1st Impressions: Bloodshot # 12

BLOODSHOT # 12
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by Barry Kitson, Stefano Guadiano & Brian Reber
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                The journey to Las Vegas Continues as Bloodshot leads his group towards Vegas as they need to make a pit stop for some food. The pit stop becomes an adventure as Kuretich shows up with a team from Harada to take down Bloodshot at a meat factory. In a gory confrontation, Bloodshot takes on this team while taking heavy damage. In the meantime, Kara & the kids get trapped in their own vehicle … leading to more trouble.

ART:
 

                Kitson gives over to a grittier, darker style more and is really showcased his versatility as an artist. Kitson pushes the envelope with his style with the rougher edges and Guadiano inks creates this wonderful, rough edges. There is a lot of expression and detail in the work. The two weave wonderful panel work.

                Reber’s darker colors and shades builds upon the Kitson’s pencils and Gaudiano/Kitson’s inks. The action is kinetic. The panel work is doing well. The violence was amped up. Yet, it does work with the story and the battles that take place in this book.

                Kitson is a master of sequential art and this art team nails it this issue.

WRITING:

                Swierczynski  gives us a great interlude to the Harbinger Wars and reflects why Bloodshot looks the way he looks during the third issue of Harbinger Wars.  He really starts to let the children shine as they work through their issues. They’re own battle, while did not outshine the star, was just as interesting and good. And we seem to become familiar with the kids that Bloodshot saved.

                 Bloodshot continues to build upon himself, actually stating that he misses the boy that represented the nanites … which makes his internal struggle more interesting and finding how much he relied on that boy before.  Swierczynski really gives more depth to our main character while also enhancing the supporting cast. Also, it is a great end note to Bloodshot’s relationship with Kuretich. Overall, a great written issue.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                Harbinger Wars continues to be an interesting event while Bloodshot develops more and more. The stakes keep raising but this is an excellent breather.  We get good character development, great resolution to Kuretich & Bloodshot’s relationship. Kitson took chances with his art this issue and it really paid off.


RATING:

                A strong issue with great development, I give Bloodshot # 12 a 9 out of 10.