Yvel Guichet: Immortal Brothers Commission

 

 

Long-time Valiant fan John Born recently commissioned artist Yvel Guichet to draw this spectacular image. Here, in all their 90s glory, we see Gilad (the Eternal Warrior) and his brother time-traveling brother Ivar. You'll also find his jovial brother Aram (who goes by the name Armstrong these days), and Armstrong's partner Archer. 

What a great present to give yourself for the holidays! Congratulations, John, on your purchase! And congratulations Yvel on capturing such a masterful portrayal of these classic characters!

Dragon Dave

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Review

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 by Jon Davis-Hunt

WARNING: BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED #4 BREAKS SUPERHERO COMICS CONVENTIONS BY INCLUDING FOUL LANGUAGE INSTEAD OF SUGGESTING IT THROUGH USE OF SYMBOLS. READ AHEAD AT YOUR OWN RISK.

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 finally relates what occurred to separate Bloodshot from his family. It showcases our hero's cataclysmic battle with a man called Hobbes or Verlane. And it introduces a new penciler to the Valiant family. So let's dig into the latest installment in the ongoing saga of the super-soldier known as Ray Garrison, or as we like to call him, Bloodshot!

Lettering: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou does his usual brilliant job of relating the story through words. The dialogue and Bloodshot's inner-narrator are mostly uppercase and easy to read. The sound effects are colorful and demand our attention.

Overall, the lettering seems more polished and pleasing to the eye than in previous issues.

Coloring: Jordie Bellaire continues her simple color scheme for this series. While she may not have added much nuance aside from the initial color-flatting stage, her colors in this issue avoid looking drab and muddy. They look clear and vibrant. 

At times, they're even downright trippy.

Penciling/Inking: Newcomer Eric Zawadzki imbues every scene with classic illustration that, like Jordie's coloring, conveys emotion and action well. His characters have depth and realism. The war scenes are particularly effective.

The way he relates Verlane's worldview may even make longtime readers smile.

Story. Writer Deniz Camp blends past and present to give readers a combined issue #0 and #4. While readers may find this mix confusing at times, the way he relates Verlane's inner struggle give readers a solid line to grasp. He shows us a wiser and more hopeful Bloodshot than we met in issue #1, and reveals the compassionate side of our hero.

I'll confess I don't understand some of the logic underlying this issue, as well as how it relates to the series. Sadly, this final issue leaves me with more questions than answers. Perhaps those answers will be addressed if Valiant produces another story arc of Bloodshot Unleashed. 

Also, while I hate to be negative about any Valiant comic, I must admit that I dislike the repeated use of the F word in a superhero comic. Likewise, I find the ongoing theme of battlefield cannibalism distasteful. Perhaps such things do go on in war. Still, I don't wish to immerse myself in it on an ongoing series.

 

Conclusion: Despite its defects (or aspects of the story I don't appreciate), I like how Bloodshot seems more proactive in Bloodshot Unleashed #4. He's a thinking, calculated strategist who's not merely throwing himself into the gunfire, and expecting his nanites to outlast his opponent's ammunition. Story-wise, I appreciate this issue's themes of sacrifice and redemption. I find this issue's art and lettering appealing.

I just wish I understood how all the story segments--in this issue, and in the series as a whole--fit together. As this first story arc of Bloodshot Unleashed draws to a close, I find myself on the outside-looking-in, an interested observer of this ferocious tale of trauma, heartache, and redemption. 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 comes out tomorrow. Buy a copy sporting your favorite cover, and tell me what you think.

Dragon Dave

Merry Christmas

 

"On the first day of Christmas,

My true love gave to me,

Smiling Santa on a plate,

As a tasty cookie."

 

Merry Christmas, all you Valiant super-soldiers!

Bloodshot Virgin Art by Jon Davis-Hunt

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Cover A by Jon Davis-Hunt

 

Here's a final virgin art reveal for Bloodshot Unleashed from Valiant Entertainment. As before, Cover A belongs to artist Jon Davis-Hunt. Only this time out, Jon has opted not to do the interior art. So he's handed over his pencils to fellow artist Eric Zawadzki. 

While we look forward to seeing how Eric will visualize this fourth and final issue, we have one last image of Bloodshot from Jon to feast our eyes upon. We may not know much about this character Hobbes that Bloodshot is fighting. Still, from the way he's interrupting Bloodshot's breakfast, we can tell he's a baddie. After all, only a true villain interrupts a hard-working man's breakfast!

Wednesday, December 28th. Five more days. Bloodshot, you'd better eat an extra-large dinner on Tuesday night!

Dragon Dave

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Preview Pages

 

Bloodshot Action Figure Cover by TRAVIS ESCARFULLERY

WARNING: THIS ISSUE BREAKS SUPERHERO COMIC CONVENTION BY USING FOUL LANGUAGE INSTEAD OF SYMBOLS SUCH AS #$&%. 

(REMEMBER, BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED IS RATED MATURE*)

READ AHEAD AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Now here's the word from the good folks at Valiant Entertainment.

 

The epic conclusion to the first arc of BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED!

Bloodshot hunts down the Spent Shell SGT Michael Verlane in the Florida swamplands but is haunted by the ghosts of his past in "Flashback". And finally, learn the fate of BLOODSHOT'S family! BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED #4 is as thoughtful as it is gory and violent!

 

 

BLOODSHOT UNLEASHED #4
Written by DENIZ CAMP
Art by ERIC ZAWADZKI
Colors by JORDIE BELLAIRE
Letters by HASSAN OTSMANE-ELHAOU
Cover A by JON DAVIS-HUNT
Cover B by NICOLE RIFKIN
Cover C by NINO CAMMARATA
Pre-order Cover by CHRIS BURNHAM

A bloody blast from the past!

• In the present, Bloodshot must track down Verlane, a “spent shell” experiencing nightmarish visions of his past being pursued by the authorities.

• In the past, Bloodshot has the fight of his life against Hobbes, exploring what occurred prior to the events of issue #1 to shatter Bloodshot’s family and home.

• Two escaped weapons. Two timelines. One epic issue!

That's the word from the good folks at Valiant Central. To see more of this epic battle, head down to your local comic shop to pick up your copy of Bloodshot Unleashed #4 on December 28th!

Dragon Dave

*As we all know, the ability to use foul language is always an indicator of maturity.

Bloodshot Virgin Art by Nicole Rifkin

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Cover B by Nicole Rifkin

Here's another virgin art reveal from Valiant Entertainment. This time it's for artist Nicole Rifkin's Cover B. Her composition features an interesting collage. The way she's overlaid this new character over our hero suggests a commonality between the two men. 

Or should I say monsters?

 

We saw a glimpse of someone--one of these so-called spent shells--in issue #1. Could this be the new character Hobbes that Valiant is referring to?

I guess we'll all find out together, when Bloodshot Unleashed #4 arrives in our local comic shops on Wednesday December 28th.

Dragon Dave

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Unlettered Preview Pages

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Pre-Order Virgin Art by Chris Burnham

We learned that Bloodshot's wife and daughter had died in Bloodshot Unleashed #1. No, I'm not talking about his wife Gina. That's his wife in the Bloodshot movie. Okay, she died at the beginning of the movie, but then...

Hey, if you haven't seen Vin Diesel's Bloodshot movie, go see it! It's awesome!!

No, I'm talking about Magic, the woman who writer Jeff Lemire brought into his life in the series Bloodshot Reborn. In Lemire's sequel series, Bloodshot Salvation, their daughter Jessie played a central role. Then of course, there was also Bloodhound, who is completely unrelated to the Target dog. He's pretty cool too. In fact, he's the focus of an entire issue of Bloodshot Salvation!

Ruff ruff!

Anyway, back to Bloodshot Unleashed. Writer Deniz Camp recently released four unlettered preview pages for Bloodshot Unleashed #4 online. I thought I'd share them with you, in case you missed them. Enjoy!

Is it truly Game Over for all of Jeff Lemire's super characters? Or do they all just appear to be dead? I guess we'll find out on December 28th, when we all head out to our local comic shops for our post-Christmas Bloodshot fix!

Dragon Dave

Bloodshot Virgin Art from Chris Burnham

 

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Pre-Order Cover by Chris Burnham

Here's another great virgin art reveal from the great folks at Valiant. This time it's from artist Chris Burnham. It showcases one of the hallmarks of this latest Bloodshot series: the character's incredible healing abilities. It's also true to the coloring scheme of this series, with an emphasis on black, white and red.

Is an explosive end for our hero in sight? Could this be the last time we see Bloodshot? I guess we'll all find out together on Wednesday December 28th, when we pick up our copies at our local comic shops!

Dragon Dave

Meet Neville Alcott

 

As M is to James Bond, so Neville Alcott is to Colin King, aka Ninjak. His first priority is to Britain, not to his agents. He may order the death of innocents, but he does so to protect the stability of the state, and prevent his country from collapsing into chaos.

Bloodshot ran afoul of him in writer Tim Seeley's Bloodshot series. Ninjak believed him complicit in the loss of his family's castle in writer Matt Kindt's Ninjak series. Writer Christos Gage explored the secret and diverse nature of the MI-6 Ninja program in his Ninja-K series. And although I can't remember for sure, Neville likely played a behind-the-scenes role in writer B. Clay Moore's KI-6: Killers series. 

And yes, in case you're wondering, he's also the guy who accidentally spills mustard on his shirt in the web series Ninjak Vs The Valiant Universe.

In writer Jeff Parker's recent Ninjak series, two powerful psiots bring Neville's worst fears to life. His precious MI-6 gets disbanded when all its secrets are made public knowledge. Perhaps he demonstrates the best side of his nature in those four issues, as he goes on the road with Ninjak and his partner Myna to take down the psiots who threaten the stability of the entire world.

Even when I didn't like what he did, I've always liked Neville Alcott. I hope to see more of him in Valiant comics soon.

Dragon Dave

Bloodshot Virgin Art by Nino Cammarata

Bloodshot Unleashed #4 Cover C by Nino Cammarata

Wondering what the next (and apparently, final) issue of Bloodshot Unleashed will be about? Here's the scoop, from the good folks at Valiant Entertainment.

A bloody blast from the past! In the present, Bloodshot must track down Verlane, a "spent shell" experiencing nightmarish visions of his past being pursued by the authorities. In the past, Bloodshot has the fight of his life against Hobbes*, exploring what occurred prior to the events of issue #1 to shatter Bloodshot's family and home. Two escaped weapons. Two timelines. One epic issue! 

Ever get depressed after Christmas is over? Thankfully, this issue arrives at your local comic shop Dec 28, 2022. So ask the folks at your shop to order a copy for you. That way, you'll have something to look forward to after all the seasonal fun, festivities, and family time ends!

 

To further whet your appetite for their final nanite-powered outing of 2022, Valiant has released the virgin art for Nino Cammarata's cover for Bloodshot Unleashed #4. Use it as a background on your phone. Print it out and tape it to your fridge. Glue a small print of it to cardboard and hang it on your Christmas tree. It's all part of the holiday fun, thanks to the good folks at Valiant HQ!

Dragon Dave

 

P.S. What happened to Calvin? Come on, you can tell me. I can take it! What happened to Calvin???