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. 

Preview: BLOODSHOT & H.A.R.D. CORPS # 21

BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #21 ("MISSION: IMPROBABLE" – FINALE)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & JOSHUA DYSART
Art by TOM RANEY
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA
Interlocking Pullbox Variant by JORGE MOLINA
Variant Cover by TOM FOWLER

MISSION: IMPROBABLE – FINALE! Bloodshot! Archer! H.A.R.D. Corps! Armstrong! It all comes down to this!!

“Mission: Improbable” rockets into its explosive climax as four world-shattering forces collide! Will Bloodshot re-capture Archer for Project Rising Spirit…or is a double-cross in the works?! Will H.A.R.D. Corps figure out how you kill an immortal like Armstrong…or are they going home in body bags? Only one thing’s for certain…it doesn’t matter who loses – you win!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 4/9/14

Preview: X-O Manowar # 23

X-O MANOWAR #23 (PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS)

Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by DIEGO BERNARD
Cover by CAFU (JAN141357)
Variant Cover by TOM RANEY (JAN141358)

PRELUDE TO ARMOR HUNTERS – PART 1! The countdown to the Valiant Universe event of 2014 starts now!

For eons, one threat above all others has brought pain and strife down upon civilizations across the universe – the X-O Manowar armor. And now the Manowar has come to Earth. What will follow in its wake? The road to ARMOR HUNTERS begins here as Valiant superstars Robert Venditti and Diego Bernard unleash the opening salvo of the cataclysm that is come…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 3/19/14 (FOC – 2/24/14)

1st Impression: BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS # 20

BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS # 20
Written by Christos Gage and Joshua Dysart
Art by Tom Raney and Gina Going
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                It’s part 2 of Mission: Improbable as Bloodshot captures Archer. Meanwhile, the H.A.R.D. Corps get Armstrong drunk … thinking that was a good idea.  Boy, were they ever wrong.


ART:
                Tom Raney does a spectacular job this issue. His detailed pencils and original style shines as we go from glorious violence to hilarity. Raney’s pencils and detailed inks really come through as Going’s colors make them just jump out of the page. The panels are detailed with full backgrounds. Everyone looks very distinct, with different proportions. 
                The action feels very powerful and there is some great emotion conveyed through the panel work.  The ink work is very strong here and Going’s colors are perfection. Really clean work in Raney’s trademark style. Really striking art from this team.

WRITING:

                Gage and Dysart deliver a fast paced second chapter to the Mission: Improbable crossover. As Bloodshot secures Archer, the rest of the team deals with Armstrong. And to say that the confrontation was entertaining would be underselling it. Gage and Dysart delve into something they don’t normally do … comedy. And it works as they get Armstrong’s voice just right. The action is pretty serviceable as well as the stakes as H.A.R.D. Corps faces off against Armstrong and it isn’t pretty.

                The pacing of the issue was fairly good, with climbing action throughout the entire issue. The cliffhanger at the end of the issue will only make readers want more. The dialogue is powerful when needed to be, witty at other times. Gage and Dysart write very authentic, very human characters admist all the chaos. Really great stuff from Gage and Dysart. 

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

                This was an entertaining romp that left me wanting more. Armstrong was definitely a lighter touch to the book but very well. The characters really meshed well and were interesting. The art was amazing. The story kept me wanting more. Really great job.

RATING:

                I give Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps # 20 a solid 9.5 … out of 10.

First Look: Bloodshot & H.A.R.D. Corps # 20

TOM RANEY Storms into BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #20 – Part Two of MISSION IMPROBABLE!

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #20 – the second pulse-pounding chapter of MISSION: IMPROBABLE, the unprecedented four-part smash-up colliding Valiant's fiercest kill crew against Archer & Armstrong for the very first time!

Spinning out of the pages of Archer & Armstrong #18, the adventure of the year continues here onMarch 12th as veteran artist Tom Raney (Ultimate X-Men, Stormwatch) joins acclaimed writersChristos Gage (Superior Spider-Man) and Joshua Dysart (Harbinger) to bring the full force of Project's Rising Sprit's all-or-nothing paramilitary strike force down on the teenage leader of a fundamentalist terror sect and his "immortal" bodyguard – two homegrown terrorists that just happen to be named…Archer & Armstrong?!

It's an improbable mission with impossible odds! MISSION: IMPROBABLE continues right here onMarch 12th in Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #20 – and pre-order with local retailer today to reserve your interlocking Pullbox Exclusive Variants by red-hot artist Jorge Molina (X-Men) for each issue of this milestone four-part crossover!

 

For more information, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

For Valiant merchandise and more, visit ValiantStore.com.

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #18 (MISSION: IMPROBABLE – PART 1)
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (JAN141366)
Interlocking Pullbox Variant by JORGE MOLINA (JAN141367)
Variant Cover by MICHAEL WALSH (JAN141368)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 3/5/14 (FOC – 2/10/14)

BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #20 (MISSION: IMPROBABLE – PART 2)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & JOSHUA DYSART
Art by TOM RANEY
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (JAN141369)
Interlocking Pullbox Variant by JORGE MOLINA (JAN141370)
Variant Cover by CLAYTON HENRY (JAN141371)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 3/12/14 (FOC – 2/17/14)

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #19 (MISSION: IMPROBABLE – PART 3)
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art by PERE PEREZ
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (FEB141473)
Interlocking Pullbox Variant by JORGE MOLINA (FEB141474)
Variant Cover by MICHAEL WALSH (FEB141475)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 4/2/14 (FOC – 3/10/14)

BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #21 (MISSION: IMPROBABLE – FINALE)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & JOSHUA DYSART
Art by TOM RANEY
Cover by LEWIS LAROSA (FEB141476)
Interlocking Pullbox Variant by JORGE MOLINA (FEB141477)
Variant Cover by TOM FOWLER (FEB141478)
$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE 4/9/14 (FOC – 3/17/14)