Bloodshot: Rising Spirit
The modern era of Bloodshot never really bothered with an origin story for the character. Swierczynski told you all you needed to know with a couple of panels and captions. Bloodshot appears as the Living Weapon with no sense of self, fighting to uncover the truth to his being. After years of accepting who and what Bloodshot is, Valiant Comics decided to go back to the beginning with the prequel storyline Bloodshot: Rising Spirit.
Concocted by a trilogy of writers Kevin Grevioux, Lonnie Nadler, and Zac Thompson, as well as artist Ken Lashley, the eight-issue series attempts to bring a more level-headed understanding of science to the nanites pumping through our hero’s veins. This is all very goofy stuff, but what we know about the technology today versus what we knew about it in the ’90s is astronomical. Rising Spirit might be a little unnecessary, as all prequels tend to be, but for those looking to have all their nooks and crannies covered, the series gets the job done.
Bloodshot (2019)
Earlier last year, Bloodshot was — you guessed it — relaunched once more with a new number one on its cover. This time, from writer Tim Seely and artist Brett Booth. The most current iteration of the character is a back-to-basics badass action-adventure following our hero’s brawl with a group of cyborg government agents known as Black Bar. Seely’s Bloodshot is a soldier unsure of his place and his purpose in the world. He’s not as broody as what Lemire developed, as the moment he starts to question his morality, a platoon of goons storms through the window in desperate need of obliteration.
There is enough character to chew on throughout Seely’s run, and the action is appropriately nutty. If you’re looking to jump in with the most up-to-date take on the character and get hyped for the film, this Bloodshot will suffice. Is it where you should start? No, take either the Definitive Edtion or Reborn as your gateway to Bloodshot obsession.
Rai Volume 1: Welcome to New Japan
Set in the year 4001 AD, Welcome to New Japan introduces modern readers to the concept of the Rai warriors, a mantle passed down from father to son for generations. The island nation of Japan has ripped itself free from the planet and now orbits Earth from a safe distance. An artificial intelligence known as “Father” watches over everything, and when the first murder in a thousand years occurs, the latest Rai emerges to investigate and carry forth justice.
What’s the connection to Bloodshot? Well, the Rai brethren were made by “Grandmother” in the image of the Living Weapon. From the far future, Bloodshot is seen as a great champion of Earth and a being that demands worship and respect. Beyond that, very little else ties back to the Bloodshot character. On the other hand, while they have fewer characters than say Marvel or DC, Valiant Comics has an easier time looping in all their various mythologies.
X-O Manowar Volume 1: By The Sword
As much as I love Bloodshot, the Valiant Comic I’m most interested in seeing translated to the big screen is X-O Manowar. Imagine Conan the Barbarian, Iron Man, Green Lantern, and Venom blended into one ultra rad man-killer. Aric of Dacia is destined to rule the Visigoth people and liberate them from the tyranny of the Roman Empire. One night, during a raid against the Romans, Aric and several members of his clan are abducted by the alien race called The Vine. For years, they serve as slaves to these monsters, until Aric breaks his chains and steals their most prized, sentient armor. Bonded with the X-O Manowar suit, also known as Shanhara, Aric returns to Earth to discover that hundreds of years have passed, and the world is no longer recognizable to his eyes.
The first volume of the 2012 series is written by frequent Green Lantern scribe Robert Venditti and illustrated by the Dark Horse Comics Conan the Barbarian maestro Cary Nord, and they are an oh-so-perfect fit for Aric of Dacia. Once you consume this volume, you’ll find yourself thrust into each and every follow-up. Act quick, as a new number one issue is set to debut on March 25th.
Related Topics: Bloodshot, The Reading List, Valiant Comics, Vin Diesel
