ISSUE #1I found this to be a very well drawn title, with an interesting, yet confusing, first issue. Again, I never read any of the old Valiant comics, as I was totally out of comics during their run, so I am new to all this and that may have led to ... well ...
This group, Project Rising Spirit, has created a walking man of destruction, Bloodshot, complete with internal nanites that repair injury and allow him to access computers and such. Of course, the also f'd up his brain pretty damn good. Gave him memories of families (yes, plural) and friends he has never met.
Unfortunately, while trying to show us how this group has screwed with the mind of the main character, the writer kinda screwed with my mind as well. I was getting a little lost between what was happening in current time, what was just a memory and what was just a false memory imbedding in the main characters brain.
This may have just been that I was reading this at 2:30 in the morning and was pretty much brain fried from the day, so I chalked it up as me just being tired more than the writer doing a poor job (I do like the writer by the way - Duane Swierczynski)
I was going to re-read the issue the next day, but decided to peak through issue #2 first. Glad I did.
Issue #2One of the best parts of this issue was the "Previously in Bloodshot" first page. It explained, with perfection, what had transpired in issue #1. I was able to understand what I had read, without having to go back and read that issue again. IT brought me right up to speed and I was able to enjoy this issue, and this title, a lot more.
This issue we see how vicious our main character can be as he goes through a group of eight military men like they were nothing. Very brutal.
This guy is like Punisher mixed with Wolverine, both in resolve and mental "screwed up'ness"
(Also has to deal with guys similar to project X, so there is that)
This was a much more enjoyable issue, as I understand what is going on now as well as the characters are getting more fleshed out and enjoyable. We are also introduced to another powerful character in this issue, but don't see her specialty until ...
ISSUE #3First off, I mentioned how this guy kinda reminds me a little of PUNISHER and the cover of this issue really drives that feeling home in look and tone.
If that doesn't scream Frank Castle ...
What that cover doesn't show is just how screwed in the head our main character is. His head is full of lies built upon lies, but he is starting to use that to his advantage. Starting to listen more and more to the 'voices' of his 'Family' and starting to use those little nanites inside his body for more than just a healing factor.
After starting out with a less than stellar first issue, this title (along with HARBINGER) has easily made it on to my pull list. This month I have another Valiant title heading my way in SHADOWMAN. I hope it also makes its way there as well.