Bloodshot Rising Spirit #1
Writers: Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, Kevin Grevioux
Penciler: Ken Lashey
Inkers: Ryan Winn, Brian Thies, Oliver Borges
Colourist: Diego Rodriguez
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Publisher: Valiant
Review by Josh Rose
Bloodshot aka Ray Garrison was a killing machine made by Project Rising Spirit, a paramilitary contractor. They told him where to go, what to do, and when to do it. They controlled him with false memory implants. He teamed up with the H.A.R.D. Corps, and fought alongside the super team Unity. Once he was free of PRS, Ray fell in love, met older Bloodshot models, and started a family. In Bloodshot Rising Spirit #1 readers see how Bloodshot was created in the first place.
Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, and Kevin Grevioux incorporate some elements from Bloodshot’s classic Valiant origin story. Angelo Mortalli is a gangster looking to work his way up the family ladder, but that’s where the similarities end. Thompson, Nadler, and Grevioux are writing a great origin story. By the end of the issue, you are left wondering if Angelo was an implanted identity, the real one, or if he even is the Bloodshot readers know.
Ken Lashey’s style reminds me of Rob Leifeld: angular noses and small eyes, all without a disproportionate anatomy. The inks by Ryan Winn with Brian Thies and Oliver Borges do an excellent job setting the tone of each scene and letting you know how Bloodshot is feeling–from the shadowy prison, to the lighthearted mission overseas, to the shadows of the lab again. And Diego Rodriguez’s colours are fantastic. Being a Bloodshot origin story there is a lot of red on every page, commanding the reader’s attention and drawing their eye.
The Verdict: Buy It!
If Bloodshot Rising Spirit #1 is your first time reading Bloodshot or anything from Valiant, this is the perfect place to be introduced. No prior experience necessary. If you are a long time reader, you definitely need this in your collection.
