Bloodshot #12 Discussion

[BugsySig]

I have really mixed reactions to this issue.

While I like the beefing up of the story a bit and the development of Bloodshot as a character, it just didn't do it for me. Not sure why. Maybe it was this little side story with Kuretich that I didn't really care about...

It was nice to see Bloodshot taking control over his Nanites and pushing his limits. This was also a pretty brutally violent and bloody issue, even for Bloodshot.

Seems like this issue should have come out last week, though, before Harbinger Wars 3.

[Keith]

I did find it interesting that Kuretich had changed his tune to taking Bloodshot out completely. While we know he was saying he would because Bloodshot was too dangerous based on his attack on Harada, I kinda wondered if it was also Kuretich looking out for his own hide and looking to make it up to the obviously uber-PO'd Harada for Bloodshot hurting him so.

I'm still debating my feelings on the resolution with Kuretich. While we had seen him use the pulse on Harada and his flunkies, this usage felt a bit "deus the ex machina" as Armstrong would put it.

Did anyone else think Bloodshot was going to snack on Kuretich and his men before they showed the cows?

[swtor1091]

I did find it interesting that Kuretich had changed his tune to taking Bloodshot out completely. While we know he was saying he would because Bloodshot was too dangerous based on his attack on Harada, I kinda wondered if it was also Kuretich looking out for his own hide and looking to make it up to the obviously uber-PO'd Harada for Bloodshot hurting him so.

I'm still debating my feelings on the resolution with Kuretich. While we had seen him use the pulse on Harada and his flunkies, this usage felt a bit "deus the ex machina" as Armstrong would put it.

Did anyone else think Bloodshot was going to snack on Kuretich and his men before they showed the cows?

I think he might have he said something like "I gave kutreih something to chew over." All and all terrible issue ... Sorry if I seem like a troll but the last two issues have been bad... Like the writer isn't caring since he is done next month anyway

[Zaphod]

It is a fairly weak issue. I am not digging Kitson's pencils and considering how much I enjoyed the first 4 or 5 issues, the series has plunged quickly in quality.

Specifically I don't like how Kuretich's arc has played out. He is (was?) an interesting character who has helped free Bloodshot only to become a common, carbon copy villain. I get that he was working for Harada from the start, someone he believes to be the "good guy", but this just turned him into a boring character than 2 years from now is nothing but a foot-note.

Bloodshot has proven to be an incredible hand-to-hand fighter and proficient with guns, I know he's been through hell and isn't at his best but he gets taken down by a handful of glorified butchers who bring knives to a gunfight.

That is a minor annoyance compared to the plot device of trapping Kara and the kids in the vehicle, which is impenetrable and amping the anxiety of Baxter letting out his monster to kill them all, and Baxter's monster is what saves them? It only added to the rushed and disorganized feeling I had reading the issue.

For Bloodshot, I can't wait for Harbinger Wars to be over because 2 lacklustre arcs in a row has placed Bloodshot on the critical list for me keeping on with the series.

[Chris Campbell]

I really enjoy Kitson's work, and this issue was no different. That being said, I was a bit confused during the first few issues where we were. The first page especially. Once things got rolling, my enjoyment increased. Overall a flawed albeit enjoyable issue. 3.0/5.0.

[400yrs]

The keuritich stuff was weak, but other than that, I thought it was pretty good. No problems with the art.

[jmatt]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

The resolution with Kuretich is a big moment in the title; we've seen him manipulating Bloodshot since the first issue. Bloodshot is on his way to being free of his puppet masters. Even Goldie Boy may be gone for good. The title can then go in so many new directions.

The butcher scene was brutal... and cool. I have no problem with four guys with chainsaws and butcher axes putting him flat on his back; I'm not expecting that every time Bloodshot is surrounded he doesn't just take everyone out in three panels of swordplay and small arms fire. How boring would that be?

Personally I think the book is just getting better and better!

[nonplayer]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

The resolution with Kuretich is a big moment in the title; we've seen him manipulating Bloodshot since the first issue. Bloodshot is on his way to being free of his puppet masters. Even Goldie Boy may be gone for good. The title can then go in so many new directions.

The butcher scene was brutal... and cool. I have no problem with four guys with chainsaws and butcher axes putting him flat on his back; I'm not expecting that every time Bloodshot is surrounded he doesn't just take everyone out in three panels of swordplay and small arms fire. How boring would that be?

Personally I think the book is just getting better and better!

+1

[Captain Craig]

Before I got to the last couple of posts I thought I was going to be the only one who LOVED the issue!

I really dug the prolonged scenes with Kuritech and his men in the meat packing plant. Though I will say I thought it really an odd place for a meat packing plant. Literally nothing else around. Felt a bit weak in that regards, just plopped out there seemingly by itself on the edge of the desert.

What I saw as a big flaw in continuity was that here, in the issue, disfigured face BS was talking fine. Over in HW#3 his speech was slurred, as you'd expect it to be.

I'd rate it about a 4.5/5 grade

[Donovan]

The "Disfigured Face BS" had long overstayed it's welcome for me. Glad it's resolved.

And I'm with Zaphod that I didn't care for how Kuritech's arc played out. meh.

[grendeljd]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

The resolution with Kuretich is a big moment in the title; we've seen him manipulating Bloodshot since the first issue. Bloodshot is on his way to being free of his puppet masters. Even Goldie Boy may be gone for good. The title can then go in so many new directions.

The butcher scene was brutal... and cool. I have no problem with four guys with chainsaws and butcher axes putting him flat on his back; I'm not expecting that every time Bloodshot is surrounded he doesn't just take everyone out in three panels of swordplay and small arms fire. How boring would that be?

Personally I think the book is just getting better and better!

+1

+2 - I thought it made perfect sense that those guys could take out Bloodshot this issue - at the point they attacked him, he was operating with virtually no help from the nanites. They were starved and nearly out of commision. He wouldn't be at optimal speed or strength at all.

Really enjoyed the issue overall, though I had to backtrack as well with the time jump from the first few pages to the rest - It didn't feel like it lined up with the later scenes when they 'caught up'. I didn't pick up on the fact that they dumped him on the conveyor at the beginning so it was a tad confusing later. But a quick glance back sorted that out, so no problem to me.

[Bone-A-Fach-ee]

I liked the book. Much better than last issue, which was just a copy of Harby Wars 2 to me. Art was fine by me. Still no further along though in the bloodshot/ kids plotline. Are they starting to trust him now? They keep sticking with him.

[Smiley]

I'm really starting to like Bloodshot. I am enjoying the stories lately.

[jmatt]

Though I will say I thought it really an odd place for a meat packing plant. Literally nothing else around. Felt a bit weak in that regards, just plopped out there seemingly by itself on the edge of the desert.

What I saw as a big flaw in continuity was that here, in the issue, disfigured face BS was talking fine. Over in HW#3 his speech was slurred, as you'd expect it to be.

I agree but such things are minor quibbles for me. It's a comic book.

A google search shows 4 meat packing plants in NV, so it's not impossible there's a few on the outskirts of Vegas. It woulda been tough for them to have him have that much dialogue with Kuretich and the kids with the slurred speech thing.

[hawkeyeps]

Meat packing plants are always in the middle of no where as they should be, they really stink. I've done a few inspections in Strathmore and when the wind is blowing the right way it's bloody awful.

I thought the issue was pretty good 3.5/5, one thing I wonder though- Is Kuertich dead or did that synaptic pulse just incapacitate everybody?

[Zaphod]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

I don't think one person mentioned HW and whether or not this issue rehashed it. Not sure what you are going for here.

[Blood of Heroes]

Did anyone else think Bloodshot was going to snack on Kuretich and his men before they showed the cows?

YES!!! It would have been so much better if he had eaten those guys and then come across the cows. Talk about your missed opportunity!

[bygranddesign]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

The resolution with Kuretich is a big moment in the title; we've seen him manipulating Bloodshot since the first issue. Bloodshot is on his way to being free of his puppet masters. Even Goldie Boy may be gone for good. The title can then go in so many new directions.

The butcher scene was brutal... and cool. I have no problem with four guys with chainsaws and butcher axes putting him flat on his back; I'm not expecting that every time Bloodshot is surrounded he doesn't just take everyone out in three panels of swordplay and small arms fire. How boring would that be?

Personally I think the book is just getting better and better!

wow .. yeah. I'm really surprised that some peeps didn't enjoy this issue. I thought it was one of the better Bloodshot issues so far and thought that Duane brought his A game. Really loved the interactions between Kuretich and Bloodshot. Barry Kitson art was excellent ... and I'm looking forward to him taking over Harbinger in the next story arc.

Overall 8/10 for this issue

[bygranddesign]

I'm still debating my feelings on the resolution with Kuretich. While we had seen him use the pulse on Harada and his flunkies, this usage felt a bit "deus the ex machina" as Armstrong would put it.

yeah, I also had a problem with the way BS finally defeated Kuretich and his men. Its my only real quibble with this issue. You would think Kuretich of all people would have been prepared for such an attack from bloodshot. Knew that it was a possibility even in his weakened state ... and wore some sort of helmet like Carter (the head of PRS in 1969) does when in the presence of Harada.

[BugsySig]

Did anyone else think Bloodshot was going to snack on Kuretich and his men before they showed the cows?

YES!!! It would have been so much better if he had eaten those guys and then come across the cows. Talk about your missed opportunity!

I thought the same thing. And it would have been a slightly more satisfying end to Kuretich...especially if he wasn't dead yet from the pulse.

[Blood of Heroes]

Did anyone else think Bloodshot was going to snack on Kuretich and his men before they showed the cows?

YES!!! It would have been so much better if he had eaten those guys and then come across the cows. Talk about your missed opportunity!

I thought the same thing. And it would have been a slightly more satisfying end to Kuretich...especially if he wasn't dead yet from the pulse.

I wanted to see an armless Bloodshot worming his was over to Kuretich and going Hannibal Lektor on him.

[bygranddesign]

That is a minor annoyance compared to the plot device of trapping Kara and the kids in the vehicle, which is impenetrable and amping the anxiety of Baxter letting out his monster to kill them all, and Baxter's monster is what saves them? It only added to the rushed and disorganized feeling I had reading the issue.

I think when Bloodshot knocked out the power to the building ... it also removed the impenetrable field around the vehicle. It was a coincidence that Baxter's monster was unleashed at the same time as the field was removed. I think Kara was desperate to try anything in that moment as the gas was about to knock them out. It wasn't really explained that well .. and i'm not sure how they can pump gas into the vehicle if there is this energy field around the vehicle already.

[jmatt]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

I don't think one person mentioned HW and whether or not this issue rehashed it. Not sure what you are going for here.

Not much, but Bugsy kicked this off saying he thought the Kuretich thing sidetracked the storyline. In contrast, last month a few people complained that BS was mostly a rehash of HW 2. It can be a rehash or it can be new content but it can't be both. Bugsy, no offence intended.

[jmatt]

Meat packing plants are always in the middle of no where as they should be, they really stink.

And they usually require large railyards and pens for the stock.

[Zaphod]

Loved the issue. Last month people complained that the issue was a rehash of stuff we saw in HW #2. This week people are complaining because it didn't?

I don't think one person mentioned HW and whether or not this issue rehashed it. Not sure what you are going for here.

Not much, but Bugsy kicked this off saying he thought the Kuretich thing sidetracked the storyline. In contrast, last month a few people complained that BS was mostly a rehash of HW 2. It can be a rehash or it can be new content but it can't be both. Bugsy, no offence intended.

I don't think it works that way. You can complain about last issue being a rehash (I didn't, I enjoyed the more in-depth version...much of Unity was written this way) and you can dislike this issue's content but that doesn't have to have anything to do with last issue.

Of course, now I'm just arguing semantics and that gets dull quick. Equally, no offence intended. I can be overly idiosyncratic sometimes.