). It’s also worth noting that I’m not sure Magic is entirely wrong in urging Ray not to get involved. His actions will probably catalyze or accelerate their confrontation with “the Family”. Magic feels a bit like Bloodshots’s Skylar White in that aspect, often in the right but also at odds with the main protagonist. I’m hoping that as this series progresses, Lemire will continue to explore Ray’s attachment to his family, even as he gets swept away in the tide of war and begins to understand the price of his actions. We’ve already seen remarkable growth in the character under Lemire’s watch, and Bloodshot’s family is the most important development in this latest chapter.
Speaking of which, this series also introduces a major new character** in Bloodshot’s daughter Jessie. From the very opening pages, we see that Jessie is a killing machine, quickly and brutally dispatching a squad of assassins. However, we’re immediately confronted with the reality that she still is a child, and she doesn’t want to hurt anyone. She is scared, as any tween would be on the run from government hit squads. I expect this to be the central narrative around Jessie: the balance between Jessie’s conscious identity and the nanites’ subconscious control. Also, I’m very curious to see the development of adolescent identity with the added influence of nanites. Jessie will be around for a very long time in Valiant, and I’m curious how they will set her apart from Bloodshot, especially as she grows into adulthood.
This is a hell of a first issue, flawlessly executed on all fronts, and setting the stage for a meaty, action-packed series. They establish the stakes by showing Bloodshot at his happiest with wife and daughter, juxtaposed with future scenes where he’s about to lose it all, and we’re left to piece together the clues about how we get there from here. This series promises a compelling mix of complex character drama and larger societal themes, with a healthy (possibly unhealthy) dose of cinematic action. I’m tempted to say that the superb art is the icing on the cake, but that simply wouldn’t be fair. The art is so dumbfounding that the icing is another full cake. This book is a flawless collaboration of creators at the top of the comic game. Better grab some popcorn.
*See Harbinger Wars 2 (2018)
**Or maybe two (no spoilers!)
A Look Inside
