Bloodshot USA #4 Discussion

[grendeljd]

If anyone would like to hear our OTV:VCR podcast discussing/reviewing this issue [and Divinity III #2, and Savage #3], please follow the link;

http://onlythevaliant.com/episodes/vcr101/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks to any who listen in

[Brapbrap]

i loved the crazy stuff they did with the art at the climax of the story, dont think i have ever seen an event comic before where the big moment is so artistically stunning. liked the resolutions, am interested to see where kaymate goes and love that they kept bloodhound with ray.

my only little criticism is that they killed off kozol in 2 panels, valiant literally has only got 4 big recurring villains atm (kozol, harada, trill and darque) and it was not a suitable death for kozol at all, shouldn't have been killed at all in my opinion and i really hope he comes back as some sort of nanite kozol honestly.

[sonicdan]

I was kind of bummed / confused about apparently killing of Kozol too.
Especially since Dysart posted a exert of his upcoming Imperium script and it specifically mentions Kozol.
Great issue though. Bloodshot has been consistently awesome since the 2012 launch.

[pixierosa]

I am half expecting Kozol to return, too. It does look like the FBI may have been the ones hauling off his body bag since Festival was there, but then again she may have just been observing. I thought this was well done. It was an action-oriented event, yet it built up the characters even more, like Magic for instance.

Thought it was a nice touch that it closed the way the Reborn series opened - focused on a motel. I think that sums up his transitory life.

My non-spoiler review for All-Comic: http://all-comic.com/2017/bloodshot-u-s-4/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[grendeljd]

I was kind of bummed / confused about apparently killing of Kozol too.
Especially since Dysart posted a exert of his upcoming Imperium script and it specifically mentions Kozol.
Great issue though. Bloodshot has been consistently awesome since the 2012 launch.

While it did seem like a very deliberate neck twisting action by Deathmate, I think its possible for him to survive it - people injure/break their necks all the time without dying. I think he'll be back again soon, he has become kind of a key villain in the modern Valiant universe. I can't see them wanting him killed off like this. Pixie makes a great point too, we've seen that Dysart is working on a script that he is in.

[grendeljd]

Overall I have not enjoyed this mini-series very much. Great mindless fun action, and very well drawn at that [love Braithwaites art], but the core premise is just too flawed for my tastes.

PRS can be as secretive as they want, and try to cover their tracks all they want to stay out of public awareness, but governing agencies around the world know they exist. Diane Festival is not the only person in the world who is aware of them and has some files on them. They wouldn't have gotten away with such a hair-brained scheme. Kozol was shamefully reduced to a 1 dimensional mustache twirling villain for much of the series.

And bringing back Kay as Deathmate feels cheap. The emotional notes Lemire was trying to hit with the interaction between her & Ray & Magic all fell flat for me. He has much more of a relationship established with Magic for there ever to have been any question of who he would chose between her or Kay. He was with Kay for all of a hot minute in The Valiant. Her death was tragic & he clearly feels guilt over that, but it doesn't equate to real love to me.

I have really like the addition of the squad of outdated Bloodshots to the cast of characters though - I hope to see more of them in the future. Its a shame that the most interesting one, who we know the least about [Quiet Man], was killed off.

[nonplayer]

I'm compleatly opposite. I enjoyed this run since the beginning. It make a circle effect that I really like. I'd preferred if kay died but what ever more hero's for future events.
Kozol death made me very happy and I hope he's dead. I remember back in bloodshot the guy before Kozol died kinda un epically so I'd expect Kozol to be dead. But that being said wasent Kozol boss said it was his last chance or some crap so hopefully there a meeting like last time and it's decided to resurrect Kozol for some sinister plan.
Blood shot better continue because it's been consistently good. Thanks again Valiant money well spent.

[jeremycoe]

I wonder if this leads directly into Secret Weapons with the other Bloodshots and Kay?

[pixierosa]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

[slack]

I wonder if this leads directly into Secret Weapons with the other Bloodshots and Kay?

Thank goodness I'm not the only one who saw that...

I came here to ask that same basic question.

Did anyone else feel like the shot of Deathmate, and the remaining Bloodshot squad walking into Gate HQ had a Secret Weapons feel to it?

[nonplayer]

I was kind of bummed / confused about apparently killing of Kozol too.
Especially since Dysart posted a exert of his upcoming Imperium script and it specifically mentions Kozol.
Great issue though. Bloodshot has been consistently awesome since the 2012 launch.

While it did seem like a very deliberate neck twisting action by Deathmate, I think its possible for him to survive it - people injure/break their necks all the time without dying. I think he'll be back again soon, he has become kind of a key villain in the modern Valiant universe. I can't see them wanting him killed off like this. Pixie makes a great point too, we've seen that Dysart is working on a script that he is in.

The super killing mechine and intent kaymate had in killing him and she screws up a standard neck break.
Nanite infused sounds better

[Keith]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

My wife is a huge dog lover... she couldn't read the scenes in prior issues where Bloodhound would get hurt by Deathmate. Pretty sure if anything happens to that dog, this may be the end of my wife's comics reading adventure.

[jmatt]

I think it's a fabulous wrap-up to a great arc. The whole series has been great.

The climax was especially gratifying superhero stuff. Good guys battling insurmountable odds, fighting to the last breath to save the city and perhaps all of humanity, heroes falling... and the big rescue by the super-villain turned super-heroine.

And in the denouement, Bloodshot gets the girl, to coin a phrase.

Fantastic.

[hawkeyeps]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

+1

[nonplayer]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

+1

I could read an entire mini regarding that dog and his adventures. Back in the 80's Canada had a show called littlest hobo. I used to love watching that dog save people from burning buildings and helping gramps with his heart medication.

[grendeljd]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

+1

I could read an entire mini regarding that dog and his adventures. Back in the 80's Canada had a show called littlest hobo. I used to love watching that dog save people from burning buildings and helping gramps with his heart medication.

"Maybe tomorrow, I'll wanna settle down... Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on..."

I love that Bloodhound is sticking around too

[Dallow Spicer1]

Overall I have not enjoyed this mini-series very much. Great mindless fun action, and very well drawn at that [love Braithwaites art], but the core premise is just too flawed for my tastes.

PRS can be as secretive as they want, and try to cover their tracks all they want to stay out of public awareness, but governing agencies around the world know they exist. Diane Festival is not the only person in the world who is aware of them and has some files on them. They wouldn't have gotten away with such a hair-brained scheme. Kozol was shamefully reduced to a 1 dimensional mustache twirling villain for much of the series.

And bringing back Kay as Deathmate feels cheap. The emotional notes Lemire was trying to hit with the interaction between her & Ray & Magic all fell flat for me. He has much more of a relationship established with Magic for there ever to have been any question of who he would chose between her or Kay. He was with Kay for all of a hot minute in The Valiant. Her death was tragic & he clearly feels guilt over that, but it doesn't equate to real love to me.

I have really like the addition of the squad of outdated Bloodshots to the cast of characters though - I hope to see more of them in the future. Its a shame that the most interesting one, who we know the least about [Quiet Man], was killed off.

I agree with the plus and minus points made by Grendel about the plot, Kay, Kozol, Bloodshot squad etc although I did enjoy the the mini overall, certainly not perfect but lots of action.

I'd have preferred Kay to have died at the end of this mini, not sure I'm liking her cheating death. Kozol had become a bit ridiculous by the end so I'm not sorry to see him go but I'm not convinced he is actually dead.

I found Lemire's writing of Ninjak a bit irritating, the quips seemed unnatural and at the wrong moments. No spider-man treatment for Ninjak please!

This mini fell a little short of what I was hoping for but I'd still give it 3.75/5!

[Donovan]

"Maybe tomorrow, I'll wanna settle down... Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on..."

[grendeljd]

"Maybe tomorrow, I'll wanna settle down... Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on..."

[jmatt]

Did anyone else feel like the shot of Deathmate, and the remaining Bloodshot squad walking into Gate HQ had a Secret Weapons feel to it?

Not sure how I'd feel about that. How many books based on nanite-infused killing machines does the VEI universe need?

[Phoenix8008]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

+1

I could read an entire mini regarding that dog and his adventures. Back in the 80's Canada had a show called littlest hobo. I used to love watching that dog save people from burning buildings and helping gramps with his heart medication.

"Maybe tomorrow, I'll wanna settle down... Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on..."

I love that Bloodhound is sticking around too

If the relationship carries on for quite awhile, it gives even more meaning to the final scene from the Fall of Bloodshot issue where the small dog is laying down with him as he's dying. Way to backfill even more emotion into that scene VEI!

[grendeljd]

The dog is the best, btw. Nothing better ever happen to that pooch.

+1

I could read an entire mini regarding that dog and his adventures. Back in the 80's Canada had a show called littlest hobo. I used to love watching that dog save people from burning buildings and helping gramps with his heart medication.

"Maybe tomorrow, I'll wanna settle down... Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on..."

I love that Bloodhound is sticking around too

If the relationship carries on for quite awhile, it gives even more meaning to the final scene from the Fall of Bloodshot issue where the small dog is laying down with him as he's dying. Way to backfill even more emotion into that scene VEI!

Yes!! Great observation, man!

[jmatt]

If the relationship carries on for quite awhile, it gives even more meaning to the final scene from the Fall of Bloodshot issue where the small dog is laying down with him as he's dying. Way to backfill even more emotion into that scene VEI!

Alright, since we've gone all Sarah McLachlan over the dog , we should think up an appropriate name for him. I mean, Ray's not gonna wander around calling him Bloodhound, is he?

Rex, Fido and Rover are out -- too conventional. I'm open to suggestions. Maybe... Kozol?

[Phoenix8008]

I wonder if Bloodhound can see/sense/interact with Bloodsquirt as well? I can see Bloodsquirt riding Bloodhound into battle!

[jmatt]

I can see Bloodsquirt riding Bloodhound into battle!

Thanks. Now I can't unimagine that.