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Radiant Black
Radiant Black, Vol. 1: (Not So) Secret Origin
"The perfect superhero comic for anyone missing Invincible..." - Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead, Invincible)
THE MOST-ACCLAIMED NEW SERIES OF 2021!
Visionary writer Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Ultraman) and artist Marcelo Costa reinvent super heroes for a new generation! Nathan Burnett has just turned thirty and things aren't great -- he's working (and failing) at two jobs, his credit card debt is piling up and his only move... is moving back home with his parents.
But when Nathan discovers the ethereal, cosmic RADIANT, he's given the power to radically change his fortunes...unless the Cosmic Beings who created them succeed in taking them back by any means necessary. Oh, and did we mention there's a RED RADIANT who wants Nathan dead? The next must-read comic book series STARTS HERE.
Collects RADIANT BLACK #1-6
THE MOST-ACCLAIMED NEW SERIES OF 2021!
Visionary writer Kyle Higgins (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Ultraman) and artist Marcelo Costa reinvent super heroes for a new generation! Nathan Burnett has just turned thirty and things aren't great -- he's working (and failing) at two jobs, his credit card debt is piling up and his only move... is moving back home with his parents.
But when Nathan discovers the ethereal, cosmic RADIANT, he's given the power to radically change his fortunes...unless the Cosmic Beings who created them succeed in taking them back by any means necessary. Oh, and did we mention there's a RED RADIANT who wants Nathan dead? The next must-read comic book series STARTS HERE.
Collects RADIANT BLACK #1-6
184 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2021
103 people are currently reading
1026 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
May 30, 2023
Radiant Black is a superhero story that basically has nothing new to tell. You've read it all before, and probably better. It's almost painfully derivative, sucking the art along into its unoriginality maelstrom, where the superhero designs are almost creative in their dullness.
If the characters were especially fun, and the dialogue crackling, that would make up for a lot. The characters are thuddingly okay. They make little jokes, that sometimes work, but mostly read like the kind of jokes characters in these kind of superhero stories tell.
And it all feels strangely rushed. Our main character attains his superpowers in the first chapter, and that's it! He's almost instantly accepting of this turn of events, he'll be a guy with superpowers now. Why even bother with an origin story if you seem to want it out of the way as quickly as possible?
Of course there is someone who also has these powers and is using them for selfish reasons. There's a reveal that's supposed to be surprising, I think, but most will have seen coming (eventhough the art in this regard makes little sense).
The main book ends with chapter 5, and then there's a chapter 6 showing the origin story of the bad guy, and that also seems off. Basically the bad guy goes bad because their partner has been bad. Surely it would be more logical for the partner to go bad, I don't feel it's a very strong incentive for the actual bad guy to actually go bad. Hello, are you still there..?
Three artists have worked on the book, and dull hero designs aside, the art is functional at best. The last chapter features more manga-inspired art, with some weird facial features and body proportions.
If this is truly as hyped as it is presented, I can't see why.
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
If the characters were especially fun, and the dialogue crackling, that would make up for a lot. The characters are thuddingly okay. They make little jokes, that sometimes work, but mostly read like the kind of jokes characters in these kind of superhero stories tell.
And it all feels strangely rushed. Our main character attains his superpowers in the first chapter, and that's it! He's almost instantly accepting of this turn of events, he'll be a guy with superpowers now. Why even bother with an origin story if you seem to want it out of the way as quickly as possible?
Of course there is someone who also has these powers and is using them for selfish reasons. There's a reveal that's supposed to be surprising, I think, but most will have seen coming (eventhough the art in this regard makes little sense).
The main book ends with chapter 5, and then there's a chapter 6 showing the origin story of the bad guy, and that also seems off. Basically the bad guy goes bad because their partner has been bad. Surely it would be more logical for the partner to go bad, I don't feel it's a very strong incentive for the actual bad guy to actually go bad. Hello, are you still there..?
Three artists have worked on the book, and dull hero designs aside, the art is functional at best. The last chapter features more manga-inspired art, with some weird facial features and body proportions.
If this is truly as hyped as it is presented, I can't see why.
(Picked up an ARC through Edelweiss)
May 14, 2024
I don't really know what's happening, but it's sort of cool?
So you have this writer dude who can't seem to figure out what he wants his character to do. The basic gist is that this story he's writing is about a woman who worked in a bank, then ended up robbing banks with her lover until he was killed in the last robbery. Now, she's got a bag of money and has to decide what to do with the rest of her life.
The writer himself is a wishy-washy loser (although, I think we're supposed to like him) who is at the end of his rope, and comes home to live with his parents after getting himself into a massive amount of debt.
He meets up with his old best friend, a rough and tumble kind of guy who is half shady and half loyal pal.
What does ANY of this have to do with a ninja superhero suit?
Truthfully, I don't know.
But in a very Green Lantern moment, our writer collides with some kind of hand-held black hole and becomes Radiant Black! <--whateverthefuck that means.
Things get weirder and more confusing as he and his pal do the "learn the superpowers montage", meet up with a Red version of himself who is seemingly evil, and gets somewhat terrifying instructions from Great Value Ganthet on generic Oa.
ARE YOU WILLING TO KILLLLLLL TO SURVIVE?!
It just gets crazier from there.
Seriously.
And not in a bad way.
I don't know how I feel about his, but it captured my interest enough to make me want to read the next one.
Recommended. Ish.
So you have this writer dude who can't seem to figure out what he wants his character to do. The basic gist is that this story he's writing is about a woman who worked in a bank, then ended up robbing banks with her lover until he was killed in the last robbery. Now, she's got a bag of money and has to decide what to do with the rest of her life.
The writer himself is a wishy-washy loser (although, I think we're supposed to like him) who is at the end of his rope, and comes home to live with his parents after getting himself into a massive amount of debt.
He meets up with his old best friend, a rough and tumble kind of guy who is half shady and half loyal pal.
What does ANY of this have to do with a ninja superhero suit?
Truthfully, I don't know.
But in a very Green Lantern moment, our writer collides with some kind of hand-held black hole and becomes Radiant Black! <--whateverthefuck that means.
Things get weirder and more confusing as he and his pal do the "learn the superpowers montage", meet up with a Red version of himself who is seemingly evil, and gets somewhat terrifying instructions from Great Value Ganthet on generic Oa.
ARE YOU WILLING TO KILLLLLLL TO SURVIVE?!
It just gets crazier from there.
Seriously.
And not in a bad way.
I don't know how I feel about his, but it captured my interest enough to make me want to read the next one.
Recommended. Ish.
September 4, 2025
This falls into the normal schlub gets superpowers genre. Nathan is a failed writer who has to move back in with his parents. He comes across a floating black sphere one night while drinking with his buddy and BAM! he's got superpowers. Then he starts having dreams where he's talking to this being about an alien that is coming to Earth to destroy it. And then he finds out he's not the only person who received a suit. A lot of this is reminiscent of X-O Manowar mixed in with some Invincible. The art is solid, very Ryan Ottley like. A decent start to this series.
July 29, 2021
Broke and feeling like a failure, aspiring young writer Nathan Burnett moves from LA back to his parents in smalltown Illinois to regroup and figure out what he’s doing. And then, on a night out with his snarky best bud, they stumble across a blue glowing mini black hole - and Nathan’s world is suddenly changed. Now he’s a superhero: Radiant Black!
Power Rangers/Ultraman writer Kyle Higgins teams up with artist Marcelo Costa to create his own robot-looking superhero series, and their first volume of Radiant Black isn’t radiant bad.
I liked the failed writer angle the best because that felt the freshest part of this otherwise fairly derivative story. It was compelling to see what happens when someone fails at achieving their dreams and how they cope with that, as well as showing what it takes to actually be a professional writer and the sheer grunt work of getting words on a page every day.
It’s all very well for us consumers to read so much without realising how difficult the creation of these books actually are and what someone who wants to do it has to go through to get there. It felt very genuine and honest and a welcome and unusual aspect to write about in a superhero comic.
And the story of Nathan getting superpowers isn’t boring - it’s a slickly-told origin - but there’s too much here that’s been done before. It’s every superhero origin story, again. So Nathan and his bestie Marshall come up with superhero names, geek out about the powers, slowly learn what it’s all about, etc. There’s also an evil Radiant, Red, and the two go through the motions of the obligatory superhero punch-ups. It’s too many cliches.
The Power Rangers comparisons are really highlighted towards the end of this one and the mini black hole that is the Radiant looks a lot like Shanhara from Valiant’s XO Manowar. And the character designs as well are very Ultraman/Power Rangers-y.
I liked how the Radiant started to change the way Nathan thought so the alien language started integrating with his mind and Higgins does switch things up in the final act regarding who you think the main character of this series is - the Radiant isn’t wedded to the one person like Venom. And Red’s origin story also isn’t bad but, like Nathan’s, wasn’t that amazing either.
Marcelo Costa’s art is as competent, kinetic and flashy as it needs to be for a superhero comic and he’s done the best he can with Radiant Black’s design to make it distinct (although the comparisons keep coming to me - at one point the Radiant looks like GIN-GR, a character from another Valiant series, Unity). Eduardo Ferigato drew most of the fifth issue and I liked his art even more.
In some ways Radiant Black isn’t like most superhero comics (the failed writer/struggling to find a purpose angle), and in others it’s identical to most superhero origins (finding your feet with the new powerset, etc.). As such, I found it to be a fairly middling first volume. Readable, never too boring, interesting at times, bland once the generic superhero stuff kicks in - overall, it’s a fine start to what could be the best robot-looking superhero series Kyle Higgins has written yet (which makes sense, to save his best stuff for his creator-owned work).
Power Rangers/Ultraman writer Kyle Higgins teams up with artist Marcelo Costa to create his own robot-looking superhero series, and their first volume of Radiant Black isn’t radiant bad.
I liked the failed writer angle the best because that felt the freshest part of this otherwise fairly derivative story. It was compelling to see what happens when someone fails at achieving their dreams and how they cope with that, as well as showing what it takes to actually be a professional writer and the sheer grunt work of getting words on a page every day.
It’s all very well for us consumers to read so much without realising how difficult the creation of these books actually are and what someone who wants to do it has to go through to get there. It felt very genuine and honest and a welcome and unusual aspect to write about in a superhero comic.
And the story of Nathan getting superpowers isn’t boring - it’s a slickly-told origin - but there’s too much here that’s been done before. It’s every superhero origin story, again. So Nathan and his bestie Marshall come up with superhero names, geek out about the powers, slowly learn what it’s all about, etc. There’s also an evil Radiant, Red, and the two go through the motions of the obligatory superhero punch-ups. It’s too many cliches.
The Power Rangers comparisons are really highlighted towards the end of this one and the mini black hole that is the Radiant looks a lot like Shanhara from Valiant’s XO Manowar. And the character designs as well are very Ultraman/Power Rangers-y.
I liked how the Radiant started to change the way Nathan thought so the alien language started integrating with his mind and Higgins does switch things up in the final act regarding who you think the main character of this series is - the Radiant isn’t wedded to the one person like Venom. And Red’s origin story also isn’t bad but, like Nathan’s, wasn’t that amazing either.
Marcelo Costa’s art is as competent, kinetic and flashy as it needs to be for a superhero comic and he’s done the best he can with Radiant Black’s design to make it distinct (although the comparisons keep coming to me - at one point the Radiant looks like GIN-GR, a character from another Valiant series, Unity). Eduardo Ferigato drew most of the fifth issue and I liked his art even more.
In some ways Radiant Black isn’t like most superhero comics (the failed writer/struggling to find a purpose angle), and in others it’s identical to most superhero origins (finding your feet with the new powerset, etc.). As such, I found it to be a fairly middling first volume. Readable, never too boring, interesting at times, bland once the generic superhero stuff kicks in - overall, it’s a fine start to what could be the best robot-looking superhero series Kyle Higgins has written yet (which makes sense, to save his best stuff for his creator-owned work).
September 20, 2021
If your "ordinary schlubb mysteriously acquires superpowers" story is going to be this derivative, you need to concentrate on sublime art and execution. And, fortunately, this one does!
I'm keen on continuing, it's giving me mixed Invincible / The Sword vibes, in a good way.
I'm keen on continuing, it's giving me mixed Invincible / The Sword vibes, in a good way.
May 2, 2022
This is so much fun! Its one of the freshest superhero origin stories I have seen in a while and its just filled with potential and fun and epic stories!
So the story starts with Nathan moving back with his parents after a failed writing attempt (to be a writer) but as he is reminiscing his life and all he gets this mysterious powers and he becomes ahero and we see the challenges and trials and all of that plus I like how he helps people by using twitter lol and then how people react to him and the challenges he faces, plus a new enemy in Radiant red and we get her origin too which was so fun and then the face-off and a massive status quo already with even more surprises!
This was too good, its crazy in action and has so much character work which I love particularly the part where he learns to accept responsibilities and get a job and that writing attempt was so cute and one of the best part of the series, Higgins knows how to make the characters relatable and I love what he does for the villaint too plus the big threat up next! Just a wonderful series and a beginning of something epic!
So the story starts with Nathan moving back with his parents after a failed writing attempt (to be a writer) but as he is reminiscing his life and all he gets this mysterious powers and he becomes ahero and we see the challenges and trials and all of that plus I like how he helps people by using twitter lol and then how people react to him and the challenges he faces, plus a new enemy in Radiant red and we get her origin too which was so fun and then the face-off and a massive status quo already with even more surprises!
This was too good, its crazy in action and has so much character work which I love particularly the part where he learns to accept responsibilities and get a job and that writing attempt was so cute and one of the best part of the series, Higgins knows how to make the characters relatable and I love what he does for the villaint too plus the big threat up next! Just a wonderful series and a beginning of something epic!
August 30, 2021
When Nathan Burnett hits rock bottom and has to move back in with his parents, he finds a strange orb and becomes Radiant Black, a cosmic super hero...
Radiant Black sparked my interest when I first saw the costume on twitter but I don't buy single issues anymore so I had to wait an eternity and a day before I finally got the trade, containing issues 1-6.
The book is a lot more complex than my teaser indicates but I don't want to spoil too much. The first couple issues are pretty standard, establishing the hero and his powers, etc. The pace was more Bronze Age than most modern books so I was into it. The whole "Writing Day" issue felt like a misstep.
Some serious shit happens not long after that and I now I'm all in on the book. The writing is above average, some quips but not enough to undermine the action. Higgins led me off by the hand and then pantsed me and took my lunch money, a great quality in a writer.
The art is computer colored but not obnoxiously so. It's a good looking book but not too flashy. The use of perspective and panel design is pretty fantastic, though.
It took a couple issues but it looks like I'm following another current comic. Radiant Black. Buy it. Read it. Four out of five stars.
Radiant Black sparked my interest when I first saw the costume on twitter but I don't buy single issues anymore so I had to wait an eternity and a day before I finally got the trade, containing issues 1-6.
The book is a lot more complex than my teaser indicates but I don't want to spoil too much. The first couple issues are pretty standard, establishing the hero and his powers, etc. The pace was more Bronze Age than most modern books so I was into it. The whole "Writing Day" issue felt like a misstep.
Some serious shit happens not long after that and I now I'm all in on the book. The writing is above average, some quips but not enough to undermine the action. Higgins led me off by the hand and then pantsed me and took my lunch money, a great quality in a writer.
The art is computer colored but not obnoxiously so. It's a good looking book but not too flashy. The use of perspective and panel design is pretty fantastic, though.
It took a couple issues but it looks like I'm following another current comic. Radiant Black. Buy it. Read it. Four out of five stars.
January 9, 2023
Kyle Higgins (Power Rangers) takes a shot at creating a brand new universe called the Massive-Verse. This brand new superhero world starts here with Radiant Black!
We follow Nathan, a down on his luck writer who is in massive debt. He is forced to move back to his home town, where things go south very quickly. He encounters a black hole, and then BOOM! He gets superpowers and turns into Radiant Black!
Chances are you've heard a origin story like this a thousand times before. Personally it didn't bother me to much, because I managed to have a lot of fun regardless. A lot of this was due to the art, interesting new world, and characters.
Nathan isn't the only one with these new abilities. We only encounter one other Radiant in this book but guess what?
She's evil!
Okay, maybe evil is a stretch. But she is robbing banks and stuff, so Nathan must figure out these new powers and try to help people as best as he can.
Overall it's an interesting start to a brand new universe, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.
Note: This world is already pretty big, so if your looking for a reading order here's the best one I found:
Click here for the reading order -->
We follow Nathan, a down on his luck writer who is in massive debt. He is forced to move back to his home town, where things go south very quickly. He encounters a black hole, and then BOOM! He gets superpowers and turns into Radiant Black!
Chances are you've heard a origin story like this a thousand times before. Personally it didn't bother me to much, because I managed to have a lot of fun regardless. A lot of this was due to the art, interesting new world, and characters.
Nathan isn't the only one with these new abilities. We only encounter one other Radiant in this book but guess what?
She's evil!
Okay, maybe evil is a stretch. But she is robbing banks and stuff, so Nathan must figure out these new powers and try to help people as best as he can.
Overall it's an interesting start to a brand new universe, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes from here.
Note: This world is already pretty big, so if your looking for a reading order here's the best one I found:
Click here for the reading order -->
August 17, 2021
I liked it, but I think it's overhyped. Nathan Burnett, a young and aspiring writer, feels like a failure. His writing lacks something, and his day job doesn't pay enough. Nathan returns to his hometown to live with his parents and write the work that will secure him a big deal. Instead, he gets superpowers.
Some parts of the story feel fresh (a failed author arc), others not so much (coming to power, learning to control power, geeking out about names, classic superhero stuff). Fortunately, the writers play with reader expectations early in the story, and Nathan's story takes a surprising turn.
Maybe it won't even be a superhero origin story, but a superteam origin story.
I loved the art and vibrant colors; they enhance the reading experience . All told it's a fun, if a little silly, romp that gets more serious in the second half. I am not ( fully ) sold on it, but I am excited to see where the story goes from here.
ARC through Edelweiss
Some parts of the story feel fresh (a failed author arc), others not so much (coming to power, learning to control power, geeking out about names, classic superhero stuff). Fortunately, the writers play with reader expectations early in the story, and Nathan's story takes a surprising turn.
Maybe it won't even be a superhero origin story, but a superteam origin story.
I loved the art and vibrant colors; they enhance the reading experience . All told it's a fun, if a little silly, romp that gets more serious in the second half. I am not ( fully ) sold on it, but I am excited to see where the story goes from here.
ARC through Edelweiss
August 26, 2021
I own this book.
This book was sold to me as Power Rangers, but for adults, and man, that is such a good description. Radiant Black is the story of Nathan, a failed writer who has to move home after accumulating $38k in debt. After a night out in town with his best friend Marshall, they are walking home drunk near the railway tracks when they come across a weird anomaly, it looks like a mini isolated black hole and when Nathan touches it he transforms. He can also suddenly fly and lift things which he accidentally demonstrates when he lifts a train in the air. The next day, the police come to tell him that he can be a hero and help them catch the red version of himself who is robbing banks. Nathan starts having weird dreams, hearing weird stuff and decides to buy into the whole superhero thing, spurred by Marshall. After meeting the red version of himself and getting busted, he decides the next time, he will win. However, when they meet again, Nathan ends up in a coma and Marshall takes up the mantle of Radiant Black, determined to get revenge but when he catches up with the red being, they are apologetic. Suddenly a yellow and a purple version appear vowing evil and then the evil shows up...
I loved Power Rangers growing up, I was definitely that kid. This comic has spurred that love again. I loved the art and the energy in the comic series and it is definitely worth the hype it's been getting. Issue 7 has even sold out at distribution level, WILD. I'm so excited for Volume 2.
This book was sold to me as Power Rangers, but for adults, and man, that is such a good description. Radiant Black is the story of Nathan, a failed writer who has to move home after accumulating $38k in debt. After a night out in town with his best friend Marshall, they are walking home drunk near the railway tracks when they come across a weird anomaly, it looks like a mini isolated black hole and when Nathan touches it he transforms. He can also suddenly fly and lift things which he accidentally demonstrates when he lifts a train in the air. The next day, the police come to tell him that he can be a hero and help them catch the red version of himself who is robbing banks. Nathan starts having weird dreams, hearing weird stuff and decides to buy into the whole superhero thing, spurred by Marshall. After meeting the red version of himself and getting busted, he decides the next time, he will win. However, when they meet again, Nathan ends up in a coma and Marshall takes up the mantle of Radiant Black, determined to get revenge but when he catches up with the red being, they are apologetic. Suddenly a yellow and a purple version appear vowing evil and then the evil shows up...
I loved Power Rangers growing up, I was definitely that kid. This comic has spurred that love again. I loved the art and the energy in the comic series and it is definitely worth the hype it's been getting. Issue 7 has even sold out at distribution level, WILD. I'm so excited for Volume 2.
August 13, 2021
Down on his luck writer Nathan returns home in defeat. But a chance encounter with a mysterious energy source from another galaxy changes his entire world - he is Radiant Black! But what does that really mean? And, if he's Radiant Black, then who's that red guy in a similar looking suit?
Kyle Higgins' first arc of Radiant Black is a doozy. Like, a real doozy. The first issue sets up the characters pretty well, establishing where they've been and where they're going (spoiler alert: nowhere fast). But then along comes Radiant Black to shake everything up, and by issue 4, everything you thought you knew was completely wrong. There are some very bold storytelling choices that I won't spoil here, but suffice to say that Higgins keeps you on your toes.
There are glimpses of a bigger mythology at work here, and I'm exciting to see it all unfold, but it's the personal stuff that really hits home. Nathan and his best friends' relationship feels authentic, as does the strained one he has with his parents. The final issue of the volume puts the spotlight on a new character, and that one-and-done manages to flesh her out amazingly well in just 20 pages. Some very tight storytelling going on here.
The artwork is primarily Marcelo Costa, who gives me Ryan Ottley vibes. There's no surprise that Radiant Black has drawn Power Rangers comparisions from the morphing sequences and the general look of the Radiant suit, but Costa's artwork and especially Becca Carey's colours sing across the page. David/Darko LaFuente shows up for the final spotlight issue, and he's toned down his enormous heads a huge amount, so his work is the best it's ever been.
Radiant Black is big and bold when it wants to be, and intensely personal when it's not blowing shit up. It's a peculiar new series that will throw you through a loop at least once, and that's just in the first six issues. Highly recommended indeed.
Kyle Higgins' first arc of Radiant Black is a doozy. Like, a real doozy. The first issue sets up the characters pretty well, establishing where they've been and where they're going (spoiler alert: nowhere fast). But then along comes Radiant Black to shake everything up, and by issue 4, everything you thought you knew was completely wrong. There are some very bold storytelling choices that I won't spoil here, but suffice to say that Higgins keeps you on your toes.
There are glimpses of a bigger mythology at work here, and I'm exciting to see it all unfold, but it's the personal stuff that really hits home. Nathan and his best friends' relationship feels authentic, as does the strained one he has with his parents. The final issue of the volume puts the spotlight on a new character, and that one-and-done manages to flesh her out amazingly well in just 20 pages. Some very tight storytelling going on here.
The artwork is primarily Marcelo Costa, who gives me Ryan Ottley vibes. There's no surprise that Radiant Black has drawn Power Rangers comparisions from the morphing sequences and the general look of the Radiant suit, but Costa's artwork and especially Becca Carey's colours sing across the page. David/Darko LaFuente shows up for the final spotlight issue, and he's toned down his enormous heads a huge amount, so his work is the best it's ever been.
Radiant Black is big and bold when it wants to be, and intensely personal when it's not blowing shit up. It's a peculiar new series that will throw you through a loop at least once, and that's just in the first six issues. Highly recommended indeed.
September 28, 2021
This was SUPER FUN!
So you have our main character, Nathan, is shit out of luck. He went off to be a big time writer and failed. Now he returns to his father's place to try and pick up the pieces of his life. When he meets up with a friend he lets him know how shit things are, they argue, and then BAM, a black hole attaches to nathan and he becomes basically a superhero.
The origins itself is nothing new but it works. What REALLY works is the characters. Nathan and his friend have great chemistry. Nathan himself is a interesting character since we can all see ourselves in him when we're down on our luck. The fact he has good hearted parents but also pushy is something I can relate to personally as well. The way it balances Nathan trying to figure out his life while also saving people is great, but issue 5 kicks it into high gear and so much crazy shit happens you won't expect.
The art is solid, though simple, works for this style. I also think the suits a bit power rangers but they work overall as well. It's not the most original idea but it's one of the most fun origin superhero books I read in some time. A 4 out of 5.
So you have our main character, Nathan, is shit out of luck. He went off to be a big time writer and failed. Now he returns to his father's place to try and pick up the pieces of his life. When he meets up with a friend he lets him know how shit things are, they argue, and then BAM, a black hole attaches to nathan and he becomes basically a superhero.
The origins itself is nothing new but it works. What REALLY works is the characters. Nathan and his friend have great chemistry. Nathan himself is a interesting character since we can all see ourselves in him when we're down on our luck. The fact he has good hearted parents but also pushy is something I can relate to personally as well. The way it balances Nathan trying to figure out his life while also saving people is great, but issue 5 kicks it into high gear and so much crazy shit happens you won't expect.
The art is solid, though simple, works for this style. I also think the suits a bit power rangers but they work overall as well. It's not the most original idea but it's one of the most fun origin superhero books I read in some time. A 4 out of 5.
April 24, 2022
For many Westerners, including myself, Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was their introduction to the Tokusatsu genre, even though the American show was an adaptation of sorts on numerous seasons of the Super Sentai series, a unique Japanese take on superheroes. Since then, this particular genre has expanded its horizons through numerous media, such as Kyle Higgins making a name for himself by writing the Power Rangers comics for Boom! Studios. Higgins may no longer writes the colourful rangers piloting their Zords, but he presents a different take to the Tokusatsu genre with Radiant Black for Image Comics.
Turned thirty and in financial trouble, struggling young writer Nathan Burnett makes the decision to move back to Lockport, Illinois at his parents’ house. Don’t know what to do, despite his mother’s encouragement to continue writing and his father’s insistence on finding work, Nathan goes out for a drink with his friend Marshall, only to discover and unlock the ethereal cosmic “Radiant”. Donning this cosmic suit that has gravity-based powers, could this be the answer to Nathan’s financial troubles, or should he use these abilities for something greater?
Although properties like Power Rangers are aimed at children, it was interesting seeing Higgins taking an adult approach towards this genre, and I don’t mean throwing in sex and violence. Nathan Burnett is compellingly relatable as having aspirations from an early age, here is a somewhat directionless adult. However, the comic doesn’t drown itself in constant sorrow as the banter between Nathan and Marshall is fun and the few dramatic moments with his father are touching.
You do see familiar tropes of the superhero origin, such as the initial training on how to use the powers and the responsibility that comes with having such abilities, but Higgins quickly and cleverly deconstructs the origin. As this volume is subtitled “(Not So) Secret Origin”, the first people to find out about Nathan’s identity as Radiant Black are two policemen. There are other aspects of deconstruction, such as finding out the true nature of the antagonist Radiant Red and halfway through the volume, there is a huge change in the status quo, which I’m still uncertain, though Higgins keeps bringing in the element of surprise, it’ll be interesting how it will play out in the long game.
Reminiscent of the art style of Ryan Ottley, Marcelo Costa’s work is surprisingly multi-layered from his well-crafted action sequences to varying use of panel layouts. However, his biggest accomplishment is how expressive his characters are, as you can see a wide range of emotions through his illustrations, even how the two Radiants are feeling through their masks. A lot of issue #3 delves into Nathan going through writer’s block and you can see the level of concentration and difficulty from his facial expressions, contrasting alongside panels and even whole pages that is just text as Nathan writes his story. There are a couple of guest artists in the fifth issue that is one explosive cliffhanger, whilst the sixth issue is a backstory issue that visually works on its own merit.
The first volume certainly feels like a tease for something bigger and more cosmic in the next arc, but Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa do so much right here and I’m excited to see where the characters and the world-building goes.
Turned thirty and in financial trouble, struggling young writer Nathan Burnett makes the decision to move back to Lockport, Illinois at his parents’ house. Don’t know what to do, despite his mother’s encouragement to continue writing and his father’s insistence on finding work, Nathan goes out for a drink with his friend Marshall, only to discover and unlock the ethereal cosmic “Radiant”. Donning this cosmic suit that has gravity-based powers, could this be the answer to Nathan’s financial troubles, or should he use these abilities for something greater?
Although properties like Power Rangers are aimed at children, it was interesting seeing Higgins taking an adult approach towards this genre, and I don’t mean throwing in sex and violence. Nathan Burnett is compellingly relatable as having aspirations from an early age, here is a somewhat directionless adult. However, the comic doesn’t drown itself in constant sorrow as the banter between Nathan and Marshall is fun and the few dramatic moments with his father are touching.
You do see familiar tropes of the superhero origin, such as the initial training on how to use the powers and the responsibility that comes with having such abilities, but Higgins quickly and cleverly deconstructs the origin. As this volume is subtitled “(Not So) Secret Origin”, the first people to find out about Nathan’s identity as Radiant Black are two policemen. There are other aspects of deconstruction, such as finding out the true nature of the antagonist Radiant Red and halfway through the volume, there is a huge change in the status quo, which I’m still uncertain, though Higgins keeps bringing in the element of surprise, it’ll be interesting how it will play out in the long game.
Reminiscent of the art style of Ryan Ottley, Marcelo Costa’s work is surprisingly multi-layered from his well-crafted action sequences to varying use of panel layouts. However, his biggest accomplishment is how expressive his characters are, as you can see a wide range of emotions through his illustrations, even how the two Radiants are feeling through their masks. A lot of issue #3 delves into Nathan going through writer’s block and you can see the level of concentration and difficulty from his facial expressions, contrasting alongside panels and even whole pages that is just text as Nathan writes his story. There are a couple of guest artists in the fifth issue that is one explosive cliffhanger, whilst the sixth issue is a backstory issue that visually works on its own merit.
The first volume certainly feels like a tease for something bigger and more cosmic in the next arc, but Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa do so much right here and I’m excited to see where the characters and the world-building goes.
January 22, 2022
This story starts of with Nathan returning home after failing to be a writer. Come home and hit the reset button and try again to get this novel written, is what his was thinking. But then he stumbles across this glowing orb and now he has this super suit with all these powers. Where did the suit come from? Why is it here? They began to just scratch the surface of those questions in this volume and now I’m invested in finding out what’s going on. Artwork was really clean and I was loving the colors. Outside of the switcheroo they did towards the end, which I didn’t like, this was a pretty good first volume.
January 28, 2023
This was a meh read for me. I liked the artwork and colors; and the best friend was funny at first. But the main character read like a cardboard cutout who accepted events way to quickly; I wasn't interested in him at all. The story felt rushed, like we'd missed integral thoughts, conversations, and decisions that would've happened after someone stumbled upon a powers-giving black hole.
There's a big shift in the story towards the end of this volume that was interesting, but I read the next couple chapters in the next volume and I'm not feeling the direction or tone of the story.
There's a big shift in the story towards the end of this volume that was interesting, but I read the next couple chapters in the next volume and I'm not feeling the direction or tone of the story.
August 27, 2021
I knew people said Radiant Black was good but I also heard stuff from people I respect that said otherwise. So I was surprised to see how good this is.
This deals with a lot of modern issues, especially where finance comes in. As a writer myself I can feel Nathan's sense of hopelessness. The writer's block, the follow-ups, the need to post reminders, and even getting out of comfort zones to refocus on perspective. But most importantly, how the plans fell apart because despite a good setup, he got caught up in all of the risks involved. It felt hard seeing him dealing with life back in his hometown, especially with a mountain of debt.
Then there's how Nate handles the superhero plot he stumbled into. It doesn't feel like an escape from all the misery or a curse; it's just something he picked up. He didn't even do superheroing as a way to distract himself after a day of writer's block; he just decided to help people even if he fumbled at it. He has that kind of everyman charm to him. Also seeing the covers that served as spoilers for me a bit actually filled me with some anticipation to his fate, especially since his powersuit can't get off him less he's dead.
I just hope his friend gets a little more development down the line because right now he's that comic relief guy who tries to be supportive but is really annoying.
As for the other characters, apparently debt and plans gone awry is something of a theme here. Like "Radiant Red" who after a few close calls was really looking to be a real bad guy; I still don't know how Red came across intel on Nate. That is until last issue gave more context on how difficult it is to get out of the situation Red's in.
Given the inspirations from Super Sentai/Power Rangers, I hope all of the personalities get some time to shine.
This deals with a lot of modern issues, especially where finance comes in. As a writer myself I can feel Nathan's sense of hopelessness. The writer's block, the follow-ups, the need to post reminders, and even getting out of comfort zones to refocus on perspective. But most importantly, how the plans fell apart because despite a good setup, he got caught up in all of the risks involved. It felt hard seeing him dealing with life back in his hometown, especially with a mountain of debt.
Then there's how Nate handles the superhero plot he stumbled into. It doesn't feel like an escape from all the misery or a curse; it's just something he picked up. He didn't even do superheroing as a way to distract himself after a day of writer's block; he just decided to help people even if he fumbled at it. He has that kind of everyman charm to him. Also seeing the covers that served as spoilers for me a bit actually filled me with some anticipation to his fate, especially since his powersuit can't get off him less he's dead.
I just hope his friend gets a little more development down the line because right now he's that comic relief guy who tries to be supportive but is really annoying.
As for the other characters, apparently debt and plans gone awry is something of a theme here. Like "Radiant Red" who after a few close calls was really looking to be a real bad guy; I still don't know how Red came across intel on Nate. That is until last issue gave more context on how difficult it is to get out of the situation Red's in.
Given the inspirations from Super Sentai/Power Rangers, I hope all of the personalities get some time to shine.
January 17, 2023
Refresca mucho el alma encontrarte con una historia de superhéroes sin tanta mamarrachada ideológica.
September 26, 2021
A fair new take on supers that turns out to be more Power Rangers than Invincible. The majority of this volume is pretty typical. It's well-written and well-characterized, but it's the story of a 30-something loser who gets super powers, which is not exactly an innovation. But the whole series really opens up in the last few issues when Higgins begins to reveal an entire mythology ... and a lot more characters.
November 19, 2024
A millennial/GENZ burnout but are given powers by unionized multidimensional robots whilst drunkenly complaining about credit card debt. The robots want their powers back.
3/5
Not deep but a fun-enough series all around, pretty straightforward superhero comic with the freedom to do what it wants because it's its own universe. Like a hybrid Power Rangers and Invincible.
Unrelated note:
Trend with the millennial generation of writers: lots of financial worries and old-people who are clueless. Something about having a whole generation traumatized by the 08' financial crisis.
That said, does it make insightful or good entertainment?
It has me wondering if this will be seen as relatable several decades from now, or (hopefully) a dated plot-hook. Sadly, to me it means the stories won't have as much-long term staying power as more established comics.
3/5
Not deep but a fun-enough series all around, pretty straightforward superhero comic with the freedom to do what it wants because it's its own universe. Like a hybrid Power Rangers and Invincible.
Unrelated note:
Trend with the millennial generation of writers: lots of financial worries and old-people who are clueless. Something about having a whole generation traumatized by the 08' financial crisis.
That said, does it make insightful or good entertainment?
It has me wondering if this will be seen as relatable several decades from now, or (hopefully) a dated plot-hook. Sadly, to me it means the stories won't have as much-long term staying power as more established comics.
September 10, 2021
This seems to be a case of hype hurting a book, as those who’ve heard of this are disappointed. Fortunately I’m in the other camp, having never heard of this until the other day and I got it just because it looked cool, and I was pleasantly surprised.
At first I wasn’t terribly impressed, but then once the story kicks up a couple notches it really took off. The beginning is stuff we’ve seen before, with a guy getting superpowers and not knowing how to use them. It’s The Greatest American Hero or Heroes or Invincible, Vol. 1: Family Matters in that regard. Higgins adds some writer angst for flavor, probably in a “write what you know” vein, which is slightly unusual, but then he throws in a few twists and that’s when the book gets more interesting.
So yeah, I liked it. It’s not breaking brand new ground but it’s different enough to have my attention.
At first I wasn’t terribly impressed, but then once the story kicks up a couple notches it really took off. The beginning is stuff we’ve seen before, with a guy getting superpowers and not knowing how to use them. It’s The Greatest American Hero or Heroes or Invincible, Vol. 1: Family Matters in that regard. Higgins adds some writer angst for flavor, probably in a “write what you know” vein, which is slightly unusual, but then he throws in a few twists and that’s when the book gets more interesting.
So yeah, I liked it. It’s not breaking brand new ground but it’s different enough to have my attention.
October 2, 2021
The pull quote on the cover has Robert Kirkman saying that this is "the perfect superhero comic for anyone missing INVINCIBLE..." and boy oh boy was it right, I certainly did miss reading boring superhero stuff that everyone hyped up but felt generic and annoying. Invincible, Radiant Black, whatever it is I don't care for it. Radiant Black trades in the over-the-top ultraviolence and superhero pastiche for... I'm not sure. One could call it "toku", as people like doing, but it's not particularly toku. It's standard superhero fair, but the character designs look more like Sentai/Power Rangers than they do superheroes. But it's still a regular old superhero story, that feels like it got bored of its own conception and switch the premise three issues in... then 5 issues in... and still hasn't found its footing by the end of the first volume.
January 11, 2022
The first volume of Radiant Black is very up and down. It can be compelling and very colorful, and it can also be weighed down by some pretty forced subplots. The backstory for one character is a failed writer, another is married to a gambling addict, and a third is obsessed with films and they all feel somewhat generic. They made some interesting choices with Radiant Red’s design morphing between body types that are totally different and I think it comes off as just poorly done. All of that is to say there are some things I still find interesting about the series and I will check out a few more issues to see where it goes. I almost wish there was more action and less focus real life problems that seem very straightforward and uninteresting. Radiant Black is decent but perhaps a bit overhyped.
October 4, 2021
I liked it when I read it in singles as it was coming out, and I liked it as a trade too.
This is special. Right away, it’s easy to see how this is a modern spider-man in many respects… but it goes deeper. The things the characters struggle with in their real life are uncomfortably relatable, and it’s balanced out by stunningly drawn and colored superhero action. The aesthetics here are so exhilarating and kinetic.
This first volume leaves far more questions than answers, but the strength of the character development left me intrigued to find out what happens next.
This is special. Right away, it’s easy to see how this is a modern spider-man in many respects… but it goes deeper. The things the characters struggle with in their real life are uncomfortably relatable, and it’s balanced out by stunningly drawn and colored superhero action. The aesthetics here are so exhilarating and kinetic.
This first volume leaves far more questions than answers, but the strength of the character development left me intrigued to find out what happens next.
June 30, 2022
This is a good superhero story with a solid beginning but I would not say it is great. I didn't find anything particularly original or exciting. The characters are OK and the progress just fine but I just wasn't drawn in. The art was good but not anything amazing either. I will check out vol.2 to see if it gets better.
July 22, 2021
Excited to see where this is going! Feels like it's just getting started and I'm digging it!
December 16, 2021
Solid.
Nothing brand-new. A lot of Spider-Man vibes, and I think splash some Breaking Bad in there.
It’s on like Donkey Kong!
Nothing brand-new. A lot of Spider-Man vibes, and I think splash some Breaking Bad in there.
It’s on like Donkey Kong!
August 18, 2021
This starts out as the kind of exuberant, easily-read superhero comic book many people had given up on hoping to read again. It might not have the frisson of the new, but it is still very enjoyable indeed. A lowly writer has to pack up his hopes of making it in the city, and return to the parental home, where his old bezzie immediately chastises him for failing. But the pair soon discover a little floating black hole thingy, that our hero manages to absorb, thus giving him superpowers. He immediately outdoes Superman in lifting modes of transport as a debut trick, but before issue two is out he's found an evil variant of himself, and so it speeds on through all the old tropes.
And then it stiffs itself on the writer's block idea, showing our man diligently tapping away with a failed noir piece, and not even doing his stand-by job of being a kind of Uber driver. And you have to wonder why this kind of padding was deemed necessary, for it does nothing else to the book. When it is allowed to get going, it really gets going – and flavour-wise, for me the best comparison is with Valiant's X-O Manowar. That's not to say the gubbins speaks back to the wearer, but it has the same kind of bond with the target human, who is only reluctantly bearing the powers.
And ultimately the book is about as good as a Valiant title (for new readers, that equates generally to not much). Nemeses, characters that appear to be nemeses but are helpful, twists we saw coming two issues ago – all show up amidst what is quite a ploddy-ploddy fight scene. And then the book ends with a second origin story, making us ask where the heck we're going. Nowhere fast, is the ultimate answer. The series as a whole might have more than enough gumption to pull everything together and provide something fresh and new, but this opening book is over-long (for all its brevity), woolly and just far too disposable to convince future volumes are necessary purchases. If it had kept with the pace of the opening pages, I'd have loved it, but it for some reason went down the route of 'trying something new – only to find things nobody had done before because they weren't worth doing'.
And then it stiffs itself on the writer's block idea, showing our man diligently tapping away with a failed noir piece, and not even doing his stand-by job of being a kind of Uber driver. And you have to wonder why this kind of padding was deemed necessary, for it does nothing else to the book. When it is allowed to get going, it really gets going – and flavour-wise, for me the best comparison is with Valiant's X-O Manowar. That's not to say the gubbins speaks back to the wearer, but it has the same kind of bond with the target human, who is only reluctantly bearing the powers.
And ultimately the book is about as good as a Valiant title (for new readers, that equates generally to not much). Nemeses, characters that appear to be nemeses but are helpful, twists we saw coming two issues ago – all show up amidst what is quite a ploddy-ploddy fight scene. And then the book ends with a second origin story, making us ask where the heck we're going. Nowhere fast, is the ultimate answer. The series as a whole might have more than enough gumption to pull everything together and provide something fresh and new, but this opening book is over-long (for all its brevity), woolly and just far too disposable to convince future volumes are necessary purchases. If it had kept with the pace of the opening pages, I'd have loved it, but it for some reason went down the route of 'trying something new – only to find things nobody had done before because they weren't worth doing'.
January 12, 2025
Radiant Black Volume 1, titled "Not So Secret Origin," offers a solid start to a promising superhero series, though it takes a little bit of time to truly find its stride. The opening issues feel a bit loose, establishing protagonist Nathan Burnett as an ordinary guy facing overwhelming personal struggles. His sudden acquisition of the radiant black suit feels a bit simplistic and right place right time, which, while fitting for a new hero, doesn’t grab you right away. However, the story quickly picks up momentum.
As the narrative progresses, things grow more intense and action-packed, with stakes escalating rapidly. The final few issues of the volume are particularly gripping, offering high-energy moments and the beginning of a larger mystery that promises to unfold throughout the series. The art, vibrant and dynamic, complements the story's energy, drawing readers deeper into the unfolding chaos.
While Radiant Black Volume 1 sets up intriguing characters and concepts, it’s clear that it’s only scratching the surface of what the series will eventually become. It’s a good start, and I’m excited to see where it goes. Hence, a 3-star rating feels right—it’s enjoyable, with room for growth in the volumes ahead. If you're a fan of superhero comics with an indie twist, this is definitely worth checking out.
As the narrative progresses, things grow more intense and action-packed, with stakes escalating rapidly. The final few issues of the volume are particularly gripping, offering high-energy moments and the beginning of a larger mystery that promises to unfold throughout the series. The art, vibrant and dynamic, complements the story's energy, drawing readers deeper into the unfolding chaos.
While Radiant Black Volume 1 sets up intriguing characters and concepts, it’s clear that it’s only scratching the surface of what the series will eventually become. It’s a good start, and I’m excited to see where it goes. Hence, a 3-star rating feels right—it’s enjoyable, with room for growth in the volumes ahead. If you're a fan of superhero comics with an indie twist, this is definitely worth checking out.
April 27, 2024
Crisp, clean, colourful artwork. Excellent storyboarding. Snappy dialogue. A couple small twists. It fits squarely into a genre-box, but still felt fresh enough.
Great start to a new series.
4/5
Great start to a new series.
4/5
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