Written by Bryan Hill
Illustrated by Miguel Mendonca
Published by DC Comics
This is a great change of pace from where this book has been. Bryan Hill brings a great new energy to the comic and it shows from that very first page! I’m excited to see what he brings to the table.
The issue opens up with Duke “The Signal” Thomas going into an apartment building. He is promptly blown up and thrown from the building onto the street. He is brought back to the Batcave barely alive where Alfred takes care of him.
Writer Bryan Hill knows how to begin a book strong. He proves it himself here again (as he does monthly on the Wildstorm: Michael Cray title). I was instantly pulled into the story and he never lets the reader go.
Batman sees he needs to put a strong team together.
And he doesn’t have time to teach the team. But, he also doesn’t want things like Duke blowing up to happen again. So he goes to Black Lightning and asks him to be that very teacher he is looking for.
Hill gives their relationship a new dynamic we haven’t seen before. By making Black Lightning a teacher, it opens up the story possibilities.
And Hill runs with it. He’s got a great take on all of the characters and characterizations. It’s a blast to read. Watching Batman sell Black Lightning on his idea is great. We also get to meet a scary as hell villain.
We don’t meet the villain until the end it his last line and the last splash page is chilling. The art by Mendonca is a breath of fresh air as well and I hope this new direction of sorts sticks. It’s a wonderful and vibrant read.
RATING: B+
