A review by squidbag
Bloodshot Definitive Edition by Manuel García, Barry Kitson, Arturo Lozzi, ChrisCross, Duane Swierczynski, Matt Kindt
4.0
Usually, with mind-erased and manipulated characters, there are moments of identity, redemption, empathy - something you can bond with outside of basic humanity. Think of Anakin Skywalker, or Wolverine; they have humanity at some level that makes you want to root for them, even when they kind of suck.
The brilliance of Bloodshot - and particularly this arc - is that Valiant never tries to do that. We don't know who he is, what is real, or if he's redeemable, human, a good guy? Nothing. You get nothing other than what you are shown, so there is no mission other than this one, nothing to fight for except survival and what's before your eyes - this is it. You must base your assessment of the character on just this, because everything else is lies. Because of this, it's a little depressing and hollow, but masterfully done, and relentlessly executed. This edition is what you need for an introduction to the character, and while it does veer into a Valiant crossover event towards the end, if you embrace the confusion as the characters do, this, too could be interesting...
The brilliance of Bloodshot - and particularly this arc - is that Valiant never tries to do that. We don't know who he is, what is real, or if he's redeemable, human, a good guy? Nothing. You get nothing other than what you are shown, so there is no mission other than this one, nothing to fight for except survival and what's before your eyes - this is it. You must base your assessment of the character on just this, because everything else is lies. Because of this, it's a little depressing and hollow, but masterfully done, and relentlessly executed. This edition is what you need for an introduction to the character, and while it does veer into a Valiant crossover event towards the end, if you embrace the confusion as the characters do, this, too could be interesting...