Blackest Night

I wanted to read Blackest Night because I have an uncommon soft spot for DC's big crossover events and I had heard this was a good one. In that I was not disappointed.Blackest Night is, as the cover would suggest, very much a Green Lantern story, despite the involvement of a huge cast of characters from across the DCU. Personally, I've never really been into the Lantern Corps stories so the lore was mostly new to me. Kudos must be given to Geoff Johns for presenting such dense lore in an easily understood way without being reductive or hurting the story.The premise here is basically that the Black Lantern corps, who are fuelled by death, are trying to kill everything in the universe and are recruiting dead heroes and villains to aid them in that goal. As with all crossover events, the deeper your knowledge of the DCU continuity, the more value you'll get from Blackest Night, with numerous references to other stories and some relatively minor characters given important roles in the story. That said, the central thread of the plot is easier to follow and I found it enjoyable. I also enjoyed the colourful and detailed artwork.Unfortunately and again, as with all crossover events, the greatest detractor from the story is the pacing, as the story moves at breakneck pace in order to give as much of the huge cast as possible something relevant to do. I also found it odd how some major players in the DCU barely make an appearance. It's good that not all stories revolve around the same characters time and again but it's strange to see huge figures like Superman and Wonder Woman almost anonymous in the story, seemingly only present to add raw power to proceedings.Overall, I enjoyed Blackest Night. It's one of the better crossovers I've read, with some great moments, both small and big, and a plot that holds together despite its many strings. Worth the price of admission.

Bought this for my youngest brother, a fan of all-things superhero. It arrived in pristine condition. Well worth your money

This is what Green Lantern has been leading to since writer Geoff Johns first revitalised/brought back former fan favourite Hal Jordan!All too often these types of stories have a great "shadowing"/ lead up - but have little pay off, I thought that Geoff Johns successfully avoided this trap as each chapter ramps up the action.Although this is a Green Lantern cross over, this is really a DC Universe event - with many other heroes & villains caught up in events when the Black Rings begin falling & the dead arise!This unfortunately marked the end of my ongoing collection, as I've been fed up with the constant tales of heroes & villains returning from the dead, but at least here there is some explanation for this in the DC Universe as such resurrected heroes as Superman, Wonder Woman & Green Arrow are soon possessed by the Black Rings as well.What a great bookend & the end of the DC saga for me,( I still collect the "old" stories though, to back fill my library).So this one really does have it all - zombie heroes & villains, most of the DC cast, personal events & army like battles & outstanding art work which is always a joy to look at, as is it makes me feel that I can enjoy the book twice, having read it & then looking back at the action panels.A must buy recommendation!Cheers

The dead are rising, the lantern corps face the annihalation of their homeworlds and possibly the whole universe. If it's the lantern corps you are looking for and the complete main story then get the 3 main books *Blackest night, Green lantern, Green lantern corps*.Blackest night concentrates on the super heroes of earth with Hal Jordan being the main character in this tale.It's safe to call Blackest Night as a success as a universe event. It never looses touch with its plot, and never grows too big for itself. As the gripping tale progresses, our love for each character grows. Geoff Johns succeeds in making us fall in love with the characters he has not only revamped but brought to new levels. The blackest night comic series is a throughly enjoyable experience with beautiful artwork by Ivan Reis really brings those characters looks, expressions, physique to a standard unmatchable. His depiction of the villain 'Black Hand' is brought to life with his sketches of the grusomely dark character. Extras include covers by various artists such as the legendary Jim Lee which make the separations between comics a joy to look at, and early character designs by Reis give insight as to how he brought them to life. With a thrilling storyline and overall amazing creation by Geoff Johns that will change the whole of the DC Universe, the blackest night is incredible bring on the brightest day!

I've always had a bit of a soft-spot for GL, and always thought that he's been criminally under-used by DC in the last 10-or-so years. So, this book then - I could spend the next fifteen minutes writing and gushing about this collection of comics - I could say how Geoff Johns has literally picked me up by the scruff of my neck and smacked me round the face with what he's had the balls to do to the DC universe with this storyline. I could also rave about Ivan Reis' pencils, and about how, when you see the first two-page spread you think 'That is possibly the most awesome panel I have ever seen in all the comics I've read', you are then taken aback when, seven pages later, you say EXACTLY the same thing again, then again, and again!!!!The obligatory cover collection in the back is also there, along with some artwork and possibly the best bit - the 'directors commentary' - where Geoff, Ivan and the letterer (can't remember his name, and my hardback is now with the fourth person I've lent it to!) go over their favorite bits, in order. Top-tip - BUY THE HARDCOVER. This collection deserves nothing less.Johns has spectacularly repositioned GL as one of DC's main characters through this piece of work, and what a bloody great job he's done of it, too. Welcome back, Hal Jordan!