Radiant Black, Vol. 1: (Not So) Secret Origin by Kyle HigginsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This will be my review of the first six volumes of this book, covering the “Catalyst War.”
Radiant Black is an action-packed and emotionally gripping superhero story that delves deep into themes of millennial struggle, self-reinvention, family/friendship, and hope vs. cynicism.
A young failing writer moves back to his home town to live with his parents due to financial issues, after reconnecting with his long time best friend there, they stumble upon a glowing, floating black hole like entity that grants gravity based powers among others to its wielder and the writer becomes the superhero Radiant black. After finding out that there are other individuals with similar abilities, and that the alien race responsible for the creation of the black hole-like entities wants them back at all costs, they are thrown into all kinds of dangerous situations—from your average alien tech-enhanced criminals, to aliens, and cosmic-level threats.
This is the freshest, most modern take on the superhero genre I’ve seen in a while. The writing is captivating, and the characters feel like real people with real-world problems and flaws (Marshall is literally me if I got superpowers). We see how the consequences of Radiant Black’s actions change and affect the world.
The entire book has an experimental vibe—we don’t even know which of the leads will eventually keep the powers and become Radiant Black permanently. It features a unique, plot-driven story with lots of twists and epic reveals, all blended perfectly so that it feels like you haven’t read a superhero story quite like this before.
The art and paneling are flawless and refreshingly unique. They fit perfectly with the experimental vibe mentioned earlier. The art style changes seamlessly between the real world and Existence (a digital world that seems to be another dimension), showcasing a masterclass in coloring and beautiful, edgy artwork.
The story takes place in a shared superhero universe called the Massive-Verse, which also includes other equally interesting titles like Rogue Sun. If you enjoy superhero narratives, do yourself a favor and read this; the same applies to those who typically don’t.
Strongly recommend!
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