Why You Should Read "Blackest Night"

Issues: Blackest Night #1-8 (2009-2010)

"The Dead Shall Rise"

PC: Andrew James Rocha

"The Sinestro Corps Wars", "Sins of the Star Sapphire", "Rage of the Red Lanterns", "Agent Orange"...it's all been leading up to this gigantic epic that is known as the "Blackest Night"!

All of the Lanterns and Corps' are battling throughout the universe. Emotions are high and chaotic. And an evil has been growing in the shadows. "Blackest Night" is the story of an unstoppable evil that has risen to feed upon all life throughout the universe. That evil? The dead.

Yes! Every character that has ever died in the DC universe has risen, and under the possession of a black power ring, will prey on their loved ones until they join their endless ranks.

It is up to Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps to stop the source of the Black Lanterns, along with the help of his old enemies and rivals, including Sinestro, the Star Sapphire, and Larfleeze.

But this is not just a story about the Green Lanterns and the other ring-slingers. Every hero in the DC universe is being impacted by the return of their old comrades and foes. Taking center stage in this story, alongside Hal Jordan, are the Flash, the Atom, and Mera.

Barry Allen is one of Hal Jordan's best friends...and he has also recently come back from the dead prior to "Blackest Night". He is now being called back to the grave by many of his old and deceased teammates from the Justice League and his dead enemy, the Reverse-Flash.

Ray Palmer, The Atom, is a small hero with a big heart, full of emotions that the dead love to feed on. One of those ring-weilding zombies is Ray's ex-wife, Jean Loring, who, before she died, murdered one of Ray's friends and tormented with his mind and heart. 

Mera is probably one of the breakout characters of "Blackest Night". Before this story, she was known only as Aquaman's wife, but has since become a fan favorite after this story. She must battle against her dead husband and her own feelings of blood boiling rage.

This is one of my favorite Green Lantern stories and I highly suggest it to any comic book fan. I would suggest reading some of the prior storylines before, but if you're impatient, just jump right in and you'll catch up eventually.

Ivan Reis also does a fantastic job with the art. Everything looks beautiful and horrific at the same time. While reading, you'll probably just take a minute or two to just admire each panel.

Writing	Art	Character Development	Overall Enjoyment
9	9	10	10