Jeff Lemire Takes Aim with Bloodshot Reborn

Bloodshot, one of the Valiant comic universe's most iconic characters, may be down, but don't count him out just yet. Comic creator Jeff Lemire intends to set a new course for once stone-cold killer, and comic lovers are in for a wild ride that will reveal sides to the character readers have never seen before! Read our interview with the Bloodshot Reborn writer below, and be sure to head over to your local comic shop to pre-order issue #1 (FEB151641). Trust us—you'll want to get in on this exciting new chapter of the Valiant comic universe straight from the start!

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PREVIEWSworld: You first picked up Bloodshot’s story in the pages of The Valiant... What was your first impression of the character, and did you come to him with a long-term plan in mind?

Jeff Lemire: I actually already knew that I would be doing Bloodshot monthly before coming up with the story for The Valiant. I had my Bloodshot direction firmly planned, so part of coming up with the story for The Valiant was getting the character to the starting point of Bloodshot Reborn #1.

Bloodshot isn’t a character that really attracted me right off the bat. I enjoy doing really character driven stuff. Very emotionally charged stories, and Bloodshot by his nature is very cold and mechanical. So I started to think of ways to bring a bit more personality and heart to Bloodshot and that’s where the seeds of Boodshot Reborn came from.

I originally signed up to do one big Bloodshot story, about eight issues, because I’m so damn busy, but since then my plans keep growing and growing. I currently have a rough plan for 25 issues!

PREVIEWSworld: Famously, Bloodshot is virtually impervious to any kind of physical harm...but his psychological scars seem to last a lot longer. Where is he—both geographically and emotionally—when we first encounter him in Bloodshot Reborn?

Jeff Lemire: I cannot reveal where Bloodshot is emotionally or physically in Bloodshot Reborn #1 because that would spoil the end of The Valiant. BUT...Bloodshot will be in a place readers have never seen him before. I can also guarantee that readers will not need to have read ANY Bloodshot comics in the past to come in and enjoy our series from the start. It’s a totally accessible first issue that gives you all the info you need to get in on the ground floor. 

PREVIEWSworld: Tonally, how does Bloodshot Reborn stack up against the other Bloodshot stories and series that have come before? Do readers need any familiarity with the character before jumping into issue #1?

Jeff Lemire: It’s very different from anything that’s been done with the character in the past. It is very moody, very mysterious. Heavily influenced by my love of True Detective and David Lynch, whereas Bloodshot comics in the past have been action-adventure stories this is very much a mystery and a thriller.

PREVIEWSworld: In series like Animal Man and Green Arrow, we’ve seen you examine the very real human relationships behind otherwise superhuman characters. Do you have plans to develop an extended cast for Bloodshot in Bloodshot Reborn, or will his new mission primarily be a solo tale?

Jeff Lemire: One of my favorite things about Animal Man and Green Arrow was building a big supporting cast of new characters and Bloodshot will be no different. There are a number of new characters that will become very important to Bloodshot’s story. One in particular is an FBI agent named Diane Festival, whom I LOVE writing and have big plans for as the series unfolds. 

PREVIEWSworld: Bloodshot Reborn is your first collaboration with artist Mico Suayan. What is your take on his work thus far, and what sensibility does Mico bring to the page?

Jeff Lemire: He is a phenom. His work is so HYPER-detailed it boggles my mind. It is so moody and gorgeous. It’s absolutely perfect for the tone I had in mind. And his intricate line work combined with David Baron’s colors has been stellar. David is very much the cinematographer of the series. Setting mood and tome with his color work. It’s a really amazing looking book.

PREVIEWSworld: Between your creator-owned projects and various series at DC, you’ve worked on a great variety of characters in a number of different genres. How is Bloodshot Reborn different from—or similar to—other projects you may have worked on in the past?

Jeff Lemire: Bloodshot Reborn is unlike anything I’ve ever done in the past. Which is good, I need to explore new things and new kinds of stories, or I’ll get stale creatively and that will translate down to the readers. And Bloodshot has been totally invigorating for me. I’m going to places I never could before.

See a PREVIEWS Prevue of Bloodshot Reborn #1 from Valiant Entertainment!