Review: Bloodshot – Rising Spirit #1
Valiant’s own super soldier is back in another series. Set before Salvation, before Reborn he was a Rising Spirit. This is the series that will tell us who he was before he got infected by nanites and a big red spot.
Angelo Mortalli is a failed thug, used to trying to kill people. Once he is captured by the good guys, he is given the option to take part in a secret project with the promise to “be more than you can be, much more”. From there we get to see how Angelo is in action in a variety of tests, kind of.
The book features a story by Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler who are both confirmed X-Men fans and have recently had a stint on the Cable book. Therefore it’s not much of a surprise when things get a little Weapon X. Kevin Grevioux adds to the mayhem with a script that goes some way to move away from the more obvious comparisons of the X-world. Throw in a touch of Robocop and you pretty have this first issue.
The art of the book is supplied by Black Panther artist Ken Lashley, who attempts to give the book a level of validity, with some impressive panels, incorporating some pretty solid action scenes, whilst paying homage to the aforementioned series, which is hindered at time by three finishers in Ryan Winn, Brian Thies and Oliver Borges. As with a book that features work by committee there are some inconsistencies. Are they going for a Marvel style or a cartoon style? It’s not that the art is bad, I just wish they would pick a style and stick to it. Colorist Diego Rodriguez adds a level of darkness, in tone if not in the actual colors used. Finally, letterer Simon Bowland delivers his usual quality of work that we have come to expect and appreciate.
Bloodshot is one of Valiant’s core characters that seems to equally have a core following, with some pretty strong issues to date. It is a shame that in order to move forward, we have to have a story that is figuratively and literally set in the past. If anything, it does show that Thompson and Nadler deserve an actual continuing X-book of their own.
Writing – 3 Stars
Art – 3 Stars
Colors – 3 Stars
[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
Written by; Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler and Kevin Grevioux
Art by; Ken Lashley with Ryan Winn, Brian Thies and Oliver Borges
Colors by; Diego Rodriguez
Letters by; Simon Bowland
Published by; Valiant Entertainment
Author Profile
- I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow
Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network
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