Dangerous super soldiers and bloodthirsty living weapons have mysteriously escaped into the world to wreak havoc across the dying towns and forgotten farms of America. Now, Bloodshot must take up arms again to travel across the country hunting down these violent monsters, battling his own demons, and defending the most defenseless. Deniz Camp and Jon Davis-Hunt join forces to unleash Valiant Entertainment’s first Mature Readers, Bloodshot Unleashed #1, a title that puts the BLOOD in BLOODSHOT.

Valiant’s offerings over the last couple of years have been somewhat hit and miss with the fans, and while I’ve enjoyed what they’ve been putting out on the whole, I understand that not every reader has been as fond of the recent offerings. That said, Bloodshot Unleashed is a book that feels like the earlier offerings from Valiant Entertainment; there’s a bit of ambiguity in what Bloodshot has been doing, an acknowledgement that he’s been manipulated and used in the past, and a tacit understanding that he’s going to be manipulated and used again in the future if certain agencies have the opportunity to do so. This book’s plot reminds me a little of the plot of Ninja K from a few years back in the premise; retired super soldiers seek revenge for the way they’ve been treated – only this time there’s a lot more bullets than blades involved (thus far at least).

Deniz Camp structures the book into an almost one and done story that’ll either capture the reader’s attention or it won’t; for new readers this is a pretty decent introduction that doesn’t require in depth knowledge of the character’s previous exploits and long term fans will find something refreshing in the action interspersed with plot building flashbacks. Jon Davis-Hunt‘s artwork is exactly what I was hoping it would be; detailed, exciting and easy to follow. There’s no attempt to shy away from the results of a mad super soldier, but nor does Davis-Hunt go over board in what’s shown. Coupled with Jordie Bellaire‘s colours, and this book is one pretty looking bag of violence.

As an introduction to the character, this is as good a place as any to start; I mean, really when it comes to an action book, there’s not much more that you can be looking for. Bloodshot Unleashed #1 is a bloody fine comic.

Story: Deniz Camp Art: Jon Davis-Hunt
Colourist: Jordie Bellaire Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 8.8 Art: 9 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle