Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps # 23 Review

BLOODSHOT & H.A.R.D. CORPS #23
Written by Duffy Boudreau & Christos Gage
Art by Al Barrionuevo, Brian Level, Allen Passalaqua & Matt Milla
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Valiant Comics

This is a spoiler free review.

                It is the showdown between Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps. Everything changes after this.

THE GOOD:

                Bourdreau and Gage do an excellent job of deconstructing the status quo as we get to see the end of Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps. We get some closure with strong characterizations with Flatline, Major Palmer, Kozol and Bloodshot. The dialogue is extremely strong with great narrative and good set up for H.A.R.D. Corps in the future. Bloodshot gets some decent development as he makes his move but still knows a friend from an enemy. Flatline steals the show with an awe inspiring characterizations and a great ending for her character.

                Barrionuevo and crew do an outstanding job with the art chores this issues. The colors and shadows were just right. The panels were expressive. The tone of the story and scenes were captured perfectly. The action was dynamic and we got some really great detail from Barrionuevo. From the opening panel to the final one, each one is full of detail and depth. Kudos to this art team for an outstanding issue.

THE BAD:

                This issue was strong writing wise but a bit crammed. With a few more pages, it would have been perfect.

THE VERDICT:

                Overall, a wonderful issue … just need a bit more pages.  Great art. Good closure and enough danging plots for something in the future. A good way to end this storyline. I give Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps #23 a 4.5 … out of 5.

Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps # 25 Review

BLOODSHOT & H.A.R.D. CORPS # 22

Written by Duffy Boudreau & Christos Gage
Art by Al Barrionuevo & Matt Milla
Valiant Comics

This will be a Spoiler Free review.

                We open with a conversation between Bloodshot and Genius that ends abruptly.  It ends so abruptly that Bloodshot now must face his former team … and there will be blood.

THE GOOD:

                This issue kind of throws you for a loop. The status quo that has been established shatters to a million pages within the first few pages. Barrionuevo and Milla bring their A-game as their art really shines. The coloring is dark yet fitting for the story. Barrionuevo brings enough detail and power to each panel, showing great emotion and action. The panel angles were great as well.

                Writing wise, Boudreau and Gage leave one hell of an impact in their first collaboration. The body count helps as well as we lose a little more of the team.  The dialogue is pretty top notch and feels very much in character for everyone. The pacing was good and was pretty good over all.

THE BAD:

                The shift , while building for a little while, I believe came a bit too soon. But again, that is my opinion. This plot development feels slightly forced compared to the tone of the series. Otherwise, it’s a solid issue.

FINAL VERDICT:

                This is a good start to the what seems to be a new status quo. As to what it is? Not sure yet but  an interesting ride. Yet, I still wish this had waited a bit longer before developing. Still, a good issue.  I give Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps # 22 a 7.5 … out of 10.

1st Impression: SHADOWMAN # 12

SHADOWMAN # 12
Written by Ales Kot, Christopher Sebela, Duffy Boudreau & Neil Dvorak
Art by CAFU, Matthew Southworth, Diego Bernard & Neil Dvorak
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:
                We got Four tales of the Shadowman and the world he lives in. Each other dealing thing a different facet of Shadowman.

ART:

                I am gonna go through the art of each story quickly since there are 4 different artists.  Deadside Blues’ art was pretty solid from CAFU.  The lines were detailed enough to show people and things of different sizes and colors while still be abstract enough to fit the mood of the Deadside.  CAFU and Andy Troy really captured a nice moody tone with their work. The coloring was perfect. And CAFU does a great job convey expression well. Good job.

                Lucky Charms art was … well, serviceable. There were just enough lines of detail to tell who a character was. It is an interesting style. Yet, overall, there is a lack of consistency from panel to panel. The cartoon style works with the darker colors. Honestly though, Southworth’s style is just okay. It does not overly excite me but it does capture the spirit of the story that it is conveying. It was an okay piece.

                Valiant has stated, on more than one occasion, that Diego Bernard is a rising star. And with Blackout, he proves it. The nice solid lines with a more traditional comic book style worked well for the story that he was telling. It was solid work that really showcased emotion, some great panel composition and angles as well as so good backgrounds. Bernard, along with colorist Hannin and inks by Sicat, make this a strong showing. And while there is still room for improvement, I really enjoyed the art for this story.

                And Neil Dvorak’s very abstract story at the end was charming with the line work. It was clean with good definition on it. Overall, a good job.

WRITING:

                We start our first tale written by Ales Kot who does a great job giving us a personal look at Jack dealing with his anger. It also was a great character piece for Jaunty, who gives out some great wisdom in the story. I provided great character development for Jack and Jaunty with a couple surprises. It was also well paced.

                Next up is Christopher Sebela’s story. While some people might find it wordy,  I honestly loved the tale. Going into a complete stranger and see how they are affected by their own actions and Shadowman was well done. The dialogue felt natural. It was really well paced. And it had a great human quality that really made you feel for a drug dealer.

                Duffy Boudreau did Blackout, which definitely seemed like typical Shadowman fanfare. Yet, it was a good piece that provided character development, not only for Jack but for the character Hosho. The plot itself was well constructed with a nice and impactful ending. I admit, the actual climax caught me off guard.

                Finally, Dvorak’s tale was vastly entertaining, giving some spotlight to Jaunty again in a different way.  It was inventive and Dvorak said a lot with what few pages he had. A good job there.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                I got to admit. I have really enjoyed the issue over all. Good to great stories. And while the art went from meh to good, it was still a strong showing.

RATING:

   I give Shadowman # 12, over all, an 8 … out of 10. Pretty good job. Buy  it on November 6^th.

Preview: SHADOWMAN # 12

Extra-Spooky Valiant Preview: KOT, CAFU, SEBELA and More Haunt SHADOWMAN #12

 

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Shadowman #12 – featuring three complete tales of New Orleans' nocturnal guardian by some of the brightest talents in comics today!

 

Follow Ales Kot (Zero, Secret Avengers) & CAFU (Action Comics) into the realm of arcane horrors for "Deadside Blues"; Christopher Sebela (Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel) & Matthew Southworth (Stumptown) present the "Lucky Charm" of the Big Easy's underworld; and Duffy Boudreau (BlackAcre) & Diego Bernard (Eternal Warrior) go "Blackout" for an uneasy day-in-the-life of Jack Boniface, the mysterious Shadowman! Plus – a special short story starring Jaunty the Deadside monkey by acclaimed webcomic creator Neil Dvorak (Easy Pieces)!

 

Be here on November 6th as a who's who of rising stars come together to push the outer bounds of Shadowman's world ever further, right here in Shadowman #12!

 

And be back in 30 for Shadowman #13 – the FIRST ISSUE of an all-new arc and all-new vision from the new ongoing creative team of comics icon Peter Milligan and fan favorite artist Roberto De La Torre!

 

For more information on Shadowman and the rest of the Valiant Universe, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

 

SHADOWMAN #12

Written by ALES KOT, CHRISTOPHER SEBELA, DUFFY BOUDREAU, and NEIL DVORAK

Art by CAFU, MATTHEW SOUTHWORTH, DIEGO BERNARD, and NEIL DVORAK

Cover by DAVE JOHNSON (SEP131369)

Variant Cover by KEKAI KOTAKI (SEP131370)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs. 

ON SALE 11/6/13
 

SHADOWMAN #13 (NEW ARC - "FEAR, BLOOD, AND SHADOWS")

Written by PETER MILLIGAN

Art & Cover by ROBERTO DE LA TORRE (OCT131338)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA (OCT131339)

Variant Cover by BEN TEMPLESMITH (OCT131340)

Variant Cover by SHANE DAVIS (OCT131341)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 12/4/13 (FOC – 11/11/13)