COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Bloodstrike #1

WTF!

Rob Liefield—creator of Deadpool, Cable and the X-Force – is considered one of the most polarizing and controversial comic creators ever. This time around, he returns to his Image roots by unleashing one of his signature creations, BLOODSTRIKE. In the new volume of the titular series, Liefield serves both as the writer and artist, while Jeremy Colwell does the coloring stuffs with Bloodstrike #1. But the better question is; does Liefield’s overall quality as a comic creator improve since then? Sad to say, I can generally mutter NEIN. Here’s why….

Bloodstrike has previous two incarnations. First was the name of a team comprised of reanimated corpses of selected superpower beings to do the dirtiest jobs the government assigns. This was the ultimate black ops team in Image superhero universe. The second one was formerly a top black operative and assassin whose identity is John Cabot, the leader of the original Bloodstrike team. Naturally, he and the rest of the original team members teamed up for some serious world-saving missions. Actually, under the stewardship of Tim Seeley (issues #26 to #34), Bloodstrike was revitalized and even critics took the title seriously and ended a rather positive note. But Liefield had other plans for this over-the-top assassin until recently. Now, a new recruit take place (read: “rookie” but basically untested and cocky to begin with) and hell yeah, he fails miserably to start the issue instead. Nice try, Rob! We are treated the 1990s bloody over-the-top assassin!

And the title of the premier issue is simply THE JUNK. Yes, you read it right. It simply means as the euphemistic term of the male’s most prized anatomical possession that is the focus of this issue. Okay, we have great writers who can make masterpieces out of mundane/trivial or highly graphic/sensitive matters like Garth Ennis, Jason Aaron, and Brian Vaughan, but Liefield is not great storyteller at all. If the title itself is the only indicator, you expect Rob’s brand of unsophisticated level of narrative. Unnecessary expositions, plenty of thought balloons, unsophisticated plot twists, over-the-top one liners and a mouthful of profanities are so blatant, they are hilariously reminding me of the action flicks nonsense during the 1980s and 90s!

And the illustrations, what can I say about these? But they are drawn by the great freaking Liefield for humanity’s sake! In fairness with the co-founder of Image Comics, he reduces the anatomical proportions of his characters since his return in Marvel Comics in the late 2000s. And he draws feet whenever the situations demand. Okay, he “redeems” himself. But still, what made Rob infamous lingers! He draws feet so horribly and sometimes, inappropriately. The cheekbones, oh yes, the legendary cheeks that they are parodies themselves are very, very evident. Whenever he has difficulty of illustrating feet and hands/fists, he simply neglects these, particularly the former. There are panels that show artistic inconsistencies that are hilarities, if not faced palm at best. And the armaments, his trademarks are very visible even after decades later—TUBES! And, there are plenty of gore, nudity, profanities, and disgusting stuffs that remind us the good old Image-Liefield years.

The plus sides here are the cover arts by former Liefield associates Dan Fraga and Altstaetter, and Colwell’s colors that remind hardcore Bloodstrike readers (like yours truly) the “FEEL THE BLOOD” nostalgic times. On the serious note, Bloodstrike #1 and the rest of the series are for true Bloodstrike fans and Liefield followers alike. Other than that, spend your precious savings on top Image and other independent titles instead.  I’m just following my own feelings….