In today's climate, every comic publisher - big or small -, is looking for a slice of the silver screen. Similar to the boom of comics in the 1930s, there has been a steady increase of comic-related content hitting our screens for the last ten years. Even streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime have given us properties like The Boys and Umbrella Academy. Movies from the "big two" have redefined what a movie within that genre can be. Films like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Joker, & Avengers: Endgame have proven time and time again - there are more to these characters than panels and villains.
Independent publisher, Valiant, is getting ready to experience their first slice of the cinematic glory with their forthcoming, Bloodshot. Starring Vin Diesel in the role of the titular hero. Perhaps, there are some of you that may or may not know of the character. I was in the boat of the latter at the start of this year. I wanted to know if I should share my excitement over yet another property. I'll be honest, I love to be surprised. So I signed up for Comixology and began my research on the character - going back to his bedrock from 1993. This article will be covering the first volume or eight issues of the original series.
Bloodshot tells the story of Angelo Mortalli. Mortalli is a former mob leader who experienced a swift growth up the family's ladder until all of it was taken from him. He is reborn as Bloodshot. With these newfound powers, Mortalli is seeking revenge against the men who turned him into this creature. We here at Victims and Villains aim to speak nothing but hope. With this property, it is hard to find any. There is so much about this series that doesn't make any sense. It's narrative, its dialogue - most of it is jarring.
Bloodshot made his debut in fellow Valiant titles, Eternal Warrior (Issue #4) and Rai (Issue #0). Both issues dropped in November of 1992 and served as our backdoor to Bloodshot until his solo series hit in February of 1993. Throughout these first few issues, it is a pretty straight forward vengeance mission. Which in some regards is a pretty relatable thing to experience. After all, who doesn't want to know who they are? Identity is a crucial factor of everyday life. It's when the series ventures into later issues, around issue 4 or 5, that we go to the future for some reason. Like, seriously, what is the point of this? If you watch Arrow, imagine the season 7 fast forwards and how pointless they were in the long run. Yeah, that is exactly what is taken place here.
Maybe down the line in future issues, they build upon it but it's so randomly placed and jarring to experience as a first-time reader. The plot placement of the flash-forwards comes before we even get through the revenge arc. Which gets dropped randomly dropped (it feels) in favor of having the character interact with the larger Valiant Universe. It's a baffling narrative decision to beheld. What makes this book even harder to get through sometimes is the dialogue. Specifically, Bloodshot's interactions with some of his fellow characters. It's like they went out of their way to make him as socially awkward as possible. Which feels a bit far fetched considering who he was before his transformation. The dialogue is clunky, cheesy and even a bit cliché at some moments.
Perhaps, the only saving grace to be viewed is the art. The art team of Don Perlin & Jade Moede in which they give the book a nostalgic favor. Serving as a love letter to the 1970s and even to a less extent - the 1980s. The warmth of the colors makes for an interesting read when you're dealing with topics like the mob, vengeance and murder. Readers could be expecting a darker palette of colors but are met with warmer and lighter colors. Oddly enough, it works. While the subject might be darker, the art reflects a warmer visual appearance of watercolor. It swims in its own glory
Overall, Bloodshot (1993), is the anomaly to the old adage - the book is always better. While we are gearing up for his big-screen debut, there is little to discuss in ways of comical foundations. The scripts lack direction, experience socially awkward dialogue and flash forward a bit too early in the series. Somewhere along the way, the book ends its overarching narrative for a paint by numbers exploration of the larger Valiant Universe. The art is the only saving grace. Given the dark subject matter at hand, the art provides a special warmth where the rest of the book is lacking. Never thought I would say this, skip this source material and wait for the movie.
RORSCHACH RATING:
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Victims and Villains is written and produced by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey. Music by Yuriy Bespalov & Beggars. Bloodshot is property of Valiant Comics. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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