Radiant Black

The series follows Nathan Burnett, a failing 30-year-old writer with a massive incurred credit-card debt, forced to move back to his hometown of Lockport, Illinois, to live with his parents, and Marshall Ward, Nathan’s deadbeat lifelong best friend who works at a DVD rental store. One night, they both discover the cosmic Black Radiant, a small floating Blackhole like entity which bonds with Nathan and grants him a sleek high tech black and white full body suit, and Gravity based Superpowers. Nathan becomes the superhero Radiant Black, starts using his abilities to help people and fight crime, and later encounters another radiant powered individual with different abilities who uses them to commit crime. After Nathan is injured in a confrontation with the other Radiant user that leaves him hospitalized and in a coma,{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black #1 |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/radiant-black-1 |access-date=2022-03-07 |website=Image Comics |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307045749/https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/radiant-black-1 |url-status=live }} Marshall takes over as Radiant Black for his best friend.

Marshall confronts the other Radiant powered individual responsible for his friends condition, but they are interrupted by a ruthless alien foe who plans to forcefully remove their Radiants at the cost of their lives. Their confrontation with the alien leads them to meeting up with the other two Radiant powered heroes revealing them to be four in number. They all later realize that the Radiants belong to powerful cosmic beings on their way to earth, beings who would stop at nothing to reclaim the Radiants.

• Nathan Burnett: is a failing writer living in Los Angeles, California. He works as a ride-share driver as a second job—struggling to secure a loan due to his massive credit card debt. This financial strain ultimately leads him to return to Lockport to live with his parents, and reunite with his lifelong best friend, Marshall. There, He and Marshall discover a small floating Blackhole that grants Nathan enhanced strength, speed and gravity based superpowers (flight, telekinesis, energy projection), which prompts him to become the Superhero Radiant BlacK.
• Marshal Ward: Nathan's superhero movie-loving best friend, and employee at The Reel World, a DVD rental shop. Marshall and Nathan attended the same High-School, Marshall has been shown to have a history of anger-prone outbursts and violence, but has always been caring and sardonic to his friends and would do anything to protect those he loves. After an incident with a fellow Radiant user puts Nathan out of commission, Marshall gains his best friends abilities and becomes the second Radiant Black while also struggling with facing his violent tendencies and proving to others that he’s changed and developed self control. Following a fan vote at the end of issue 24 and the events of the Catalyst War storyline, Marshall became the permanent Radiant Black.
• Satomi Sone: An Asian-American middle school teacher who becomes Radiant Red, a radiant powered individual in a red and black full-body super-suit who can absorb matter and energy to bulk-up, drastically increasing in size, strength and durability. She initially used her abilities for crime causing the hospitalization of Nathan during their super powered encounter, but later atones for her crimes and helps protect the planet on various occasions. She later headlines her own five-issue miniseries titled Radiant Red.
• Eva Reyes: An energetic Gen Z internet gaming streamer who becomes Radiant Pink, a radiant powered superhero in a pink and black full-body super-suit with the ability to teleport great distances and massive objects and people. She later headlines her own five-issue miniseries titled Radiant Pink.
• Wendell George: He was an electrical engineer (with a PhD) working at a factory, then a BestBuy employee who became Radiant Yellow after finding the Yellow Black Hole in an abandoned donut shop. The powers of the Yellow Radiant allow him to see into the future, but are later revealed to be far closer to time travel and timeline manipulation.
• 001: or Kor, is one of the first villains in Radiant Black. He’s from an alien race of highly skilled and heavily armed technologically advanced warriors, originally loyal to the creators of the Radiants and hell-bent on forcing the Radiant heroes to return their Black Holes and powers to the Cosmic Beings that wish to reclaim them, to prevent the Catalyst War against Earth. He later helps Radiant Black and the others to stop the Catalyst War

• Guy/Shift: A recurring foe and leader of his own syndicate who has the ability to "shift" between places. He hunts down the Radiant heroes with alien technology from 001’s ship which grant him his abilities. He intend to use the Radiants from the heroes to power and recharge he and his syndicate’s technology.

Radiant Black is a creator-owned superhero series by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Marcelo Costa, launched by Image Comics in February 2021.{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=2020-11-20 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/kyle-higgins-marcelo-costas-radiant-black-coming-in-february-from-image/#:~:text=11/20/2020%20%E2%80%94%C2%A0Bestselling%20writer%20Kyle%20Higgins,letter%20to%20the%20super%20hero |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} Higgins (known for Power Rangers and Ultraman) conceived the book as a personal, “millennial” take on superheroes. He describes it as a “love letter to the superhero stories I love” designed for a “whole new generation”.{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=2020-11-20 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/kyle-higgins-marcelo-costas-radiant-black-coming-in-february-from-image/#:~:text=,%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} Costa notes the series mixes “superheroes and Sentai” (Japanese tokusatsu) – essentially blending Western heroics with Power Rangers–style action.{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=2020-11-20 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/kyle-higgins-marcelo-costas-radiant-black-coming-in-february-from-image/#:~:text=,%E2%80%9D |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} Indeed, press compared Radiant Black to Power Rangers and Invincible, and even Spider-Man-style storytelling.{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=2020-11-20 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/kyle-higgins-marcelo-costas-radiant-black-coming-in-february-from-image/#:~:text=A%20new%20superhero%20is%20set,who%20is%20granted%20cosmic%20powers |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=published |first=Lan Pitts |date=2020-11-20 |title=Spider-Man meets Power Rangers in new Image series Radiant Black |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/spider-man-meets-power-rangers-in-new-image-series-radiant-black/#:~:text=Take%20equal%20parts%20friendly%20neighborhood,flavor%20with%20his%20new%20series |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}} Higgins has said the story filters real-world “generational issues” – debt, career struggles and second chances – through a superhero lens.{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=Tim |date=2021-08-03 |title=Interview: Kyle Higgins Breaks Down the First Arc of Image's Radiant Black |url=https://comicsxf.com/2021/08/03/interview-kyle-higgins-breaks-down-the-first-arc-of-images-radiant-black/#:~:text=Kyle%20Higgins:%20Radiant%20Black%20is,We%E2%80%99re%20the%20last |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=COMICSXF |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=Tim |date=2021-08-03 |title=Interview: Kyle Higgins Breaks Down the First Arc of Image's Radiant Black |url=https://comicsxf.com/2021/08/03/interview-kyle-higgins-breaks-down-the-first-arc-of-images-radiant-black/#:~:text=Tim:%20It%E2%80%99s%20interesting%20that%20you,is%20a%20second%20opportunity%20for |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=COMICSXF |language=en-US}} The main creative team (writer Higgins, artist Costa, letterer Becca Carey and editor Michael Busuttil) remained largely intact for the series; one exception was Issue #6, which was co-written by Cherish Chen (with art by David Lafuente) to tell a guest character’s origin.{{Cite web |last=Rooney |first=Tim |date=2021-08-03 |title=Interview: Kyle Higgins Breaks Down the First Arc of Image's Radiant Black |url=https://comicsxf.com/2021/08/03/interview-kyle-higgins-breaks-down-the-first-arc-of-images-radiant-black/#:~:text=To%20cap%20off%20this%20initial,a%20young%20woman%20named%20Satomi |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=COMICSXF |language=en-US}}

Radiant Black debuted on February 10, 2021, as Image Comics’ flagship of the new “Massive-Verse”—a shared superhero universe created by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Marcelo Costa. Over the next four years, it released 32 main issues on a roughly monthly schedule, punctuated by five “.5” or special one-shots (#0, #26.5, #27.5, #28.5, #29.5, and #30.5) that provided recaps, character spotlights, and bridges into crossover events.{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-black |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=tonehasson |date=2023-11-23 |title=What’s the deal with the .5 issues? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/RadiantBlack/comments/182dw85/whats_the_deal_with_the_5_issues/?rdt=41575 |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=r/RadiantBlack}} Its issues have been gathered into six trade paperbacks (Vol. 1 – Vol. 6) between August 2021 and January 2025, plus two deluxe hardcover “Massive Edition” omnibuses (Vol. 1 in October 2024; Vol. 2 forthcoming).{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-black |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Image Comics |language=en}} In late 2024 the series tied into the Massive-Verse “Catalyst War” crossover: issues #30–30.5 formed a combined event, and Image even reprinted them as a double-sized special.{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-black#:~:text=33%20Oct%2016,%202024 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}} A free recap issue—Radiant Black: The Story So Far, released in January, 2025, summarized the Catalyst War and set up the next “Rebuild” era of the franchise.{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-black#:~:text=The%20free%20Radiant%20Black%20recap,Verse |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}} As of mid-2025 the main series is ongoing (Image’s site lists issue #35 for June 25, 2025 and #36 for July 30, 2025).{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-black#:~:text=26%20Jul%2030,%202025 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}

The series spun off three mini-series in 2022—Radiant Red, Radiant Pink, and the Supermassive crossover series, while participating in the Massive-Verse “Catalyst War” event across multiple titles like Rogue Sun, Dead Lucky, and Inferno Girl Red.{{Cite web |last=Brooke |first=David |date=2021-12-24 |title=‘Radiant Black’ spinoff ‘Radiant Red’ set for March 2022 release |url=https://aiptcomics.com/2021/12/24/radiant-black-spinoff-radiant-red-2022/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=AIPT |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Mably |first=Timothy |date=2022-04-10 |title='Radiant Black' Universe Is Expanding in Image Comics |url=https://screenrant.com/radiant-black-universe-expanding-image-comics/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} Digital singles remain available on ComiXology and Image’s app, and translated editions have appeared in Italian (Oct 2024) with French and more on the way. In April 2025 issue #35 closed out Catalyst War and set the stage for the “Rebuild” era, with a #0 one-shot scheduled for July 2025 and further crossovers planned.

Daniel Gehen from Comics Bulletin wrote "Radiant Black #1 lays the foundation for what may be the best new superhero since Robert Kirkman's Invincible".{{Cite web|lang=en|url=http://comicsbulletin.com/review-radiant-black-1-shines-brightly/|title=Review: RADIANT BLACK #1 Shines Brightly|author=Daniel Gehen|website=Comics Bulletin|date=2021-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214220129/http://comicsbulletin.com/review-radiant-black-1-shines-brightly/|archive-date=2021-02-14|access-date=2022-03-07}} Matthew Aguilar of ComicBook.com liked the main character.{{Cite web|lang=en|url=https://comicbook.com/comics/news/radiant-black-1-review-image-comics-kyle-higgins/|title=Radiant Black #1 Review: The Man Behind the Powers Steals the Show|website=comicbook.com|access-date=2022-03-07|archive-date=2022-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306170248/https://comicbook.com/comics/news/radiant-black-1-review-image-comics-kyle-higgins/|url-status=live}}

The 32 released chapters of Radiant Black—including the 6 released volumes have gotten positive reviews from critics and users alike, holding a collective average critic rating of 8.7 out of 10 for 179 reviews, and an equal user rating of 8.7 out of 10 for 483 reviews on the review aggregator website—Comic Book Roundup.{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black Review |url=https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/image-comics/radiant-black#Issues |url-status=live |access-date=April 15, 2025 |website=Comic Book Roundup}}

At launch Radiant Black sold extremely well by independent-comics standards. Early orders for issue #1 broke the 70,000 mark at Diamond’s Final Order Cutoff.{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} |date=2021-01-21 |title=Radiant Black #1 by Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa Tops 70,000 Orders |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/radiant-black-1-kyle-higgins-marcelo-costa-tops-70000-orders/#:~:text=future%20of%20%20Radiant%20Black%C2%A0and,at%20Diamond%20before%20hitting%20shelves |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}} Comichron’s estimate is about 73,000 copies shipped by Diamond (making #1 among the top-seller independents that month).{{Cite web |last=Comments |first=Rich Johnston {{!}} |date=2021-01-21 |title=Radiant Black #1 by Kyle Higgins and Marcelo Costa Tops 70,000 Orders |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/radiant-black-1-kyle-higgins-marcelo-costa-tops-70000-orders/#:~:text=future%20of%20%20Radiant%20Black%C2%A0and,at%20Diamond%20before%20hitting%20shelves |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=bleedingcool.com |language=en}} Image’s publicity noted that #1 quickly went to a second printing,{{Cite web |title=Issue 1 second printing |url=https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/radiant-black-sales-skyrocket-issue-two-rushed-back-to-print#:~:text=Radiant%20Black%20,shops%20on%20Wednesday%2C%20April%2021}} and #2 “sold out in a snap” and was also reprinted.{{Cite web |title=RADIANT BLACK SALES SKYROCKET, ISSUE TWO RUSHED BACK TO PRINT |url=https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/radiant-black-sales-skyrocket-issue-two-rushed-back-to-print#:~:text=PORTLAND,%20Ore,cover%20by%20artist%20Tom%20Reilly |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}} Subsequent issues saw the common post-launch drop: Diamond figures show #2 at 38,800 and #3 at 32,900 copies sold in 2021.{{Cite web |title=Comichron: 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2021.html#:~:text=match%20at%20L590%20369%20413Radiant,99%2004/21/21%20Marvel%2038,738 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.comichron.com}} Sales then gradually tapered into the 20–30K range (e.g. issues #4–#6 were in the high 20Ks ).{{Cite web |title=Comichron: 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2021.html#:~:text=561%20616Radiant%20Black5$3,99%2006/30/21%20Fantagraphics%2028,822 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.comichron.com}} By late 2021 the monthly issues stabilized around the high teens with issue #9 at 18,120 copies,{{Cite web |title=Comichron: 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2021.html#:~:text=match%20at%20L1195%20859%20947Radiant,99%2003/10/21%20Marvel%2018,085 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.comichron.com}} issue #10 at 17,090 copies,{{Cite web |title=Comichron: 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2021.html#:~:text=902%201006Radiant%20Black10$3,99%2003/17/21%20Marvel%2017,003 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.comichron.com}} and issue #11 at 18,026 copies sold.{{Cite web |title=Comichron: 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2021.html#:~:text=865%20949Radiant%20Black11$3,99%2005/12/21%20Marvel%2018,008 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.comichron.com}} Notably, by October 2024 the publisher again reported rush printings—an all-star #30/#30.5 special sold strongly.{{Cite web |title=Radiant Black |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-black#:~:text=33%20Oct%2016,%202024 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}

Trade paperback sales have been modest. According to Diamond/Comichron tallies, Radiant Black Vol.1 (Not So Secret Origin, TPB) sold about 5,900 copies via comics shops in its first year,{{Cite web |title=Comichron: 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://www.comichron.com/monthlycomicssales/2021.html#:~:text=50%20330Radiant%20Black%20Vol,99%20Dark%20Horse%205,771 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.comichron.com}} while Vol.2 (Team-Up) shipped roughly 3,000 copies in its debut month (March 2022).{{Cite web |title=Comichron: March 2022 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops |url=https://comichron.farawaypress.com/monthlycomicssales/2022/2022-03.html#:~:text=7%2023Radiant%20Black%20Vol,99 |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=comichron.farawaypress.com}} Later volumes have similar performance for a creator-owned indie. Digital editions of each issue and collection have been made widely available (on ComiXology, Kindle, Apple Books, etc.),{{Cite web |last=Grunenwald |first=Joe |date=2020-11-20 |title=Syndicated Comics |url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/kyle-higgins-marcelo-costas-radiant-black-coming-in-february-from-image/#:~:text=%3E%20Radiant%20Black%20,Books,%20comiXology,%20and%20Google%20Play |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=The Beat |language=en-US}} though specific digital sales figures are not publicly released. Overall, Radiant Black became a standout hit for Image: it sold out multiple printings of its early issues   and sustained respectable retailer orders throughout its run, fueled by both the creators’ fanbase and buzz from events like the “Catalyst War.”{{Cite web |title=RADIANT BLACK SALES SKYROCKET, ISSUE TWO RUSHED BACK TO PRINT |url=https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/radiant-black-sales-skyrocket-issue-two-rushed-back-to-print#:~:text=PORTLAND,%20Ore,cover%20by%20artist%20Tom%20Reilly |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=EVERY ISSUE SO FAR OF RADIANT BLACK SELLS-OUT, ALL RUSHED BACK TO PRINT |url=https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/every-issue-so-far-of-radiant-black-sells-out-all-rushed-back-to-print#:~:text=URL:%20https://imagecomics.com/press |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}

On February 23, 2022, the first issue of the Massive-Verse superhero crossover event series titled Supermassive, written by Kyle Higgins & Ryan Parrott, and illustrated by Mat Groom & Francesco Manna aired. Starring Radian Black along with the Image Comics debut of INFERNO GIRL RED and the first appearance of Rogue Sun and Dead Lucky. The title has since then seen a total of 3 releases—Supermassive(2022), (2023), and (2024).{{Cite web |title=Supermassive |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/supermassive |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Supermassive (One-Shot) |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60521008-supermassive |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Goodreads |language=en}}

A 5-issue miniseries spinoff titled Radiant Red, written by Cherish Chen and Illustrated by David Lafuente & Miquelon Muerto, set in the same Massive-Verse as Radiant Black—following another radiant-powered hero named Satomi Shen—a middle school teacher who gains the ability to absorb matter from the red Radiant and initially uses it to commit crime, was announced and has completely aired, with the first issue released on May 9, 2022.{{Cite web |title=Radiant Red |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-red |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Radiant Red #1 |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60579511-radiant-red-1 |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Goodreads |language=en}}

Another 5-issue miniseries spinoff titled Radiant Pink, written by Meghan Camarena & Melissa Flores, and illustrated by Emma Kubert set in the Massive-Verse has fully aired, with the first issue releasing on December 7, 2022.  It follows Eva—a video game streamer who gains the ability to teleport from the pink Radiant and is secretly the Superhero Radiant Pink—using her alter ego to increase her stream views, which invites a squad of mercenaries hunting for the radiant that powers her.{{Cite web |title=RADIANT PINK |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/series/radiant-pink |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=Image Comics |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Camarena |first=Meghan |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61835962-radiant-pink-vol-1 |title=Radiant Pink. Volume 001: Across the universe |last2=Flores |first2=Melissa |last3=Kubert |first3=Emma |last4=Carlomagno |first4=French |last5=Nalty |first5=Rebecca |last6=Iacono |first6=Mattia |last7=Carey |first7=Becca |last8=Hopkins |first8=David C. |last9=Sanches |first9=Diego |date=2023 |publisher=Image Comics |isbn=978-1-5343-2486-2 |series=Massive-verse book |location=Portland, OR |oclc=on1382790906}}

A one minute long animated trailer for the comic series featuring the original song "RADIANT" by Crisis Couture was released on January 8, 2021.January 8, 2021: "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjfoPcZGBtw RADIANT BLACK by Kyle Higgins & Marcelo Costa video trailer | Image Comics]" on Image Comics' official YouTube channel. An animated short film called "VERSUS" about a fight between the characters Radiant Black and Blaze of C.O.W.L. was released on YouTube on June 22, 2022June 22, 2022: "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H904oW40wMs VERSUS | Radiant Black vs. Blaze]" on Black Market Narrative YouTube channel. and a QR code to the video was hidden as an easter egg in Radiant Black #15. The film was written by Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel, animated by Tiger Animation and featured the voices of Will Friedle as Radiant Black,{{Cite web |last=Schedeen |first=Jesse |date=2022-06-21 |title=Radiant Black: Will Friedle Voices Image Comics Superhero In Animated Short 'Versus' |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/radiant-black-image-comics-animated-easter-egg-will-friedle |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=IGN |language=en}} Reginald James, Rick Cramer and David Sobolov.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://radiant.black Official Website]
• [https://blackmarket.la Black Market Narrative Website]

{{Image Comics}}

Category:2021 comics debuts

Category:Image Comics titles