Bloodshot: Reborn #11 (The Analog Man) Discussion

[DirtbagSailor]

My published review.

http://all-comic.com/2016/bloodshot-reborn-11/

[Keith]

Crazy issue! The flashback from Ninjak being my highlight. I'm still 50/50 on if this is the real future, or some kind of Perfect Day scenario.

[grendeljd]

My published review.

http://all-comic.com/2016/bloodshot-reborn-11/

Hard to write a non-spoiler review, I'd imagine - nice focus on Larosa's outstanding artwork. I am as big a fanatic for his work as you are, while I dont own any of the original work, it does deeply inspire me to draw!

[grendeljd]

Crazy issue! The flashback from Ninjak being my highlight. I'm still 50/50 on if this is the real future, or some kind of Perfect Day scenario.

Yeah... something is up. The details in the flashback scenes don't line up with some 'established' continuity as set out in the Book Of Death 'Fall Of' series, particularly the Harbinger 1-shot.

In our OTV:VCR episode, we were wondering if maybe its an implanted fake 'memory' of a false future scenario that could lead to seeing Bloodshot being manipulated into some other actual mission...

I also just had a brainstorm thought - what if the old man Ninjak is just a Goo-tech construct? Bloodshot would have to be unable to detect that for some as-yet unrevealed reason for it to be true, but its possible...

[grendeljd]

If anyone would like to hear our OTV:VCR podcast discussing/reviewing this issue (And Faith #2), please follow the link;

http://onlythevaliant.com/episodes/vcr54/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to any who listen in

[agent_graves]

It seems like we might have some continuity issues, but other than that, it was a decent issue, I loved seeing Animalia, dispite her fate.

[Keith]

It seems like we might have some continuity issues, but other than that, it was a decent issue, I loved seeing Animalia, dispite her fate.

Or perhaps their fate isn't as permanent as we think? Someone is controlling the goo... maybe it captures, not kills?

[agent_graves]

It seems like we might have some continuity issues, but other than that, it was a decent issue, I loved seeing Animalia, dispite her fate.

Or perhaps their fate isn't as permanent as we think? Someone is controlling the goo... maybe it captures, not kills?

I agree, a few different scenarios can occur.

[Keith]

It seems like we might have some continuity issues, but other than that, it was a decent issue, I loved seeing Animalia, dispite her fate.

Or perhaps their fate isn't as permanent as we think? Someone is controlling the goo... maybe it captures, not kills?

I agree, a few different scenarios can occur.

Though it still wouldn't explain how Torque is there. Fall of Harbinger says he dies at age 34. If this is 30 years in the future, did he join the Renegades as a 4 year old?

[Keith]

Ah... I shot a tweet over to Dinesh asking how Torque could be there. His response:

I know right! #keepreading

[jmatt]

The art in this issue is just unbelievable. And so much action. What a fantastic issue.

With regard to continuity, yeah, something's up. Didn't we see a State Funeral for Faith in FoH?

[grendeljd]

It seems like we might have some continuity issues, but other than that, it was a decent issue, I loved seeing Animalia, dispite her fate.

Or perhaps their fate isn't as permanent as we think? Someone is controlling the goo... maybe it captures, not kills?

I agree, a few different scenarios can occur.

Though it still wouldn't explain how Torque is there. Fall of Harbinger says he dies at age 34. If this is 30 years in the future, did he join the Renegades as a 4 year old?

If there can be goo-tech XO's, who's to say they can't create a goo-tech Ninjak? If the old man Ninjak we are seeing is actually a sophisticated goo-tech construct [I'm thinking like the T-1000 in Terminator 2], then anything he said is a lie about what happened inside the LA fortress. It could be an overly elaborate plan to lure Bloodshot into the city for an as yet unrevealed reason.

[jmatt]

So, if the continuity not lining up is an indication of a Perfect Day type scenario, the story needs to break through that wall soon. If it goes four issues until it's revealed that it was all some kind of nanite induced memory implant and none of it really happened, that will be something of a letdown.

[MC Kriet]

So, if the continuity not lining up is an indication of a Perfect Day type scenario, the story needs to break through that wall soon. If it goes four issues until it's revealed that it was all some kind of nanite induced memory implant and none of it really happened, that will be something of a letdown.

I agree. I'm really hoping that the continuity issues aren't being caused by a false memory but rather are related to a goo-tech manipulation of events in LA. If the goo-tech can create X-O armor than they could possibly take the form of Torque, Faith and the others.

Also, who's to say that Ninjak is telling the truth when he's recounting the events to Bloodshot? Something's going on in this story and I'm eager to find out what it is.

[mateo107]

Also, who's to say that Ninjak is telling the truth when he's recounting the events to Bloodshot?

I hope there's more to it than that, because explaining something away just because it later turns out a character lied isn't good writing. I mean, the readers' only reason to suspect that Ninjak might be lying is because his story doesn't match continuity from another book. There ought to be some hint that Ninjak shouldn't be trusted in the story, especially for people who didn't read BoD.

[jmatt]

Also, who's to say that Ninjak is telling the truth when he's recounting the events to Bloodshot?

I hope there's more to it than that, because explaining something away just because it later turns out a character lied isn't good writing. I mean, the readers' only reason to suspect that Ninjak might be lying is because his story doesn't match continuity from another book. There ought to be some hint that Ninjak shouldn't be trusted in the story, especially for people who didn't read BoD.

Setting aside the continuity issues...

My gut instinct says that if it was just a lie, the creative team wouldn't go through all of the effort and art and dialogue of showing us something that didn't happen. Ninjak would just say it.

It happened, or at least Ninjak believes it did. The other heroes he watched die could have been goo stand-ins, like the X-Os. I don't think that's the case, but it's a possibility.

Not setting them aside...

It's an implant, none of it happened, and Bloodshot wakes up on a slab in somebody's lab.

It's gotta be the latter. VEI wouldn't let continuity that sloppy slip through.

[Tony_H]

"Torque does not run from goo" made me laugh so hard I nearly dropped the book into the toilet.

The Analog Man is getting up there with Divinity, Armor Hunters & Dr. Mirage on the short list of VEI's greatest hits. The line & color combo on some of the pages (most particularly in the new house scene) showed a tremendous Richard Corben influence, and that's a great thing.

[Captain Craig]

This is a great story, shame if it all turns out to be some dream sequence and Ray wakes up in present day, captured and we discovered he's being experimented upon in say an issue #14.

[greg]

Also, who's to say that Ninjak is telling the truth when he's recounting the events to Bloodshot?

I hope there's more to it than that, because explaining something away just because it later turns out a character lied isn't good writing. I mean, the readers' only reason to suspect that Ninjak might be lying is because his story doesn't match continuity from another book. There ought to be some hint that Ninjak shouldn't be trusted in the story, especially for people who didn't read BoD.

What if Ninjak is not only lying, he's the one who killed the villagers and put the shadowman white paint on their faces?

[jmatt]

What if Ninjak is not only lying, he's the one who killed the villagers and put the shadowman white paint on their faces?

Bad, evil Greg! Bad! Don't talk like that ever again! Bad!

[Bl00dsh0t]

Also, who's to say that Ninjak is telling the truth when he's recounting the events to Bloodshot?

I hope there's more to it than that, because explaining something away just because it later turns out a character lied isn't good writing. I mean, the readers' only reason to suspect that Ninjak might be lying is because his story doesn't match continuity from another book. There ought to be some hint that Ninjak shouldn't be trusted in the story, especially for people who didn't read BoD.

What if Ninjak is not only lying, he's the one who killed the villagers and put the shadowman white paint on their faces?

I actually thought that myself...

[jeremycoe]

Doesn't Fall of Harbinger say that it might not be the actual future - just a possible one? I don't think we can count on that book being accurate continuity-wise. In fact, it seems BR #11 was more of a "Fall of Harbinger" story than BoD: Fall of Harbinger was. I would not be surprised by some type of swerve in an upcoming issue, though.

It was nice to see the Renegades back (in some form) even if it was only to see them die. It was also interesting that we got to see Torque and Faith at two very different points in their relationship in the two releases this week.

Overall, I thought this was a great issue and I'm looking forward to #12.

[JCP]

Also, who's to say that Ninjak is telling the truth when he's recounting the events to Bloodshot?

I hope there's more to it than that, because explaining something away just because it later turns out a character lied isn't good writing. I mean, the readers' only reason to suspect that Ninjak might be lying is because his story doesn't match continuity from another book. There ought to be some hint that Ninjak shouldn't be trusted in the story, especially for people who didn't read BoD.

What if Ninjak is not only lying, he's the one who killed the villagers and put the shadowman white paint on their faces?

Sadly, the thought crossed my mind. At the very least, it seemed like Ninjak was being disingenuous. It just seemed coincidental that the only thing keeping Ray from joining Ninjak's cause at first was precisely the thing that was quickly eliminated in order to get Bloodshot's support. We'll see next issue!