Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #17 Discussion

[Spylocke]

Once more I could not wait to read and discuss the latest issue of Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps so I went the comixology route and read it the first chance I got.

I was reminded of an issue of Avengers: The Initiative. One involving a heart-breaking mission with (of all things) a former Dazzler villain, Johnny Guitar. Sometimes all it takes is a little focus for me to start pulling for a guy. It didn't take much backstory for me to get to like Superstar when I was feeling only neutral about him so far.

Carol got a nice moment kicking Kozol out of Lifeline Command and Control which makes me hope for some more panel time spent on the relationship between the members of Lifeline and the field team.
I was also pleased to see the members I was certain would die remain breathing.

It feels less like Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps than just H.A.R.D. Corps so I think they are more than capable of carrying their own title.

One thing though...am I crazy or did the stickers on Gunslinger's locker move from the outside of the door to the inside?

I think it's time to take the plunge and make an honest title of this comic by adding it to my pull list at my LCS.

[BugsySig]

A good wrap up to the arc. Some good action, too. We have a team established, as well as the fact that any of them can go at any time. Dysart obviously has some plans for the Gen Zero kids down the line, which I am looking forward to.

I'd probably only place this book in the middle of the VALIANT pack right now, though. Mostly because I'm not sure where exactly it fits in the grand scheme of things. Is this still the violent action book that Bloodshot was? The Punisher meets Wolverine? Because it doesn't feel that way to me anymore. What exactly will the HARD Corps' role be in the VALIANT Universe?

[iwantvaliant]

Decent issue. Great art. Gunslinger is a great character and I'm looking forward to more with him. This title should be called H.A.R.D. Corps and Bloodshot. If they're not careful Bloodshot could become irrelevant in his own title.

[conspiracycamel]

Weakest issue since the new creative team came onboard. Too many cliches to overlook.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

There was no creator role call in the issue. The art changed halfway through. For the worse in my opinion. Very art-heavy week. 1 too many artists on each book it seems.
Dug the writing though, the concept, characters, I'm very intrigued. A good read for sure, but strange things with the art I felt.

[pixierosa]

Good read overall.

You knew Victor was going to die as soon as you saw his history. I hope this trend doesn't continue; I'd rather be blind-sided. I will admit that it gave him a bit more depth than being the douchy football captain, and he showed his own internal moral code by choosing to help Palmer despite knowing he would likely die. Predictable, but still gave me feels.

Great to see the Gen Zero kids. Wonder if the nursery security web was compromised at all by Stronghold. We may find out in the next issue.

I like how Bloodshot resolved the nanite issue. I wonder if the absorption of the independent nanites will change the original Goldie's personality a bit, perhaps influencing them to not work as programmed.

How sinister did Harada look? Like a devil when he let Palmer go.

The only part I disliked was the beyond predictable and what felt like sexual pandering of the "nothing to lose, experienced woman" taking the "naive, innocent man" to bed. Go home, Forrest Gump. You're drunk.

Otherwise, fairly solid despite Bloodshot playing only a minor role. I'm interested to see the rest of his file, find out what he thinks, and learn why he isn't peacing out.

[nonplayer]

Great issue best of the day for me.

[hawkeyeps]

I loved this issue and agree that HARD Corps could carry their own book but the fact that Bloodshot is linked in definitely adds another layer.

As with Harbinger this book feels like a direct follow up of Harbinger Wars and if you ask me we need another one, Generation Zero!

So much going on here but as long as Dysart is steering the ship I'm on board.

Riley Rossmo cover, he's from Calgary eh

4.5/5 super solid issue.

[vaevictis]

I really like how we get to see the characters outside of the mission. See their human side. It gets you more invested in them if there is depth to the character. Bloodshot and the team as killing machines on adventure after adventure is fine. Bloodshot and the team as people that try to hold on to a semblance of a normal life makes it even more enjoyable.

[bygranddesign]

Very solid conclusion to this opening story arc of BS&HC

I think the most interesting scene with obvious long term implications is the one with bloodshot VS Evil Johnny. I liked how that confrontation got resolved with BS absorbing the nanites back inside but you know this will end up corrupting him from the inside like a virus.

As Pixie said the death of Superstar wasn't a surprise .. I thought he had a nice send off but even with the little back story I didn't have an emotional attachment to him so it wasn't sad or shocking but it was nice story element.

My one overall critique is the cartoony nature of the new direction of this title. I think Christos is a good writer who is very good at creating an interesting narrative and exploring some complex ideas and themes ... But between the art and the depiction of Harada (who seems more one dimensional - evil) and some of the dialogue and plot points - it seems more Saturday morning cartoon than I'm used to from Bloodshot. Not totally a bad thing .. But I do miss the DS original feel for this title - intense Bloody action, with Scifi elements, with the who am I mystery.

In the final scenes I wish we could have learned what was in the file that Kozol gave to Bloodshot and seen what his reaction was to it. Oh well.

Looking forward to the next arc with Bart Sears ... Lupa is really good but I think Sears will bring some nice GRIT to the action.

[Captain Craig]

I thought this was a very solid conclusion to The H.A.R.D. way opening arc with HARD Corps and Bloodshot joining up. They gave us lots of exposure with the recruits and Palmer along with Control. Once again utilizing the young Psiots from last years Harbinger Wars is a plus. VEI hasn't just used that as a one off story but a building point for stories such as this one. It's easy to see how with another arc or two they could spin HC off into their own book. The single seed of Harada mentioning he's fine with let the metastasizing of PRS happen, when referring to Palmer and the team.

Which means a method will have to be found to more fully restore the nanites within Bloodshot. A method or eliminating these nutrient baths will also have to be done. Once BS is fully in his own book again could be the time to really go forward on the intel he got about who he was. Cause it seems he was content to "not do something rash" he didn't "need the hard sell". So I'm thinking we won't see stories about BS past as it's tied to that folder intel until possibly HARD Corps on their own. Perhaps.

[blujay]

I wonder if we'll be seeing more of the Gen Zero kids in the upcoming months...I mean they are just sitting around in glass cages again I wonder how long before they have enough of Harada?

Oh also this book was cool, a little abrupt in the ending though I guess we have to wait to see who Bloodshot is.

[lorddunlow]

I saw a couple of people mention Bloodshot reabsorbed all of the nanites, but did no one think that the HGC employee that was host to the nanites still seemed possessed of them? I mean, why have an entire panel of Bloodshot walking away with his back turned and show that guy's face up close seeming very angry and resentful. Clearly, Lysander has just gone into hiding, and Bloodshot only reabsorbed some of the nanites.

Also, I think Bloodshot gained much knowledge about everything (HGC, Harada, PRS, etc.) when he reabsorbed the Lysander nanites - obviously they were interfaced directly with an HGC computer system via the med bots (which got out of Harada's control obviously as he was glad to see them go). I think that is part of why he seems so complacent at the end - he is biding his time until he can use the knowledge he has gained. I also think he may no longer require the amino acid baths, as he has now reabsorbed healthy nanites, but he plans on letting PRS think they still have him on a leash. That's just my speculation.

As for the book itself, I'm definitely loving it, but I have to admit, there is too much HARDCorps in my Bloodshot for my liking. I really hope they do spin it off sooner rather than later, as I agree this book is reading too much like HARDCorps (featuring Bloodshot) than a Bloodshot title. I would honestly have both on my pull list, but I miss my violent, action-filled Bloodshot of old. Bloodshot was my #1 VEI book, but I would now give that honor to Archer and Armstrong or Harbinger. Even Eternal Warrior and Shadowman are inching up on ol' Bloodshot. Give me back my Bloodshot!!

Art: very glad that the art team is changing - I can't stand the way Lupacchino draws Bloodshot. Like I said before, she is very talented, and I loved her work on A&A, but she needs to stay far away from Bloodshot.

Can't wait until the next issue.

[Mandrakk]

Weakest issue since the new creative team came onboard. Too many cliches to overlook.

I kind agree with this,I felt that this one was the weakest since the change,albeit it was a good comic in its own right but I feel that it just didn't mesure up to what came before.Also another thing:while I love HARD corps I would like to see some of the more viollent action elements from the beginning of Bloodshot's series shine through.

On a completly unrelated note,if Bloodshot got his nanites back(well some of them at least because I think that some stayed in the possesed researcher as another poster mentionned)the guy got back his mojo and thus might be capable of messing up PRS quite a bit,methinks he doesn't even need them and their amino baths anymore but plays along for his own aims whatever those may be.

[SJS4]

Not a bad comic, but i miss having a Bloodshot comic. He was my favorite character before Harbinger Wars but not much story involvement since then. The book is mainly about HARDCorp and Project Rising Spirit.

[jmatt]

Not much to add but I enjoyed the issue. I thought Lysander would make a great ongoing, evolving nemesis for BS, so I'm kinda sorry to see him come and go so quickly. I'm guessing, like others, we'll see him pop up again like a virus in BS at some point.

Also enjoyed the Superstar backstory panels, adds some depth to a character. They should do that more often with characters without killing them off a mere 14 pages later; but maybe it would seem out of place in an issue where it wasn't an immediate factor -- so I dunno.

[lorddunlow]

Not much to add but I enjoyed the issue. I thought Lysander would make a great ongoing, evolving nemesis for BS, so I'm kinda sorry to see him come and go so quickly. I'm guessing, like others, we'll see him pop up again like a virus in BS at some point.

I'm telling you. Read it again. He's still in that dude.

[hunter_peterson]

I saw a couple of people mention Bloodshot reabsorbed all of the nanites, but did no one think that the HGC employee that was host to the nanites still seemed possessed of them? I mean, why have an entire panel of Bloodshot walking away with his back turned and show that guy's face up close seeming very angry and resentful. Clearly, Lysander has just gone into hiding, and Bloodshot only reabsorbed some of the nanites.

Also, I think Bloodshot gained much knowledge about everything (HGC, Harada, PRS, etc.) when he reabsorbed the Lysander nanites - obviously they were interfaced directly with an HGC computer system via the med bots (which got out of Harada's control obviously as he was glad to see them go). I think that is part of why he seems so complacent at the end - he is biding his time until he can use the knowledge he has gained. I also think he may no longer require the amino acid baths, as he has now reabsorbed healthy nanites, but he plans on letting PRS think they still have him on a leash. That's just my speculation.

As for the book itself, I'm definitely loving it, but I have to admit, there is too much HARDCorps in my Bloodshot for my liking. I really hope they do spin it off sooner rather than later, as I agree this book is reading too much like HARDCorps (featuring Bloodshot) than a Bloodshot title. I would honestly have both on my pull list, but I miss my violent, action-filled Bloodshot of old. Bloodshot was my #1 VEI book, but I would now give that honor to Archer and Armstrong or Harbinger. Even Eternal Warrior and Shadowman are inching up on ol' Bloodshot. Give me back my Bloodshot!!

Art: very glad that the art team is changing - I can't stand the way Lupacchino draws Bloodshot. Like I said before, she is very talented, and I loved her work on A&A, but she needs to stay far away from Bloodshot.

Can't wait until the next issue.

All of this. I also really hope Lysander pops up again somehow. If he takes control while Bloodshot "sleeps" that could lead to some interesting stories.

[leonmallett]

I enjoyed the issue. There were tropes that were clearly easy to spot, but I was nonetheless satisfied with it as a reading experience, including the handling of Superstar's death. Post-Harbinger Wars there has been a little more sense of nobility around the HARDCorps than the HW-era team for me, which is a good thing.

In the medium to longer term, I think Palmer and company need their own book; they have a story, and Bloodshot has his own story - I would like to see the separation before too long. Would next year be a real possibility? Rai seems locked in. If three additional ongoings were to launch as in 2013, that would leave two, and I hope one could be a HARDCorps spin-off.

I liked this change to the status quo, but don't see it as a long-term solution - I think it stifles the potential of Bloodshot AND of the HARDCorps to keep them all in one book. Still, the book has been strong for me with this arc.

[lorddunlow]

I liked this change to the status quo, but don't see it as a long-term solution - I think it stifles the potential of Bloodshot AND of the HARDCorps to keep them all in one book.

QFT

Free HARDCorps!

[jmatt]

Not much to add but I enjoyed the issue. I thought Lysander would make a great ongoing, evolving nemesis for BS, so I'm kinda sorry to see him come and go so quickly. I'm guessing, like others, we'll see him pop up again like a virus in BS at some point.

I'm telling you. Read it again. He's still in that dude.

The 'red shirt' that was hooked up the back end of the Lysander med-bot? Okay, hadn't thought of that. Hmmm.

[lorddunlow]

Not much to add but I enjoyed the issue. I thought Lysander would make a great ongoing, evolving nemesis for BS, so I'm kinda sorry to see him come and go so quickly. I'm guessing, like others, we'll see him pop up again like a virus in BS at some point.

I'm telling you. Read it again. He's still in that dude.

The 'red shirt' that was hooked up the back end of the Lysander med-bot? Okay, hadn't thought of that. Hmmm.

See.. Seems pretty ominous to me. Definitely not the look of a frightened/thankful victim as he tried to come off to Bloodshot just one panel before this.

That's Lysander.

[bygranddesign]

nice observation

But I wouldn't bet a Harby GOLD on it

[lorddunlow]

nice observation

But I wouldn't bet a Harby GOLD on it

I would!

[bygranddesign]

I would!