Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #21

By Christos Gage, Joshua Dysart & Tom Raney

This is the final issue of a crossover between Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps an Archer and Armstrong. For a mini Valiant event, it was actually pretty good and very action packed. It’s always nice to see characters that don’t get much interaction with one another get together for a few issues.

Dysart and Gage have done many good things on this title and keeping everybody in the story characterized correctly is where they make their money. Both Archer and Armstrong were written as well as they are in their own title, while Bloodshot and Palmer continue to get their stellar treatment they normally get. Gage and Dysart seem to also have fun with Armstrong and Bloodshot as they square off in the beginning of the issue until they are brought together by drinking, or Bloodshot’s lack of it. The duo also continue their great job of developing Kozol, who is a slime bag, but an extremely likable one. We also get a glimpse at the arc that everyone knew was coming, Bloodshot Vs. H.A.R.D. Corps.

The art is handled by Tom Raney, who has some very good panels in this issue and is helped by some nice coloring by Gina Going. While Raney did a pretty solid job this issue, some panels seem a little inconsistent at times, like Bloodshot with a full head of hair one panel and then with hardly any the next. Raney’s fight scene between Bloodshot and Armstrong is well done also, who doesn’t love seeing a man get stabbed in the head and then pull the knife out himself. For the most part, this is a well drawn issue and Raney handles everything nicely with crisp lines and his unique artistic style.

This has been the second crossover involving Bloodshot and it was an entertaining chapter in his mythos. Dysart and Gage have a great hold of many of the characters in the Valiant Universe and this mini-events proves that. Tom Raney has been a treat for the few issues that he worked on, hopefully he can consistently draw for Valiant because his art transfers over well. Another job well done for the duo of Dysart and Gage as they continue to mold the new Valiant universe.