Blackest Night #1 ( DC– Johns / Reis / Oclair )
Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis raise the dead in the most anticipated comics story of the year! Throughout the decades, death has plagued the DC Universe and taken the lives of heroes and villains alike. But to what end? As the War of Light rages on, the prophecy of the Blackest Night descends upon us, with Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps at the center of it all.
Don’t miss this 8-issue epic taking the DCU beyond the grave!
Wow! Marvel Zombies have nothing on DC’s Black Lanterns (BL’s). Sure the Marvel guys will eat your brain and leave you for dead/undead, but there’s just something creepier about the BL’s. Geoff Johns has made them the bringers of death to the entire costumed community of the DCU. And much like regular zombie stories, the recently deceased may be welcomed into their dark ranks.
The story opens with a national memorial service to fallen costumed heroes. It seems that after Superman’s death and resurrection, a national holiday was made to honor those costumed heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice for humanity. One can notice strange happenings on this day, and we also see that an interesting initiative put in place by new Batman, Dick Grayson. And when the fecal material hits the rotary oscillator ( you figure that out), Dick’s good idea becomes a very very bad idea.
We do get to see some of whom the black rings choose to be their death bringers and soul collectors. The ones who believe they are bringing the universe back into balance. Too many times have fallen heroes and villains been brought back to life and the cosmic force of Death is sick of it. Off topic: I wonder how the BL’s will handle Ra’s Al Ghul or Vandel Savage? I digress: The first targets we see this first installment are two big heroes who’s death and resurrections sent huge ripples through the DCU, and two heroes who’s cycle of death and re-birth are long standing traditions.
From the creator end, the dynamic duo of Johns and Reis are at the top of their game. Johns is doing his usual awesome job of making uninteresting characters intriguing. And I know some people don’t like it, but I love the pencils of Ivan Reis. Both work in perfect unison to draw the reader into the story and really care about what is happening to the characters. When people die, you genuinely feel for them. And trust me, people die.
What I am most excited to see play out is how this with change the concept of death in the DCU, how will the good guys take down this threat (White Lanterns anyone?), and who will…RISE!
Grade: A+
