Bloodshot Reborn #15 continues with Ray and the other Bloodshots mounting a counterattack against the Angel of Death. It opens up with Ray having a discussion with Bloodsquirt about the current events. Bloodsquirt reminds Ray that he’s on Bloodshot Island, and that if he wants to get answers about Magic then he has to accomplish his mission. Ray wakes up from this dream when the alarm goes signaling the start of the day, which in the case of the Bloodshots, means getting prepared to be slaughtered by the Angel of Death once again.  The other Bloodshots are somewhat resigned to this fate but Ray being the new one has yet to give up. He inquires about the Angel of Death such as where she originates from and what parts of the island the others have explored. He believes that somewhere on the island is the answer to beat her. Meanwhile, former Special Agent Diane Festival is still hot on the trail of Project Rising Spirit and locates its last known headquarters. She’s been searching for some time and despite the few bits of information she’s been able to gather, her special ability has led her to New Mexico, which is closer than anyone else has ever gotten. Naturally, this catches the attention of Project Rising Spirit. Is Agent Festival in over her head? And can Ray truly make a difference in this seemingly endless battle against the Angel of Death?

First, I’m glad that Agent Festival returned. Not just because I enjoy her character but because it also gave some context to the events taking place in terms of the time frame. And the suggestion that she could be a psiot made this all the more intriguing. And I wondered what her role could be in this series going forward. Her character development wasn’t the only one that took place with this issue touching on the existence of the other Bloodshots. It was stated at the end of last issue that Ray was special and this issue clarified that in a solid way.

The action this issue was better than the last one because it was about more than the Bloodshots being slaughtered by this unknown entity. All of them didn’t stand a chance against the Angel of Death but it was pretty enjoyable watching them implement their plan and work together as a team in this situation. And it’s easy to take the consistency of Mico Suayan’s artwork for granted because it’s such an immersive aspect of this story arc but the transition from the facial expressions hinting at more about the characters in the midst of pure mayhem has to be enjoyed with David Baron’s coloring. All of it contributed to the final action sequence that resulted in one of the most shocking conclusions in this series to date. I want to say a little more about it but I don’t even want to come close to spoiling it. It just made me view another story in a more favorable light.

SUMMARY

Bloodshot Reborn #15 takes everything that was great about the start of this story arc and makes it even better by delivering an intense, exhilarating issue with its action, character development and story progression. The inclusion of Agent Festival opens the door to a more immersive experience and the explanation of the other Bloodshots brings the story together. The action is a complete joy but it’s the twist at the end that takes Bloodshot Island to another level by creating new questions about this intriguing setup. I can’t wait for next issue.

Release Date:7/13/16

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Mico Suayan