Of all the tropes in the superhero medium that Radiant Black loves playing with, the idea of a hero and villain teaming up is a recurring element. It helps that not every villain in the Massiveverse deals in shades of black and white, but in the case of Radiant Black #41, the cosmic champion doesn’t really have a choice. After an intense encounter with Horizon Black, Marshall finds himself in the care of Satomi Sone, aka Radiant Red, and Shift. In order to find out how the Franklin Group has managed to replicate his powers, Marshall has to join Shift on a mission to break into a high-security science lab.
To say that this is a dynamic ripe with tension is an understatement, as Marshall and Shift have tried to kill each other on various occasions. But the enemy of your enemy is often your friend, as the saying goes – or at least they can be useful. In this case, both men bring something unique to the table. Shift’s ability to teleport and his history of corporate espionage make him the perfect person to slip past the high defenses of the lab, while Marshall improvises with abandon. I never thought I’d hear a character break into a full-on Minnesota accent, but by God does Marshall pull it off.
Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark also find some common ground between Marshall and Shift; the two play off each other very well and even get into a discussion about the Mission: Impossible franchise. They also showcase what Shift and Satomi have been up to following the events of the Catalyst War, and the results might surprise some fans. But they’re also showcasing that life goes on, even in the wake of a battle for time and space, and that people can change. A single line from Satomi sums it up best: “We’re all just trying to be better.”
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Reading through Radiant Black #41 also sees a slight shift in art, as Marcelo Costa steps back to let Paulo Daniel Santos handle art duties. That doesn’t mean Costa is entirely absent, though; he delivers finishes that make the final product more closely resemble his work and give it a smoother look. The color work by Rod Fernandes also pops, whether it’s the rising sun that opens the issue or the bright green flashes of Shift’s teleportation. Santos leaps full into body horror in certain places, especially showcasing what happens when people who aren’t ready for the Radiant powers get a hold of them. Without getting into spoilers, the images that Santos and Costa put onto the page are the stuff of nightmares, and the look on Marshall and Shift’s faces speaks volumes. It also spells trouble for future issues, especially as Horizon starts twigging to the fact that his powers might not be entirely stable.
Radiant Black #41 delivers a heist-themed issue that plays on the unlikely dynamic between the titular hero and Shift, while also setting the stage for an explosive finale. I wouldn’t mind more Radiant Black and Shift team-ups in the future, especially if they involve heists and/or buffalo.
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