Power Rangers and The Boys are two very different interpretations of the superhero genre. Whereas one series embraces colorful costume designs, fantastical battles, and thrilling teamwork, the other centers around a far more mature, gritty take on superheroes, exploring the darker consequences of superpowers and heroism. Yet, despite that contrast, there is a middle ground between the two that fans will surely enjoy from start to finish.
Radiant Black is a series that debuted in February 2021 by Image Comics, bridging the gap between the hit franchises, Power Rangers and The Boys. Created by Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa, the comic series combines cosmic powers and armored suits with grounded, mature, and relatable heroes as well as a storyline that is unafraid to subvert expectations and take major risks.
Radiant Black Is a Thrilling Superhero Comic That Fans Can’t Miss
Radiant Black begins with Nathan Burnett, a 30-year-old writer whose financial problems have forced him to move back into his parents’ house in Lockport, Illinois. His childhood best friend, Marshall Ward, is also not doing the greatest, working at a local DVD rental store while still trying to figure everything out.
One day, the two of them come across a floating black hole that is, unbeknownst to them, a cosmic entity known as Radiant. When it bonds to Nathan, he becomes Radiant Black and is granted a black and white suit and gravity-based superpowers, but this newfound ability quickly proves to be more complicated than simply donning a costume and stopping criminals, especially since there are other Radiant users out in the world, with some using the power for personal gain.
Rather than working as a unified team like in Power Rangers, the Radiant users come from all backgrounds and initially use the power, or in some cases avoid using it, as they please. In fact, when Nathan clashes with Radiant Red early on in the comics, he’s ultimately left in a coma that leaves Marshall to take up the mantle himself, proving that heroism in this world is far from what’s typically seen in superhero stories.
Radiant Black Takes Risks That Other Comics Don’t
By embracing lasting consequences and heroes who don’t embody an idealized picture, Radiant Black effectively creates a universe that carries genuine stakes and tension, making the reading experience all the more thrilling. By taking risks like allowing its central hero to lose and switching over to a protagonist who is far more brash and impulsive in comparison, the storyline adds a sense of thrilling unpredictability.
Beyond that, the opposing approaches between Nathan and Marshall’s version of heroism gave the series a unique opportunity to explore how both heroes, as Radiant Black, take on challenges. During the Catalyst War arc, the story boldly splits into two simultaneous timelines, with one centered on Nathan and the other following Marshall, a choice that not many other comics have done before.
This bold risk-taking is seen throughout the entirety of the comic. From the very beginning, Radiant Black has proven that it’s willing to allow its heroes to fail catastrophically both in heroism as well as in their personal lives. It embraces both the mundane and the extraordinary, constantly ensuring that both are given sufficient space to really make the world and characters come to life in ways that genuinely resonate with readers.
Radiant Black fully understands what makes superhero stories exciting, all while refusing to bend to conventional standards and tropes. For fans who want to indulge in a colorful universe filled with grounded struggles as well as epic battles, there is no other comic more worthy than Radiant Black.
