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Ben here,
This title hasn't been reviewed yet, but I would say this review is representative of the overall quality of the series.
A man bitten by a radioactive spider. The last son of a distant planet. A boy driven to eradicate evil after watching his parents gunned down in front of him. A family given superpowers after being irradiated by cosmic rays while trying to beat the commies into space. This is a simple cross section of those we often think of when we ponder what makes a comic book hero. A few might want to hang edgy and claim guys like Punisher Max or Constantine. There’s even those who cheer for losers like Mark Millar’s Kick-Ass. But no matter how many fans of funny books you ask, it’s unlikely a single person would stand up and cheer for an abusive, drunk, desperate, out of work father.
Herein lies the central and incredibly strange premise behind The Light. Readers were introduced early to Coyle, an abusive father (and one time abusive husband), and his daughter, Avery, who absolutely hates him. Shortly into the narrative a bizarre infection begins spreading via light sources. Anyone who looks into any light source (with a few exceptions) is infected with a fast acting virus that burns the individual out with a super bright flash. If a person looks at one of the infected, or another light source, including TV, cell phones, light bulbs or street lights, they are also infected and quickly die, although occasionally a select few will carry the disease for a longer period before exploding into a brilliant phosphorescent blast.
Before I move on to the story, I really want to point out that last phrase, ‘Brilliant phosphorescent blast’ because the visuals in this book are amazing. I have absolutely no idea what trick artist Brett Weldele uses, but the way he manages to pull the brilliance, the absolutely dazzling visual, out of some ink on a page is stunning to say the least. It’s absolutely palpable. When I’m staring at a panel, I can’t help but feel unnerved, as if the light is about to infect me. It’s inescapable, and amazing, to feel as if the sources of the infection are actually brighter than the luminescence one is using to see the page. Just great work.
Cover art to THE LIGHT #4 by Brett Weldele
The narrative, while having a great set-up, has yet to deliver on the dynamics of the strained (to say the least) relationship an abusive father would have with his daughter. After the first few panels of the first installment Coyle has led his daughter through hell, all while keeping a firm yet generally heroic attitude. That is until this issue.
Finally things come to a head and the true beast inside Coyle’s chest breaks loose when he unloads on Avery and is forced to deal with the shame of being the man he is. I only wish that Avery would have had a chance at the spotlight. Thus far she has basically played the part of pain-in-the-ass, and while I don’t condone striking one’s own children, I couldn’t help but feel some disciplinary measure had to be taken to make her shut up. Bearing down on the final chapter I’m hoping she gets her chance to break out and show why she matters.
Ben here,
This title hasn't been reviewed yet, but I would say this review is representative of the overall quality of the series.
Neat.
Have you guys reviewed the previous issues on this site?