Bloodshot and H.A.R.D. Corps #18 Discussion

[FormerReader]

Sadly the promise that Swierczynski started with in his first arc has all given way to rushed story arcs with very little substance.

I definitely agree with this statement. Bloodshot had become my #1 VEI book right before the addition of HARD Corps. Now it's a totally different book. I like this book, and will continue reading it, but I'm really hoping we get the Bloodshot solo title back. There was a great mystery that was hinted at in #0 that has just been stalled out. This current book is a fun read, but lacks any depth like the Swierczynski run had.

Early Bloodshot was akin to an indie film with lots of subtlety and lead to multiple interpretations. This book is a Michael Bay film. I like both, but I kinda want the former back in this title.

I give the art a 7/10.

I'm sad to say I agree with this also. Bloodshot was one of my favorites. It is now just above Q&W. I liked the backstory, but there's not much else I liked about the issue. I really am not a fan of the art. It was bad.

[Shadowman99]

Sadly the promise that Swierczynski started with in his first arc has all given way to rushed story arcs with very little substance.

I definitely agree with this statement. Bloodshot had become my #1 VEI book right before the addition of HARD Corps. Now it's a totally different book. I like this book, and will continue reading it, but I'm really hoping we get the Bloodshot solo title back. There was a great mystery that was hinted at in #0 that has just been stalled out. This current book is a fun read, but lacks any depth like the Swierczynski run had.

Early Bloodshot was akin to an indie film with lots of subtlety and lead to multiple interpretations. This book is a Michael Bay film. I like both, but I kinda want the former back in this title.

I give the art a 7/10.

I'm sad to say I agree with this also. Bloodshot was one of my favorites. It is now just above Q&W. I liked the backstory, but there's not much else I liked about the issue. I really am not a fan of the art. It was bad.

I'm afraid that I enjoyed Bloodshot significantly more when it was its own book. I'm all for it being used as a jump-start for HARD Corps, but I really hope it reverts back to 'Bloodshot' at some point fairly soon. It's not a bad book by any means, still very enjoyable, but it was better as 'Bloodshot'.

[leonmallett]

My overall problem is that this book should just be called "HARD Corps". Bloodshot has been rendered basically useless in the book through two arcs. I really hope the two titles split soon and Bloodshot gets the spotlight again.

I could not agree with this statement more!

Thirded. I enjoy the book, but think Bloodshot would have more room to breathe as a character in his own book. It mostly feels like HARDCorps and Bloodshot right now.

[leonmallett]

...Early Bloodshot was akin to an indie film with lots of subtlety and lead to multiple interpretations. This book is a Michael Bay film. I like both, but I kinda want the former back in this title.
...

Nice way of putting it. Make a Bloodshot title the cerebral Nolan-esque sci-fi book of puzzles within puzzles, and HARDCorps the straight-up blockbuster widescreen action. That would satisfy me.

[leonmallett]

I enjoyed the issue. I have enjoyed the book since its inception, although it tailed off a little with Harbinger Wars IMHO. I have enjoyed the incorporation of HARDCorps, but hope it is a limited thing, and that they split to two separate and distinctive titles.

The only really 'off' moment for me was naming a character 'Chernobyl'. That seemed tasteless to be honest; as I am sure a character name like Hiroshima or Nagasaki would have been rejected, I think they should have done the same with Chernobyl as a character name.

And on the character name issue; if we continue to cycle through HARDCorps members, will they have to re-use some code-names eventually?

[ShadowTuga]

Vagabond blazing one at the meeting was priceless.

[The Noto]

Would love to hear what Genius was about to confess before "....and penis" happened. a little carrot dangling for us readers, and no double entendre intended there!

I think he was going to admit to her why he was a 30-year-old virgin. (That he was mentally impaired prior to joining H.A.R.D. Corps.)

I have to join in with what most people are saying here. I'm disappointed that Bloodshot is riding shotgun in his own book. I am still enjoying it, but not as much as the first few arcs by Swierczynski prior to getting involved with Harbinger Wars. But there's only one more issue before Mission: Improbable, so there's no point in being too rash about the book now. I'm hoping after Armor Wars, we go back to just being Bloodshot again.

[xodacia81]

Would love to hear what Genius was about to confess before "....and penis" happened. a little carrot dangling for us readers, and no double entendre intended there!

I think he was going to admit to her why he was a 30-year-old virgin. (That he was mentally impaired prior to joining H.A.R.D. Corps.)

I have to join in with what most people are saying here. I'm disappointed that Bloodshot is riding shotgun in his own book. I am still enjoying it, but not as much as the first few arcs by Swierczynski prior to getting involved with Harbinger Wars. But there's only one more issue before Mission: Improbable, so there's no point in being too rash about the book now. I'm hoping after Armor Wars, we go back to just being Bloodshot again.

I thought it might be a perfect team up. In concept, yes, but as executed, they've pushed Bloodshot to the back, instead of having it be a true "co-starring" book. I mean, he's supposed to be the leader, right? Why is he showing up about as much as Howard Hughes during his later years?

[jmatt]

Why is he showing up about as much as Howard Hughes during his later years?

Well, he was center ring in the matchup against the Specialists. But I get what you guys are saying.

[hawkeyeps]

Well even if the book ends I consider it a good way to introduce HARD Corps into the VEI universe.

Bloodshot will be back and now we are primed for a HARD Corps book, I would love to see Gage and Dysart carry on with what they have established.