Radiant Black Turns Up the Pressure with The Catalyst War

February 2021. The world is mid-pandemic, fear, uncertainty, and getting used to what we hoped would be a temporary way of living was a present struggle.

As someone with a compromised immune system, I did not go out often, but the one place I could go was my local comic shop, The Joker’s Child (in Fair Lawn, NJ) — and I do not know what I would have done without them. A few months prior I saw a solicit for a new series by Image Comics, promoted as a different type of superhero story, and thanks to my local comic shop was able to see a preview of the series. Around this time, I wanted something different. I was loyal to DC Comics and IDW with their run on Transformers, but their time with my favorite franchise came to a sad end, with more of a whimper than a bang. Maybe it was the pandemic, or perhaps just change in my taste. I had already sampled titles such as Crossover, God Country, Stray Dogs, Ghost Fleet, and others from Image. However, a re-read through Invincible was likely the trigger to try out Radiant Black. 

If you read my review back on March 10th, 2021, you already know how quickly I was pulled into Radiant Black. Fast forward over two years later, writer Kyle Higgins (C.O.W.L, Batman, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, The Dead Hand, Ultraman) has taken comics into a unique and novel twist of direction. I wrote reviews for the first nine issues of the series, unfortunately I had to drop off due to time constraints and the life of being a father of three with two full-time jobs. 

Side note: Kyle Higgins is a really cool guy. I had the opportunity to meet him at New York Comic Con, and while he was busy with a massive line of fans, he did take a couple moments to briefly discuss his motivation for creating Radiant Black and the Massive-verse. Be sure to check out his upcoming series, Moon Man with musician Kid Cudi. 

Last month, Radiant Black #25 did something similar but with a twist. Years ago, DC had fans vote whether Jason Todd would live or die (fans voted for death). Kyle Higgins proposed something different.

In the prior issues, main characters Nathan and Marshall effectively split the Radiant, an alien aura granting user powers, however were warned this is not possible long-term. Prior to issue #25, fans had to vote who would retain the Radiant at one-hundred percent, leaving the other powerless, possibly forever. As has been the norm for most comics these days, they all have A and B covers, or a main and a variant. 

But something was different. Depending on which cover purchased, the final few pages… were different. Dialogue was close from other characters, but one was strictly through the perspective of Nathan, but the other issue came from Marshall. Whoa. You needed to purchase both A and B covers, and this is going to be the norm moving forward until issue 30 I believe. The really cool part is there are different artists in the specific panels where the story deviates. Marcelo Costa (Radiant Black) and Eduardo Ferigato (The Last Phantom) provide the stellar art. 

The story arc is dubbed The Catalyst War with ongoing issues now numbered as 26 and 26.5. How to read them? However you want. I did something a bit different, but read both simultaneously as though I were watching two distinct timelines unfolding at the same time. I initially tried reading 26 and then 26.5, but opted to then read together just to pinpoint the deviations and subsequent consequences of each protagonist’s actions. There is no clear path to show who won the vote, but it is clear there are some serious and fatal results depending on who is wielding the Radiant.

This series captivated me from the start, and this figuratively and literally doubles my interest. While some complained about having to purchase two issues at a time, I scratch my head as these are likely folks who buy variants regardless or titles with multiple spin-offs.

This is a far more creative and engaging way of storytelling, and I will reiterate how I am completely into this method of storytelling, and I would ask for you to have an open mind and dive in while you can. The first four trade paperbacks are out, so if you don’t want to chase down individual issues, go for the trades. You will not be disappointed. 

Actions and choices have consequences folks, The Catalyst War currently rampaging through the pages of Radiant Black are proof of it.