This is terrific news for Massive-verse fans! Congratulations to Kyle Higgins and the entire creative team on this novel, two-versions-per-issue storytelling approach! Here's all the news from Image Comics.
THE MASSIVE-VERSE’S RADIANT BLACK #30 AND #30.5 RUSHED BACK TO PRINT AS A SPECIAL COMBO ISSUE
The Catalyst War concludes in this epic multi-issue superhero special by all-star creators Kyle Higgins, Joe Clark, Marcelo Costa, Eduardo Ferigato, hitting shelves this November
Radiant Black #30 and #30.5, the latest issues in the
bestselling Image Comics series by all-star Massive-Verse
creators—Eisner Award-nominated writers Kyle 
Higgins and Joe Clark, and fan-favorite artists Marcelo Costa and
Eduardo Ferigato—are being rushed back to print in a special combo issue
to showcase the epic ending of the Catalyst War series arc. The second
printing combo, featuring a brand new cover, is being fast tracked in
order to keep up with escalating demand for the issues.
The Massive-Verse has been a highlight at this week’s New York Comic Con, with two Thursday panels, one about the overall storytelling initiative and one about Kid Cudi’s Moon Man, revealing exciting news about what’s in store for fans this year. On Friday, celebrated composer Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) will take over the Main Stage at 2:30 p.m. to discuss his Massive-Verse project The Singularity and more, joined by co-collaborators Higgin and renowned writer Mat Groom (Inferno Girl Red). Fans can also catch Higgins at booth #G40 throughout the event. Radiant Black Vol. 5, which kicks off the Catalyst War, is also nominated for Book of the Year at this year’s Harvey Awards, taking place on Friday night of the show.
In Radiant Black #30, the Catalyst War continues and pieces fall into place. Endless possibilities collapse. The end of the world is at hand. Then, in Radiant Black #30.5, the final issue of the story arc, the paradigm is forever changed. In the wake of the unmissable conclusion to the Catalyst War, there can only be one Radiant Black.
“When we embarked on this journey that has become Radiant Black and The Massive-Verse, we all promised each other that we would take bold, ambitious swings that pushed the boundaries of what a superhero comic book could be, that tried to capture the type of magic and excitement that made us all fall in love with both the genre and the medium in the first place, but for a new generation,” said Higgins. “The Catalyst War—which has told two stories across two timelines in two unique books for the last six releases, driven by a fan vote for “who will be the permanent Radiant Black”—has been the biggest, most ambitious narrative challenge that any of us have ever undertaken. And while the story has taken us longer to complete than anticipated, every creator involved has given their very best. This story is deeply personal to myself, Joe Clark, Marcelo Costa, Eduardo Ferigato and the entire team. We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished and are over the moon with the reaction that these two finale issues have been receiving.”
Continued Higgins: “We’re thrilled to go back to print on these two issues—now put together as one huge, 50-page epic—so new and old readers can experience it for themselves in the best possible way, including the results of the vote: “who will be Radiant Black?” This is the end of the Catalyst War, but the beginning of the next era for Radiant Black. And as we bank issues for our big—monthly!—return in February, we promise to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries of comic book storytelling as we go back to one issue a month. To our readers, fans, our Image family and our retailer partners, from the bottom of our hearts—thank you so much for supporting us and this wild, outside the box story. We could not have done any of this without you. The opportunity to take crazy swings that attempt to push the boundaries of what you can do in comics is a privilege that we take seriously and are immensely grateful for the opportunity to pursue. We can’t wait to see you again in February! Stay radiant!”
The Radiant Black #30 and #30.5 combined second printing (Lunar Code 0924IM881) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 13 (with FOC this Monday, October 21) for a special price of $4.99, featuring a brand-new cover by Ferigato.
Higgins and Joe Clark, and fan-favorite artists Marcelo Costa and
Eduardo Ferigato—are being rushed back to print in a special combo issue
to showcase the epic ending of the Catalyst War series arc. The second
printing combo, featuring a brand new cover, is being fast tracked in
order to keep up with escalating demand for the issues. The Massive-Verse has been a highlight at this week’s New York Comic Con, with two Thursday panels, one about the overall storytelling initiative and one about Kid Cudi’s Moon Man, revealing exciting news about what’s in store for fans this year. On Friday, celebrated composer Bear McCreary (The Walking Dead, Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) will take over the Main Stage at 2:30 p.m. to discuss his Massive-Verse project The Singularity and more, joined by co-collaborators Higgin and renowned writer Mat Groom (Inferno Girl Red). Fans can also catch Higgins at booth #G40 throughout the event. Radiant Black Vol. 5, which kicks off the Catalyst War, is also nominated for Book of the Year at this year’s Harvey Awards, taking place on Friday night of the show.
In Radiant Black #30, the Catalyst War continues and pieces fall into place. Endless possibilities collapse. The end of the world is at hand. Then, in Radiant Black #30.5, the final issue of the story arc, the paradigm is forever changed. In the wake of the unmissable conclusion to the Catalyst War, there can only be one Radiant Black.
“When we embarked on this journey that has become Radiant Black and The Massive-Verse, we all promised each other that we would take bold, ambitious swings that pushed the boundaries of what a superhero comic book could be, that tried to capture the type of magic and excitement that made us all fall in love with both the genre and the medium in the first place, but for a new generation,” said Higgins. “The Catalyst War—which has told two stories across two timelines in two unique books for the last six releases, driven by a fan vote for “who will be the permanent Radiant Black”—has been the biggest, most ambitious narrative challenge that any of us have ever undertaken. And while the story has taken us longer to complete than anticipated, every creator involved has given their very best. This story is deeply personal to myself, Joe Clark, Marcelo Costa, Eduardo Ferigato and the entire team. We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished and are over the moon with the reaction that these two finale issues have been receiving.”
Continued Higgins: “We’re thrilled to go back to print on these two issues—now put together as one huge, 50-page epic—so new and old readers can experience it for themselves in the best possible way, including the results of the vote: “who will be Radiant Black?” This is the end of the Catalyst War, but the beginning of the next era for Radiant Black. And as we bank issues for our big—monthly!—return in February, we promise to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries of comic book storytelling as we go back to one issue a month. To our readers, fans, our Image family and our retailer partners, from the bottom of our hearts—thank you so much for supporting us and this wild, outside the box story. We could not have done any of this without you. The opportunity to take crazy swings that attempt to push the boundaries of what you can do in comics is a privilege that we take seriously and are immensely grateful for the opportunity to pursue. We can’t wait to see you again in February! Stay radiant!”
The Radiant Black #30 and #30.5 combined second printing (Lunar Code 0924IM881) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 13 (with FOC this Monday, October 21) for a special price of $4.99, featuring a brand-new cover by Ferigato.
If you're curious how the Catalyst War began, check out my review of Radiant Black #25.
Radiant Black Vol. 5 (ISBN: 9781534397255) is available at local comic book shops and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones. (This trade paperback starts with issues #25A and #25B).
Meet the creative team behind Radiant Black!
ABOUT KYLE HIGGINS
Kyle Higgins is a #1 New York Times bestselling author best known for his work on DC Comics’ Batman titles as well as his critically-acclaimed reinventions of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for Boom! Studios and Ultraman for Marvel Comics. RADIANT BLACK is Kyle’s fourth series for Image Comics.
Kyle Higgins is a #1 New York Times bestselling author best known for his work on DC Comics’ Batman titles as well as his critically-acclaimed reinventions of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for Boom! Studios and Ultraman for Marvel Comics. RADIANT BLACK is Kyle’s fourth series for Image Comics.
ABOUT JOE CLARK
Joe Clark is a Chicago-based writer known for his work on Ordinary Gods and Radiant Black. He is also an award-winning composer, arranger, and trumpeter whose first work in comics was the soundtrack The C.O.W.L. Sessions. Other recordings include Lush, Arcana: This Sounds Like Us, Sisters in Song with Nicole Cabell & Alyson Cambridge, and the upcoming Black and Cardinal.
Joe Clark is a Chicago-based writer known for his work on Ordinary Gods and Radiant Black. He is also an award-winning composer, arranger, and trumpeter whose first work in comics was the soundtrack The C.O.W.L. Sessions. Other recordings include Lush, Arcana: This Sounds Like Us, Sisters in Song with Nicole Cabell & Alyson Cambridge, and the upcoming Black and Cardinal.
ABOUT MARCELO COSTA
Marcelo Costa is a comic artist and colorist from Brazil who has coloured books such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Firefly for Boom! Studios, Hidden Society for Dark Horse, and SELF/MADE for Image Comics. RADIANT BLACK is Marcelo's first work for Image Comics as an artist.
Marcelo Costa is a comic artist and colorist from Brazil who has coloured books such as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Firefly for Boom! Studios, Hidden Society for Dark Horse, and SELF/MADE for Image Comics. RADIANT BLACK is Marcelo's first work for Image Comics as an artist.
ABOUT EDUARDO FERIGATO
Eduardo Ferigato is an artist from São Paulo, Brazil. Eduardo has over a decade of experience in the industry, working on projects including The Last Phantom for Dynamite Entertainment and the award-winning independent graphic novel Opala 76.
Eduardo Ferigato is an artist from São Paulo, Brazil. Eduardo has over a decade of experience in the industry, working on projects including The Last Phantom for Dynamite Entertainment and the award-winning independent graphic novel Opala 76.
Thanks to Image Comics and the Massive Verse for sharing this exciting news with us!
ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of bestselling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States, and is the #2 graphic novel publisher in America. It is the publisher of such award winning titles as, Spawn, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Saga, Monstress, Deadly Class, Chew, The Old Guard, I Kill Giants, Criminal, The Department of Truth, W0rldtr33, Geiger, Descender, Gideon Falls, It’s Lonely At The Centre of The Earth, Do A Power Bomb, and more. The company currently has six individuals on the Board of Directors: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, and Eric Stephenson. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit: www.imagecomics.com.
