BLACKEST NIGHT #4 REVIEW

[Walt Kneeland]

Review by: Walt Kneeland (walt.kneeland@gmail.com )
Quick Rating: Very Good
Story Title: Blackest Night

Barry, Mera, and Ray move pieces around the board as the heroes continue to deal with the Black Lanterns. Oh, and the Black Lanterns' power finally hits 100%.

Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inks: Oclair Albert with Joe Prado
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer]: Nick J. Napolitano
Assoc. Editor: Adam Schlagman
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Reis, Albert, Sinclair (variant by Rodolfo Migliari)
Publisher: DC Comics

Though a "big bad" for this series was spoiled awhile ago, seeing the "how we get there" keeps the story quite entertaining. Though there's a bit of choppiness as characters rush from one scene to another, the whole seems to hold a decent narrative: Barry, Mera, and Ray come together as they're being overwhelmed by Black Lanterns. Barry's shaken by Firestorm, and the heroes race off to rally the troops and try to find a way to save their friends. We also check in on Luthor, and get a visually cool scene of Black Lantern Azrael facing the (living) Scarecrow. Black Lantern Jean Loring turns Atom's life upside down again, and as promised last issue, the Black Lanterns' power levels hits 100%, which kicks off the cliffhanger of this issue.

This continues to be a very visually-engaging book. The Black Lanterns are all quite creepy and a bit unnerving to look at, as they contrast so completely with the heroic, positive images I tend to associate with the various characters...which is a strong credit to Reis, Albert, Prado, and Sinclair for their visual work in this issue.

I'm greatly enjoying the story Johns is crafting here, as it builds not only on the last few years of Green Lantern stuff, but really draws on the history of the modern DC Universe. While there's a lot of set-up and such for what's to come, I'm thankful as well that this issue feels like a real issue in and of itself--the overall story continues to be built and moved forward--even as elements are introduced that'll likely play out in other books. This isn't just some series of sequences to send the actual stories being told into other titles--everything's building as a whole.

That the Black Corps hits 100% power and activates another player in things only halfway through is a positive sign to me as a reader: we've had some great moments with the kickoff and building of events so far, and now still have half the event (or more, given tie-ins as well as minis) to really see that played with.

The issue's finale seems to be at least as significant to Earth as the Anti-Life Equation's activation was in Final Crisis...I'm very interested to see how things play out from here, in this main series as well as how it impacts all the tie-ins coming up as we close out the year.


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[Lord Raiden]

I'm curious to see if we'll see any form of return of the AM by the end of this series??

[Terry Verticchio]

I really like Mera and Ray becoming part of the new trinity, along with Barry.

They are characters that have been around forever, but now are getting their chance at the big league. Both are also seriously damaged goods, but now they have to step up and be heroes.

Nice.

[RadioCleve]

About my only problem was with the reveal at the end:

I have absolutely no idea who Nekron is, and his entry on Wikipedia is less-than insightful. Can anyone provide clarification?

Don't get me wrong: I was still impressed with the issue and its climax. I just need a little exposition.

[Rainbow Raider]

Man I can't believe

Damage was killed! He's one of my DC favs. I'm just glad Atom Smasher is still alive.

I'm hoping the majority of the heroes who've been killed somehow come back to life at the end. Or if the black lanterns come back to life after the event would be cool too. I'd love to see alot of the classic Rogues back.

[Gabriel Sosa]

Originally Posted by MongelRedCorps

Man I can't believe

Damage was killed! He's one of my DC favs. I'm just glad Atom Smasher is still alive.

I'm hoping the majority of the heroes who've been killed somehow come back to life at the end. Or if the black lanterns come back to life after the event would be cool too. I'd love to see alot of the classic Rogues back.

MRC I am with you, I was like WHATT!!?!?!?! How could they do that?
But maybe this is just to bring people back, I do hope it is not like that though. I hate all this bringing back from the dead.