I recommend Radiant Black to my fellow comic readers for a multitude of reasons. It’s proof that you can still tell some unique and compelling stories in the superhero genre, even if you don’t have “Ultimate” or “Absolute” in the title. It’s proof that if you let a creative team sit back and cook, you’ll get a long-running series with a fanbase that’ll be more than happy to pick up each issue, and in turn recommend it to other readers. But the biggest draw of Radiant Black is that it’s one of the few comics that can genuinely manage to surprise you. In a genre where most titles claim that “things will change forever” after a certain issue or crossover event, Radiant Black actually lives up to that promise.
I bring this up because Radiant Black #42, which concludes the series’ recent story arc, features yet another major twist in its final pages that will have fans talking. Obviously, I won’t spoil this twist, but I will say that it does address a mystery that’s been brewing since the Catalyst War. It also sets the stage for another massive upheaval in the Radiant Black story, and this is an upheaval that feels earned. Creators Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa understand that change is a constant in life, and rather than being scared of it, embracing it can lead to some good things. Or in this case, some really good comics.
Ironically, change and the fear of it are at the helm of the story that Higgins and co-writer Joe Clark craft in Radiant Black #42. As Marshall races to stop Horizon Black’s powers from spiraling out of control, Jack Marlow and the Franklin Group launch a parade to celebrate Horizon’s “accomplishments”. Things eventually spiral out of control as a group of “Second Earthers”, who believe that refugees from the Catalyst War have come to our dimension, believe that Marlow is still hiding some of those parallel people. In a single issue, Higgins and Clark showcase how terrifying zealotry really is, especially in modern times. When you have people who strongly believe in a cause to the point that they’ll turn on someone they previously supported, that’s scary.
Costa ramps up the fear factor in his art, especially once Horizon and Radiant Black do battle. As the previous issue established that tapping into Radiants without properly syncing with them can lead to some disturbing moments, no one will be surprised to learn that Horizon’s gravity manipulation spirals out of control. It does lead to an incredible fight scene, with Costa drawing piles of rubble flying through the air and lightning crackling off of Horizon’s body as his powers increase. We also get to see more creative uses of Radiant Black’s power, especially when he joins forces with former Franklin Group flunkies Pulse and Vector. Special shoutouts should also go to Rod Fernandes, who works with Costa to deliver color art that transforms a sunny Chicago day into an apocalyptic battleground.
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It’s Pulse and Vector who are surprisingly the standouts. They showcase that it’s possible to change for the better thanks to their helping out Radiant Black; so does Shift, who actually seems to want to turn over a new leaf. Change is a choice, first and foremost: you have to want to make it and commit to it. That ties into those final pages, as it seems one character has undergone a major change in the wake of the Catalyst War.
Radiant Black #42 closes out its latest story arc with a bold choice that upends its narrative, while also keeping plenty of the unique visuals that have come to define this book. I cannot stress it enough: this is a comic that should be on your pull list, especially after this issue.
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