The world of Marshall Ward has taken some drastic turns. His best friend Nathan has left for California. There’s a mysterious killer on the loose. Plus, the public opinion of his alter ego is at an all time low.
There’s no rest for the weary as a familiar threat shows up in Chicago. Familiar is the correct word, but it’s not to Marshall. That honor goes to another Massive-Verse hero. What happens when the world of ROGUE SUN shows up on RADIANT BLACK’s doorstep?
RADIANT BLACK #33 by Kyle Higgins, Joe Clark, Eduardo Ferigato, Marcelo Costa Rod Fernandes and Buddy Beaudoin looks to answer that question with interest!
Let’s not delay any longer & dive into the drama!
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Ward’s search for normalcy takes center stage this chapter. Meeting with Mrs. Burnett opens events with a well-placed talk. Both carry scars from the Catalyst War. The writing shows how they cope with the events’ fallout. It leads Marshall into an unlikely spot. His return home is greeted with much awkwardness. Their dialogue drives home the consensus opinion surrounding Radiant Black. This point haunts scenes until a new threat emerges on the scene.
Bludmoon’s appearance mixes up the dynamic for a big win. Seeing Marshall out of his normal element exposes a few things. His powers get tested with Bludmoon not holding back. Readers watch as their fight allows Marshall to release some pent-up rage. Once events shift to New Orleans, the attention shifts to Dylan Siegal. Their unique “friendship” reveals many similarities between both. Young heroes thrown into the deep end while learning how to navigate life. The result leads to a haunting close. Where this path leads Marshall is very uncharted territory.
The weight of Marshall’s actions dominate the art for this chapter. Opening with the candid meeting with Mrs. Burnett, readers see Marshall opening up. This spills into an awkward reunion. The full page image outside of the home pours with the uneasy feeling. As the reunion takes shape, the stern reactions proves not even family loves Radiant Black.
There’s little time to focus on this point. A two page splash brings Bludmoon front and center. There might have been a cameo from a Massiveverse creator kicking this sequence off. Their fight shows the clashes of styles. It leads into a very inopportune moment via full page shot. As events head to New Orleans, the coloring gives Bourbon Street a vibe all its own. The conversation with Dylanm and Marshall mirrors Rogue Sun #26. It still carries the same impact of the lost souls searching. The art gives a solid foreshadowing in the last panels. Where things lead from here is wide open.
OVERALL GRADE: 8.7
Marshall Ward’s evolution in the post Catalyst world takes a personal twist. Higgins and Clark examine the influence of family with the writing. The art blends a fast paced fight within the heavy reactions on display. The Massive-verse franchise continues to redefine superheroes in the modern era.
Let me know your thoughts of RADIANT BLACK #33 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!