Black is Back
Writer: Tony Isabella
Artist: Clayton Henry
Colorist: Peter Pantazis
Letterer: Josh Reed
Cover: Clayton Henry with Tomeu Morey
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: November 1, 2017
**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE
BOTTOM**
Well, well, well! After several years of a fairly
public and definitely one-sided battle between Tony Isabella and DC Comics, it
seems all has been forgiven by both parties and Tony is back to writing the
character he created! I presume a forthcoming series on the CW likely has
something to do with this. Whatever the case, I’m glad to see Black Lightning
back in the DCU fold, I’ve long liked this character and definitely missed his
presence. So let’s take a look at the first of six issues of Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands, and
read my review of the same, right now!
Explain
It!
It is not always true that the creator of a property,
or the inventor of an idea, is the one that wields it best. History is full of
examples where someone’s initial work provided the seed that grew under the
ministrations of another. Think of how Ray Kroc changed McDonald’s, or how much
Deadpool improved once the character was no longer handled by Rob Liefeld. There’s
no crime, or shame in it, the creative process is just that: a full routine to
be executed, one that is not necessarily beholden to its point of origin.
So it is notable that Tony Isabella, creator of Black
Lightning, is back to writing the character after being at odds with DC Comics
for many years. Not only that, but this veteran is tasked with writing a
character meant to reflect modern, post-cellular phone sensibilities, far
removed from his Me Decade beginnings. Well, the very first page is nine panels
of cell phones, how does that grab ya? It’s actually an inventive storytelling
device (heh); a panel-within-a-panel comics page progressively depicting news
bulletins about a crime in progress, shown on a following spread to be foiled
by Black Lightning himself! Soon!
Most of this issue reintroduces Jefferson Pierce:
Cleveland’s resident teacher, husband, father, and superhero with
electricity-based powers who’s up against the repeated attacks of some masked,
antifa-seeming troublemakers calling themselves the Weathermen, where we will
have to deduct points for lack of originality. To make things even tastier,
it’s all being manipulated by a massive mountain of a man, so ruthless and evil
that he doesn’t think twice about murdering his own sister in full view of his
underlings. After admitting to killing her son, mind you!
This is a pretty fun issue, even considering its “pilot
episode” problems. People brand new to Black Lightning should find everything
they need to know contained in this issue. Folks that have more history with
the character will find plenty of familiar trappings and a few new concepts
besides. What you won’t find, unfortunately, is a very engrossing story. We’ve
got plenty of issues left to develop something good here.
Bits and
Pieces:
A character primer for the new and a familiar tale for long-time fans, Tony Isabella does a great job writing a Black Lightning that feels relevant in the twenty-first century. Now when this Black Lightning does something substantive, we could see some great comics.
7/10
Have been missing black lightning in DC, very interested as to where this book is going and how it will turn out in the months to come.
ReplyDeletesame!!!
DeleteI really hope Black Lighting gets an ongoing after this mini series.
ReplyDeletesame, but my guess would be a team book like the outsiders
DeleteBlack Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #1 delivers action-packed storytelling with deep social themes, offering fans an engaging start to the series. For academic tasks, you can pay someone to do my nursing assignment for expert, timely help.
ReplyDelete