Authors: Christos Gage & Joshua Dysart
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Source: Comixology
Graphic Novel Challenge #25
Collects Bloodshot & the H.A.R.D. Corps #s14-17 and Bloodshot #0
What do you get when you combine two of my favorite authors (Christos Gage and Joshua Dysart) with great art? In this case you get a good but not great series. This is the fall out of “The Harbinger Wars” for both Bloodshot and the H.A.R.D. Corps team. H.A.R.D. Corps was devastated by the events of the crossover and a new team is put together. Dysart and Gage wrote a fun, high energy adventure story but I felt it was lacking in characterization. The characterization was good but not up to the usual standard I have come to expect from these writers. Meanwhile, the art is very good. The story can be read on its own but has connections to the rest of the Valiant universe.
If you are looking for a solid adventure tale, this is the book for you.
Author: Joshua Dysart
Artists: Barry Kitson and Clayton Henry
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Source: Comixology
Graphic Novel Challenge #24
Collects Harbinger #s 15-19
Joshua Dysart is one of my favorite authors. I started following his work on the Captain Gravity mini-series from Pennyfarthing Press. It was a classic pulp story with a twist. I would highly recommend taking the time to track it down and read it. It also featured art by the talented Sal Velluto. I was surprised that this was published without much fanfare. Dysart also wrote “The Unknown Soldier” for DC that I have not gotten around to reading yet. Friend and fellow comic book fan Terry Kissinger was impressed with Dysart’s writing on it. Barry Kitson is a very good artist who has done numerous books for DC and Marvel. I especially remember his fine work on the “Legion of Super-Heroes” with Mark Waid. Put Dysart and Kitson together and you have a great comic.
“Perfect Day” shows what happens after “The Harbinger Wars”. Our heroes won the battle against their nemesis (Toyo Harada) and are now relaxing in Los Angeles. For the first time everything seems to be going right for the group. As the story progresses we discover that things are not what they appear to be. Dysart has crafted a perfect story showing the heroes getting their just reward, then slowly the terror starts to build. Cracks appear that they cannot figure out. Whose “Perfect Day” is it? I do not want to give too much away.
If you are considering buying a Valiant title, this is one of my two favorites (the other being “X-O Manowar”). “Harbinger” should be at the top of everyone’s reading stack.
