By Anna Bailey — There are some pieces of media that are made to feel nostalgic as if their purpose is to remind you of the things you loved, of your childhood, and of a time when you weren’t worried about bills. This week’s new Supermassive one-shot achieves just that. 

Kyle Higgins, Ryan Parrott, and Mat Groom have created characters that I feel as if I’ve known my whole life and then bring them together in an epic crossover event. Supermassive is a continuation of Higgins and Marcelo Costa’s Radiant Black which was a huge 2021 hit for Image Comics. 

This issue has everything superhero fans could want–bright colors, massive fights, and good one-liners. (“I can either take you into custody or burn your face off with hellfire.” Tough choice there, Rogue Sun. Really going to have to think about that one.)

As fans, we’ve been inundated with superheroes for most of our lives — between Superman, Batman, and Captain America, etc. — we should be used to superheroes and their fighting, but Radiant Black, Rogue Sun, and Inferno Girl Red show us that superheroes can feel new and old at the same time. 

Personally, Inferno Girl Red is my favorite. Her outfit is practical, her personality is entertaining, and her nicknames for her opponents have me laughing out loud (“knight-themed demon” is what I’d want to be called if I were a superhero, too). But honestly, every character is exceptional. 

Getting to see the three main characters in both their superhero forms and their everyday human form really draws the reader in to care more about them. We can really see the Power Rangers influence, which honestly makes me love the book anymore because, again, it feels nostalgic. 

All of the artists — Francesco Manna (with assistance from Melania Palladino), Simone Ragazzoni, Marcelo Costa, Abel, and Erica D’urso — did a phenomenal job at keeping the colors bright, the characters interesting, and the movements fluid. Sometimes when it comes to fighting scenes, I can get easily distracted but every time the three characters powered up to fight, I was drawn in more and more. 

By the end of the story, I was almost begging for more so I can’t wait to get to know Radiant Black, Rogue Sun, and Inferno Girl Red in their own stories. 

Overall: There are some pieces of media that are made to feel nostalgic as if their purpose is to remind you of the things you loved, of your childhood, and of a time when you weren’t worried about bills. Supermassive achieves just that. 8/10

REVIEW: Supermassive One-Shot

Supermassive One-Shot
Writer: Kyle Higgins, Ryan Parrott, Mat Groom
Artist: Francesco Manna (with assistance from Melania Palladino), Simone Ragazzoni, Marcelo Costa, Abel, and Erica D’urso
Colorist: Igor Monti
Letterer: Becca Carey
Publisher: Image Comics
2021’s hottest new superhero RADIANT BLACK launches into his first-ever crossover event with the Image Comics debut of INFERNO GIRL RED and the first appearance of ROGUE SUN! The future of Image’s superhero universe is here!
Power Rangers: Shattered Grid architects KYLE HIGGINS & RYAN PARROTT, MAT GROOM & FRANCESCO MANNA from Marvel’s Ultraman, and colorist extraordinaire IGOR MONTI unite for a one-shot, extra-length crossover event so big it can only be called—SUPERMASSIVE.
Price: $5.99
Buy It Here: Supermassive One-Shot

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Anna Bailey is an email marketer that exclusively watches horror films. You can follow her on Twitter at @annuh_bailey to see all her favorites.