Valiant's Deathmate Is… SPOILERS…

A few months back, Valiant got a bit cheeky by teasing the return of Deathmate to the Valiant Universe. But what some thought would be a return for the Image/Valiant 90s-era crossover was in fact a new villain created by Jeff Lemire and Mico Suayan for Bloodshot Reborn's "Bloodshot Island" storyline.

A mysterious killing machine, Deathmate has been hunting Bloodshot and his antiquated predecessors daily on an isolated desert island with the sole task of killing them over and over again…and beginning the festivities over again once they rejuvenate thanks to Bloodshot's nanite technology.

But who or what is she exactly? In today's Bloodshot Reborn #15, we finally find out Deathmate's biggest secret…and it extends all the way back to Jeff Lemire's earliest work at Valiant…

[SPOILERS ON]

Way back in The Valiant, Lemire and co-writer Matt Kindt introduced us to Kay McHenry, the latest Geomancer, who was fated to be killed by a force of nature calling itself the Immortal Enemy. Bloodshot and the Eternal Warrior intervened and saved the world…but not before Kay died. As her last act, she restored Bloodshot's humanity and scattered his nanites – thereby creating a new status quo that led into Bloodshot Reborn.

And all of Valiant's heroes even turned out for the funeral. Seems pretty absolute, yes?

Definitely not. Because in today's issue, Lemire reveals that although Kay may not be technically alive, she's certainly not well… She's Deathmate:

Good to know that Bloodshot will recognize a familiar face anywhere, huh? With more "Bloodshot Island" yet to be had and the Bloodshot USA event just over the hill, Lemire isn't done with Deathmate just yet…

Bloodshot Island #15 is on sale now.