BLOODSHOT #56

"TOO VIOLENT FOR THE BROTHERHOOD"

ANTHONY KOCH

PAGE ONE

PANEL ONE

Bloodshot, in a black leather jacket, gray pants, and his combat boots, is walking down a corridor lined with people. We can only see Bloodshot; everyone else is in silhouette.

CAPTION:

The places I've gone, the people I've met.

CAPTION:

Damn Cole, anyway.

PANEL TWO

Zoom in on Bloodshot.

CAPTION:

That's not fair. I'd want answers, too, if I were him.

PANEL THREE

Zoom in even tighter on Bloodshot.

CAPTION:

If I didn't want answers, I wouldn't be here, either.

CAPTION:

And I was looking for something to take my mind off my troubles.

PANEL FOUR

Flashback scene begins. Bloodshot is sitting in a coffee shop across from Richard Cole [Last seen in the BLOODSHOT: LAST STAND special], who looks very tired.

TEXT BOX:

Six weeks earlier.

COLE:

Hell, I feel like a bastard for doing this.

BLOODSHOT:

Don't.

PANEL FIVE

Close-up of Cole. He looks very tired.

COLE:

Here, I haven't seen you in years and, the second I hear you're back in town, I call you up with a "project." Some friend.

PANEL SIX

Close-up of Bloodshot, looking concerned about his friend.

BLOODSHOT:

If I didn't consider you a friend, I wouldn't be here.

CAPTION:

In fact, you may be the only friend I have left.

PAGE TWO

PANEL ONE

Cole is opening a battered briefcase that rests on the table in front of him, just off to one side.

COLE:

I had a nephew killed in the Federal Building blast.

PANEL TWO

Bloodshot tilts his head slightly to one side. He's not completely sure what Cole is talking about. The first caption is in “nanite font.”

CAPTION:

Federal… Accessing files.

CAPTION:

Got it.

BLOODSHOT:

Go on.

PANEL THREE

Cole is holding an unmarked (nothing as dramatic as "Confidential" or "Top Secret," please!) file folder in one hand.

COLE:

People die. You and I have been through enough to have learned that little life lesson a few times over.

COLE:

But, Michael, people have been talking that maybe there were darker forces at work behind it.

PANEL FOUR

Cole now offers the folder to Bloodshot.

COLE:

I did some investigating on my own, after our last little encounter. I've hit a brick wall, but I don’t like what I've been able to find out. You seem to have a way of--

PANEL FIVE

Bloodshot has regained his poker face. Whatever confusion he had is now masked completely.

CAPTION:

Now I get it. The nightmare never ends for him. First dealing with his son*, now this tragedy.

TEXT BOX: * See the LAST STAND Special for details.

BLOODSHOT:

I'll look into it.

PANEL SIX

Bloodshot and Cole, outside the coffee shop, shake hands. The folder is not visible. Cole looks relieved and maybe a bit embarrassed at involving his friend in what must surely be a crackpot conspiracy theory.

COLE:

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate it. I hope you prove me wrong.

PAGE THREE

PANEL ONE

Bloodshot is sitting at a PC. Maybe he's actually wearing a T-shirt and jeans, or something less formal than his working clothes.

CAPTION:

Cole was right. This whole thing was covered up.

PANEL TWO

We're looking down on a stack of glossy photos showing the damage of the bombing. Perhaps the corner of the PC's keyboard can be seen.

CAPTION:

There's no way that an ANFO bomb* could have caused that much damage.

CAPTION:

Police radio broadcasts, describing a "military bomb." People spotting a live missile in the wreckage.

TEXT BOX:

* Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil

PANEL THREE

We're a bit behind and off to the side of Bloodshot, who is staring at a file on the PC screen. He's wearing different (but still "casual") clothes than in Panel One.

CAPTION:

Several people, including a Federal Judge, were warned not to be in the building that day.

PANEL FOUR

Same as Panel Three, but closer.

CAPTION:

CNN and other channels reported that bomb-sniffing dogs detected at least four other bombs…

CAPTION:

…including one strapped to the column next to a day care center.

PANEL FIVE

Bloodshot is holding a steaming coffee cup in one hand. The other hand is on the PC's hard drive, which is all he needs to "write."

CAPTION:

I began creating my cover...

CAPTION:

…using the nanites to backdate Bulletin Board postings, just a one-sentence reply here and there, going back to just after the bombing.

PANEL SIX

Bloodshot is packing a duffel bag tat rests on his bed. He's wearing a black t-shirt (NOT a vest), grey pants, and his combat boots.

CAPTION:

I got more involved, delving deeper into a part of American society best forgotten.

PANEL SEVEN

Back to Page One, Panel One (Bloodshot walking down the hall with the silhouetted others).

CAPTION:

Until I finally connected with David Pierce, a leader of a southern Internet-based Aryan militia movement.

CAPTION:

And that's what brought me…

PAGE FOUR

Splash page.

Bloodshot is standing beside no more than eight militia-looking types, all wearing the same "uniform" (these uniforms have swastikas on them, by the way). They all look a bit sloppy. Their leader, David Pierce, is a heavyset man, at the head of the pack. He has receding hair, to accompany his paunch and disheveled appearance. The whole idea behind these guys is that they're probably redneck middle-management types when they're not dressing up in funny costumes and goose-stepping in front of their chums.

The venue is a large, outdoor, football stadium (no dome, please). There are huge banners and flags (that have symbols suggestive of, but that aren't, swastikas) everywhere. Tons of people fill the stands and mill about. It should be frightening at how many people are at this thing.

CAPTION:

Here.

PAGE FIVE

PANEL ONE

Bloodshot and Pierce are greeted by Gunter Worch, the leader of these festivities. Worch is dressed in a sports coat, dress slacks and a mock turtleneck (right-wing respectability). A few goons flank him, including Henderson Blackwell [see ETERNAL WARRIOR #43, Page 15 for reference]. Worch shakes hands with Pierce.

WORCH:

Mr. Pierce. At last we meet.

PANEL TWO

Worch looks up at Bloodshot suspiciously. He does not offer to shake hands.

WORCH:

And who might we have here?

PANEL THREE

Pierce, trying to suck up to Worch, places on hand on Bloodshot's shoulder and gestures with the other.

PIERCE:

Herr Worch, this is Cameron Roberts. Me and him have been corresponding off and on for years now. He can be trusted.

PANEL FOUR

Worch appraises Bloodshot. Barker scowls skeptically.

WORCH:

Trust, Mr. Pierce, must be earned.

PANEL FIVE

Worch has turned his back on Pierce and his men and is striding off-panel to our right.

WORCH:

Follow me, please.

PANEL SIX

Crop on Bloodshot and Pierce, who follow behind. Pierce is talking to Bloodshot in a stage whisper.

PIERCE:

Don't you worry none, Roberts. Just stick with me and you'll be fine.

PAGE SIX

PANEL ONE

The group has entered an inner room. The powers that be are preparing back here. it's pretty much like any other green room--couches, coffee tables, and refreshments galore. The only difference is that most green rooms don't come with armed guards wearing armbands adorned with the swastika-like symbols from Page Four.

BLACKWELL:

Search our “guest.”

PANEL TWO

Pierce is embarrassed at the treatment of his guest, and it shows on his face.

PIERCE:

Now just a damn minute.

OFF-PANEL:

If you're mad, blame Blackwell.

PANEL THREE

We see a newcomer, with a military cut, a long black leather trench coat with a navy jumpsuit under it (there are no logos or identifying marks on any of his clothes). A pair of black leather gloves and "standard" combat boots complete the ensemble. He's also wearing a pair of expensive sunglasses and smoking a cigarette. This is Raymond Garrison.

GARRISON:

After that whole fiasco with Masters, he doesn’t trust anybody.*

GARRISON:

Including me.

TEXT BOX:

 * As seen in ETERNAL WARRIORs #43-44.

PANEL FOUR

Same as Panel Three, but done with a high-tech "scan" (think the Terminator movies). All captions are in "nanite font."

CAPTION:

Flexon jumpsuit. Tailored, micro-mesh weave trench will hide a gun from prying eyes and metal detectors.

CAPTION:

A .666 semi-automatic Magnum, icepick-stopping gloves. Knife in boot sheath.

PANEL FIVE

Bloodshot has been patted down and Garrison offers his hand. The caption is back in "normal" font.

CAPTION:

Not your average militia gear. Some of it looks like government issue.

GARRISON:

But not trusting me is a smart thing to do.

PANEL SIX

Close-up of Bloodshot, who appears wary.

BLOODSHOT:

Duly noted.

PANEL SEVEN

Close-up of Garrison's face. His expression is unreadable.

GARRISON:

Nice hair. I like the twin lightning bolts. Old-school, SS-ish, if I may.

PANEL EIGHT

Close-up of a frowning Bloodshot.

PAGE SEVEN

PANEL ONE

Garrison is still looking at Bloodshot, but is now smiling.

GARRISON:

But, hell, Masters' "raising from the dead" act was worthy of Lazarus himself, wouldn't you say--

PANEL TWO

Garrison has tilted his head to one side and had pulled down his sunglasses slightly, as if to get a better look at Bloodshot, who refuses to show emotion.

GARRISON:

What was your name again?

PANEL THREE

Bloodshot has walked right up to Garrison who--although a tall man--is shorter than Bloodshot and peers down at him.

CAPTION:

Was that an emphasis on "Lazarus"? Does he know who I am?

BLOODSHOT:

Roberts. Cameron Roberts.

PANEL FOUR

Garrison blows a cloud of cigarette smoke into Bloodshot's face.

GARRISON:

Nope. My mistake. Never heard of you.

GARRISON:

My name's Ray. The last name's "Garrison," Mr. Roberts.

PANEL FIVE

Worch isn't sure what's just transpired here, but he's not too happy about losing the spotlight. This is his party after all.

WORCH:

If you're done sniffing one another, can we omit the raising of hind legs?

WORCH:

We have a captive audience, ready to watch the proceedings on closed-circuit.

PANEL SIX

The whole group has regained some semblance of control. most are duly chastised; Garrison looks amused.

OFF-PANEL:

Let’s go, then.

PAGE EIGHT

PANEL ONE

Worch is on a stage, the focus of attention for the gathering we witnessed on Page Four's splash. A simple podium with a microphone stands center-stage. An American flag and a Nazi-esque flag frame him in for the cameras, which are also visible.

WORCH:

To all the brothers, both here in person and watching from afar, I salute you.

PANEL TWO

Show as a TV screen, as Worch would be seen on closed-circuit. The word balloons should reflect this, as well.

WORCH:

We stand poised on the brink of our largest success to date. The American government has given up the hunt for any co-conspirators.

PANEL THREE

The same as Panel Two.

WORCH:

And our own Saint Timothy shall take his knowledge to the grave, most likely at the taxpayers' expense.

PANEL FOUR

Cut back to the "live" action. Another man, Middle Eastern in appearance, is led out, wearing handcuffs and leg irons, his mouth sealed with duct tape.

WORCH:

The mud person you see before you now was to have left the country after the operation, but remained.

PANEL FIVE

Worch is unholstering the firearm on strapped to his side.

WORCH:

A loose end that I shall tie up here.

PANEL SIX

Close-up of the Middle Eastern man, his eyes wide in panic. All captions are in nanite font.

CAPTION:

Al-Hussani Hussein.

CAPTION:

A radical terrorist who's admitted killing 5 Mossad agents and who's wanted for his role in a commercial airline bombing in Paris.

PAGE NINE

PANEL ONE

Garrison leans slightly towards Bloodshot and addresses him in a stage whisper.

GARRISON:

I guess it's true, Mr. Roberts.

PANEL TWO

Similar to Panel One, only now Garrison is standing upright again.

GARRISON:

Politics do make strange bedfellows.

PANEL THREE

Close-up of Bloodshot, who once again remains expressionless.

CAPTION:

It doesn't make sense. There's a piece missing.

CAPTION:

Two men in prison, and Hussein, here. They had to have had a man on the inside.

PANEL FOUR

Close-up of Garrison, a small smile on his face.

CAPTION:

We need to know his identity.

PANEL FIVE

Silhouette of Worch and Hussein. Hussein is kneeling while Worch points his gun at the "prisoner's" head from a distance of about three feet.

CAPTION:

Do I save him?

CAPTION:

Under different circumstances, I'd shoot him myself.

PANEL SIX

Back to the TV screen. Same scene as Panel Five, but not silhouetted.

WORCH:

Although his betrayal was not intentional, it was a betrayal.

PAGE TEN

PANEL ONE

Same as Page Nine, Panel Three. Bloodshot is still deliberating what to do.

CAPTION:

I've come so far, worked so hard.

CAPTION:

And he's bragged of his guilt to the foreign press.

PANEL TWO

Back to Worch about to execute Hussein. Close in on the gun.

CAPTION:

He's guilty and I can't afford to blow my cover now.

CAPTION:

Not for him.

PANEL THREE

Close-up of the gun, firing.

CAPTION:

May God grant mercy on your soul.

PANEL FOUR

Worch, an evil grin on his face, has raised both arms in the air, acknowledging the cheers of his followers. One hand holds the gun; the other is extended in a Nazi salute.

WORCH:

For the Brotherhood!

PANEL FIVE

Close-up and crop Worch, from Panel Four

CAPTION:

But I promise to bring you down before this day is through.

PANEL SIX

Worch has calmed down and resumed speaking at the podium.

WORCH:

And with that lesson in mind, let me assure you that bigger things are planned for the days and years ahead.

WORCH:

We will force the country back to the right! I swear!

PAGE ELEVEN

PANEL ONE

Worch leaves the stage, trailed by the same group that followed him out there.

PANEL TWO

A flunky hands Worch a glass of water.

WORCH:

And now, if you'll excuse me, Pierce. Roberts. We have some serious planning to do while our "guest speakers" keep the crowds entertained.

PANEL THREE

Garrison approaches Worch, smiling his devious smile.

GARRISON:

Excuse me. Herr Worch? I think Roberts should join us.

PANEL FOUR

Bloodshot is doing a double-take in Garrison's direction.

CAPTION:

What?

PANEL FIVE

Garrison now stands with one hand on Bloodshot's shoulder, but his eyes have never left Worch.

GARRISON:

When you pulled the trigger, Roberts here never even flinched.

GARRISON:

He's with us. You can be sure of that.

PANEL SIX

Bloodshot remains impassive, refusing to comment.

PAGE TWELVE

PANEL ONE

Pierce, suddenly finding himself being ignored in favor of his guest, protests.

PIERCE:

This is outrageous. Roberts came with me. If he stays, I--

PANEL TWO

Worch, irked that a lower echelon member such as Pierce would dare speak up, decides to end all conversation.

WORCH:

You will do as you're told, like a good soldier.

WORCH:

That will be all, Mr. Pierce.

PANEL THREE

Worch offers his hand to Bloodshot.

WORCH:

All of his warnings aside, I do trust Ray, Mr. Roberts. Implicitly.

WORCH:

Join us. Please.

PANEL FOUR

Bloodshot, still uncertain about exactly what is going on, reluctantly shakes Worch's hand.

BLOODSHOT:

I'd be honored, sir.

CAPTION:

What are you up to, Garrison?

PANEL FIVE

Worch sits at the head of a long table. Around it sit Blackwell, Garrison, Bloodshot, and a couple other thugs. None of the men at the table wear neo-Nazi symbols, including Worch, who has removed his. There are bottles of water in front of each man.

WORCH:

So, what do you think?

CAPTION:

My God.

PANEL SIX

Close-up of Bloodshot, who has to be careful not to focus unwanted attention on himself.

BLOODSHOT:

It's an ambitious target, sir. But based on what I've seen here today, if anyone could do it, it'd be you.

BLOODSHOT:

But the White House? How? The security detail--

PANEL SEVEN

We're looking out at the table from Worch's POV.

CAPTION:

"The specifics, Mr. Roberts, must remain secret. But let me say…"

PANEL EIGHT

Close-up of Garrison.

CAPTION:

"…we have a way to…neutralize the security and enter through the White House's underground tunnels."

PAGE THIRTEEN

PANEL ONE

It's now Garrison's turn to speak, which he does from his chair.

GARRISON:

What we don't have is a patsy, or a fall guy. Someone has to get caught.

PANEL TWO

Garrison is now out of his chair, pacing before the group.

GARRISON:

We'll need to pick the right guard, doctor his files, so it looks like he's been around for some time.

PANEL THREE

Garrison has taken his place at the head of the table, standing behind and a little to the side of Worch, who is seated.

GARRISON:

A minority would be best for our purposes. One we can make look like a socialist or a religious extremist.

PANEL FOUR

Garrison is now leaning on the table, propping himself up with both arms.

GARRISON:

What am I saying? All we need is someone who looks as though he could be either of those things.

GARRISON:

We'll invent the details we need.

PANEL FIVE

Same as Panel Four.

GARRISON:

After all, with computers, people can be created or destroyed with a few keystrokes.

PANEL SIX

Close-up of Bloodshot, who's squinting his eyes in concentration.

CAPTION:

"Isn't that right, Roberts?"

BLOODSHOT:

I wouldn't know anything about that.

PAGE FOURTEEN

PANEL ONE

Bloodshot, in an effort to buy some time, opens his bottle of water.

CAPTION:

Garrison has to be a government agent.

CAPTION:

His wardrobe, his armaments, and his information.

PANEL TWO

Bloodshot now takes a sip from his bottle.

CAPTION:

But why does he taunt me one minute, only to declare his trust in me the next?

PANEL THREE

Bloodshot places his bottled water back on the table.

BLOODSHOT:

And how do you know so much about this, Garrison? Have you done it before?

PANEL FOUR

Garrison thoroughly enjoys the question and his smile broadens.

PAGE FIFTEEN

PANEL ONE

Garrison takes a sip of his own bottled water.

PANEL TWO

As he wipes off his mouth with the back of one gloved hand, he replies.

GARRISON:

Research.

PANEL THREE

Cut to Bloodshot's POV of Garrison. Over the picture is the special effect of Garrison's heartbeat, like on an EKG. We see a spike after Garrison’s response,

CAPTION:

He's lying.

PANEL FOUR

Bloodshot locks eyes with Garrison, who returns his stare. Neither of these warriors will look away from one another.

PANEL FIVE

Bloodshot looks away, deliberately.

CAPTION:

Don’t blow your cover, Lazarus. Look away.

PAGE SIXTEEN

PANEL ONE

Bloodshot is once more looking Garrison in the eye, but without the hostility and tension.

CAPTION:

The nanites are doing their work, balancing out blood chemistry and calming me down…

PANEL TWO

Garrison is grinning again.

PANEL THREE

Bloodshot puts on a half-hearted smile himself.

BLOODSHOT:

Yeah, research. Nowadays anyone with a modem can find out more than they know what to do with.

PANEL FOUR

Bloodshot is sitting down now.

BLOODSHOT:

Remember when conspiracy nuts only had late-night AM radio talk show hosts as a venue?

PANEL FIVE

Now Garrison has stopped smiling, looking intently at Bloodshot and listening carefully. Bloodshot takes another sip from his bottled water.

CAPTION:

Things sure have changed. What’s an undercover government agent to do?

PAGE SEVENTEEN

PANEL ONE

Garrison deliberately drops his bottled water onto the floor.

GARRISON:

Try a diversionary tactic.

PANEL TWO

Silent panel of Bloodshot frowning at Garrison’s reply.

PANEL THREE

Silhouette of the 2 men once again staring at each other from across the table.

GARRISON:

Did it work?

PANEL FOUR

Garrison looks over his shoulder, at the neo-Nazis who are still in the room, smiling coldly. The most of the neos are smiling a bit hesitantly. Only Worch is frowing.

GARRISON:

That’s a joke, boys.

PANEL FIVE

One of the neos attempts a half-hearted laugh, but no one—not even Garrison—joins him. Worch has placed a hand on the butt of his firearm.

GARRISON:

Now, come on, Roberts. Worch. I’m just yanking your chains.

PANEL SIX

Garrison’s head pivots as he looks at them both.

GARRISON:

Well, dropping my water didn’t work. Maybe a bigger distraction, like shouting “fire,” or--

PAGE EIGHTEEN

PANEL ONE

An armed guard, wearing the Nazi-esque paraphernalia, comes bursting into the room, panic stricken.

GUARD:

It’s a raid! The Feds! They’re here!

PANEL TWO

All hell breaks loose. Lights are flashing and sirens are wailing. Garrison and Bloodshot both bolt upright.

CAPTION:

Damn it!

PANEL THREE

Everyone is racing out the door. Bloodshot is trying to keep his eye on Garrison.

CAPTION:

Move! Don’t let him out of your sight!

PANEL FOUR

Garrison, Bloodshot in hot pursuit, races down the hallway, back from where they came. In spite of the nanites, Bloodshot isn’t able to catch him.

PAGE NINETEEN

PANEL ONE

This whole page is from Bloodshot’s POV. We’re back outside, now. Black helicopters, with no identifying features, hover in the sky. Paratroopers, armed to the teeth, are rappelling down cables suspended from the open copter doors in an attempt to join their colleagues on the ground. For the rest of the “crowd” scenes, show neo-Nazis thrown to the floor, with their hands tied behind their backs, cowering in fear, etc. Maybe a few are courageous enough to try to fire a shot?

CAPTION:

I’ll be damned.

CAPTION:

It’s the cavalry.

PANEL TWO

Bloodshot is racing through the pandemonium as quick as he can, showing Nazis and troopers alike out of his way. Maybe show his hands pulling 2 combatants apart so he can get through them.

CAPTION:

Gotta get Garrison. Can’t let him get away.

PANEL THREE

Bloodshot sees the troopers and the Nazis fighting one another, clustered together in mob action. And, just barely visible through the crowd, he sees the hem of Garrison’s trench coat.

CAPTION:

There!

PANEL FOUR

Still from Bloodshot’s POV. The crowd’s a little thinner now, and Garrison is fully visible. He’s pulled out his .666, but isn’t firing it.

PANEL FIVE

Garrison grabs a dirt bike that he’s stashed under some branches and other cover.

CAPTION:

No!

PANEL SIX

Bloodshot is running as fast as he can go. He’s refusing to give up. This caption is in “nanite font.”

CAPTION:

Switch to infrared for better tracking.

PAGE TWENTY

PANEL ONE

Bloodshot sees the abandoned bike at the edge of a huge opening. Garrison stands in the opening while a sleeker, faster looking black copter is heading towards him.

PANEL TWO

Bloodshot is finally close enough to snag Garrison by his collar.

BLOODSHOT:

And now, you’re going to give me some answers.

PANEL THREE

Bloodshot is holding Garrison by his coat’s lapels. Garrison’s hands are fidgeting with his belt.

GARRISON:

Sorry, but my ride’s here. I trust that you can find your own way out?

PANEL FOUR

Garrison is being hoisted up into the air. Bloodshot reaches for his pistol, but doesn’t have it. He looks up at Garrison’s rapidly retreating figure.

BLOODSHOT:

Did you blow up the federal building?

GARRISON:

What’s that, son? I can’t hear you over the rotors.

PANEL FIVE

Garrison is now safely standing on the floor of the helicopter. He cups his hands to his mouth to shout down at Bloodshot, who has lowered his pistol.

GARRISON:

But let’s say the government did know about it in advance and allowed it to happen.

PANEL SIX

Garrison is now kneeling on the floor of the helicopter, looking down at Bloodshot. His manner is relaxed, his tone conversational.

GARRISON:

Wouldn’t you say the payoff was worth it, Mr. Lazarus

PAGE TWENTY-ONE

PANEL ONE

GARRISON:

I know it sounds a tad Machiavellian, but some would say it was a fair exchange.

GARRISON:

What do you think, Mr. Lazarus?

PANEL TWO

Close-up on Garrison. His expression is earnest. He desperately wants Bloodshot to see things his way.

GARRISON:

Yes, some innocents lost their lives, but just enough to make it look convincing…

PANEL THREE

We see Bloodshot craning his neck as he stares after the rapidly diminishing Garrison. He’s starting to listen, almost in spite of himself.

GARRISON:

And we frightened away all but the hard-core zealots. And now we’ve captured them, foiled their plans, and we’ll get even more once these guys talk.

PANEL FOUR

Garrison stands up again. He’s done here and soon will be too far gone for Bloodshot to hear him, anyway.

GARRISON:

Was it an acceptable price to pay?

PANEL FIVE

This panel is a bird’s eye POV. Bloodshot is standing on the ground, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed, as he realizes he doesn’t have an easy answer. Captions are in a typewriter-like font.

CAPTION:

“I mean, if we had done it?”

PANEL SIX

Same as previous, but from a higher position (Bloodshot’s even smaller).

CAPTION:

"But after a spike in interest following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the 'Patriot' movement, as it's called, in fact has seen a steady and steep decline..."

PANEL SEVEN

Same, only pulled away even more. No features are visible, just a tiny silhouetted figure on the ground.

CAPTION:

"None of this is to suggest that the radical right in the United States is going away or even shrinking.... The number of explicitly white-supremacist and other hate groups has grown since the Oklahoma City bombing."

* * * * *

Well, if you’re checking this out, let me just say thanks for all your patience (special thanks to my EiC who never openly gave up on me, although I know he had his doubts!). It’s been a while since I last posted a Bloodshot tale here, but I promise it won’t take this long for the next one to appear.

This story was a difficult one to write. I wanted to pick up the Bloodshot/conspiracies angle, started by Kevin VanHook, elaborated on by Mark Moretti and perfected by Len Kaminski. I picked the Oklahoma City bombing (although, as was VALIANT tradition, I don’t refer to OKC specifically, but a fictionalized version of it) because I had heard some “AM radio talk show host” discussing it and it seemed a good fit. So I plotted the story and then the atrocity we merely call 9/11 happened. Comics seemed properly trivial again and I didn’t want to somehow diminish the loss of lives in Oklahoma City. So what made me pick this back up?

Well, the first the warning about neo-Nazi membership increasing even more as a result of 9/11. And the second? An article in which the U.S. government admitted that—after seven-plus years of silence and denials—there was indeed a missile in the Murrah Building wreckage, and that the Feds had been storing it above a day care center.

I don’t claim to know what happened at Oklahoma City. I surely know that what I’ve written isn’t what happened (exactly). I surfed the major conspiracy sites and picked out the tidbits that were mentioned consistently and that best fit with the tone of the tale. Some of the “better” sites are given below.

Check ‘em out for yourself and make up your own mind. Free thought isn’t illegal yet.

The final quotes in the tale come from The Christian Science Monitor, June 11, 2001.

A nice overview can be found at the mother of all conspiracy websites, www.disinfo.com.

And if you want to delve a bit deeper, check out www.okcbombing.org.

The connection to the Middle East and Oklahoma City is a bit unsettling, but I mentioned it because of the current political climate. Again, check it out for yourself, here, if you’d like. And, should anyone be skeptical about Aryans and Muslims being “strange bedfellows,” check out this article.

This issue marks the VH-1 debut of Raymond Garrison, who was—of course—the VH-2 Bloodshot (at least his corpse was). He’s just as nasty here as he was before Operation: Lazarus made a new man out of him. And we haven’t seen the last of Mr. Garrison, either. Expect him to pop up again, two or three issues from now.

As always, drop me a line and let me know what you thought about this story. I’d really appreciate it.

And if you haven’t yet checked out the newest Valiant imprint, the Unity 2000 (“VH-3”) line, you really owe it to yourself to do so. This is the true “same as it never was” version of the Valiant Universe.