DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLACKEST NIGHT #1

Blackest Night

September 2009

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Ivan Reis

Inks by Oclair Albert

Covers by Ivan Reis and Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

In Gotham City, William Hand stands over the grave of Bruce Wayne, who is connected to them all.  The dead will rise.  Twenty-four hours later, around the world, cities and people commemorate the national day of mourning for heroes who lost their lives.  In Gotham City, Alfred discovers the grave of Bruce Wayne has been defiled and the body removed.  In Washington DC, Barry Allen (aka Flash) who recently returned to life from the speed force, discusses with Hal Jordan (aka Green Lantern) the vast number of heroes and villains who have died over the years.  In St. Roch, Hawkman tells Ray Palmer that he won’t go with him to visit Jean Loring, the murderer of Ralph and Sue Dibny.  Meanwhile, Alfred informs Hal and Barry of Bruce’s missing body.  On Oa, the Guardians recognize the War of Light has begun.  The Guardians suggest they call all Lanterns back to Oa.  Scar tells them that won’t happen.  Scar then attacks the Guardians.  Meanwhile, Black Power Rings fly into Oa to find the dead Lanterns.  The same occurs on Earth.  In St. Roch, Hawkgirl tries to talk sense into Hawkman, who refuses to listen.  Hawkgirl is worried about him.  She loves him.  Just as she says it, she is killed by Black Lanterns Ralph and Sue Dibny.  They then kill Hawkman.  William Hand appears and tells them they won’t escape death.  Black Power rings claim them.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Many have called this mini-series a zombie story, but I don’t think that is an accurate description.  The similarities are there, to be sure, since we are talking about the dead coming back to life.  So, I can see the connection.  But Zombie stories and movies are less about the dead walking around and eating live people and more about how the people react to the dead.  The zombies usually are passive and (pardon the pun) lifeless, reacting only when someone (food!) is nearby.  No, zombie stories are about the living and about survival, usually involving a small group of people forced into a confined space.  We learn ho people react in a crisis situation, when death is literally poutside their door.  This issue is not about that.  First, the Black Lanterns are aggressive and active, with an obvious goal in mind.  They are after something and will go get it, rather than stand around and shuffle aimlessly until someone (food!) walks nearby.  To me, this is a story about an evil group of characters (say, like the Sinestro Corps) with an evil plot.  They just happen to be dead. 

And the story just so happens to be so fricking awesome that I think I have read it several times in the next couple of days, something I rarely do (usually I wait for some time before rereading a comic).  It is chock full of great dialogue, intense action, surprises and shocks, and beautiful art from Ivan Reis.  Granted, this issue all set-up and some of it feels redundant compared to this issue of Green Lantern in terms of the role call of characters, but Johns lays the groundwork for the rest of the story with brilliance.  This issue succeeds not so much based on the fact that dead have risen (although it was cool seeing them return and the scene at the end was brutal and chillingly effective), but in the way the living remember the dead.  The scenes of the various characters mourning their fallen brethren, are handled well, showing not only who died, but also how their deaths affect those left behind.  I especially loved the conversation between Hal and Barry and the two-page spread of those they have died in the DC universe.  Even in a fictional world in which death is temporary, it is amazing to see how many they are. 

My only concern in this issue is the end with Hawkman and Hawkgirl.  As I said, the attack on the Hawks was beautifully executed, both haunting and thrilling.  What bothered me was the expository dialogue that Johns needed in order to get to the “I love You” moment at the end.  It is often times clunky, creating for slow reading in order to plow through the history of the Dibnys, Lorings, and the Hawks.  It pays off at the end (and for someone like me who read Hawkman from the beginning of Johns’ run, their deaths was a little heartbreaking), so I guess I can’t complain too much, but getting to that point was a little rough. 

It is amazing how far and wide this issue touches on the DC universe while at the same time the issue contains so many threads and plot points from Johns written stories.  From Hawkman to Justice Society to Teen Titans to Flash to Flash: Rebirth and to, of course, Green Lantern, Johns manages to incorporate all of the work he has done with DC over the past ten years or so.

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