By Geoff Johns (writer), Ivan Reis (artist), Alex Sinclair (colorist), Oclair Albert & Rob Hunter (inkers)
Some Thoughts Before the Review: For some reason, I have a feeling that this free oneshot is going to be unusually good; unusual considering the lackluster efforts in the previous and current Green Lantern arcs. It will probably be the best Green Lantern story that Johns has written since, Secret Origin. It’ll do its job in getting us juiced over the upcoming Blackest Night, and it’ll remind us why Geoff Johns is DC’s best writer. I only wish Ethan Van Sciver had a hand on this piece.
The Story: Following Batman’s death in Final Crisis, we find Hal Jordan standing before the Dark Knight’s grave. He reminisces about the more memorable moments he shared with Batman, revealing their friendship and exploring how they differed as men and as masks. The recently reborn Flash then pays a visit, in which they discuss how the times are a changin’ and how death isn’t exactly the end. What’s Good: Prominent characters, good (yet deep) dialogue, nostalgia… What more can you ask for from a book? A free comic book at that… Everything in this oneshot delivers. It’s got the classic character focus that Geoff Johns has mastered, and each page bleeds with important people and profound moments. Another thing I liked about this book was how new reader friendly it was. DC chose the right book to give away for Free Comic Book Day. So if you’re not familiar with Green Lantern, or not sure with what’s going in DC, this is a good place to start. You find out how Batman “died,” there’s a brief dossier to fill in the new readers, and you’re introduced to the upcoming DC epic, Blackest Night.
What’s Not So Good: It’s too bad that this book was only 12 pages long. Geoff Johns reassures us that this event is in good hands; as he reminds fans and shows new readers how effective his storytelling can be in these 12 pages. You’ll simply wish that there were more pages in the book.
Conclusion: Blackest Night #0 is no mere free comic book. For a promotional item, it’s packed with a rich narrative that invites all readers of good stories. Furthermore, it also serves as good summary of where comics are today: literary tales that are capable in tackling themes and characters involving death and the idea of a super-hero. You simply shouldn’t miss this.
Grade: A
-Raymond Hilario
Filed under: DC Comics Tagged: | Alex Sinclair, Batman RIP, Blackest Night # 0 - Review, Blackest Night #0, Blackest Night oneshot, Final Crisis, Geoff Johns, Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert, Rob Hunter, Sinestro Corps, The Flash: Rebirth, Weekly Comic Book Review, Weekly Comic Book Review Blackest Night #0 Review, weeklycomicbookreview.com
