Review: Bloodshot #9

For a while now, we“ve known that Ray wasn“t the only Bloodshot and he was far from the first. But while we have gradually learned about the history of the other Bloodshots, there has always been one whose story we“ve never known: Bloodhound. Now, Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire have decided to tell the tale of the original Bloodshot, which goes all the way back to the bloody trenches of World War One.

Dr. Henry Fulbright of whatever organization that preceded Project Rising Spirit, has brought a kennel of his improved dogs to the front trenches of the Battle of the Somme. The British unit can“t believe that these dogs will make any difference in the oncoming battle. With their ghost white fur and their glowing red eyes, the dogs tear through the German lines able to take on almost anything that is dished out to them. And this is a war that can and does dish out some truly nasty stuff.

Where the Germans couldn“t stop them in their initial rush, it turns out that their most exploitable weakness is their loyalty. These dogs may be lacking nanites, but they use all their enhancements as best they can.

Fawkes (Batman Eternal, Constantine) has put together a great stand alone story. I have to admit I find the first World War so much more interesting than the second. And it was a smart move to set the story there as Bloodhound visually resembles Rin Tin Tin whose rise to fame started there. The plotting here is tight and the main characters all have a depth to them that you rarely see in one-shots.

I really loved Renato Guedes“ (Wolverine, X-O Manowar, Shadowman) style in this book. There is something about how he composes each panel along with his painterly style the really bring the impact of the war to life. I don“t just mean the corpses in the trenches and no man“s land. This style works really well with this story, which isn“t true of all the books he draws and colors. Sometimes, I find his style a poor match, but it really does work here.

I especially loved the realistic feel to the faces of the soldiers and Fulbright. The expressions are real and their faces aren“t always shown from the most flattering angle. But that really helps sell that these are real people stuck in the worst situation possible and just trying to survive and maybe win the battle.

I know that if you don“t read Valiant books, you must be sick of how much people praise them. This book is a good entry point. It is a single stand alone story. It isn“t connected to any of the big events that the rest of the books are gearing up for. If you want to give Valiant a shot, this issue should be the one you pick up to try.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer: Ray Fawkes with Jeff Lemire
Artist: Renato Guedes
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment

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Andy Hall

Sent from the future by our Robot Ape overlords to preserve the timeline. Reading and writing about comics until the revolution comes. All hail the Orangutan Android Solar King!