This issue brings us to the end of the Brightest Day series - and all I can say is, thank goodness.It seemed like a series that was tailor-made for a fan like me. It focused on returning Silver Age heroes who had been brought back to life at the end of the Blackest Day mini-series.
But despite its title, which promised more upbeat stories, it was pretty relentless in its violence, as numerous civilians were brutally killed.
The series had numerous storylines to wrap up in this issue, and it largely succeeded, although some of the goals of the White Lantern seem downright pointless.
Apparently the main goal of the series was to bring Swamp Thing back into the main DC Universe after his (its?) long exile on the Vertigo side of the street. Of course, given the gore presented in this series, I don't know that there's much difference between the mainstream titles and the Vertigo comics.
Writers Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi leave lots of bread crumbs (story ideas) for future series to follow up on, and they manage to cook up a (mostly) satisfying ending to the series.
There are no less than 10 artists listed in the credits. They actually do a fairly good job of keeping the art somewhat uniform, and there are a few strong full-page splashes in there. But there are also panels whee I have no idea what's happening.
So was this trip necessary? I bought into it for heroes like Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman and Hawkgirl, Deadman and Firestorm, and the book delivered there.
But like most weekly (or bi-weekly) series, there seemed to be a lot of wasted energy in there, padding out the story to fill 24 issues.
It's not a bad series at all, but it doesn't live up to the Blackest Night series. It is a worthy effort and I'm happy for some of the end results - but I think they could have told this story in half the space.
Grade: B
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