Brandon: Not really, no. I fell like all of the characters except Bloodshot and Charlie Palmer are completely expendable which I think is the point but that is only an effective story telling device when you care about the characters and I just don’t at this point. While I understand this is only the second issue I would argue that it is still possible to make you feel for the characters and capitalize on the unpredictable mortality rate of characters. See: Exiles and X-Force/X-Statix.
What about you?
David: I liked it a lot more than the last issue. It’s still not amazing, but to me, it reads like a fun 80’s action movie where the characters are more archetypes than ones we’re looking to care about. The H.A.R.D. Corps is basically the Suicide Squad, except they die regularly besides Palmer. This issue finds the crew blasting their way out and then finding out they need to blast their way in again, and I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. Is it anything spectacular? No. But honestly, this is the type of thing I’m looking for from a Bloodshot centric book – VIOLENCE. When Maniac has his brain removed by Harada? That was pretty badass.
What did you think of Lupacchino on the book?
Brandon: The art was alright but I have to say I am not a big fan of the uniforms for the team. I do though enjoy the new Bloodshot uniform. That thing was rocking. But other than those things I thought it wasn’t the best Lupacchino i’ve ever seen. I do have to say I don’t think the coloring does her any favors. I felt the coloring was fairly generic.
Are we at odds on this as well?
David: Well, when you say generic, what do you mean by that? In terms of the colors?
Brandon: I feel that the colors are very bland. There is no pop to them. They feel very generic in that way. There is nothing special about it. Take someone like Jordie Belaire. Those colors blast off the page and are incredibly gripping. They add something without a doubt to any book they are in. This is not that in the slightest. It is middle of road. It isn’t offensive to the eye but it is also not engaging.
David: Interesting. I don’t know, Brian Reber is one of the better colorists in comics, and his work here I thought was solid. There was nothing about it that was bad, and I thought the art overall popped quite well. I think Lupacchino is an excellent artist, and when you combine her with collaborators like Reber, it looks damn good. I’d say overall the issue itself wasn’t anything special – it is just basically a violence fest like Bloodshot pretty much always has been – but if anything was in the issue, it was the art. This is a good looking book overall. Nothing mind blowing, certainly, but for a book like this? Just what it needs.
So before going onto the grades, what would you say this book is missing that it used to have?
Brandon: I don’t know if there is one thing necessarily in particular. I just don’t connect with it to this point. It’s clearly possible that it could change moving forward but right now I feel there are too many characters I don’t care about. Next issue looks to be Bloodshot shooting shit like a boss so maybe things will change next issue.
For now though, I would give this issue a 6.5. How about you?
David: I’ll give it a 7.0. It’s an entertaining book that is no fuss but not a lot of real thrills either. Basically, this comic should just make it rain violence, and lately it’s been less on that front. It’s an improvement from last month though.
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Brandon: I continue to enjoy the direction of the book. I really enjoy the work they are putting in with the cast as well. While I don’t know that the issue pushed the story much further along it was still enjoyable. It still amazes me how much more I’ve enjoyed this book in recent months as opposed to where it started.
How about you?
David: I’d say it pushed the story forward in that everyone is trying to cause fractions in Aric’s camp, and Volo of the off-world Visigoths is starting to try and take over. The question Venditti is going to ask, I feel, is once the world comes after him and his own people start to dissent, can he save them and himself? It’s an interesting question, and I’m curious as to where this and Unity are going to take him, especially once Toyo Harada – who is coming after him next – is there.
It was a very entertaining issue though, and once again, this book is one of the best looking at Valiant since Lee Garbett took over. His work here on the action sequences was powerful, and I loved the way he depicted the tete-e-tete between Alexander Dorian and Aric. You could read a lot in how they held themselves in conversation, and I don’t think Aric realizes that Dorian will gladly move against him at any time. Also, Moose Baumann’s colors? Man, this guy is great. This entire issue pops, with all of the right things being amplified at the right times. He’s a perfect fit for Garbett’s work.
What did you think of the art?
Brandon: I really enjoyed the art as well on this issue. I thought everything from the pencils to the colors looked fantastic. The art on the book is brilliant in its ability to shift from character focused to kick ass action. I really can’t find a flaw here with the art.
Any moments that stood out in the issue for you?
David: Well, the action sequence was really great. I know that’s an obvious choice, but X-O vs. a tank and a submarine while his crew gets in robot death suits and fights Russians is basically impossible to not be entertaining. That was depicted well by all involved, and it’s hard to not enjoy sequences like that when Garbett is involved. What about you?
Brandon I would actually have to go with the same thing. Like you, I know it’s the obvious choice but sometimes the most obvious choice is the correct answer. When X-O does badass shit the book is at its most badassest. New word!
David: Agreed! Alright sir, last question before we move on to grades. Who would you take in the showdown over the next issue or two: Harada or X-O?
Brandon I like this! This is a really hard question. I want to say Harada because he has all of the awesome psiot shit going in his favor but the X-O suit is equally powerful. I think i’d have to take Harada though. He has had more time with his powers than Aric and he is much more intelligent so I think he could outwit him. Then if experience and intelligence didn’t work he could just capture him without explanation like he did Bloodshot.
How about you?
David: I like the final point. When in doubt, end the issue and have Harada capture the person in-between.
I have to say I think Harada is going to take him to pieces. If anything, Aric’s showdown against Gilad at the beginning of this arc showed us how his brash nature could expose him, and I think against someone like Harada he’ll get taken to pieces. I do think that this arc, ultimately, will be about tearing Aric apart and rebuilding him. I think Harada will be the one who gets in the major blows.
I’ll give this issue an 8.0. Really, really rock solid comic booking here, and I’m very glad X-O Manowar found out what it is. Once it discovered its identity, it really got going. What would you give it?
Brandon I would give that bad boy an 8.1 just to Prices Right Showcase you!
