Chicago is still reeling from the aftermath of the Catalyst War. The same can be said for Marshall Ward. After becoming the sole Radiant Black, Jaeger arrived. The transplant from the alternate timeline nearly killed Marshall. In the end, he survived but not before damage was done.
Jack Marlow has made his way to Chicago. Marlow is the head of the Franklin Group. His mission is simple on paper. He wants to have government heroes oversee Chicago. Radiant Black be damned.
RADIANT BLACK #38 by Kyle Higgins, Joe Clark, Marcelo Costa, Rod Fernandes and Becca Carey bares witness to a new hero in Chicago.
Let’s take a closer look at where things stand now.
RADIANT BLACK #38 by Kyle Higgins, Joe Clark, Marcelo Costa, Rod Fernandes and Becca Carey (Image Comics/Massive-Verse)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Even as Marshall has been a hero for some time now, he still shows big growing pains. The threat of Marlow is clearly looming overhead. Selling Horizon as the new “savior” proves for a solid conflict. Marshall leans heavily into his “normal life” for this chapter. With some resemblance to everyday life in sight, he jumps into these moments. It covers up the mounting challenges he awaits.
Once Marlow’s group hits the streets, the tone swings into a serious note. The writing shows Marshall’s shock as the group “assists” in a raging fire. Readers watch as the fire starts up a PR opportunity. The results are less then camera ready. Horizon’s commentary leans into their inexperience. Marshall doesn’t capitalize on this. The writing shows his longing to have time with Mariposa. Their growing romance takes hold of the closing act. It is met with a more dramatic finish running along side. The final panel teases a darker challenge in the future. For now, moves are being made for the long play.
Costa and Fernandes opens with a glimpse into the future. Horizon is in total glory via full page image. The story takes time to send off Eva in her new direction. Another full page karaoke image will be a crowd pleaser. Seeing Marshall trying to process Marlow’s moves leads readers into a dire problem.
The fire at the auditorium theatre leads into some uncomfortable moments. Marlow’s team is greeted with disbelief. There’s no doubt of what happens next. A two page splash unloads the fires’ danger. It’s a unique visual that holds its own. The fallout provides a troubling display of power. Readers see that Marshall misses this moment for Mariposa. Their panel time throws in some heroics before pushing to close. The final page covers much. From the lovebirds’ kiss to a startling statement, readers will have much to process from this chapter’s final images.
OVERALL GRADE: 8.5
Jack Marlow’s influence makes its’ way to Chicago in this latest chapter. Higgins and Clark’s writing balance out the personal moments with the superheroics. Costa and the art team flourish in the ever-changing looks of the Windy City. Always expect the unexpected when dealing with Marshall Ward.
Let me know your thoughts on Radiant Black #38 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!