TITLE: Bloodstrike Vol. 1, Issue 1
YEAR: April 1993
COMPANY: Image Comics
Creator/Co-Plotter: Rob Liefeld
Penciller: Dan Fraga
Script: Eric Stephenson
Inks: Danny Miki
Lettering: Kurt Hathaway
Technical Assistant: Richard Horie
Color Separation: Chameleon Prime
When I was reading “Bloodstrike” when it was first released, I wondered if Rob Liefeld was channeling his popular Marvel characters, Cable and Stryfe.
“Brigade” was released after “Youngblood” which featured Battlestone, former leader of Youngblood who was expelled due to the number of deaths of Youngblood members during a mission.
Battlestone created Brigade, who takes on missions that the government doesn’t want to do and the team accepts the mission.
Needless to say, the government has their own elite team of operatives known as Bloodstrike, those who were killed in action but resurrected by military scientists. The leader of this team is Cabbot Stone, brother of Brigade leader, Battlestone.
For issue #1, the team are sent to take out a G.A.T.E (Genetic and Technological Engineering) facility.
But as things seemed to be going smooth, they come across Commander Corben who has his army ambushing the Bloodstrike team.
For the most part, this issue is more of an introductory issue to the characters that makeup Bloodstrike and also establishing their special abilities and how this group is not afraid to maim or kill.
But are they ready to take on the mad Commander?
But what happens when Cabbot receives a message of Bloodstrike’s next target… Brigade?
Overall, a good introduction issue. Cool art, very violent (and bloody) and it will be interesting to see these protagonist superhero groups end up doing with other competitive superhero teams around.
A good issue but it’s interesting to see a character that looks so similar to Marvel Comics character, Cable (which Rob Leifeld also created).