Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #16

By Christos Gage, Joshua Dysart, Emanuela Lupacchino, Brian Reber, & Sotocolor

Major Palmer and Bloodshot have escaped from Harada. This is not something that happens easily or often, which makes it hard to believe that they are going back in to the lions’ den, and with a new group of recruits no less. If there were ever two people you want by your side on a mission like this, it’s Bloodshot and Palmer.

There are some new faces at the H.A.R.D. Corps base as of late, but they all seem just a little off. There is a mission to rescue the rest of Bloodshot’s nanites, and to kill the man responsible, Harada. Kozol also seems to be up to something fishy too.

This is one of the funnier issues of Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps. All of the new members are a bit off, and some of the more humorous scenes in the issue come from that. Christos Gage and Josh Dysart write this book well. They have found a fairly clever way to stop making Bloodshot invincible, which was beginning to be a problem since he is rarely in life threatening danger. The interaction between Palmer and Bloodshot is also becoming one of the nicer touches the book offers. They are quickly developing a respect for one another that can hopefully lead to a nice friendship. Gage and Dysart also make the new recruits interesting enough to keep the reader involved. They’re not just wall paper in this issue, you want their back story expanded on.

There really isn’t too much to complain about with Emanuela Lupacchino. From fight scenes to a sentient nanite sawing off an arm, it’s pretty much all good here. Lupacchino draws this book with a lot of emotion and feeling, and it shows in her work. Scenes with Bloodshot and Palmer crashing in on Harada, to Superstar thinking about his mother, all the emotion is conveyed on the page. Another well drawn issue.

Valiant is doing a great job of introducing new characters into already established books and giving them their own title. This book is no exception; while I love Bloodshot working with H.A.R.D. Corps, it’s only a matter of time before this goes back to being a solo title. With Dysart leading the charge, and the beautiful scenes drawn by Lupacchino, this is a can’t miss book.