Finally, after years of waiting the Blackest Night has arrived. Are all the hypes, preludes, and prologues worth it? Or is this first issue a sign of death itself?

No doubt about it, this was a fantastic issue to read. Although let me get this off my chest because it's me giving this a four instead of a full five. The beginning of this read really slow for me. I understand Johns has to set up the tone of the issue with death hovering over everyone's head. New readers will be fine with the over exposition to get them up to speed, but for a guy like me it really got to me. It's not badly written and Johns writes it in a way where it's still important to read and you can't skim threw it. Still, I am tired of people greiving and being reminded of who died and when. Again I get it that it's setting up what's to come in the second half of the issue; but it just bugged me to no end.

Once we get into Black Lanterns attacking all over the galaxy, that's when this issue went from 'good' to 'holy shit this is awesome!' This is gonna be a brutal event by DC's standards. That should come to no surprise considering how the Black Lanterns get their recruits in the first place. The rings go after corpses all over the universe, but they also get their recruits from ripping other's hearts out and then put a ring on them. Apparently Bruce Wayne skull is the focial point as it literally spits out the rings with Black Hand's help. I'll tell you what that these lanterns don't fuck around and they are creepy as hell. When Ralph and Sue Dibny come in and kill Hawkman and Hawkgirl, that scared me to death. Plus it doesnt help that you have Hand in the background licking skulls or just otherwise being menacing.

Also I should mention how the interactions with other characters are in this issue. Sure the nagging problem I had of exposition comes in, but everyone going to the graves of their friends is really touching in ways. Although the panel with the Rouges and a keg of beer is pretty funny. But the stuff with Tempest and Mera, or the JSA, or even Bart Allen is great to read. I have to add as well: When can Geoff Johns write a book with Barry Allen ands Hal Jordan teaming up with eachother? It's probably going to happen in the early stages of this event, but I want a main series with this premise in mind.

We have to give a slow clap to Ivan Reis. Seriously, I have missed this guy for months now. Green Lantern and Reis go perfectly together. Everything in this issue is epic in scale and has some of the best splash pages I've seen in a comic. So many people in each panel and he's referring so many dead characters it's amazing to see these designs. He also doesn't hold back on the gore and trust me that the final fight with Hawkman/woman is really brutal. A lot of people complain to me hating on the Flash: Rebirth art because I think it's too muddy. Well let's have Reis on board for the Flash ongoing cause this is how Flash should be drawn. Just so much to praise and so little time. Trust me when I say this is one of the best looking comics you'll read this year.

So other then a bit too much exposition (which granted is to be expected for a #1 issue) this was a great start to an event. The shit hit the fan really quickly and it's only going to get worse with literally billions of the dead rising. It's going to be brutal, scary, and more importantly an exciting adventure. I just wonder how Johns is going to get this all back to normal in the end. Cause once you lose your heart, it's kinda hard to come back from that.

(Also I want to stress: Why would you put the corpse of your enemies below the JLA HQ!? I know Jordan gave a reason for it, but that's just asking for trouble!!)