1st Impressions: Bloodshot & the H.A.R.D. Corps #14

BLOODSHOT & H.A.R.D. CORPS # 14

Written by Christos Gage & Joshua Dysart

Art by Emanuela Lupacchino, Gabriel Ortego, Ian Hannin & Brian Reber

Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:
            We open the new title with our hero, Bloodshot, in the hands out Toyo Harada.  As Harada is having his people study Bloodshot after a very interesting discussion about their methods, we got over to Project: Rising Spirit.  At PRS, Kozol starts reforming the H.A.R.D. Corps. As he gets in new recruits, Kozol “convinces” Palmer to stay to leave.
            And what is the first mission of the new H.A.R.D. Corps? Why extract Bloodshot from Harada, of course?

ART:

            Lupacchino and Ortego really give a good amount of energy and polish this issue. The inks were nice and smoothing. The pencils were great and detailed. Various and detailed backgrounds looked great. We get a great amount of expression in the characters’ faces and Lupacchino really does a great job of drawing various people of different shades, sizes and colors.

            Reber and Hannin give sharp colors that help make the art stand out. Each page was rich and colorful.  A solid job by the art team.

WRITING:

            A new era begins as this is not a solo book any more. And I give it to Gage and Dysart, they made this issue a great jump on point for readers. Taking the events of Harbinger Wars, the writers bring a new H.A.R.D. Corps together and blends it seamlessly with what occurred before. 

            We are introduced to new characters while also building on everything that had happened before between Project: Rising Spirit and the Harada Foundation. Gage and Dysart give us a great first look into our new H.A.R.D. Corps members as well as H.A.R.D. Corps veteran commander, Major Palmer. The characterizations were wide and very authentic; the two writers making sure there are all kinds of people working for Project: Rising Spirit.  With great and varied characters, a simple plot and an excellent pacing, the writing proved to be superb.

OVERALL IMPRESSION:

            We got some great art. We got new characters. We got a great jump on point that works for new readers but still builds upon what came before in a very natural way.  The addition to H.A.R.D. Corps to the books does give Bloodshot some new energy and new people to interact with. I am looking forward to their interactions.

RATING:

            Great jump on point. I give Bloodshot & the H.A.R.D. Corps # 14 a 9 out of 10. Get it when it comes out Wednesday!

1st Impressions: HARBINGER WARS # 4

HARBINGER WARS # 4
Written by Duane Swierczynski & Joshua Dysart
Art by Clayton Henry, Pere Perez, Mico Suayan & Brian Reber
Valiant Comics

FLIPPING THROUGH:

                We open with Cronus making a threat to an unknown authority an hour before the final battle began. Then we jump into the chaos of the final battle. And boy … what battle. Psiots were changed. People died. And all the while, Harada was making his own moves for the Endgame of the war.  Bloodshot had his hands full facing off against most of the Renegades; leaving Generation Zero facing off against the H.A.R.D. Corps. And things go from bad to worse.

                As you find, the book makes no attempt the winner of this conflict and just how much the losers of this war lost.

ART:

                To say this book’s art ended with a bang would be an understatement. Henry, Suayan & Perez all brought their a game for the book. The panel work by each of these artist were eye opening throughout the entire issue. Crazy angles, distinct characters and vivid backgrounds. Each artist really came to their own here. Suayan though, kind of steals it at the end with his portion of the book, which slightly breaks up the artistic flow of the book but still is amazing to look at.
                Reber did an outstanding job with colors this issue, making sure everyone’s work jumped off the page. Reber switched up colors and shading when it came to the tone of the page and light source. Really solid job by Reber and the rest of the art team of the book.

WRITING:

                Dysart and Swierczynski deliver a solid ending to Valiant’s first event book. It tied up most of the loose ends, set up new storylines, closed chapters for some characters while opening new ones for others. There were a lot of characters this issue and all the main players were dealt with in one fashion or another. I applaud their usage of Harada … having him make sure that the other psiots were not going to have their enhancements explode in their heads then swoop in when he felt the time was right.

                The H.A.R.D. Corps had a very vicious, introduction and their final role in this was just as violent as their hello. The multiple forces made for a chaotic mess. And during all that, one thing that I found smart was that neither of the children told the others that Bloodshot was trying to help the other psiots … being manipulative on purpose. The Generation Zero children … many of them … were very selfish and self serving which was good cause, in all honest, it made you dislike them as much as you felt sorry for them. Although, I do feel that Pete not checking the brains of some of the psiots with Bloodshot a misstep on his part … even thought he was getting his butt kicked by Bloodshot.

                Overall, both writers gave a solid conclusion. Unfortunately, this is the only issue that I would definitely suggest getting the tie-ins for more cause the end was a bit fast. Otherwise, a good job.


OVERALL RATING:

                The ending was a little breezy there and Suayan’s art definitely broke the flow but overall, a good ending to a great summer comic event.

RATING:

                I give Harbinger Wars # 4  a 8 …. Out of 10.

Preview: Harbinger Wars Finale Arrives in HARBINGER # 14 & BLOODSHOT # 13

HARBINGER WARS FINALE Arrives in HARBINGER #14 and BLOODSHOT #13

 

In less than two weeks, it's all over for Valiant's first landmark crossover event… Who will survive the Harbinger Wars?

 

Before Harbinger Wars #4 (of 4) slams into stores this Wednesday, Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of the explosive final chapters of the summer's critically acclaimed, must-read comic book event – arriving in Harbinger #14 and Bloodshot #13 on July 24th! 

 

Choosing sides is never easy – especially when the decision could get you killed. As the lines between friend and foe blur and the casualties pile high, Peter and his team must decide where they stand in the war of escalation between Toyo Harada, H.A.R.D. Corps and Generation Zero. A reckoning is coming and one of the Renegades will put themselves on the line… What will be the fate of Faith? New York Times best-selling writer Joshua Dysart and acclaimed artists Khari Evans and Trevor Hairsine deliver the answer, only in Harbinger #14!

 

Then, fan favorite writer Duane Swierczynski and superstar artists Barry Kitson and Clayton Crainjoin the Harbinger Wars' final firefight in Bloodshot #13! Even if Bloodshot manages to win the day, will the tortured, traumatized, and über-powerful kids he’s fought for choose to remain under the protection of the Harbinger hunter that once haunted their nightmares? Something’s in the air – and a new era is unfolding for the weapon – no, the soldier – no, the man known as Bloodshot.

 

Two can't-miss series. One explosive conclusion. Don't miss the final shots fired in the Harbinger Wars when Harbinger #14 and Bloodshot #13 strafe into stores on July 24th! And witness the main event firsthand in Harbinger Wars #4 (of 4) – on sale this Wednesday!

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

 

HARBINGER WARS #4 (of 4)

Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by CLAYTON HENRY, PERE PEREZ, & MICO SUAYAN

Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (MAY131294)

Wraparound Pullbox Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (MAY131295)

Variant Cover by JUAN DOE (MAY131296)

Variant Cover by STEPHANE PERGER (MAY131297)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 7/17/13 (FOC – 6/24/13)

 

HARBINGER #14

Written by JOSHUA DYSART

Art by KHARI EVANS & TREVOR HAIRSINE

Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN (MAY131298)
Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (MAY131299)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 7/24/13 (FOC – 7/1/13)

 

BLOODSHOT #13

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by BARRY KITSON & CLAYTON CRAIN

Cover by DAVE BULLOCK (MAY131300)

Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (MAY131301)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 7/24/13 (FOC – 7/1/13)

Comics: VALIANT Comics October 2013 Solicitations

   

ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #14
Written by FRED VAN LENTE
Art & Cover by KHARI EVANS
Pullbox Exclusive Variant by MICHAEL WALSH
Level Two Valiant 8-Bit Cover by DONOVAN SANTIAGO
Variant Cover by TOM FOWLER

All-new arc, all-new jumping-on point! SECT CIVIL WAR starts here! 

Every enemy. Against each other. 

For centuries, the cloak-and-dagger coalition of conspiracies collectively known as The Sect has worked together to bring silent oppression and undercover tyranny to a world that thought it was free. But, now after centuries of profit sharing and uneasy alliances, the factions of The Sect are about to erupt into open conflict…and the only men that can end the insanity are Archer & Armstrong! Too bad they're fighting for different sides! Why? How? And will either survive? The knockdown, drag-out A&A event of the year starts now – and no conspirator is safe!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 9th!

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SHADOWMAN #11
Written by JIM ZUB
Art by MIGUEL SEPULVEDA
Cover by MARCUS TO
Valiant Level Two 8-Bit Variant by DONOVAN SANTIAGO
Halloween Mask Cover Also Available

Halloween's here – and it's about to hit New Orleans like a ton of bricks.

It's All Hallow's Eve in the Big Easy – and Shadowman's about to find himself alone on the job, standing guard on the most dangerous night of the year. Still reeling from the fallout of his cataclysmic battle with Master Darque, can Jack go it alone and protect his city from the legion of evils that haunt the Halloween night? By popular demand, it's a special October adventure for Shadowman from acclaimed creators Jim Zub (Skullkickers) and Miguel Sepulveda (Red Lanterns, The Thanos Imperative) and a perfect jumping-on point for new readers!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 2nd!

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ETERNAL WARRIOR #2
Written by GREG PAK
Art by TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by J.G. JONES
Valiant Level Two 8-Bit Variant by DONOVAN SANTIAGO
Variant Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN

Who is the Sword of the Wild?

After thousands of years on the battlefield, the Eternal Warrior has finally laid down his sword. But today he learns that when you turn your back on your destiny, your destiny may find another champion. And when that new champion is your own savage, immortal daughter, the balance of the world itself may be at stake.

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 9th!

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BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #15
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & JOSHUA DYSART
Art & Cover by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO
Valiant Level Two 8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE

Post-corporate warfare just got a whole lot deadlier.

Trapped in an enemy stronghold, Bloodshot has been broken – dismantled piece-by-piece, nanite-by-nanite by the Harbinger Foundation's most disturbed minds! But when Bloodshot's signal goes dark, who can the black ops military contractor known as Rising Spirit bring in to recover its most expensive soldier? Time to call in...H.A.R.D. Corps!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 16th!

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QUANTUM AND WOODY #4
Written by JAMES ASMUS
Art by TOM FOWLER
Cover by RYAN SOOK
Valiant Level Two 8-Bit Variant by DONOVAN SANTIAGO
Goat Variant by ROB GUILLORY

The staggering first appearance of…the Goat!

Bitterly divided and hopelessly outgunned, Quantum and Woody are getting torn apart! Literally! Can they get their #$@% together before being shredded to atoms by the mysterious Crone and her super-science foot soldiers?! Probably not. But when a new ally emerges from the shadows, they'll find the strength to fight baaaaack.  

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 2nd!

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HARBINGER #17
Written by JOSHUA DYSART
Art by CLAYTON HENRY
Cover by BARRY KITSON
Valiant Level Two 8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE
Valiant Signature Series Variant by SEAN CHEN

A prisoner of the Harbinger Wars...unleashed.

While Peter and the Renegades deal with the devastating fallout of last summer's blockbuster crossover event, an unforeseen threat to Toyo Harada's empire lies dormant deep within the walls of Harada's own fortified prison facility. The Valiant Universe gets larger as a fan favorite character from Harbinger Wars makes their triumphant return!

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 23rd!

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X-O MANOWAR #18
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by LEE GARBETT
Cover by CLAYTON CRAIN
Valiant Level Two 8-Bit Variant by DONOVAN SANTIAGO

Toward the future, toward UNITY…

With his nation state of Dacia fortified in eastern Romania, X-O Manowar has bent the world to his will. But he will not stand unopposed. With the assembled forces of the United Nations and NATO primed to assail the newly founded homeland of the Visigoth people, the man inside the indestructible Manowar armor is about find himself more vulnerable than ever – and with everything he holds dear on the threshold of a terrible turning point for the Valiant Universe…

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 16th!

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BLOODSHOT VOL. 3: HARBINGER WARS TPB
Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI
Art by BARRY KITSON
Cover by MICO SUAYAN

In the deserts outside Las Vegas, Bloodshot has banded together with Project Rising Spirit’s most dangerous escapees. But when the Harbinger Wars erupt all around them, can he shape these super-powered children into a force for good – or are they too far gone? He’ll have to find out the hard way as the opposing forces of PRS and the Harbinger Foundation descend on all sides, bringing about a crucible the likes of which the Valiant Universe has never seen…

Collecting BLOODSHOT #10-13 by acclaimed writer Duane Swierczysnki (Birds of Prey) and legendary artist Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), jump headlong into the uncompromising action of Valiant's first crossover event right here with an all-new standalone story arc that will redefine the weapon - no, the soldier - no, the hero known only as Bloodshot.

"The best big action book on the shelves…" - Comic Book Resources
"Month after month, Bloodshot continues to be the most brutal superhero book on the stands." - IGN

$14.99/T+/112 pgs.
TRADE PAPERBACK
ISBN: 978-1-939346-12-4
ON SALE OCTOBER 16th!

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SHADOWMAN VOL. 2: DARQUE RECKONING TPB
Written by JUSTIN JORDAN with PATRICK ZIRCHER
Art by PATRICK ZIRCHER, LEE GARBETT, NEIL EDWARDS, and ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER

The true price of becoming Shadowman is always paid in blood…and Master Darque intends to collect...

Jack Boniface has just been to Hell and back. After surviving the horrors of the Deadside, Jack is taking his new abilities to the limit and discovering more about the legacy of the Shadowman with each passing night. But what if he wasn’t the only thing that managed to escape back to Earth? Something dark has arrived in New Orleans, leaving death and madness in its black wake. What’s more, the city’s deadliest cartel assassin is after Jack, and he refuses to die – literally...

Collecting SHADOWMAN #5-9 by acclaimed creators Justin Jordan (The Strange Talent of Luther Strode) and Patrick Zircher (Captain America) with Neil Edwards (Dark Avengers), Lee Garbett (X-O Manowar), and Roberto De La Torre (Daredevil), start reading here to follow Jack Boniface headlong into the dark side of the Valiant Universe - and find out why Shadowman is the thrilling series that MTV Geek calls "everything a gripping horror comic should be."

"Five stars… Shadowman delivers on every level." - Comic Vine
"Wildly unpredictable, and very good fun." - The Beat 

$14.99/T+/128 pgs.
TRADE PAPERBACK
ISBN: 978-1-939346-05-6
ON SALE OCTOBER 23rd!

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X-O MANOWAR DELUXE EDITION VOL. 1 HC
Written by ROBERT VENDITTI
Art by CARY NORD, LEE GARBETT, and TREVOR HAIRSINE
Cover by CARY NORD

An oversized, deluxe hardcover collecting X-O Manowar's complete first year in the Valiant Universe! 

From the epic origin to the battle for Planet Death, the definitive tale of Valiant's flagship hero comes together in this prestige-sized collection by New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Green Lantern, The Surrogates) and comics visionaries Cary Nord (Conan), Lee Garbett (Batman: RIP), and Trevor Hairsine (X-Men: Deadly Genesis).

Aric of Dacia, a fifth century Visigoth armed with the universe’s most powerful weapon, is all that stands between the Earth and all-out annihilation at the hands of the alien race that abducted him from his own time. Stranded in the modern day, X-O Manowar's battle against the Vine will take him into the shadows with the lethal operative known as Ninjak -- and launch a quest for vengeance that will bring an alien empire to its knees. The Vine destroyed Aric’s world. Now he will give them war.

Collecting the sold-out X-O MANOWAR #1-14, the X-O Manowar Vol. 1 Deluxe Oversized HC also comes jam-packed with more than 20 pages of never-before-seen art and extras, direct from the Valiant vaults.

$39.99/T+/384 pgs.
OVERSIZED HARDCOVER
ISBN: 978-1-939346-10-0
ON SALE OCTOBER 30th!

Preview: Harbinger Wars # 3 Gets Down & Dirty With H.A.R.D. Corps

The H.A.R.D. CORPS Drop in on HARBINGER WARS #3!

 

Valiant is proud to present an advance preview of Harbinger Wars #3 (of 4) from writers Joshua Dysart and Duane Swierczynski and artist Clayton Henry! On June 12th, what happens in Vegas may just destroy the rest of the Valiant Universe!

 

Las Vegas is burning, and the situation on the ground has gone from bad to worse. With the firefight between the Harbinger Foundation, Bloodshot and Peter Stanchek's Renegades about to spiral out of control, Project Rising Spirit has only one option left to stop the conflagration from spreading. It’s time to bring the deep-black weapons development project – designation H.A.R.D. Corps – back online. But are they a scalpel or a sledgehammer? And can they be trusted with the enormous power they wield? 

 

The Harbinger Wars hit their boiling point on June 12th as a ruthless new player steps out of the shadows and into the Valiant Universe! Don’t miss the H.A.R.D Corps' devastating first assault in Harbinger Wars #3 (of 4) – then follow the fallout into Harbinger #13 and Bloodshot #12, in stores one week later on June 19th!

 

HARBINGER WARS #3 (OF 4)

Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by CLAYTON HENRY

Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131270)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR131271)

Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131272)

Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131273)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 6/12/13 (FOC – 5/20/13)

 

HARBINGER #13

Written by JOSHUA DYSART

Art by KHARI EVANS & TREVOR HAIRSINE

Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131274)

8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE (APR131275)

Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131276)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 6/19/13 (FOC – 5/27/13)

 

BLOODSHOT #12

Written by DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by BARRY KITSON

Cover by KALMAN ANDRASOFSZKY (APR131277)

8-Bit Variant by MATTHEW WAITE (APR131278)

Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131279)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 6/19/13 (FOC – 5/27/13)

Comic News: Zub & Huang Humor the H.A.R.D. Corps

JIM ZUB and EDWIN HUANG Humor the H.A.R.D. CORPS for VALIANT in July!

This summer, before the weaponized men and women of the Harbinger Active Resistance Division begin an all-new new mission in Bloodshot and H.A.R.D Corps #14, all of the Valiant Universe will be asking the same question – "Who will lead the H.A.R.D. Corps?"

 

Valiant is proud to announce that writer Jim Zub and artist Edwin Huang, the acclaimed creative team of Skullkickers, will make their Valiant debut this July with "Who Will Lead the H.A.R.D. Corps?" – an all-new short story starring the Valiant Universe's greatest heroes – and villains – as they send up the search for the H.A.R.D. Corps' next commanding officer!

 

X-O Manowar. Quantum and Woody. Archer & Armstrong. Shadowman. Bloodshot. What do these disparate champions from around the Valiant Universe have in common? They're all on the H.A.R.D. Corps' recruitment list! Now for the first time ever, Zub and Huang are bringing them together for a humorous one-shot tale of the Project Rising Spirit's latest – and perhaps last – membership drive.

 

"[We] were able to come up with a series of these little, short vignettes of the interview process," Zub told Comic Book Resources. "It's fun stuff because we get to run through a nice selection and variety of Valiant characters, some of which are appropriate, some of which are wonderfully inappropriate, how they fail the interview process and how Bloodshot succeeds over his competition."

 

Appearing as a back-up feature in each of Valiant's July releases, Zub and Huang's "Who Will Lead the H.A.R.D. Corps?" short will be available in Shadowman #8, Quantum and Woody #1, X-O Manowar #15, Harbinger Wars #4 (of 4), Archer & Armstrong #11, Harbinger #14 and Bloodshot #13.

 

But first – don't miss the first appearance of the all-new, all-deadly H.A.R.D. Corps on June 12th in 

Harbinger Wars #3 (of 4) – the next epic milestone of Valiant's first crossover event! Then jump on board the new monthly adventures of Valiant's deadly strike force when Bloodshot joins the team this September in Bloodshot and H.A.R.D Corps #14 from co-writers Christos Gage & Joshua Dysart and red-hot artist Emanuela Lupacchino!

 

For more information on H.A.R.D. Corps and the rest of the Valiant Universe, visit Valiant on Facebook, on Twitter, and at ValiantUniverse.com.

Follow the H.A.R.D. Corps' next action-packed appearances this summer in...
 

HARBINGER WARS #3 (of 4)

Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by CLAYTON HENRY

Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131270)

Pullbox Exclusive Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (APR131271)

Variant Cover by KHARI EVANS (APR131272)

Variant Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (APR131274)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 6/12/13 (FOC - 5/20/13)

HARBINGER WARS #4 (of 4)

Written by JOSHUA DYSART & DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI

Art by CLAYTON HENRY

Cover by PATRICK ZIRCHER (MAY131294)

Wraparound Pullbox Variant by TREVOR HAIRSINE (MAY131295)

Variant Cover by JUAN DOE (MAY131296)

Variant Cover by STEPHANE PERGER (MAY131297)

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE 7/17/13 (FOC - 6/24/13)

 

BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #14 

Written by CHRISTOS GAGE & JOSHUA DYSART

Art by EMANUELA LUPACCHINO

Cover by J.G. JONES

$3.99/T+/32 pgs.

ON SALE IN SEPTEMBER!