Series: BLOODSHOT REBORN
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Mico Suayan
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Summary from Valiant Entertainment:
ALL-NEW ARC! ALL-NEW JUMPING-ON POINT! Welcome to “BLOODSHOT ISLAND”!
Stranded on a mysterious desert island, Bloodshot is running for his life! But as he tries to make sense of his surroundings, he’s quickly discovering that this is no ordinary tropical getaway… Surrounded by decommissioned relics of the same bloodstained project that created him – World War II Bloodshot, Cold War Bloodshot, Vietnam Bloodshot, and other antiquated experiments – Bloodshot is about to find out where Project Rising Spirit sends it old soldiers to die. Can this seasoned band of killers trust each other long enough to survive the threats that lie in the jungle around them…and unlock the secret at the heart of the island’s existence before they’re each permanently retired? And who or what is the sinister force called DEATHMATE that now hunts them at every turn?
This summer, superstar creators Jeff Lemire (Extraordinary X-Men) and Mico Suayan (BLOODSHOT REBORN) send Bloodshot screaming into his most action-packed adventure yet as “BLOODSHOT ISLAND” ups the ante for the Valiant Universe’s most formidable soldier!
This book has been on almost every Valiant fan’s radar since they announced it a while back. They teased us with images of more Bloodshots (one looking like a mix between Bloodshot and Robert Downey Jr.’s character in Tropic Thunder) which was like throwing chum in the water for fans. Needless to say there was a lot of hype leading up to this book. For many people, that much hype can lead to unrealistic expectations and ultimately being let down by the very thing that you loved most…. Was that too much? Anyway, worry not Jeff Lemire and Co. will not let you down. This book is phenomenal. What follows is a spoiler-free look at BLOODSHOT REBORN #14 “BLOODSHOT ISLAND.”
As you might have guess by the description above, this plot is reminiscent of The Most Dangerous Game… except exponentially more dangerous because there is a mysterious new character that shares a name with a particularly infamous crossover event from the 90’s, and she’s powerful enough to hunt multiple Bloodshots.
Yes, as shown in the previews, BLOODSHOT ISLAND is full of multiple Bloodshots that hail from multiple periods of conflict (Vietnam, Gulf War, etc), and they have their own canine side-kick appropriately named Bloodhound (before reading this issue, I was hoping that was the name of the dog… that or Bloodspot). And yes, it is as awesome as it sounds.
Jeff Lemire is setting up a plot that is brilliant as it is terrifying. This particular issue plays out like a science-fiction, horror film, with a some mind-blowing action sequences beautifully illustrated by the talented Mico Suayan. His art is insanely good. Every panel is packed with detail, and all of the character designs are perfect. I was kind of worried because on the cover, the villain has ENORMOUS hands. Luckily within these pages, her design is great, and seeing her in action is awe inspiring. Mico also treates us to a two page splash where we get our first look at the Squad and it is is mesmerizing!
I was fortunate enough to read this book early, but I still can’t wait for Wednesday so I can see how it looks on the actual page. For new readers, this is a good jumping, but be warned – Valiant is addicting. BLOODSHOT REBORN #14 is a mind-bending 5 out of 5, and needs to be in your hands this Wednesday.
