Blackest Night #0 was released today for Free Comic Book Day. It's a decent story with above average art by Ivan Reis. Mostly it's a way for Geoff Johns to introduce new readers to the recent events of the DC Universe. He reminds people that recently Batman has "died", although we all know he's just stuck in the past. But Aquaman, Elongated Man, and Martian Manhunter have all perished over the past few years, as well as the original Firestorm, Ronnie Raymond. (The Aquaman reference is telling you to completely forget about that panel in Final Crisis #7.) Johns is setting it up so that these characters will be revived as Black Lanterns. Along with, we assume, the original Earth-1 Superman!
It's strange to see both Barry Allen and Hal Jordan discuss their deaths in this issue. Hal says to Barry, "I died a sinner. You died a saint". Yet, here they are, back from the dead!
And they are not the only DC heroes to journey back. Oliver Queen came back to life as Green Arrow when Kevin Smith re-launched that title years ago. In the 80s-90s, we pretty much had a generational shift as Hal, Barry, and Oliver died and turned over their mantles to Kyle Rayner, Wally West, and Connor Hawke. That was exciting and a bit revolutionary at that time--something that differentiated DC Comics from Marvel. Certain creators really loved the new generation. Grant Morrison mentioned that he loved writing Kyle Rayner as he was more fallible than Hal Jordan. Mark Waid proved that Wally West could be even more interesting that Barry Allen.
Now all of that has been undone. And with it, the concept of death. No character can completely die now in the DC Universe. Just look at Legion of Three Worlds #4. Kid Flash has returned, which is OK in my book, as everything was kind of telegraphed way in advance. But now they've also brought back Connor Kent (Superboy), which just completely negates his big sacrifice at the conclusion of Infinite Crisis.
Oh well, let's bring back everybody! I'm guessing that Johns will revive at least one dead member of the DC Universe permanently by the conclusion of Blackest Night. I'll wager that either Aquaman and/or Martian Manhunter will cross back over into the land of the living. Nuff said.
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