Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Battlefield 6 Classes - Support trailer image

    Battlefield 6 Really Wants You To Play Support (But Knows You Won’t)

    07/31/2025
    Battlefield 6 Multiplayer Reveal promotional image

    Battlefield 6 Classes, Maps, And More: Everything You Need To Know

    07/31/2025
    A glimpse at all the upcoming Star Wars stories coming to the galaxy

    Star Wars Stories: What We Learned At SDCC 2025

    07/25/2025
    Blindspot episode still

    It’s been 5 years since ‘Blindspot’ ended. Why haven’t you watched it yet?

    07/24/2025
    Strange Scaffold

    Strange Scaffold Summer Showcase Delivers Bizarre And Brilliant Games

    07/22/2025
  • Fantasia Festival
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
But Why Tho?
Home » Image Comics » REVIEW: ‘Radiant Black,’ Issue #5

REVIEW: ‘Radiant Black,’ Issue #5

Collier "CJ" JenningsBy Collier "CJ" Jennings06/18/20214 Mins Read
Radiant Black #5
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

Radiant Black #5

Radiant Black #5 is written by Kyle Higgins, illustrated by Eduardo Ferigato (pages 1-23) and Marcelo Costa (pages 24-28), colored by Natalia Marques (pages 1-23), and Costa, and lettered by Becca Carey. It is published by Image Comics. The issue contains two stories: “Aftermath” takes place after the events of Radiant Black #4 and finds Nathan Burnett hovering on the edge of death while his friend Marshall inherits the Radiant Black powers and hunts down Radiant Red, seeking vengeance. “The Unleashed Echoes of Sorrow, Pt I” is written by Melissa Flores, illustrated by Eleonora Carlini with Elisabetta D’Amico, colored by Mattia Iacono and lettered by LetterSquids; it focuses on an alien named Pheorakai who is pulled throughout multiple worlds after her mother sacrifices her life to save her.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The previous issue featured perhaps one of the most shocking cliffhangers I’ve seen in a comic since the early years of Invincible, and the creators immediately follow up on the impact of that cliffhanger. Higgins clearly underlines the differences between Marshall and Nathan in this issue; Marshall is more confident and skilled in the use of his powers but is more easily driven by emotion than Nathan was. Higgin also introduces new concepts such as a new pair of Radiants and a new foe who puts a twist on the Power Rangers mythos-essentially imagine if the Rangers’ mentor Zordon cared fairly little for human life. It speaks to Higgins’ skill as a writer that he can take familiar concepts from the superhero and tokusatsu genres and make them feel fresh.

Also bringing a fresh perspective to things are Ferigato and Marques, who take over the bulk of the issue from main series artist Costa. Ferigato, who previously worked on the Image Comics sci-fi thriller Self/Made, delivers an intense battle between Radiant Black and Radiant Red throughout the issue. Not only are their respective powers put to the limit (while Radiant Black can manipulate gravity, Radiant Red can transmute and absorb matter), but the environment suffers for their actions. The battle takes place on a frozen lake, and both Radiants’ powers cause the ice to crack and wrecked cars nearby to scatter, with Marques’ colors pitting flashes of blood-red light against bluish-black energy as an example of their respective powersets. Ferigato also gets to design new forms for both Radiants, while Costa puts his own spin on the new pair of Radiants that appear at the issue’s end. Carey also continues to flesh out the alien language that the Radiants’ mysterious creator speaks, with its word bubbles looking like a hologram: out of phase with the world and alien in nature.

“The Unleashed Echoes of Sorrow, Pt I” takes a hard veer into fantasy territory, specifically the world of the live-streamed RPG series The Unleashed. Like Higgins, the creative team behind the series has a history with Power Rangers: Flores served as one of the creative forces behind the Power Rangers HyperForce RPG, and Carlini has illustrated issues of Go Go Power Rangers for BOOM! Studios. Here, they tackle a different genre with ease and introduce the readers to various characters, including Pheorakai and her spellcasting girlfriend Mara, bringing alien worlds to life. Iacono also makes the art leap off the page thanks to his eye-popping colors, with pink being the most prominent color-both in Pheorakai’s vibrant pink hair and the energy she wields in battle.

Radiant Black #5 wraps up the series’ first story arc with an emotional battle while hinting at greater things to come in future issues. It’s a miracle that I haven’t run out of ways to say how great this series is, which is a testament to the creative team involved. Anyone who is a fan of good superhero stories, good comics, or good stories should definitely add it to their pull lists.

Radiant Black #5 is available now wherever comics are sold.

 

Radiant Black #5
5

TL;DR

Radiant Black #5 wraps up the series’ first story arc with an emotional battle while hinting at greater things to come in future issues. It’s a miracle that I haven’t run out of ways to say how great this series is, which is a testament to the creative team involved. Anyone who is a fan of good superhero stories, good comics, or good stories should definitely add it to their pull lists.

  • Buy via ComiXology Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘The Flash’ Season 7, Episode 13 – “Masquerade”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Rurouni Kenshin: The Final’ Delivers A Worthy End To The Battosai’s Story
Collier "CJ" Jennings
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)

Born and raised in Texas, Collier “CJ” Jennings was introduced to geekdom at an early age by his father, who showed him Ultraman and Star Trek: The Next Generation. On his thirteenth birthday, he received a copy of Giant Size X-Men #1 and dove head first into the realm of pop culture, never looking back. His hobbies include: writing screenplays and essays, watching movies and television, card games/RPG’s, and cooking. He currently resides in Seattle.

Related Posts

Tenement #1- But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Tenement,’ Issue #1

06/23/2023
Battle Chasers #10- But Why Tho

REVIEW: ‘Battle Chasers,’ Issue #10

06/14/2023
I Hate This Place #9

REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #9

06/07/2023
Almighty #5

REVIEW: ‘Almighty,’ Issue #5

06/07/2023
Almighty #4

REVIEW: ‘Almighty,’ Issue #4

05/03/2023
I Hate This Place #8

REVIEW: ‘I Hate This Place,’ Issue #8

05/03/2023

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Wildgate promotional key art
9.0
PC

REVIEW: ‘Wildgate’ Is Co-Op Space Mayhem Done Right

By Adrian Ruiz07/25/2025Updated:07/30/2025

Built for friends and tuned for competition, Wildgate is messy in the best way: smart, surprising, and bursting with room to grow.

Glass Heart
7.0
TV

REVIEW: ‘Glass Heart’ Offers Messy, Musical Catharsis

By Allyson Johnson07/22/2025

The musical drama series ‘Glass Heart’ soars when it focuses on the epic performances of it’s fictional band, TENBLANK.

Simon in An Honest Life But Why Tho
3.5
Film

REVIEW: ‘An Honest Life’ Is Terribly Dishonest About Its Own Politics

By Jason Flatt08/02/2025

An Honest Life is an overly severe misfire about a law student who falls in with anarchist burglars that can’t decide who it resents more.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here