Bloodshot

The Valiant Universe

by Fred Van Lente

The Bourne Identity meets X-Men in Bloodshot, a heart-pounding adventure based on the hit comic series from Valiant Entertainment.

He wakes up in the middle of the woods with chalk-white skin, the ability to heal from any injury, and no memory of who or what he is. He is Bloodshot, and now he’s caught between the shadowy defense contractor that wants to capture him, and the underground network of psychic teens that want to destroy him.

Now, Kalea, the girl who found him, has a target on her back just for trying to help him. To save himself and his friends, Bloodshot must stay alive long enough to unravel the mystery of his own identity—and deal with the real possibility that his own family are the ones who most want him dead.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Media Tie In

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 21, 2025

About the author

Fred Van Lente is the New York Times-bestselling author of comics as varied as Archer & Armstrong (Harvey Award nominee, Best Series), Taskmaster, MODOK's 11, Amazing Spider-Man, Conan the Avenger, Weird Detective, and Cowboys & Aliens (upon which the 2011 movie was based), as well as the novels Ten Dead Comedians and The Con Artist.

Van Lente also specializes in entertaining readers with offbeat histories with the help of his incredibly talented artists. He has written the multiple-award winning Action Philosophers!, The Comic Book History of Comics, Action Presidents! (all drawn by Ryan Dunlavey), and The Comic Book Story of Basketball with Joe Cooper (Ten Speed September 2020).

He lives in Brooklyn with his wife Crystal Skillman, and some mostly ungrateful cats.

Reviews

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arc from Netgalley.

Man this is a weird one. On one hand the plot isn't very bad at all. In fact, its quite decent. It hits all the notes. But teen aged Bloodshot is weird.

[The Bookish Elf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred Van Lente's "Bloodshot" is a masterful blend of superhero mythology and psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end. The novel, based on the popular Valiant Comics character, takes familiar tropes from both genres and reconstructs them into something fresh and compelling. While the premise might sound familiar – an amnesiac protagonist with superhuman abilities – Van Lente's execution elevates it beyond standard genre fare.

Plot and Narrative Structure

The story opens with our protagonist awakening in a demolished clearing, possessing chalk-white skin and red eyes but no memories. He's discovered by teenager Kalea Derby and her younger brother Clark, setting off a chain of events that forces him to question everything about his existence. As "Bloodshot" discovers his ability to heal from any injury and communicate with machines, he finds himself caught between two powerful organizations: the shadowy defense contractor Project Rising Spirit (PRS) and a group of young psychics called Generation Zero.

Van Lente cleverly structures the narrative in two parts, with the first half focusing on Bloodshot's journey of self-discovery and the second dealing with the consequences of those revelations. This division works effectively, allowing readers to experience the protagonist's confusion and gradual understanding of his true nature.

Character Development and Relationships

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its character work. The relationship between Bloodshot and Kalea develops naturally and believably, despite the extraordinary circumstances. Their dynamic shifts from rescuer/rescued to partners, then to something more complex as layers of truth are revealed. Clark provides both comic relief and emotional anchor, while characters like Nina and Dodge offer different perspectives on what it means to be "enhanced" by technology.

The antagonist, Dr. Garrison, is particularly well-crafted. His transformation from seemingly caring father figure to megalomaniacal scientist feels earned, with his motivations remaining comprehensible even as his actions become increasingly horrific.

Themes and Subtext

The novel explores several profound themes:

- The nature of consciousness and identity
- The ethics of human enhancement
- The relationship between memory and personality
- The cost of power and control

Van Lente weaves these philosophical questions seamlessly into the action, never allowing them to overshadow the story's momentum. The recurring metaphor of "cake" – something that looks real but isn't – serves as an effective through-line for the book's exploration of authenticity and artificiality.

Writing Style and Pacing

Van Lente's background in comics serves him well here. His prose is lean and efficient, with action scenes that crackle with kinetic energy. The author knows when to slow down for character moments and when to ramp up the tension. His experience writing for both young adult and mature audiences shows in his ability to handle complex themes while maintaining accessibility.

World-Building and Technology

The novel's approach to technology feels grounded despite its fantastic elements. The nanite technology that powers Bloodshot's abilities is explained with enough scientific detail to feel plausible without getting bogged down in technobabble. The various psychic abilities of Generation Zero are similarly well-thought-out, each power having clear rules and limitations.

Critical Analysis

Strengths:

- Engaging and unique take on the superhero genre
- Well-developed characters with complex motivations
- Seamless integration of action and philosophical themes
- Strong pacing and momentum
- Creative use of technology and powers

Areas for Improvement:

- Some secondary characters could use more development
- Certain plot twists might be predictable for genre-savvy readers
- The final act feels slightly rushed compared to the careful buildup
- A few loose ends remain unexplored

Impact and Relevance

The novel's themes of identity and technological enhancement feel particularly relevant in our current era of rapid technological advancement and discussions about artificial intelligence. Its exploration of memory and consciousness raises questions that will only become more pertinent as technology continues to evolve.

Final Verdict

"Bloodshot" is a compelling fusion of action thriller and philosophical science fiction that successfully translates a beloved comic book character into prose form. While not perfect, its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a recommended read for fans of both superhero stories and thoughtful science fiction.

[Kenneth Geary (KagedBooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost I need to admit that I jumped right into this without realize it’s a comic character, but that’s totally fine because I love comic stories but much prefer words on page to graphic novels.

So this is part superhero (anti-hero?) story part psychological thriller which coincidentally is also totally fine with me in fact it’s better than fine it’s downright fun.

Our main character (Bloodshot) wakes up in a field with no idea who he is, but soon discovers he’s able to interact with technology in some unique ways as well as heal from some pretty serious wounds.
He meet Kaele and her brother by chance in the woods and soon finds himself in the middle of a shady group trying to scoop him up and claiming they are allies and a ragtag group of kids opposing the organization.

Just wanting to know who he is and not really wanting be drawn into this fight, he soon finds there is no choice but to choose a side.

I’m a sucker for memory loss stories, not really sure why i’m so drawn to them but this one does a good job of the self-discovery journey and ask the question is the knowledge worth the consequences of knowing it.

I think the pacing was pretty decent for this type of story, it moves pretty fast but doesn’t leave you in the dust. The characters felt a little unbelievable for how young they are meant to be, but I almost always age them up in my head anyway. The ending left me with quite a few questions, but I can only assume sequels are planned based .

I’ll be interested to know how fans of the comics like the novelization and what i gather is a hard reboot of the character. As a first time introduction to the character I liked it and would definitely read more stories with this character.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing me with a chance to get in on this book early. I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Andrew Caira · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF - First dnf on here. This was like a Marvel movie in all the ways that I don’t like Marvel movies. I think I would have enjoyed this when I was 11, but it just wasn’t interesting for me. Got almost to the end, but then just skimmed the last 80 pages.

[Ammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Was a Teenage Bloodshot

Thanks to the superhero movie phenomenon of the new millennium, characters from Marvel and DC Comics have become household names. However, during the comic book investment boom of the 1990s, new publishers like Valiant Comics emerged with their own unique universes.

Outside of the Big Two (Marvel and DC), no one else has created such a fully realized, cohesive shared universe as Valiant did in the 1990s. Their world was populated by teenaged mutants (known as psiots in Valiant speak), super-soldiers, and vigilantes.

I’ll never forget picking up my copy of Bloodshot #1, sporting its quintessentially '90s chromium cover, and diving into the story of Angelo Mortalli—a former mafia hitman turned gun- and sword-toting antihero.

Since then, a lot has changed in the Valiant universe. The books and characters I loved have been rebooted so many times that, while they remain familiar, they’re quite different from what I remember. Fred Van Lente’s YA prose novel, *Bloodshot*, introduces yet another iteration of the character—Ray Garrison—and offers a fresh take on this iconic antihero.

The premise of Van Lente’s novel can best be described as Jason Bourne meets X-Men. If that sounds intriguing to you, you’re in for an enjoyable ride.

Like Jason Bourne, Ray Garrison—the titular Bloodshot—has no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he can do what he does. The explanation lies in nanites: millions of tiny computers coursing through his blood that grant him incredible regenerative abilities, limited shape-shifting (he can alter his appearance), technopathy (the ability to communicate with and control machines), enhanced speed, strength, and more.

Programmed by Project Rising Spirit to be the perfect killing machine, Ray rebels against his creators after awakening to a new sense of self. No longer willing to follow orders, he bands together with young psiots—the very people he was once tasked with hunting—to fight for their freedom. Together, they face off against both Bloodshot’s former handlers and Toyo Harada’s Harbinger Foundation.

As the novel progresses, Ray’s journey shifts from being a programmed weapon to something deeper. He becomes less Jason Bourne and more like Pinocchio or a character from Blade Runner, questioning his humanity and longing to be a “real boy.” This thematic depth adds emotional resonance to the action-packed narrative.

Van Lente includes several clever nods to Valiant’s history that longtime fans will appreciate:
- Several villains are named after Bloodshot’s original creative team—Don Perlin, Kevin VanHook, and Bob Layton.
- There’s a reference to Jeff Lemire (likely acknowledging his contributions to Bloodshot’s modern stories).
- A subtle nod to the *Armorines* series is also tucked into the narrative.

These Easter eggs are a nice touch for those familiar with Valiant lore but don’t detract from the story for newcomers.

Van Lente delivers on his promise of blending frenetic superhero action with teenage angst. The pacing is brisk, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. Ray’s internal struggle adds emotional weight to the high-octane battles, making this more than just another action-packed YA novel.

This was my first time listening to narrator Jeff Fouhey, and I found his performance solid. He captures both the intensity of the action scenes and the vulnerability in Ray’s quieter moments effectively.

Overall, Bloodshot is an entertaining read that reimagines one of Valiant’s most iconic characters for a younger audience while still honoring the franchise’s roots. It’s not quite the Bloodshot I grew up with—and that’s okay! Van Lente has crafted something fresh yet familiar that fans of YA fiction will enjoy.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️s

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. This review reflects my personal and independent opinion.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bloodshot by New York Times bestseller Fred Van Lente is a fresh and engaging take on the legendary Valiant comic book character by the same name. The novel is truly for longtime fans of Bloodshot and those, like myself, new to the tales of the action-packed tales.

He wakes up in the middle of the woods with chalk-white skin, the ability to heal from any injury, and no memory of who or what he is. He is Bloodshot, and now he’s caught between the shadowy defense contractor that wants to capture him, and the underground network of psychic teens that want to destroy him.

Now, Kalea, the girl who found him, has a target on her back just for trying to help him. To save himself and his friends, Bloodshot must stay alive long enough to unravel the mystery of his own identity—and deal with the real possibility that his own family are the ones who most want him dead.

Until I stumbled upon Van Lente's latest Bloodshot novel, I had never had the real desire to dive into the stories of the iconic Valiant character. With the number of comics I currently read, on top of novels and other stuff, I felt like adding a new book to my pull list was just not in the cards. Now, after briskly reading Bloodshot, I may have been persuaded to pick up a few Bloodshot comics during my next trip to my local comic shop.

Van Lante's story is truly accessible to most fans of comics or action-packed tales. Entering with no real knowledge, outside that Bloodshot is a Valiant character, I felt like I was able to slide right in and enjoy the story for what it was—an action-packed superhero tale with plenty of mystery. The author crafted a novel that is for those who are new to the character while also making sure to keep the universe true to the comics (once I finished the story, I did some research). This makes for a great jumping on point for those looking to find out more about the Valiant comics world.

While Van Lente takes an iconic character to adds a bit of a twist to the lore, the overall story is true to form. The novel format allowed the author to crafter a longer story without the constraints of a 22-page floppy comic. While comics are a stellar way to tell a tale, sometimes the story is meant to be told in a different form and it felt like this Bloodshot tale was destined for prose storytelling. Van Lente tells a story with vivid visuals and plenty of action that comic fans are used to when opening up their monthly books.

In the end, Fred Van Lente’s Bloodshot delivers more than just explosive action sequences—it provides introspection wrapped within suspenseful storytelling that appeals beyond traditional comics alone. Van Lente crafted a story that goes beyond the character's origins and allows newcomers to Bloodshot a place to jump in and enjoy the ride. Whether you are a longtime fan looking to dive into another Bloodshot escaped or a newcomer trying to find out what this iconic characters is all about, Van Lente's latest novel is a good place to be.

Bloodshot hits bookstores everywhere on January 21, 2025 from Blackstone Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by James Fouhey, is available at Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance reading copy of Bloodshot from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

He wakes up in the middle of the woods with chalk-white skin, the ability to heal from any injury, and no memory of who or what he is. He is Bloodshot, and now he’s caught between the shadowy defense contractor that wants to capture him, and the underground network of psychic teens that want to destroy him. Kalea, the girl who found him, has a target on her back just for trying to help him.

So, I’m a newbie to the Bloodshot world. I hadn’t seen the comic series, nor watched the Vin Diesel movie. I truly picked this up purely because of its superhero theme.

First impression, in the beginning the story was a bit too YA for me. I didn’t expect the classroom scene and the teenage angst that came with it. So my response was a bit lukewarm towards the plot. However, once we got to the halfway mark, I started to realise that there was more than meeting the eye. As the pace snowballed into higher stakes, I got hooked. The memory reset for Bloodshot was the cherry on top of the cake that got me tethered to the story.

The audiobook was great to follow. The narrator did a good job delivering the audio drama, and I ended up getting fully immersed into this fantasy world. I’d highly recommend checking this out if you like superhero stories, especially if you’re already a fan of Bloodshot!

(Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Jason Ayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of the Valiant Universe since its inception in the early 90s. I followed Valiant into the first reboot, where everything was different, except for the parts that weren’t. I continued to follow through to the second reboot, where once again, everything was different except for the parts that weren’t. I was even there for the beginning of the VCU (Valiant Cinematic Universe) when the Bloodshot movie was released into the wild.

Now, there’s a new Valiant Universe, being told through prose novels, starting with Bloodshot. It should come as no surprise that for the novel series, everything is different, except for the parts that aren’t. (This could be the third novel released, depending on if the two Faith novels are being counted or not.)

I’m hoping these novels are going to follow the Marvel Cinematic Universe formula, with the books being both stand-alone and part of a larger story. For Valiant fans, there were a LOT of familiar names dropped throughout the book that hinted at things to come.

I’m excited to watch this new universe unfold. I’m hoping to see this version of Bloodshot return not only in his own sequel but in other books as well.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a long time of comic books and I’ve always enjoyed the Valiant Comics line. When I heard that Valiant was coming out with some original prose novels, I knew I had to check them out. I was not disappointed.
Bloodshot tells the story of a young man who wakes up in a charred field with little memory. After making a couple of friends who help him along the way, he begins to piece things together.
After a slightly slow start to get pieces into place, the book really took off. It didn’t really surprise me, though. Author Fred van Lente has written some great issues of the Bloodshot comic. He knows the character and his background.
A book like this is a good jumping on point for people who have never read any of the comics before. There were little Easter eggs littered throughout the book, but none of them would take anything away from the enjoyment of the story.
If you’re a fan of Valiant and Bloodshot, you’ll like this. If you’re a comic book fan but have never read and Valiant, you should give this a try.

[Joshua Del Toro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know this was a tie in from a comic series when I picked it up. I realized after I started, and once realizing how many comics there are in this universe, I kept reading. There was no way I could have paused reading, read all the comics, then resume. So, this book was my first introduction to the character, Bloodshot, and the universe as a whole.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The characters were likeable and relatable, and the storyline was intriguing. It reminded me a lot of X Men as I read it. I found it both interesting terrifying that the characters everything was happening to, were children. Not even only teenagers. The twist at the end was great, one I didn't quite see coming if I'm honest. Definitely, one to absolutely check out!

Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC!

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fred Van Lente pulls off a difficult feat of taking a comic character and creating an exciting tale in prose. Bloodshot(hard from Blackstone Publishing, Inc), who apparently had his own movie once, is a nanotech powered super soldier who can easily recover from wounds. This time he is sixteen and has amnesia when he wakes up after a battle. He is found by Kalea, a girl with powerful mental abilities in a world where many teens have x-men type abilities. He had been working for Project Rising Spirit capturing powered teens, and now they are hunting him. I loved the twists in this tale and the action is non-stop. I would love sequels.

[Mark Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story of Bloodshot from the Valiant comic universe. Probably different from the character in the 90s as I understand there was changes as comic companies tend to make over the years. Bloodshot wakes up in a forest with no memory how he came to be there. A brother and sister there to film a movie find him and call for help. Twists and turns on a rollercoaster ride in this fun short novel that looks to be the first in Valiant Comics novel line. You don’t have to know the comics to enjoy this book.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valiant gets in on the prose novel game. It's a variation of the Valiant universe. Bloodshot is now a teenager and his dad is the original Bloodshot. He meets up with Generation Zero from the comics after getting his mind wiped and it more or less adheres to the comics from there except for the end. It was alright. It's not the best thing Van Lente has written, but nor is it the worst. It's right there in the middle ground.

[Jessica Plopper · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and I really enjoyed it. Bloodshot was a fun ride and had some twists I wasn't expecting.
It's a pretty short and easy read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes action and characters with super abilities!

[Amy Medeiros · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and creative thriller that was filled with such interesting characters and action scenes.

[Myprivatebookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and creative. Our character was brave and in a search of himself and accompanying him during his journey was a real pleasure.
Finding out who you actually are is always a painful process regardless whether you have super powers or not.