Publisher: Valiant Comics
Writers: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mico Suayan
Colourist: David Baron
Release date: May 20, 2015
Price: $3.99

One of the best things about 1990s comic books turned out to be Valiant Comics, helmed by the talents of Jim Shooter and Bob Layton. When Valiant Comics returned in 2012 the company hit the ground running, producing well-written and entertaining stories.

The story of Bloodshot, originally created by Kevin VanHook and Yvel Guichet, is an unstoppable assassination machine, or at least Bloodshot was until the power-giving nanites, driving Bloodshot mad, were removed from his body. So now the power is gone, but madness, for Bloodshot remains; a little parting gift from his glory days. Bloodshot continues to wear the trademark red circle on his chest, perhaps as a reminder—not that he needs one: his feelings of guilt never leave him.

The madness makes Bloodshot hallucinate and his visions take the form of the deceased woman who expelled the nanites; and a chibi doppelganger named Bloodsquirt, who provides some much needed comic relief. “Blasting evil in the face with justice” is what Bloodshot does best, his doppelganger reminds him.

Writer Lemire, perhaps best known for his powerful DC/Vertigo series Sweet Tooth, does VanHook’s and Guichdet’s creation proud. The writing is compact and, at times, poetic. Suayan’s realistic and highly detailed artwork is well suited to the nature of the material. Colourist Baron’s work here is some of the most detailed and artistic to be seen in contemporary comic books. Baron’s skies are strikingly beautiful, better, in fact, than real-life.

The ending of Bloodshot Reborn #2 is a total surprise. The last line is: “It’s only just beginning.” And I, for one, couldn’t be happier. There is a real sense here the best is yet to come.

 

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews editor: Steve Hooker