Top Of The Pile: Blackest Night #5

What more can I say about the Blackest Night mini-series at this stage? If you're a DC Comics fan and you're not reading this then go straight to your nearest comic book store and pick up the back issues while you can.

And check out my reviews of issues one, two and four.

Geoff Johns is currently the finest writer working in comics and this is probably his magnum opus.

In issue five, he takes us on another wild ride with the entrance of the two remaining big hitters of DC's mighty Trinity (ie. Superman and Wonder Woman), drags us into the disgusting depths of the sick mind of the twisted William Hand (aka Black Hand) and then throws a stunning curveball to close out the issue.

My only concern is that the plot keeps building and building and building towards some incredible, possibly disastrous, climax and I fear my personal expectations may be rising exponentially with every issue so that when the final showdown comes even the great Mr Johns won't be able to deliver the universe-shaking conclusion that I'll be expecting by the time that issue drops.

While these event titles are always good flag poles to hang some extra mini-series and crossovers on, I'm very pleased with the way that DC have both limited (the spin-off mini-series have all been three-parters to date, which isn't much of an added weight on the wallet) and spaced-out the crossover titles - and made sure that not all are essential reading to follow the main plot (although it's probably recommended that you read the Green Lantern titles as the whole Blackest Night concept is central to their mythology).