DCU Q & A ON BLACKEST NIGHT
“What is Blackest Night?”
Well, in a nutshell, Geoff Johns took this character named Hal Jordan who was once a Green Lantern (some say the “Greatest” GL) and brought him back to life and a better status quo than he’s ever had (though really he’s just shined him up and cut loose with all the things that make him awesome). Hal had a friend and mentor in the GL known as Sinestro (what were his parents thinking when they named him, really?) who turned out to be a bit on the “Hitleresque” side when he took over his home planet and ruled with an iron fist.
Flash forward to 2007 (or flash backwards in this case), Sinestro, who’s been known to wield a Qwardian “Power Ring” that projects “Yellow Energy” (as opposed to the “Green Energy” of the GL’s). Sinestro has the Qwardian’s enslaved and has them construct a whole lot of them and “Power Batteries” to charge them. These new rings seek out individuals who have the “Ability to instill great fear!” and automaticly “Recruit” said individuals into the “Sinestro Corps” (or Yellow Lanterns).
This does not go over well with the Oans, AKA the Guardians. War breaks out between Yellow and Green in what was known as “The Sinestro Corps War”. At the end of the war, the recently returned to life “Anti-Monitor” (from the classic “Crisis on Infinite Earths”/ was “Mysteriously” returned as a member of the Sinestro Corps) only to be destroyed again, only this time his corpse forming into a giant black “Battery” not unlike the Oan’s Green Battery, or the Quardian’s Yellow).
The final page revealed hands crawling from the grave with the tag-line “The Dead Shall Rise!”
Blackest Night is a continuation of the Green Lantern Saga laid out by architect Geoff Johns, mining the history surrounding the GL stories and characters while also adding to the concept as well. With the introduction of the Yellow Lanterns, other off-shoot alien races of the Oans have begun forming their own Corps, utilizing the emotional color spectrum and power related to the emotions. I know it sounds hokey, but once you read this stuff, you realize how a simple concept that could have disaster written all over it really shines brightly in the hands of the skilled writers and artists working on the stories.
With all these new Corps vying for power and control over the cosmos, the “Black Energy” has reached out to it’s herald, the longtime foe of Green Lantern(s) known as the Black Hand. A minor player for the most part, this horribly damaged individual with a penchant for the dead is the forerunner of a terrifying new Corps, the Black Lanterns. Black Lantern rings seek out the dead and control (?) the body/ host as an extension of the Black Energy. At least that’s what we can assume as we’ve seen previews, promos, action figures and hints at some of the Black Lanterns (officially, thus far we know Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, and Superman of Earth- 2 will all be Black Lanterns). Also strongly hinted at in recent solicitations, Bruce Wayne (or at least his “corpse” left over from Final Crisis) will be returning as a Black Lantern. Johns has said in many interviews over the past year or so that “anyone dead is a good candidate” for a Black Lantern. So expect beloved and not so beloved DCU previously dead returning with a deathly pallor, dressing in black and silver, and a penchant for Bauhaus on vinyl (you know, like Goth in the 90’s!) “Earth- 2 Superman’s Dead, Undead, Undead, Undead…”
While all the other Corps are about to go to war with each other, the Black Lanterns may win the day. As bodycounts rise and they work from the darkness and shadows, not even the Lanterns may be able to illuminate the enemy before they strike.
“How much is this summer’s Blackest Night series going to cost me?”
“What books/ issues will Blackest Night run through?”
“When does Blackest Night start?”
The cost? Everything you got!
Well readers, that entirely falls upon your commitment to the series and whether you pick up the individual issues and/ or one-shots/ minis, or wait for the Hardcover(s) or Trade(s) (but then you’ve got to wait until it’s all done and possibly spoiled in the meantime). Ultimately, how ever much you want to/ or can spend in these financially troubled times will more likely be the deciding factor in your purchases. Though I’m sure you’ll want to read everything (especially if Johns is writing it) if you’re picking up the series. I know I’m going too!
To answer the second and third questions, I’ve written up a rough checklist in addition to issue pricing and release dates as well.
Let’s look at the checklist breakdown.
PRELUDE TO BLACKEST NIGHT- (Running through Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps)
GREEN LANTERN #39- $2.99 (April 8th, currently available)
GREEN LANTERN #40- $2.99 (April 29th)
GREEN LANTERN #41- $2.99 (May 27th)
GREEN LANTERN #42- $2.99 (June 24th)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #33- $2.99 (February 11th, currently available)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #34- $2.99 (March 11th, currently available)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #35- $2.99 (April 15th, currently available)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #36- $2.99 (May 13th)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #37- $2.99 (June 10th)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #38- $2.99 (July 1st)
Now, chances are, you’re already buying Green Lantern and/ or Green Lantern Corps as a GL fan so more likely than not, these books are not in fact additional buys. If you’re an “event only” type of reader, you’re either going to buy only the mini-series or everything (or nothing at all, but then why are you reading this column?).
If Sinestro Corps War in its entirety was any hint or preview for what’s in store, all the issues should be tightly written and all thoroughly enjoyable. So really, these books are optional, but do in fact enhance the story.
Total– $29.90 (not including state taxes or store discounts, if you’re lucky enough to live in the state of Massachusetts, you don’t pay tax on comics (‘cause that’s how MA rolls). Plus, most shops throughout the US offer hold discounts, so take that into consideration as well)
BLACKEST NIGHT- (the miniseries proper)
BLACKEST NIGHT #0- $0.00 (May 2nd)
BLACKEST NIGHT #1- $3.99 (July 15th)
BLACKEST NIGHT #2- $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown, August?)
BLACKEST NIGHT #3- $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown September?)
BLACKEST NIGHT #4- $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown October?)
BLACKEST NIGHT #5- $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown November?)
BLACKEST NIGHT #6- $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown December?)
BLACKEST NIGHT #7- $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown January?)
BLACKEST NIGHT #8– $3.99 (price unconfirmed/ release date unknown February?)
Total- $31.92 (or possibly less)
And that’s just the mini alone. Though I’d imagine even when collected (if collected as BN #1-8), it’s going to be near the HC price in the long run anyway.
Blackest Night #0 will be absolutely free, provided you go to your local comic book shop on Saturday, May 2nd for “Free Comic Book Day”! Check out freecomicbookday.com for more info and local shop listings. Do note that even though it’s free to you, your local retailer is still paying out for those books (and shipping) so help your local comic retailer out by spending a little cash. It’s not required, but it’s a good thing to do to make sure you continue having a local store.
With that, make sure to go early, as the books usually go quickly on a “first come” basis. If you don’t manage to get a copy for some reason, I’m about 100% positive that DC will in fact reprint it at a reorder/ second print retail cost. What that cost to consumers will be is not known currently, but I can’t imagine it being more than $1 to $2 at most.
As for issue #1 you’re looking at $3.99 (almost becoming standard event book pricing), Ouch! But it is 48 pages, hopefully all issues have the same page count, or if the other issues are standard 32, hopefully price drops down to $2.99.
As I’m sure you could in fact probably live with just the mini, I’d imagine the Geoff Johns penned Green Lantern being in your hold (or weekly off the rack shopping), as only Green Lantern #44 is currently listed in the solicitations (and a tie-in to Blackest Night), I’m going to hold off listing anything further than what’s already been defiantly listed. Once more info is available I’ll try to follow up and expand the list. Or just do what I do and buy Green Lantern and GLC regularly and not count it as “Blackest Night” tie-ins and rather normal comic reading/ purchasing. So for now, we’ll just stick with that price above.
MISCELLANEOUS MINIS AND ONE-SHOTS-
BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #1- $3.99 (July 15th)
BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #2- $3.99 (July 22nd)
BLACKEST NIGHT: TALES OF THE CORPS #3- $3.99 (July 29th)
The mini here goes weekly to give face time to characters who’ve parts to play in Blackest Night. Rather than ruin the pace of the main series, this series gives the characters of Blue Lantern Saint Walker, Star Sapphire Carol Ferris (!), Green Lantern Kilowog, Red Lantern (Jeff**)Vice, Orange Lantern Blume, and Indigo, leader of the Indigo Tribe.
Total- $11.97
AND MORE CHARACTER DRIVEN/ ORIENTED, ECT-
BLACKEST NIGHT: BATMAN (August?)
BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN (?)
BLACKEST NIGHT: TITANS (?)
BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN (November?)
Announced, but nothing confirmed in stone on pricing, page count, or release dates. What is known is it will deal with the title characters reacting to friends, family, and loved ones returning from the dead and the specific effect on the title characters. If I had to guess, $3.99 one shots. With that assumption-
Total- $15.96
Grand total- (including everything listed)- $89.75
And that’s what we know for now (and despite what you might be thinking, not that expensive as this is broken up over several months). I’ll be following and reviewing the series as it’s released, and throwing my knowledge of obscure DCU history around when it’s useful. As I said before, I’ll also try to update additional info regarding the series as it’s released
As a disclaimer- To the best of my knowledge, the prices should be accurate via info from DC Comics solicitations. Changes can and may happen, so check out dccomics.com for updates on release dates and product info.
** Sorry Jeff, I couldn’t help it!
DC COMICS AVAILABLE ON WEDNESDAY 4/22/2009
DC
* AZRAEL: DEATH’S DARK KNIGHT #2 (OF 3)
* BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL – ARKHAM ASYLUM
* BLUE BEETLE VOL. 5: BOUNDARIES
* DC COMICS CLASSICS LIBRARY: BATMAN — THE ANNUALS
* DETECTIVE COMICS #853
* JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #32
* THE OUTSIDERS #17
* THE QUESTION: WELCOME TO OZ
* SGT. ROCK: THE LOST BATTALION #5 (OF 6)
* SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES VOL. 3
* SUPERGIRL #40
* TRINITY #47
* THE WAR THAT TIME FORGOT #12 (OF 12)
JOHNNY DC
* BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #4
VERTIGO
* HELLBLAZER #254 (APR-22)
* JACK OF FABLES #33 (APR-22)
* SCALPED #28 (APR-22)
* SCALPED VOL. 4: THE GRAVEL IN YOUR GUTS (APR-22)
WILDSTORM
* EX MACHINA #41 Preview Available (APR-22)
* WILDCATS #10 Preview Available (APR-22)
As always, thanks for reading!