BLOOD & THUNDER #1, by Image Comics & Skybound on 5/7/25, catches up with Akeldama “Blood” Bledsoe, Metro-1’s best bounty hunter, and Thunder, her A.I.-powered ultra-rifle.
Credits:
- Writer: Benito Cereno (concept by Robert Kirkman)
- Artist: E.J. Su
- Colorist: Msassyk
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: E.J. Su, Msassyk (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: May 7, 2025
- Comic Rating: Mature (violence, language)
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of BLOOD & THUNDER #1:
Plot Analysis:
In a different time and place, Metro-1 stands out against the stars as a multi-level city built on top of an asteroid. The city’s elites live in the upper levels amid clean streets and perfectly controlled weather. The lower levels contain the poorest and worst citizens Metro-1 has to offer. The lower you go, the worse the city gets.
Today, Akeldama “Blood” Bledsoe and her A.I.-enhanced rifle Thunder chase down Herp the Perp. Blood is Metro-1’s best bounty hunter, so Herp doesn’t stand a chance. Eventually, Blood gets Thunder to cooperate by asking for a non-lethal ordinance to bring Herp down. Why? Herp is trafficking “dangerous” contraband – books that speak of ancient myths and gods.
When Blood brings Herp into the police station, she has a long chat with the Chief, a man Blood has known since she was a child. He explains Herp was brought in because the books are considered illegal. Before Blood leaves, she steals one of the books out of curiosity. The issue ends with a tentacled prisoner aboard Metro-1’s orbiting prison ship escaping its cell.
First Impressions:
Blood & Thunder #1 is fine but forgettable. Benito Cereno’s futuristic crime story, inspired by a Robert Kirkman concept, is serviceably constructed and visualized, but it reads like a lesser Judge Dredd knockoff. This series might be worth continuing if the second issue is stronger, but the first issue won’t hook you.
Artwork and Presentation:
E.J. Su and Msassyk deliver the bright spot of this issue, which is the detailed, semi-dystopian art. In a short amount of space, you get a fully realized world with multiple neighborhoods, all the classic sci-fi elements such as aliens and flying cars, and a distinctive visual style. There aren’t many visual wow moments, but that’s because the script doesn’t call for it.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Benito Cereno takes Robert Kirkman’s kernel of an idea (read the back page for how Kirkman came up with it) and spins it into a story that feels full and ripe with potential. Beyond the art, Blood & Thunder #1 is notable in that builds a complete world you’d be interested to visit in record time.
The Negatives:
It always comes down to the basics. Cereno builds the world and Blood’s character effectively, but the issue is almost all setup and no hook. What does Blood want in her life to motivate whatever challenge pops up? What does she have to do to reach her goal, and what’s standing in her way? Cereno spends so much time on world-building that the reader isn’t given a reason to invest in Blood’s journey because, in short, she doesn’t have one…yet.
Final Thoughts:
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BLOOD & THUNDER #1 is a perfectly serviceable setup to introduce readers to Metro-1’s best bounty hunter and her talking rifle. Benito Cereno’s script, based on a Robert Kirkman concept, miraculously fleshes out an entire world in a single issue, and the art team’s visuals are the highlight of the issue. That said, world-building is no substitute for a strong hook, so this issue fails to grab you.
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