Bloodshot (2019) #1 Penciling & Inking

Bloodshot #1 Cover A by Declan Shalvey

 

Brett Booth is an old school comics artist, meaning that when he does his penciling, he leaves it to others to do his inking. In this case, that duty falls to Adelso Corona. I'm not schooled in the penciling and inking arts, but I think you'll agree they both did some standout work in Bloodshot #1.

Right away, this panel on page one caught my attention. There's so many facets of it I could comment on. So I will!

Notice the way the upper part of the far wall is inked in, and how Brett and Adelso have drawn in shadowing, versus asking the colorist to shade them. I like how the foremost character is inclined to the right, whereas the other two incline to the left to balance the subjects. I'm also most intrigued by how the other characters in the room are just empty shapes, presumably left for the colorist to fill in. Yet the artwork and frames on the far wall show incredible detail.

 

With this next picture, I think it's interesting how Brett and Adelso draw in the lines on the British Prime Minister's face. Notice how those lines provide depth and interest to his chin and forehead. The way the eyebrows arch out in balanced by the lines below the eyes. 

Again, the way they've drawn in the shadowing on the paper, versus leaving that for the colorist, intrigues me.

 

 

I really like the perspective in this next panel. Of course, the colorist utterly transforms the drawing, with the reflected light from the burning fires, as well as the clouds. I'm just captured by the motion of the water, the detail on the wharf and containers, and all the linework on the ruined buildings.

 

 

Again, there's so much going on in this scene, with the busy setting, the captain and the other soldier, and the wear-and-tear on the CivAid truck. Brett and Adelso devoted so much time to this soldier in the foreground--it really shows.

 

 

Finally, there's our man Bloodshot, kicking out from beneath the CivAid truck. Every muscle and sinew, every pouch, belt, buckle, and pants fold or wrinkle is detailed. As on the first page with the exhaust fumes pouring from the TV news vans, Brett and Adelso draw in the disturbed air of Bloodshot's rapid slide across the pitted and scarred concrete. 

And then there's those eyes. Even without the red coloring, they'd be scary!

 

 

In Bloodshot #1, Brett Booth and Adelso Corona enhance each panel with the symmetry of their subjects, the detail of their characters, and the way they make each setting come alive. If there was ever a tour de force art issue, this is it.

Dragon Dave