VALIANT MASTERS: BLOODSHOT-Blood of the Machine

[Captain Craig]

VALIANT MASTERS: BLOODSHOT VOL. 1 HC
BLOOD OF THE MACHINE
Written by Kevin VanHook
Art by Don Perlin, Andrew Wendel and Ted Halsted
Cover by Barry Windsor-Smith
The first in an all-new library of Valiant classics!
Collected for the first time anywhere, the best-selling title of the 90s is back! Re-presenting the first arc of his original adventures in the VH1 Valiant Universe, Bloodshot comes armed to the teeth with bullets, nanites – and questions. With all of New York as his battlefield, Bloodshot wages a one-man war for the secrets to his past. But with the whole of New York’s mafia underground hot on his tail, he’ll soon realize that some questions are better left unanswered! With appearances from Ninjak, Eternal Warrior, Rai and more, no fan can miss this essential piece of Valiant history! Collecting BLOODSHOT (1994) #1-8 and featuring AN ALL-NEW, NEVER–BEFORE-SEEN STORY by the original creative team of Kevin VanHook and Don Perlin.
$24.99/Rated T+/200 pgs.
ON SALE OCTOBER 24th

Seeing the recent announcement that Ninjak is the second classic title getting the MASTERS treatment it occurred to me we didn't discuss who might've gotten this and thoughts on it? I'm fairly certain a solid core of us picked this up two weeks ago. This was announced as part of the general Valiant Oct solicits vs getting the solo news treatment like Ninjak. That may have hampered some in finding a place to talk about it, lets fix that.

I found the price point, especially after an IST 50% price tag, to be a very easy entry point back into classic Bloodshot. At $1.50 an issue you can't buy new books off the rack that affordable. So for anyone of those sampling VALIANT 3.0 just now for the first time this is a great way to brush up on the originals.
The dust jacket was made of quality card stock with a nice shiny gleam to it. Once removed I found the embossed logo on the book and spine to be as well done as any Marvel Omnibus I own.
My only complaint would be that the book seems to just be a transfer of the 90's material onto a slightly heavier paper stock. I wish the art had been, well, remastered. Given the issues more vibrance. I'm not saying change any colors, I'm saying restore the color palate so it jumps out at you more. I'd have paid for that upcharge.

Despite that it's not enough for me to out right dislike it or not recommend it. So, thoughts on this first MASTERS edition from VALIANT?

[BugsySig]

Seeing the recent announcement that Ninjak is the second classic title getting the MASTERS treatment it occurred to me we didn't discuss who might've gotten this and thoughts on it? I'm fairly certain a solid core of us picked this up two weeks ago. This was announced as part of the general Valiant Oct solicits vs getting the solo news treatment like Ninjak. That may have hampered some in finding a place to talk about it, lets fix that.

I found the price point, especially after an IST 50% price tag, to be a very easy entry point back into classic Bloodshot. At $1.50 an issue you can't buy new books off the rack that affordable. So for anyone of those sampling VALIANT 3.0 just now for the first time this is a great way to brush up on the originals.
The dust jacket was made of quality card stock with a nice shiny gleam to it. Once removed I found the embossed logo on the book and spine to be as well done as any Marvel Omnibus I own.
My only complaint would be that the book seems to just be a transfer of the 90's material onto a slightly heavier paper stock. I wish the art had been, well, remastered. Given the issues more vibrance. I'm not saying change any colors, I'm saying restore the color palate so it jumps out at you more. I'd have paid for that upcharge.

Despite that it's not enough for me to out right dislike it or not recommend it. So, thoughts on this first MASTERS edition from VALIANT?

I got this (of course) and would be remiss if I did not also mention the new original story by original creative team Don Perlin and Kevin Van Hook. It's a nice bonus to material that could be easily attainable in the dollar bin at your local LCS. It's was in keeping with the three HC trades VEi put out a few years ago.

I ordered mine through DCBS, which came at a 50% discount and with a collectors print signed by Perlin and Van Hook.

The "original coloring" was in response to some complaints about the remastered coloring in those previous HCs. Of course VALIANT didnt have the topnotch coloring that Image and Malibu had in the early 90s, but personally I like the nostalgic feel.

[Captain Craig]

Mine came with the signed collectors print as well. However, I only got one and I ordered two books. I meant to contact IST about that and get another sent. The other is going to be a Christmas gift.