Brightest Day #7
Written by Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi
Penciled by Ivan Reis, Patrick Gleason, Adrian Syaf, Scott Clark, and Joe Prado
Talk about getting to the point.
I’ve been lenient on this title so far because, well, Johns tends to start slow. There hasn’t been much that’s happened yet, and while the book has been good, it’s been more a series of random vignettes than it has been any true story. The missing factor? Something to drive the plot forward, a purpose held by the characters to give them reasons for what they’re doing. Sure, they’re alive again when most of them had been dead for quite a while (well,at least as long ago as 52 for most of them), but that isn’t exactly a driving plot point. I mean, yes, it would be interesting to see characters re-acclimate themselves into lives that have obviously moved on during their absence, but we already have Barry Allen’s Flash solo title to fill that quota.
But like I said, this issue gives everyone purpose by not only explaining the purpose behind the resurrections, but also explaining what each of them is meant to do. Everyone now has a reason they were brought back as well as a job to do, both cast members of this title as well as returnees that have found homes elsewhere in the DCU. Were all of the reveals great? No, not really, but just knowing that there are plans in store for all of them, having an idea what it is to look out for, that’s the kind of promise that will drive a story forward. Now that I know why Max Lord is back I love Generation Lost even more. Now that I’ve seen the purpose of the Hawk’s in Hawkworld I actually care a bit more about it and them. Hell, they explained away Flash: Rebirth with Zoom’s, that was kinda cool.
Boston Brand is a great point of view character for this title, and one that has grown on me with every issue. He’s truly the breakout star of this title, much like Booster Gold or Renee Montoya during 52, and his presence, despite formerly being DC’s most well known ghost, brings a lot of humanity to the title. You have all of these uber powerful beings that have been brought back from the dead, both good and bad guys, and then there’s this guy who was a decent acrobat at his best, and whose best days came after his death. He’s trying to adjust to the fact that he’s alive again for the first time in a long time, and that he doesn’t quite remember how to be.
That’s a big theme in this title, finding out what it is to live, and not just be alive. It’s not about having the second chance, it’s about making the most out of it. It’s about Ronnie Raymond having to learn to be a better person, and Aquaman finding his family again. It’s about Carter and Shiera Hall getting to be together again over over fifteen years separated by death, as well as J’onn…..it’s good to have J’onn back.
The art, as usual, was great. And, also as usual, I found myself annoyed that I didn’t know who was drawing which pages. I want to know who to give props to!
While it will hardly go down as a best issue of the year, the month, or probably even the week, this was a very good issue, and easily one of the best in the series thus far. The table is set for the next phase in the series as we know now where the characters are going, as well as what the deal is with that White Battery. Sure, the issue was a quick read and it glossed over a lot, but it managed to give a purpose to everyone returned in Blackest Night, as well as give direction to the main character of the book….by setting the main character of the book. If this issue is to be taken as an indication of things to come as far as pacing go, then things seem to finally be firing on all cylinders.
Overall?
8.5/10
