There are a lot of Radiants out there, but what’s the story behind Radiant Pink? Your Major Spoilers review of Radiant Black #12 from Image Comics awaits!

RADIANT BLACK #12

Writer: Kyle Higgins and Meghan Camarena
Artist: French Carlomagno
Colorist: Mattia Iacono
Letterer: Diego Sanches
Editor: Michael Busuttil
Publisher: Image Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: February 9, 2022

Previously in Radiant Black: Camera on. Mic check. Put the stream live. Hide the alien artifact that gives you superpowers. Wipe away the tears.

And three, two, one…

FLASHBACK TIME!

Radiant Black #12 starts with Eva (known to her subscribers as “EvaPlayys,” as she tries to build her online presence and please her advertisers, only to find herself feeling empty afterward. When a kitty-related accident breaks her only microphone, Eva is forced to cancel a stream, taking a day for herself to decompress while awaiting help from the Best Buy tech guy who has agreed to try and repair her equipment after work. She gets to spend a little time with her girlfriend but keeps being distracted by pings and texts and messages wondering why she isn’t online, why she isn’t streaming, threatening to cancel, and basically being all the worst parts of online life. When she returns to the Best Buy, Wendell agrees to help her, not by fixing her mic, but by taking her to see a strange pink collapsar that he has found, explaining that he foresaw her touching it and gaining powers… Powers just like his.

A DUAL ORIGIN?

Wendell’s ability to see the future has been hinted at but is outlined clearly for the first time here, and it’s interesting to see how the powers seem to be influenced by their users. As Radiant Yellow, he can see what’s going to happen, but clearly mentions that he’s never been the kind of guy who worries what’s next. As for Eva, who never has enough time for everything, she can suddenly be wherever she wants instantly. (Not to mention Satomi’s wish-fulfillment smashing powers or Nathan’s sudden ability to fly away from the life that he feels is holding him back.) The art is very good in Radiant Black #12, maintaining some of the stark graphics that Radiant Black has had since the beginning, but with a bit more detail and more shading than usual. It makes Eva’s story stand out while still feeling like part of the shared universe of the first eleven issues.

BOTTOM LINE: CONTINUING THE SLOW BUILD

When it’s all said and done, Radiant Black #12 is another well-crafted spotlight issue, balancing character development against the action, letting the storytelling build, and making the characters feel more real, all with an interesting new art style, making for a better-than-average 4 out of 5 stars overall. If you are one of the people who find those types of stories to be “filler,” then you’ll probably want to move along, but for those who want nuanced world-building and a broader take on “realistic” superheroics, this book should hit a very sweet spot.

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RADIANT BLACK #12

80%

80%

Something A Little Different

Radiant Pink's origin ends up being tied into Radiant Yellow's, giving us a look into her life pre-alien powers, while hinting once more at a greater meta-plot building in the background. It's a new take that fits perfectly with what has gone before.

• Writing

  7
• Art

  9
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
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