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| Pre-Order Cover by Jim Towe |
In addition to the concluding chapter in writer Tim Seeley's "One Last Shot" story arc, Valiant Entertainment also treats us to a four-page back-up story in Bloodshot #12. This story, "The Hunter," summarizes Bloodshot's history to this point, and is written by Benny Potter, who runs the popular Youtube channel Comicstorian.
Right away, Benny Potter focuses on what makes Bloodshot unique. He was created in a laboratory. He was implanted with false memories. He was designed to be a programmable weapon. Yet in this early scene, which I'm assuming Benny described in his script, it's clear that Bloodshot is capable of feeling and mourning.
Directly below that first scene, we also get a sense that Bloodshot cares for others. That he is capable of being tender, loving, and kind.
Juan Jose Ryp, the artist for this back-up story, breaks panel boundaries a little more than Pedro Andreo did in Tim Seeley's story. But this in no way prevents us from appreciating the story he so excellently conveys.
If anything, this helps it become more dynamic. Characters, both good and bad, leap off the page in Juan Jose Ryp's artwork, just as X-O Manowar did in the first page of Bloodshot #12, courtesy of Pedro Andreo.
Colorist Andrew Dalhouse also gets to showcase his talents here. Consider how differently he colors each panel on this page. The colors help us get to the heart of each incident, and power-up the stories Benny Potter is highlighting.
Consider the panel below. Andrew Dalhouse's colors make this scene really pop.
Letterer Dave Sharpe's talents are also on display. As a brief wrap-up of Bloodshot's entire history since the formation of Valiant Entertainment, Dave was given no dialogue balloons or sound effects to include. Yet I love how Dave has placed white font over a dark gleaming surface in his narrative boxes.
The background of the narrative boxes remind me of gunmetal. Of course, they could also represent the tiny machines, or nanites, that infuse his body. Either way, they're totally Bloodshot.
Together, "The Hunter" is a nice way of reminding long-term fans of Bloodshot's long and glorious past, while introducing recent readers to previous stories they might enjoy. And after Joan Jose Ryp's stunning run on Rai, it's nice to see his work again--even in this limited way--on another Valiant title. Many thanks to Valiant for including this final gem to cap off Tim Seeley's Bloodshot run.
Dragon Dave
P.S. I apologize if the panels in this review look less sharp and clear than normal. As I didn't have clean digital review pages for "The Hunter," these were photographed from my physical Pre-Order Cover Edition of Bloodshot #12.
