I usually shy away from calling stories “timely”, as it can often flatten them or prove to be untrue. Rather, I think some of the best media I’ve encountered – particularly comics – works because of timing; the story being told lines up with current events in a way that not only entertains the reader but sits with them long after they’ve closed the page. Radiant Black #40 is such a comic.
When Radiant Black #40 begins, Marshall Ward isn’t in a great place. The Franklin Group has all but turned Chicago into an occupied space, turned public opinion against him, and kidnapped people – including his new girlfriend, Marisol – for the supposed crime of being alternate universe versions of themselves. Anyone who’s read Radiant Black up to this point knows that Marshall isn’t the type of guy to take things lying down, and he decides to take the fight to the Franklin Group.
Radiant Black writer/co-creator Kyle Higgins recently mentioned in a livestream that he and co-writer Joe Clark often try to work ahead of schedule and are often surprised by some of the reactions to their work. This brings the “timely” aspect I was talking about earlier to the forefront; while I don’t think Higgins or Clark can see the future, there’s an entire page littered with news headlines and social media posts that feel like they could have been ripped straight from today’s headlines. If it weren’t for the talk of doppelgängers and giant robots, readers might confuse these for actual articles.
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I also like that Higgins and Clark are continuing the Massiveverse’s trend of making its villains feel as fleshed out as its heroes. Though, to be fair, calling Horizon a “villain” is a stretch, especially once you see who’s under the mask. He also doesn’t see himself as a hero, but rather as a deterrent to protect Chicago from another Catalyst War. “I’m not a monster,” he says during a fight scene. “I’m what they use to stop the monsters.” The best antagonists often have good reasons for their actions, even if they go about those actions in horrific ways, and it makes for a more interesting story since Horizon and his boss Jack Marlow fit that mold.
Marcelo Costa pushes his artwork to the limit in Radiant Black #40, jumping from location to location and escalating the danger with each set piece. Radiant Black battling the Franklin Group’s troops turns into a frightening display of power; after all, what can mere men do against someone who wields one of the fundamental forces itself? Another standout moment comes when Radiant Black battles Franklin Group flunkies Pulse and Vector, as Costa illustrates a dizzingly beautiful figure 8 formation that will have you wondering “how did he do that?” The answer: with help from Paulo Daniel Santos, who gives Costa’s art a realistic feel, and Rod Fernandes’ brilliant color art.
It all builds up to that aforementioned fight scene, where Horizon and Radiant Black duel in a battle of gravity. Costa, Santos and Fernandes don’t hold anything back: rocks are ripped up to form makeshift arms, the entire floor of a building is demolished when the two fly through it, and rubble is hurled with the force of bullets. Again, this is a moment that’s both awe inspiring and terrifying with the power that’s being displayed, but also relatable because you see where both combatants are coming from.
Radiant Black #40 not only feels strangely in step with the current world, but it also delivers visuals and a story that exceeds most blockbuster films. Five years later, this comic is getting even better and continues to hold the top spot on my pull list.
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