RAI {2nd Series} #9
“The Orphan, pt. 1” (22 pages)
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Clayton Crain
Letterer: Dave Lanphear
Covers by: Clayton Crain; Ryan Sook; Riley Rossmo; Ryan Lee w/ Allen Passalaqua; Clayton Henry w/ Andrew Dalhouse
Publisher: Valiant Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Lula Lee, one of the resistors against Father, is able to dodge a robot sentry. Lula bears a gift to the Geomancer now christened Karana by her – it’s a plant. With one touch from Karana, it blooms into a full-fledged flower. Karana tells Lula that the Earth is a beautiful thing. Her imprisonment by Father was to prevent uprising against New Japan by keeping the country’s solar exhaust low. Lula realizes that fugitive status is less than ideal. A sound strategy has to be implemented. Karana notices Lula sporting Nakama rings. In essence, they represent bonds of friendship. Lula starts listing one for almost every finger (six) before she tears up. The respite is temporary. Robots resume the hunt.
Spylocke, former celeb super-spy, is Father’s prime prisoner. He’d rather be tortured than endure re-runs of his animated series. Father doesn’t let up. He suspects that subliminal messages are being transmitted through the toons.
Karl, the latest newscaster, delivers Father’s new directives to the masses. He is ambushed and killed by an extremely monstrous murderer.
Momo has a flashback to her time with Rai. They were content. Izak, her emissary, informs her that a clear message was sent to Karl. She only wanted him to be intimidated, not expired. News travel super-fast. Lula can no longer lead the life of a fugitive. She is a moving target from all sides. She yearns for Rai who is long gone.
Rai is alive and well!! Reports of his death have been greatly exaggerated. He awakens and emerges from an alien carcass trying to process the last memories he had. The air is pure, clean, and fresh, unlike before. He is no longer linked to New Japan. The young PT is barely out of the ‘womb’ when soldiers gun him down. He will be stripped for parts.
Matt Kindt is a wunderkind!! How praiseworthy it is to have this title receive three Harvey Awards nominations!!! The chronicle has all the makings of Japanese fiction from the castes to the struggles of the common people against the overlord. The fact that love can exist between two A.I.’s is extremely forward-thinking! I’m a bit confused as to why Momo has employed Izak if Father is keeping tabs on him?
Painted art is eye candy and an extraordinary feat as well as treat in comic book pages. Clayton Crain is top dog!! The digital depictions are superbly four-dimensional. I feel like I’m watching an upscale animated feature. I will cheat and quote Joe Quesada: “His work is like a mixture of the world’s greatest tattoo artist and Leonardo Da Vinci.” There can be no higher acclaim!! He gets extra credit for deliberately cartoony depiction of Spylocke’s TV series. Animation-within-animation. WWWHHHOOOAAA :0
Dave Lanphear specializes in fonts. I dig the 3D title for Spylocke’s toon as well as italicized computerized captions, especially the capital S for Sectors 4000 and 3002.
My second Valiant read in one day. This is a fantastic jumping-on point for a complete newbie like me (also n00b). The recap page gave me everything I needed.
As with BOOK of DEATH, I’m grateful for the fact that the long-time history of this character isn’t bogged down by continuity. I enjoy this grab-and-go approach J Like any another talented writer, now I want to read further backwards and witness the solid foundation established between Rai and Momo. Research gave me a somewhat surprised revelation: Rai is a template of Bloodshoot but a much superior version!! Who’d have thunk it?!?
If X is ten and Rai has been replaced by XI, I give this book 10 out of 11 [91%] in favour of the protagonist 😉
Extra content:
BLOODSHOT REBORN preview – “The Hunt, pt. 1” (4 pages)
Writer: Jeff Lemire Artist: Butch Guice Colorist: David Baron Letterer: Dave Lanphear
