Radiant Black‘s current story arc is putting Marshall Ward through the wringer. He has had to undergo some deep introspection following the events of the Catalyst War. He’s had to up his superhero game due to the menacing new figure, Jaeger, who blames him for the Catalyst War, even though it was Marshall’s alt-universe self who caused all that carnage. Radiant Black #35 brings Jaeger and Marshall’s conflict to a close, while also showcasing Marshall’s growth throughout the arc.
It also reveals more about Jaeger, including why he hates Marshall so much…and it gives a surprisingly tragic edge to this figure. It’s probably a twist that Radiant Black fans have guessed, but it lives up to co-writer/co-creator Kyle Higgins’ words that the Catalyst War would continue to have lasting consequences for the ongoing story. Similarly, the final pages significantly raise the stakes for Marshall in ways that fans wouldn’t expect, but make me even more excited for future issues. One line of dialogue, in particular, made me sit up straight and go “What?!”
Higgins and co-writer Joe Clark know how to build tension throughout Radiant Black #35, punctuating the story with bursts of action while also timing the big reveals to maximize their impact. A great example concerns the opening pages, where Jaeger (in his civilian identity) comes pretty close to killing Marshall’s mom. Enter a very pissed-off Marshall, who sends him rocketing through the sky. Another moment comes when Radiants Pink and Black teleport to another location to confront Jaeger, and come face to face with a group of his armored disciples. It’s this kind of tension that kept me glued to the comic.
So do co-creator Marcelo Costa and Eduardo Ferigato. The duo goes big wherever they can, especially in that sequence where Marshall tackles Jaeger through a building. That building has its own pool, which literally splits in half as Marshall attacks Jaeger; that’s the visual that shows off a character’s power and makes a comic worth the cover price. That same sense of scale is applied to the rest of the issue, including scenes that involve an exploding bike and a concert hall being turned to rubble. Costa and Ferigato also seem to have a blast drawing the mysterious Mariposa, who Marshall encountered in Radiant Black #32; it turns out she can hold her own in a fight.
None of this art would pop as much as it does without Rod Fernandes’ colors or Becca Carey’s lettering. I’ve spoken at length about how Carey’s letters made Radiant Black a unique comic, and that continues in Radiant Black #35. During one sequence, Jaeger’s words literally hang in the air, creating an eerie effect that’s only enhanced by the black and red colors that Fernandes applies to them. When characters get angry, their words grow larger…and there’s plenty to be angry about.
Radiant Black #35 brings an end to its current story arc, closing with more than a few major surprises in the process. It’s all thanks to a creative team that’s dedicated to turning in the best comics they can, and succeeding on every level.
