Review: Brightest Day #22

Writers: Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi

Artists: Scott Clark, Ivan Reis & Joe Prado

Inkers: David Beaty

Color: Aspen MLT’s Peter Steigewald & Rod Reis

Letterer: Rob Clark Jr.

Cover: Gary Frank & Nathan Eyring

Publisher: DC

Release Date: March 16th, 2011

 

*Warning: Spoilers*

 

This issue of Brightest Day wraps up the Firestorm arc, as we see from the cover, a battle ensues with the Anti-Monitor.

Unlike the previous issues that saw a satisfying conclusion to the Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Martin Manhunter and Aquaman stories, I found this to be underwhelming.

Everything gets resolved, basically, in the blink of an eye – as let’s be honest – Firestorm doesn’t have a chance in hell of even denting the Anti-Monitor. Not that there is anything wrong with showing that, but the rest of the backstory from the Black Lanterns to the White Lantern was rather bland. Reading the dialogue was like going from point A to B to C instead of flowing smoothly, which I felt hurt the issue.

I would much rather have seen the Deathstorm/Firestorm conclusion done differently, but as stated, that light gets turned off rather quickly – and I feel as if we were robbed of an ending. 

When Brightest Day began, the Firestorm arc was the most interesting, but as the issues began showcasing each character’s stories, with there being so many – I thought the Firestorm arc suffered the most as a result. As Firestorm went searching for the White Lantern, and getting lost in the Green Lantern Corps, I as a reader felt lost, as well. However, to be fair, I have jumped around reading Brightest Day – having mostly read the beginning and the concluding issues.

The issue is not a total loss, as this continues to build up the White Lantern Entity – and builds it up to be pretty darn powerful. This issue also shows the White Lantern Entity to be rather manipulating – more so than we have already seen. In regards to the White Lantern, what we saw – made this issue; however, it all came off rather one-and-done-ish.

Brightest Day #22 sees the demise of an old friend, one that will surely hit home with Firestorm fans. It’s rumored there will be a new Firestorm ongoing, and I think, this should make the character a bit less complicated as we won’t have that constant tug of war among characters for information. While the previous BD issues focused on the one character, Firestorm really consisted of about five – and with there being a limited amount of pages (even less so now) I felt Firestorm to be a bit complicated – and this issue to be a bit cluttered as it dealt with not only Firestorm and company, but the Anti-Monitor and White Lantern Entity, as well. However, that should be resolved.

The art, once again, was high quality and left me satisfied. Kudos to the colorists, as this issue required a vast array of bright burning and radiant lighting to depict these powerful beings. Well, done.

Brightest Day #22 was not a bad issue, but less accessible to new readers or “fair weather” BD fans such as myself.  

Brightest Day is drawing to its conclusion and I look forward to what comes next.