Book Of Shadows #2: The Artists' Process

 

The Pre-Order edition of Book Of Shadows #2 demonstrates the evolution of a page, from script to initial sketch to inked drawing and finally to the completed colored and lettered version. 

This panel shows Punk Mambo taking on Exarch Fane.

The coloring makes the scene crackle with energy. The lettering enhances the scene's eerie frenzy.

You can gain greater insight into the artists' process in the Pre-Order edition.

Dragon Dave

Details, details...

BOOK OF SHADOWS #2
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by NICK FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by NIK VIRELLA
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JOMES

Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Doctor Mirage, Eternal Warrior, and Shadowman’s new ward, Persephone, confront a villain from the Veil. Exarch Fane has broken through to Earth, bringing with him the terrifying Book of Shadows. Death and destruction follow in Fane’s wake. Can our heroes save the day or will they run away to lick their wounds?

On sale August 24th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

When Valiant First Unleashed Bloodshot

 

When China first unleashed Covid-19 on the world two years ago, many comic shops closed their doors. Diamond (our sole distributor back then) wasn't even delivering comics to shops. So the good folks at Valiant Entertainment delivered a Mothergod-load of free digital comics to keep all of us comic readers in contented Unity.

Among those comics were the 1990s Eternal Warrior #4. In Kevin VanHook's story, the Bloodshot co-creator takes us back to China in 210 B.C. Gilad Anni-Padda, or the Eternal Warrior, helps prevent General Cheng from placing a puppet ruler on the throne. The captured general, who Gilad describes as pure evil, vows that they will meet again.

 

The story then moves to June 1992, when Gilad once more faces Cheng. It seems that Cheng's evil is such that death cannot contain him. Whenever he dies, he is soon reborn. 

Regardless of what name he goes by, Cheng is another Eternal Warrior.

 

How many times might Gilad have fought Cheng? Perhaps, after dispatching the druglord, Gilad ponders this mystery in the weeks following. That is, until he meets another man who, aided by nanites, cannot die.

In other words, yet another Eternal Warrior!

 

Today is the last day your local comic store can order Bloodshot Unleashed #1 until Diamond delivers it to the stores. Today is the last day to signal that you want Valiant Entertainment to continue publishing stories about all their eternal warriors. Today is your last opportunity to thank them for their kindness to us during the initial Covid-19 shutdown, by helping the first four issues of this new series sell really well.

Oh, and in case you need any further incentive, Bloodshot Unleashed readers have this to look forward to. That's right: Aric of Dacia, aka X-O Manowar, will be paying our man Bloodshot a visit. Now if that isn't something to look forward to, I don't know what is!

Dragon Dave

Book Of Shadows #2: My Favorite Scene

 

Book Of Shadows #2 Pre-Order Cover by Kelley Jones

One of my favorite scenes in Book Of Shadows #2 is this one, when Exarch Fane brings Hellhounds from the Deadside into our world.

 

Here's Vicente Cifuentes' original, uncolored version.

 

You can see more great Black & White art in Valiant's Book Of Shadows #2 Pre-Order edition.

Dragon Dave

 

All the details...

BOOK OF SHADOWS #2
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by NICK FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by NIK VIRELLA
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JONES

Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Doctor Mirage, Eternal Warrior, and Shadowman’s new ward, Persephone, confront a villain from the Veil. Exarch Fane has broken through to Earth, bringing with him the terrifying Book of Shadows. Death and destruction follow in Fane’s wake. Can our heroes save the day or will they run away to lick their wounds?

On sale August 24th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Frank Miller's Unity Masterpiece

 

Inside each of these Unity issues was a double-page layout showing how these covers would go together. Still, I thought it'd be fun to put all my actual copies of Frank Miller's covers together to see how readers back in the 1990s would have collected and assembled them. 

I noticed a couple minor oddities, such as a few being slightly taller than the rest. Of them all, Solar was the strangest. With the blue heading at the top being shorter (or cut off), I figured the comic itself would be shorter, or just incorrectly cut. But it's one that's taller than the rest. I wonder if such sizing irregularities were common back then?

Regardless, none of that distracted from the fun of assembling them all. Those glowing hands in the background are sure striking. I wonder if they represent Solar's attempt to get the Valiant heroes to work together to defeat Erica Pierce's plans? 

Or might they represent Erica Pierce's desires to control all of space and time?

Either way, it's really cool how Valiant commissioned Frank Miller to create this interlocking pattern. Many thanks to whoever arranged that, whether you're still with us, or you've ventured on to battle the Mothergod's dinobots in her perfect little Lost Land!

Dragon Dave

Limited Edition Bloodshot Statue

 

Here's more Bloodshot news from the good folks at Valiant HQ:

Bedrock Collectibles is excited to announce it has signed a multi-year, worldwide licensing deal with Valiant Entertainment to create high-end collectible statues for fan favorite characters across the Valiant Universe. Every statue will be produced in limited-edition quantities and individually numbered.

To kick off the premium statue line, the team is proud to reveal the first project is none other than the nanite-infused super soldier himself, BLOODSHOT! 

 

Bedrock Collectibles' BLOODSHOT statue will be 1/4 scale, roughly 20" tall, sculpted in highly detailed polystone resin. A BLOODSHOT statue would not be complete without a slew of weaponry. That is why the statue comes with multiple switch out arms and weapons, including dual handguns, one assault rifle, and a submachine gun with alternative poses.

As part of Bedrock Collectibles' commitment to high-end quality, the 1/4 scale BLOODSHOT statue was sculpted by world renowned 3D artist Caleb Nefzen. Every detail from the skin textures to the facial features to the tactical pouches and gear was sculpted in high fidelity.

 

 

"Valiant Entertainment has built a rich history of storytelling and character development. We feel our brand of premium, master painted statues is an art form that strengthens the connection long time fans have with the characters they love," said Shawn Karawaju, Co-Founder & CEO at Bedrock Collectibles. "Our goal is to bring together iconic Valiant characters as well as new fan favorites and put them, quite literally, on a pedestal for all fans to admire and display proudly in their collections."

The Year of Valiant is in full swing with this latest super hero team up, giving Valiant fans new ways to show their love and appreciation for their favorite characters. More announcements will be made in the coming months for future characters and even new product lines.

 

  

See the 1/4 scale Bloodshot in person for an exclusive first look at Fan Expo Canada 2022 in Toronto, Ontario from August 25-28th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and don't forget to preorder the first Mature Reader series in the character's history with BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED #1!

In celebration of this announcement, Bedrock Collectibles is offering an early-bird exclusive discounted pre-order price of $679 USD, only available until September 28th. Expected to ship Q1 2023. Pre-order now to secure your spot.

 

 

For more information, please visit https://www.bedrockcollectibles.ca

Don't forget to follow Valiant on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on all the latest!

Book Of Shadows #2 Review: Evensong

 

Book Of Shadows #2 Cover C by Travis Escarfullery

 

A reading from St Cullen's Book Of Shadows: Chapter 2, Page 1.

 

Let us remember the rich history of Shadowman. How he battled a Book more deadly than forged blade, and how we felt that battle, thanks to the Letterer's visceral sound effects.

 

Let us remember how Punk Mambo summoned her power amidst the smoky field of arising demons, thanks to the Colorist's brilliant palette.

How a band of Earth's bravest heroes fought Exarch Fane through force of might, power, and witty banter, thanks to an erudite Author.

How, evoked by a skilled Penciler and Inker, our heroes pushed Exarch Fane back, time and again.

 

And how they did not lose hope, when Fane summoned even more hellish forces. 

Let us remember how each seasoned hero rose to meet the evils they faced.

How Shadowman protected his teammates, and kept them focused.

How we learned more of Gilad Anni-Padda's previous encounter with Exarch Fane, and why we herald him the Eternal Warrior.

Celebrate then this moment, when valiant heroes defied a villain intent on Earth's destruction.

Honor their sacrifice with an offering to your local comic shop, and cherish your copy of Book Of Shadows #2. 

Amen.

Here endeth the lesson.

Dragon Dave

Now raise your voices and sing praise and thanks to:

BOOK OF SHADOWS #2
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by Nick FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by NIK VIRELLA
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JOMES

Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Doctor Mirage, Eternal Warrior, and Shadowman’s new ward, Persephone, confront a villain from the Veil. Exarch Fane has broken through to Earth, bringing with him the terrifying Book of Shadows. Death and destruction follow in Fane’s wake. Can our heroes save the day or will they run away to lick their wounds?

On sale August 24th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+

Bloodshot Unleashed #1 Review: Hometown Hero

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #1 Cover C by Pete Woods

In Bloodshot Unleashed #1, our hero seemingly awakens from a nightmare. Yet Bloodshot is a veteran of untold missions, campaigns, and wars.

He should be able to handle the odd nightmare by now.

So...

Perhaps it's more than that?

Mission One. 

Remind the reader of Bloodshot's secret weapon: the nanites that can repair any injury, no matter how severe. 

Job done.

The issue pays homage to some of the men whose lives contributed to the creation of Bloodshot in VEI's 2012 Bloodshot series, as well as in Bloodshot Rising Spirit. Raymond. Angelo. Gavin? And perhaps others?

So many sacrifices, and all for Bloodshot: a dead soldier brought to life, programmed like a living weapon, and controlled by government contractor Project Rising Spirit. 

Or so they thought.

Bloodshot Unleashed #1 also honors the family that Bloodshot--as Raymond Garrison--nurtured in the series Bloodshot Reborn and Bloodshot Salvation. 

Sadly, no longer with us.

In Bloodshot Unleashed #1, we learn about more super-soldier programs beyond those of Project Rising Spirit.

And how their creations often went wrong. 

What happens when a super-soldier goes insane?

Bloodshot Unleashed #1 is interspersed with scenes set THEN and NOW. 

NOW, Bloodshot walks the streets of a middle American town. 

Mission Two: Stop all the government's failed super-soldier experiments.

Before they take out their anger and rage on everything that made them who they are.

What they've become.

Bloodshot Unleashed #1 weaves a tale of loss, revenge, and the necessity of protecting others. The coloring casts a pall over every panel the penciler fights to pack into this devastating story. 

 

Stylized lettering enhances the violence unleashed in this new stage of our action hero's life. 

 

Can Bloodshot retire all of his crazed cousins, before they unleash more destruction than in Bloodshot USA? 

Mission Three: Read each issue of Bloodshot Unleashed, and find out.

Dragon Dave

P.S. If you enjoyed this advance review, order your copy of Bloodshot Unleashed #1 immediately to make sure your store can secure a copy.

 

Mission Dossier: 

BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED #1
Written by DENIZ CAMP
Art by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU
Cover A by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Cover B by NICOLE RIFKIN
Cover C by PETE WOODS
Pre-order Cover by GERARDO ZAFFINO

Dangerous super soldiers and bloodthirsty living weapons have mysteriously escaped into the world to wreak havoc across the dying towns and forgotten farms of America. Now, Bloodshot must take up arms again to travel across the country hunting down these violent monsters, battling his own demons, and defending the most defenseless. Deniz Camp (Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E.) and Jon Davis-Hunt (SHADOWMAN) join forces to unleash Valiant Entertainment’s first Mature Readers title that puts the BLOOD in BLOODSHOT.

On sale SEPTEMBER 21st | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | M

Book Of Shadows #2 Preview Pages

 

Book Of Shadows Cover B by NIK VIRELLA

The team has assembled. The villain has taken the stage. But can our heroes squash Exarch Fane's evil plans, now that he controls the Book Of Shadows? 

Find out this coming Wednesday, when Book Of Shadows #2 arrives in your local comic shop!

Here's the first six pages to preview, courtesy of the heroic folks at Valiant Entertainment.

(I've split up pages two and three for easier viewing).

Book Of Shadows is rapidly becoming my favorite new team book. Tell your friends to buy up every copy they can find. Let Valiant know--in no uncertain terms--that you love this series, and eagerly await the remaining installments.

If you won't do it for yourself and your friends, do it for me. Please!

Dragon Dave

P.S. To see all the covers for Book Of Shadows #2, flip back to my August 17 post.

Details, details...

BOOK OF SHADOWS #2
Written by CULLEN BUNN
Art by VICENTE CIFUENTES
Colors by DAVE FILARDI
Letters by DAVE SHARPE
Cover A by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
Cover B by NIK VIRELLA
Cover C by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY
Pre-order Cover by KELLEY JOMES

Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Doctor Mirage, Eternal Warrior, and Shadowman’s new ward, Persephone, confront a villain from the Veil. Exarch Fane has broken through to Earth, bringing with him the terrifying Book of Shadows. Death and destruction follow in Fane’s wake. Can our heroes save the day or will they run away to lick their wounds?

On sale August 24th | 32 pages, full color | $3.99 US | T+