Tag Archives: brian theis

Review: Bloodshot: Rising Spirit #1

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BSRS_001_COVER-B_MACKBefore a weapon is deployed in battle, it must be designed, refined, field-tested. Bloodshot was no exception.

In the early days of the private military contractor Project Rising Spirit, the nanite-infused super-soldier who would one day become their most violent and valuable asset was a resource to be mined – and it was up to one enterprising employee, the Memory Weaver, to ensure he did what he was told. But memory is a tricky thing…and the man Bloodshot used to be won’t let go of his past so easily…

Valiant Entertainment return to Bloodshot’s origin with a new first issue. It’s not uncommon for first issues to see a sales bump in the modern era before settling into a more regular pattern. Although some fans decry the renumbering of a character’s series as a cheap cash grab (and in some cases that’s entirely justifiable), Bloodshot: Rising Spirit would have required a lot of finagling to carry on as a substory within the previous Bloodshot led series so it only makes sense that the writing team of Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler, who handle the story, and Kevin Giroux who’s taking on the actual scripting of the comic, have been given a new number one.

With that out of the way, Bloodshot: Rising Spirit  is a very pretty comic. There’s a hell of an art team on the book, and not once in the issue does the imagery suffer because of all the hands involved. If you’ve ever heard the old “too many cooks” phrase, then it doesn’t ring true with this issue. It is an astonishingly wonderful comic to read from start to finish.

In the interest of full disclosure, I wasn’t fond of the idea of going back to the origin of Bloodshot after Jeff Lemire’s run across Bloodshot Reborn and Salvation, and came into this comic wanting to like it but genuinely nervous about my perception of the intended direction. I needn’t have been, because by the time I had finished the comic I understood. Not only that with the Vin Diesel helmed movie on the horizon an easy jumping on point for new fans would be needed, but the writers’ direction had much more in common with Barry Windsor Smith’s Wolverine origin story Weapon X. The similarity lays more in the feeling and overall theme of the two stories – two men changed by science into killing machines. The homage to a Valiant great, whether intentional or not, is fantastic.

This comic has surprised me. Obviously I hoped to enjoy it, but I never honestly expected it to turn into a must read book. Next month is too far away…

Story: Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler Script: Kevin Giroux
Pencils: Ken Lashly Finishes: Ryan Winn with Brian Theis and Olivier Broges
Colors: Diego Rodriguez Letters: Simon Bowland
Story: 8.9 Art: 9.6 Overall: 9.4 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Britannia: Lost Eagles Of Rome #3

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BRITANNIA3_003_COVER-A_MACKAntonius Axia has survived the wilds of Britain and witnessed the horrors of his own homeland…and now, the trail of Emperor Nero’s stolen eagles relics has led him and gladiatrix Achillia to the newly annexed province of Egypt! But, those who once held power in the Fertile Crescent might not be so quick to welcome them…or any other nosy Romans, for that matter!

There’s something strangely refreshing about reading a comic that is effectively a police drama set in the first century AD. Unlike the previous two issues, there’s no hint of the supernatural elements that featured in the previous two minieries (nor the titular island), but I find the lack of these things add an interesting element to the story – Antonius is waiting for, or at least aware of the possibility that these things exist in the world, but hasn’t yet come to the conclusion these things are the only solution.

Peter Milligan is joined by a host of talented artists this issue (full credits below), and once again delivers a comic that maintains the consistent quality established from the outet of this miniseries and avoids any of the pacing issues that can plague four issue story arcs. Contrary to what you’d expect, there is a definite feeling at the end of this issue that the story can be wrapped up in the following 22 odd pages; most four issue miniseries I’ve read lately seem to spend two and a half issues setting up the story only to rush it’s conclusion in the following issue. No, instead we get a well paced comic that balances the proceedural aspects of a detective show with the swordplay you’d hope given the timeframe of the story.

Artistically, the comic is another win as Robert Gill (with Juan Castro and Brian Theis)’s line work is clean, concise and oh-so-easy to read. The choreography during the fight scenes highlights our heroes’ skills without diminishing the threat of those they’re facing, and the scenary has a beautifully ominous feel about it. Surely the sense of forboding within these pages comes from Jose Villarrubia (with Andrew Dalhouse)’s colouring work.

Britannia: Lost Eagles Of Rome #3  has this miniseries on pace to be the best yet of the three in Peter Milligan’s story – and was the first in which I wasn’t waiting for the cameo of another Valiant character. Ultimately, if you’re already reading this series then you’re going to be happy with this issue. If you’re not partaking in Britannia, why not?

Story: Peter Milligan
Art: Robert Gill with Juan Castro and Brian Theis
Colours: Jose Villarrubia with Andrew Dalhouse Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.9 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: X-O Manowar #18

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XO2017_018_COVER-A_LAROSAjpgSentenced to die for crimes against the empire, Aric of Dacia and his new comrade, Sabbas, have escaped the gladiatorial arena… only to find themselves in far more dire straits! Centuries before he would become X-O Manowar, can a brasher, younger Aric – sworn to combat the Romans at any cost – outwit and outmaneuver the machinations of the planet’s most powerful civilization… even as death threatens him and the fate of the entire Visigoth nation?

A word of advice if you pick both Valiant comics up this week; read Harbinger Wars II #4 (or at least a synopsis of it if you’re curious) before reading this book because the final page of X-O Manowar #18 will spoil the events of the previously mentioned comic in an oddly subtle and almost callous manner as this issue winds o a close. With Matt Kindt handling scripting duties for both Valiant comics this week, the obvious question will be which is better – the easy answer is this one.

X-O Manowar #18 wraps up the Barbarians arc in which we see a young, pre-armour Aric of Dacia heading into Rome to rescue his best friend’s brother. The reason this story is presented to us is partly to avoid conflict with HBII as Aric plays a role in that series (and by telling a story from the past you avoid the need to explain continuity away), partly to develop the relationship between Aric and his armour, and partly to introduce more characters from Aric’s past. But these things mean very little if the comic itself isn’t worth reading, and thankfully this one is.

Although at first this is a largely silent issue, Kindt’s script allows Trevor Hairsine  to flex his storytelling muscles through the opening sequence as he delivers a wonderfully choreographed water battle set within the Colliseum as Aric and the newly introduced Sabbas face off against two ships. The sequence serves to remind you that even without his legenday armour, Aric of Dacia is still a formidable warrior – and remember this is before he reaches maturity, so his kills would have developed between this moment and the time he is captured by the Vine back in X-O Manowar #1 (the 2012 series).

We’re brought back into the present by the over hanging thread of Shanhara replaying Aric’s memories to guide him in his future decision making, and their conversation leads to a remarkably deep question from the man as Shanhara makes an observation or threes about the world and an equally poignant answer from the armour. It’s in this moment that we understand just how deep their symbiotic relationship goes. It’s this exchange that makes the entire Barbarians arc suddenly relevant and ties the past to the present (and no, I won’t tell you what it is) in a moment that i more powerful than it has any right to be. With X-O Manowar #18 Kindt has delivered a sleeper hit in the running for my issue of the year based solely on the conclusion of the comic.

Story: Matt Kindt Pencils: Trevor Hairsine
Inks: Brian Theis Colours: Diego Rodriguez Letters: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.9 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review