The world Bloodshot is in now has become an abomination. In the walled up society of Los Angeles the X-O Manowars are indiscriminately hunting people from the sky, then there’s the Goo that seems to be engulfing the city’s inhabitants. What was once a place of safety from the Shadowmen has become a killing ground. And just who’s trying to keep this all together – whoever is left. And they need Bloodshot and those special nanites in his blood. With all this going on it seems that Bloodshot can’t catch a break. On the verge of losing everything, he has to put his trust in one of the shadiest characters in the Valiant universe. And it gets worse from there.
Whenever Ninjak shows up you get the sense that all hope is nearly lost and all the white hats have been taken out of the equation. As a man of questionable character, yet goes by his own ethical code, Ninjak is the type of man who you want fighting side by side with you. Unfortunately, when he shows up it’s usually too late for anything to be salvaged. Still there is something to be said about being a survivor. Some of the best stories are based on the type of premise where people band together for a common cause. There’s the knife man, the quiet mysterious type, the crazy one. Think “The Dirty Dozen†or “The Magnificent Seven.†In this case, Jeff Lemire in “Bloodshot Reborn†issue 11 has two old soldiers going out to fight what may be for the last time.
There’s a crackling in the air. And the artwork emphasizes just how crazed everything is 30 years into Bloodshot’s future. From his transformation into a pot-bellied old man to Ninjak’s weather-beaten face, but agile skills Lewis Larosa and his team have created a visual world that you can’t take your eyes away from. Why is Los Angeles cannibalizing itself and who else can Ninjak recruit to help save the present? What’s more, Lemire points out that to be a survivor means to be alone. With Bloodshot no matter what happens he’s left standing. That can be a lonely existence. What happens to a living weapon when he has no one to love, no one to take care of? More importantly, who’s turning this post-apocalyptic world on its head? Is there more than one force at play?
In the end, all Bloodshot can rely on is his ability to stay alive. Whatever happens, around him even if the costs are high that’s the one constant. As the hammer in this universe he treats every problem like a nail, no finesse is necessary for that. Right now that’s what Los Angeles and Bloodshot need.
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