DC’s Blackest Night: The Event That Redefined Comics and Left Fans Wanting More!

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Over the years, DC Comics has produced some outstanding storylines, many of which are iconic crossovers and event comics. The continuity in DC can sometimes be complex, with the publisher frequently revising their history through these events, earning them a unique status among fans. Notable examples include “Infinite Crisis,” which pays tribute to significant past events that altered continuity. However, there’s one 21st-century DC event that doesn’t involve a massive multiverse overhaul or a complete transformation of the comics as we know them. This comic originates from the Green Lantern series in the mid-2000s and concludes an idea first proposed by Alan Moore – “Blackest Night,” written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ivan Reis.

During a particularly intriguing period in DC Comics’ history, the Green Lantern series and the Green Lantern Corps comics were among the most sought-after on the racks. Writers Geoff Johns, Pete Tomasi, and Dave Gibbons reimagined the Green Lantern universe for contemporary readers, which culminated in “The Sinestro Corps War.” This tale, from beginning to end, was nothing short of flawless and served as a foundation for Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s concept of “the Blackest Night,” a prophecy that foretold the demise of the Green Lantern Corps. This foreshadowing led to the publication of Blackest Night, a multi-year buildup that climaxed with an event comic that is truly a sight to behold.

Blackest Night Was an Amazing Story That Did Something That DC Events Don’t Often Do

The highly anticipated comic series, Blackest Night, boasted an impressive foundation right from the start. Its development in Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps was a spectacle to behold. Although not all tales compared to “The Sinestro Corps,” “Rage of the Red Lanterns,” “Agent Orange,” “Secret Origin,” and other contemporary stories, they successfully established the lore for the Black Lanterns. At that time, most DC enthusiasts were following Green Lantern, generating immense anticipation for Blackest Night. Remarkably, even without prior knowledge of the lore, Blackest Night was still captivating.

At its heart, Blackest Night is a superhero zombie horror tale. The idea of a Lantern Corps resurrecting the dead and intent on annihilating all life is remarkably straightforward, making it effortless to appreciate Blackest Night. While knowing the backstory enhances the experience of Blackest Night, this can be said about every major event book. However, the uncomplicated nature of Blackest Night allowed fans with minimal knowledge of the Green Lantern mythos (and honestly, that was a rare group; Green Lantern was experiencing unprecedented popularity at this time) to immerse themselves in the story. It wasn’t designed as a complex DC exploration that would redefine everything. Instead, it was simply a compelling narrative about superheroes battling their most formidable adversary yet.

The “Blackest Night” comic series is simply incredible. Geoff Johns was at the pinnacle of his storytelling abilities during this period, crafting tales like no other. I’d go so far as to say it was his finest work, particularly for Barry Allen, a key character in the narrative. He managed to remind readers just why Mera and The Atom were such treasured DC characters. The artwork by Reis is nothing short of phenomenal. While he’s always been a skilled artist, his work on “Blackest Night” is truly stunning. His intricate, emotive pencil strokes bring the story to life in a way that’s truly breathtaking – the first issue’s panel revealing Black Lantern Elongated Man and Sue Dibney, as they murder two vital heroes, is mind-blowingly cool. The action sequences are thrilling; this is classic Johns, blending horror elements into a story set in the ’00s. Reis excels here.

The final issues of “Blackest Night” capture the grandeur of DC events perfectly, evoking that sense of earth-shattering occurrences that DC does so well. I’d put “Blackest Night” up there with the best-looking event comics ever made. “Blackest Night” is the complete package, offering something truly extraordinary. Unlike most DC events, which often trim more than they add, “Blackest Night” actually adds to the universe, resurrecting twelve characters and hinting at their future importance. The theme of life overcoming death is beautifully executed through this tale of reviving characters to safeguard the future.

“Blackest Night” left DC in a positive, hopeful state. It’s a shame that DC didn’t build upon it; the sequel, “Brightest Day”, did a fantastic job of wrapping up the storylines and taking them to their logical conclusions. It seemed like DC was using “Blackest Night” as a stepping stone to rebuild their legacy, making it an exciting time to be a DC fan.

Blackest Night Was Perfect and DC Dropped the Ball

The epic saga, Blackest Night, offered DC Comics an exceptional opportunity for expansion. It was a captivating tale of the struggle between life and death, artfully crafted both in narrative and illustration, which brought back to life more than a dozen pivotal DC characters, thereby unlocking numerous story possibilities. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning the remarkable tie-ins from Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, as well as the various miniseries that delved into the war between life and death. Blackest Night was flawless in every aspect, making it a pity that DC missed the potential they had nurtured (Brightest Day is an exceptional sequel, demonstrating the immense potential DC possessed before they seemingly wasted it with Flashpoint.)

As a dedicated cinema-goer might say, “Since then, nothing that DC has released comes close to the brilliance of ‘Blackest Night.’ While there have been some exceptional storylines like ‘Dark Knights: Metal’ and ‘Dark Knights: Death Metal,’ which undoubtedly have their share of passionate fans, and I must admit that ‘Titans: Beast World,’ ‘Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths,’ and ‘Absolute Power’ are all quite impressive event books, none can compare to the masterpiece that is ‘Blackest Night.’ This tale was created by writers at the pinnacle of their game, a carefully constructed epic that exceeded expectations in every aspect. Although other DC events have been superb over the past few years, ‘Blackest Night’ stands in a league of its own. The publisher invested several years into its development, and it brought new life to the world of DC Comics. They’ve attempted to replicate the magic since, but nothing has ever come close.

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2025-06-27 06:10