Bloodshot Salvation #10 starts “The Book of Revelations” story arc, and throws Ray two thousand years into the future to 4001.
While Bloodshot navigates the future to pay his debt to Baron Samedi, Magic reunites with their daughter Jesse in the present, now mysteriously older. They don’t have much time to rejoice, however, because Project Rising Spirit isn’t quite dead, and they want their “property” back.
You might think that Jeff Lemire has been writing a badass, violent action comic about an unstoppable killing machine. You’d be wrong. Well, you’d be right, but you’d also be missing the point. He’s writing a comic about parenthood masquerading as a badass, violent action comic, about two people who would do anything to protect their daughter.
Jesse and Magic are Bloodshot’s titular salvation. This whole series has been about him trying to protect them and hold on to what they’ve got. “Book of Revelations” takes that one step further. It’s splitting the story into two timelines, and now both Ray and Magic have to do their part to protect Jesse in different ways. Lemire is actually telling a very sweet story in Bloodshot Salvation, beneath all the blood.
And he’s doing it in a way that’ll make even the toughest comic reader say, “that’s fucking metal.”
Admittedly, not a ton happens in this issue. It’s a lot of setup for what’s to come in this arc. But if what we do get is any indication, “The Book of Revelations” is going to be wild.
Doug Braithwaite on art is a notable departure from Renato Guedes’ work on the previous arc. Whereas Guedes’ art bordered on photorealism, Braithwaite’s is much more traditional comic book. And yet, Braithwaite still draws everything with a tremendous attention to detail, especially the characters. Most of their faces hold a lot of detail, making them look somewhat beaten down and rough. This works very well for a character like Bloodshot in contrast to young Jesse, who Braithwaite draws in a much cleaner, more innocent way.
Jordie Bellaire’s coloring prowess is once again on display here. (When is it not?) Her work sets the tone for not only each scene, but each setting. One look at each page and you know the feeling that the creative team wants to convey, and that’s the mark of good coloring.
Bloodshot Salvation only has two issues left, and that will end Lemire’s seminal run on the character. Issue #10 is not a bad jumping on point if you still want to get on this train before it leaves for good.
