1st Impressions: BLOODSHOT & H.A.R.D. CORPS # 21

BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS # 21
Written by Christos Gage and Joshua Dysart
Art by Tom Raney, Joseph Cooper, Mark Pennington, Al Barrionuevo, Gina Going & Matt Milla
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                It’s the finale of Mission: Improbable as Bloodshot and Armstrong try to kill each other … then don’t. Archer comes up with more surprises. And the H.A.R.D. Corps are stuck in the middle. Cheers guys.

ART:

                Raney  and Cooper do a good job with pencils. Detailed and full of life, their work jumps off the page. Panel work is simple enough but the detail really helps make them come to life. The backgrounds are varied, as well as the characters. There are some good angles done by Raney and Cooper.

                Pennington and Barrionuevo do solid job on inks, bring out the best of each artist. The detail is fully realized here. And Going and Milla’s colors make all the work vibrant and interesting. The action was well drawn. Overall, a solid job artwise on the book.

WRITING:

                Gage and Dysart end the crossover well, tying up the plot of the crossover while setting up more for our characters. There was some great, strong characterization this issue for Bloodshot, Major Palmer, Granite, Kozol, Archer and Armstrong; adding power to the crossover that allows to have lasting effects on the book.

                Bloodshot particular is cunning this issue; plotting and planning not only his freedom, but the kids of Generation Zero that PRS still has. Gage and Dysart write great interactions between Bloodshot and Armstrong, as well as all the characters together. While we normally do not get comedy from these writers, they pull it off well with the dialogue and situations. The pacing was great this issue and it brought a satisfying close to the crossover while setting up the next storyline. Also, Granite stands out this issue with major character development for her. A great ending to a solid crossover.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This was a great finish to a good crossover. The art was good. The writing was great. There was true character development and plot advancement and Gage and Dysart made it seamless.

RATING:

                I give Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps # 21 a 9 … out of 10.