REVIEW: ‘Radiant Pink,’ Issue #1

Radiant Pink #1 is written by Meghan Camarena & Melissa Flores, illustrated by Emma Kubert, colored by Rebecca Nalty, and lettered by Becca See. Image Comics publishes it. Eva’s life was getting hectic enough balancing a career as a streamer, then a glowing pink event horizon entered her life and transformed her into a teleporting superhero. Now she attempts to juggle both halves of her life, but that soon gets more complicated when a charity event she attends is attacked by thieves wanting to steal her powers. Throw in malfunctioning powers and an attractive EMT named Kelly, and you have a recipe for chaos.

In the same vein as Radiant Red, Radiant Pink builds upon previous events in the Massiveverse in a way that will appeal to folks who’ve been with Radiant Black from the beginning and newcomers alike. And like the other Massiveverse books, Camarena pours her life experience into writing Eva. Even though she can literally teleport halfway around the world, she’s still tackling a lot and not taking time for herself. It’s something I can relate to, as I often pile a lot onto my metaphorical plate without stopping to think about it all.

This comic also helps cement Flores as one of the most interesting new voices in the world of comic writers, as she helps Camarena shape the thrust of the story. When push comes to shove, Eva shows that she has what it takes to be a hero – evacuating an entire hospital when it goes up in flames. And true to Camarena’s words, a lesbian romance is at the forefront as Eva & Kelly show signs of attraction toward one another. But Flores throws a twist at the end that I never saw coming and is bound to complicate things, and that’s what makes it fun.

Kubert’s artwork also goes a long way in driving home some of the more emotional parts of the book. She draws a sequence that features Eva teleporting all across the world, seemingly happy. Yet in the final panels, she’s shown staring at her phone, tears streaming down her face as she learns about her ex-girlfriend moving on. In one image, Kubert manages to pack a lifetime’s worth of heartbreak and hurt behind Eva’s eyes. Even when she’s masked up as Radiant Pink, her eyes manage to convey multiple feelings. Kubert also knows how to draw dynamic action sequences, with a two-page spread featuring Eva saving people from the collapsing hospital looking like one fluid image.

As expected from a book called Radiant Pink, Nalty packs the book full of different hues of pink. Eva’s Radiant Pink suit is a darker shade of pink, while the portals she generates are bright, glowing fuchsia rips in time and space. Even the borders of certain pages are pink! And once again, See returns to letter a Massiveverse book. Only this time, she adds a bit more of an animated flair, particularly in the scenes depicting Eva’s Twitch streams. The chat looks exactly like a Twitch chat would in real life – and, you guessed it, plenty of pink is involved.

Radiant Pink #1 makes for a chaotically fun read as the Massiveverse’s newest hero embarks on her own adventure. If you’ve been loving Radiant Black, this book is for you. If you want to shake up your comic reading, this book is for you. And if you like star-crossed love stories, sci-fi, or both, this book is definitely for you!

Radiant Pink #1 is available wherever comics are sold.