Brightest Day #6

You know, for a series that seems to promise happier, brighter stories, there seems to be a large number of gruesome deaths on display here.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this comic really isn't appropriate for young readers. In the fourth panel in the issue, two people are killed in horrible fashion - and I believe that sort of thing has happened in every issue of this series so far.

Perhaps it's the creative team's way of saying, "Don't worry about that title, we'll keep writing those grim and gritty stories."

Whatever the reason, it seems an odd fit for a series of stories based around classic Silver and Bronze Age characters.

Here we have writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi focusing on four different storylines. We follow J'onn J'onzz, the Martian Manhunter, as he follows a series of horrific murders and discovers a mysterious effect that surrounds him.

We get a few more hints about the truth behind the White Lantern courtesy of Deadman, Hawk and Dove.

Firestorm is called into action again - but he isn't exactly in top heroic form.

And Aquaman and Mera have a conversation they should have had a few decades ago, as Mera reveals her secret origin.

As with past issues, the art is by a team - four pencillers and four inkers - and the quality is consistently high, although some styles don't exactly mesh with others.

I don't mind being strung along by the ongoing mysteries, but it's tough to sustain the stories in this bi-weekly when you're just getting a few pages per shot with each heroic team.

Still, I'm certainly curious to see where this all goes, and why we keep getting hints of a return by the Black Lanterns, so I'll keep hanging around.

Grade: B+