Bloodshot #11 discussion thread

[tchalla8]

OK, so this book is going to probably read a lot better for those that aren't reading Harbinger Wars. If you're reading Harbinger Wars then for all intensive purposes you're getting a repeat. You do get a little bit more inside the head of Bloodshot while he battles Harada and a few behind the scenes with the psiot kids and Kuretich, but other than that we don't get anything new. The guts of the story I've already read.

I think VEI finally pinned themselves into a corner by making it possible to understand the whole Harbinger Wars crossover story without having to pick up every connecting title. I understand why they do it, and I'm sure it works great for those that aren't on every title, but in the end I've already read this story, so I was a bit disappointed that this book ended pretty much in the same place as Harbinger Wars #2. No real progresson whatsoever.

I've been loving Harbinger Wars up to this point, so this was their first step backwards in my opinion. I have no doubt things will get back on track next month though.

[Keith]

Completely agree with tchalla8. This issue was definitely geared towards those folks who haven't read HW #2, with only a few nuggets of interest for those of us who have. The one issue, so far, of the Harbinger Wars story that could probably be skipped.

[cavemold]

The only major development in this issue was him overcoming the nannies.. It was good issue but a repeat for me. 3/5.

Which opens up a question .
Can his body regenerate now?

[Zaphod]

There were a few rough patches to the art but over-all, I liked it. Not a lot new to this story since I am reading HW but for some reason, I enjoyed the story this time around more than I did in the HW title.

The maniacal laughing took me out of the story in HW, but as it was fully explained here, I could understand what was going on. Bloodshots struggle was better explained.

Interesting to note that Dinesh is now CEO and CCO, Jason Kothari is not longer listed, is that new?

[BugsySig]

I agree with the comments thus far. I liked the look into Bloodshot's head, and the more detailed look not the events of HW2, but a lot of repeat here. The Harbinger issues and the last Bloodshot issue did not feel like that. The art was just OK IMHO.

[pixierosa]

Which opens up a question .
Can his body regenerate now?

That's what I was wondering.

The story itself didn't really propel forward, but we gained some insights into Bloodshot and PRS. Even Kuretich was surprised by the wet programming, and as he said, I wonder what other hidden protocols Bloodshot has within him. I'm also wondering if any of those will be able to grab him "by the back of the neck" like the Harada protocol initially did. One thing is for sure, Harada will be mightily angry with Kuretich for not warning him about the programming. (Not his fault, but Harada is Harada.)

I liked seeing both the internal and external struggle. In HW, Bloodshot tells Harada that he's not a machine. In this issue, we see he's not only speaking this to Harada, but it's also a part of his own internal struggle. I found the nanites interesting, too. They seemed "pleased" with Bloodshot being offline and on his own, but this protocol completely turned the nanites into unfeeling machines. Stick with the protocol or be punished severely. I'm wondering about these nanites. What is their objective? Does being "free" serve their purposes, and although they usually seem to work with Bloodshot, will they try to control him if he wants to do something they don't approve of? That was the case here, but what I don't know is if the nanites themselves were overrun with the Harada protocol programming.

Also interesting is Clem. We know he was plotting to take control of the kids himself, and he seized on that opportunity once Bloodshot was engaged. Even though he had been in that medical tank, the other kids were more than willing to follow him rather than Kara. If she hadn't woken up and asked where Bloodshot was, I wonder if he would even have stopped to find him. As it was, he ran Bloodshot over, so he obviously doesn't care about his survival. This group of kids is very different in mindset from those with Christian, but I think a lot of that has to do with their leadership.

Saturn -- I am much less sympathetic about her sticky end now that I see she finds herself above humans - we're expendable to her, don't count. Burn, beyotch.

Loved the tooth with the reset button. Ha! And the silhouetted scene where they are picking up a dripping Bloodshot from the ground: blargh.

"Oh, that's just....OH." -- perfect quote.

[jedimarley]

Too long and insightful of a post. You don't belong here.

[BugsySig]

I did love that panel with faceless Bloodshot puking Nanites into Harada's mouth. It was better than Henry's version.

[jedimarley]

I did love that panel with faceless Bloodshot puking Nanites into Harada's mouth. It was better than Henry's version.

XO 0 homage.

[Bl00dsh0t]

OK, so this book is going to probably read a lot better for those that aren't reading Harbinger Wars. If you're reading Harbinger Wars then for all intensive purposes you're getting a repeat. You do get a little bit more inside the head of Bloodshot while he battles Harada and a few behind the scenes with the psiot kids and Kuretich, but other than that we don't get anything new. The guts of the story I've already read.

I think VEI finally pinned themselves into a corner by making it possible to understand the whole Harbinger Wars crossover story without having to pick up every connecting title. I understand why they do it, and I'm sure it works great for those that aren't on every title, but in the end I've already read this story, so I was a bit disappointed that this book ended pretty much in the same place as Harbinger Wars #2. No real progresson whatsoever.

I've been loving Harbinger Wars up to this point, so this was their first step backwards in my opinion. I have no doubt things will get back on track next month though.

After reading HW2 I was fearful for Bloodshot #11 as HW2 really was about the Harada/Bloodshot confrontation - shame, I was looking forward to perhaps reading what happened AFTER the battle no re-reading it again in another comic. Oh well, I'll still grab my copy later today from my LCS.

[pixierosa]

Too long and insightful of a post. You don't belong here.

Everyone's a critic.

How about I skip the subtle plot points and paraphrase the action?

BAM BAM BAM! WTF? Splat! FWOOM! Shank, barf. BZZZZK! BOOM! HONK! Crunch! Ewwww.

[Baramos]

Yeah, in some parts the art was not as good as Harbinger Wars, but in other parts (the aforementioned nanite puking and the page afterwards, Harada's "old face", for example) it looked better than Harbinger Wars, so something of a mixed bag.

Something else that looked better is how Bloodshot's face flesh looks after it is blown off by Harada. In Harbinger Wars it looked really weird, big long "strands" standing up stiff in every direction. In this one the same thing is sort of there but the "strands" are shorter so it looks more realistic/natural...

Uh, I'm maybe weird for focusing on such gory details, heh.

As for it repeating the plot, I feel it gave enough insight into Bloodshot's inner workings that it made it worth it, but yes, if you HAD to choose between this issue or Harbinger Wars 2 you could easily save yourself a few dollars and just buy Harbinger Wars 2 (I know some of us are more budget minded, especially people who buy a LOT of comic books). But where's the fun in that?

[erwinrafael]

This is the dilemma of doing a crossover. Do you write a crossover for readers who would get all issues so that all the issues involved are essential reading? Or do you think of the readers who pick up only a specific series so that they could understand the story without reading the whole crossover?

I have been feeling this way even with the Harbinger tie-ins. So to better enjoy my reading experience, I read each series separately.

[BugsySig]

I am really excited for what Kindt and then Dysart and Gage have planned for Bloodshot following HW. Bloodshot's first arc was very good, IMHO, but really seemed to drag in the second arc after the flashback issue in #7...like it was in a holding pattern until HW. I liked the first tie-in issue, but this one was only so-so. The book needs a purpose beyond "protect the kids".

[lorddunlow]

Too long and insightful of a post. You don't belong here.

I know. Pixierosa is constantly bringing the board down with all of her insightful analyses and updates of breaking news. Doesn't she realize I just want to read clever fart jokes?!

[lorddunlow]

Too long and insightful of a post. You don't belong here.

Everyone's a critic.

How about I skip the subtle plot points and paraphrase the action?

BAM BAM BAM! WTF? Splat! FWOOM! Shank, barf. BZZZZK! BOOM! HONK! Crunch! Ewwww.

That's much better. But you forgot to throw in a fart joke.

[lorddunlow]

So I differ from everyone's opinion above, in that I really enjoyed this issue. I didn't mind seeing the same story from a different perspective. Hasn't everyone been complaining that there was too much action and not enough character development in Bloodshot? That's all this issue is. The story is an exact repeat, but with a literal internal struggle between Bloodshot and the nanites. I loved it.

I realized something with this issue in particular, and the Harbinger Wars arc in general - Bloodshot is my favorite title character in VEI. He has the most interesting premise (Was he someone before or was he created from scratch? Is he in control or are the nanites?), and he is a complete mystery, both to himself and to the readers. Harbinger is still my favorite book, but no single character in that book (or any of the other books) grabs me and keeps my interested like Bloodshot does.

I just need Telic to join H.A.R.D.Corps and this book will be at the top.

[Johnny America]

I really enjoyed seeing the story unfold from a different point of view. The gore looked great. I am really pleased with this book. Really can't wait to see what that nano switch is going to do long term.

[Chiclo]

Too long and insightful of a post. You don't belong here.

Everyone's a critic.

How about I skip the subtle plot points and paraphrase the action?

BAM BAM BAM! WTF? Splat! FWOOM! Shank, barf. BZZZZK! BOOM! HONK! Crunch! Ewwww.

Is it just me or is she making more sense all of the sudden?

[lorddunlow]

Too long and insightful of a post. You don't belong here.

Everyone's a critic.

How about I skip the subtle plot points and paraphrase the action?

BAM BAM BAM! WTF? Splat! FWOOM! Shank, barf. BZZZZK! BOOM! HONK! Crunch! Ewwww.

Is it just me or is she making more sense all of the sudden?

It's not just you. It's the first post from her that I could understand.

[bygranddesign]

So I differ from everyone's opinion above, in that I really enjoyed this issue. I didn't mind seeing the same story from a different perspective. Hasn't everyone been complaining that there was too much action and not enough character development in Bloodshot? That's all this issue is. The story is an exact repeat, but with a literal internal struggle between Bloodshot and the nanites. I loved it.

I realized something with this issue in particular, and the Harbinger Wars arc in general - Bloodshot is my favorite title character in VEI. He has the most interesting premise (Was he someone before or was he created from scratch? Is he in control or are the nanites?), and he is a complete mystery, both to himself and to the readers. Harbinger is still my favorite book, but no single character in that book (or any of the other books) grabs me and keeps my interested like Bloodshot does.

I just need Telic to join H.A.R.D.Corps and this book will be at the top.

Even though a lot of this issue was going over the same territory again - there was some interesting insights like you said that really helped push and develop the story and the characters a little more. I liked seeing the interaction inside Bloodshot's mind between Goldie Boy and Bloodshot. I'm liking Kara more and more each issue and I hope she is part of HARD Corps. Kuretich's posing the question of what other protocols might Bloodshot have deep within its programming was also interesting ...

Telic is one of my favorite new characters but I hope she and Cronos are starring in their own book as Generation Zero at some point.

[lorddunlow]

So I differ from everyone's opinion above, in that I really enjoyed this issue. I didn't mind seeing the same story from a different perspective. Hasn't everyone been complaining that there was too much action and not enough character development in Bloodshot? That's all this issue is. The story is an exact repeat, but with a literal internal struggle between Bloodshot and the nanites. I loved it.

I realized something with this issue in particular, and the Harbinger Wars arc in general - Bloodshot is my favorite title character in VEI. He has the most interesting premise (Was he someone before or was he created from scratch? Is he in control or are the nanites?), and he is a complete mystery, both to himself and to the readers. Harbinger is still my favorite book, but no single character in that book (or any of the other books) grabs me and keeps my interested like Bloodshot does.

I just need Telic to join H.A.R.D.Corps and this book will be at the top.

Even though a lot of this issue was going over the same territory again - there was some interesting insights like you said that really helped push and develop the story and the characters a little more. I liked seeing the interaction inside Bloodshot's mind between Goldie Boy and Bloodshot. I'm liking Kara more and more each issue and I hope she is part of HARD Corps. Kuretich's posing the question of what other protocols might Bloodshot have deep within its programming was also interesting ...

Telic is one of my favorite new characters but I hope she and Cronos are starring in their own book as Generation Zero at some point.

Sorry, I already called dibs to have her in HARDCorps. Telic is my favorite supporting character (after Pulse died - still mad about that) and Bloodshot is my favorite main character. You can't have her for any "Generation Zero" book. Sorry.

[bygranddesign]

Sorry, I already called dibs to have her in HARDCorps. Telic is my favorite supporting character (after Pulse died - still mad about that) and Bloodshot is my favorite main character. You can't have her for any "Generation Zero" book. Sorry.

LOL ... well just don't try to lick her and claim her as your own ... Telic saw that coming and I got a karate kick to the head!

[lorddunlow]

Sorry, I already called dibs to have her in HARDCorps. Telic is my favorite supporting character (after Pulse died - still mad about that) and Bloodshot is my favorite main character. You can't have her for any "Generation Zero" book. Sorry.

LOL ... well just don't try to lick her and claim her as your own ... Telic saw that coming and I got a karate kick to the head!

Thanks for the heads up.

[jmatt]

So I differ from everyone's opinion above, in that I really enjoyed this issue. I didn't mind seeing the same story from a different perspective. Hasn't everyone been complaining that there was too much action and not enough character development in Bloodshot? That's all this issue is. The story is an exact repeat, but with a literal internal struggle between Bloodshot and the nanites. I loved it.

Same here. For the first time we see Bloodshot telling his nanitic programming to go to hell.

And on a crossover like this, yeah, you're gonna see some of the same action told from different perspectives. I have no problem with that. Heck, that was a third of Unity -- and that's what put Valiant on the map.

From an editorial perspective, Valiant should have just picked a name for the nanitic persona from the start. We've gone from goldies to The Kid to Goldie Boy. Ug. Goldie Boy? For reals?

And Pixie, I appreciate your insightful posts.