Radiant Pink, Vol. 1: Across the Universe

Radiant Pink #1-5

by Meghan Camarena, Melissa Flores, Emma Kubert (Artist)

When Eva - a video game streamer who is secretly the superhero RADIANT PINK - is invited to the biggest charity stream event of the year, she sees her chance to use her platform for good. But when a surprise attack sends her hurtling across dimensions, Eva will have to rely on everything she has to make it home in one piece.

Streaming superstar MEGHAN CAMARENA and MELISSA FLORES (THE DEAD LUCKY) are joined by third-generation comics artist EMMA KUBERT (INKBLOT) for a universe-hopping thrill-ride from the world of RADIANT BLACK!

RADIANT PINK is a part of the MASSIVE-VERSE!

Collects RADIANT PINK #1-5

WHAT IS THE MASSIVE-VERSE?
Kyle Higgins & Marcelo Costa's breakout hit Radiant Black took superhero storytelling to new heights. But Radiant Black isn't the only character inhabiting the MASSIVE-VERSE. There's a whole universe for readers to explore! Characters like Rogue Sun, Inferno Girl Red, The Dead Lucky and more yet to be revealed each of them has a different story to tell, different adversaries to face and they each occupy a very different corner of this shared universe. What are you waiting for? Now's the time to get into the MASSIVE-VERSE!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Science Fiction, LGBT, Superheroes, Fiction, Action

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[Sunny Lu · Rating 3 out of 5]

when the lesbian breakup is so bad you have to portal jump to other dimensions

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly I liked this but it kind of went off the rails for me when it spent quite a few pages more or less trying to be Saga.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume collects the five issues of Radiant Pink (part of the Image Comics Massive-Verse) and adds a prologue by a different artist and writer.

The prologue of this was brilliant. Great art and a really promising story of a streamer superhero.

The main story starts with issue 1 and brings a jarring change in both art style and story themes that is unique to this collected volume. Still, the story is pretty good, bordering on really good at times, and then takes a sudden dive with issue 5. It left me with the clear feeling that the production team thought they would have a longer run and then tried to cram all the plot points they wanted to explore into the last issue, leaving a complete mess.

Disappointing.

[Emily Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7 ⭐️ sapphic superhero, alien cats, portals and powers.

Personally I haven’t read anything else from this world and I think it would have helped hugely if I had. If you jump into this, it will make sense but a lot of the context is overlooked especially surrounding powers.

Saying that I enjoyed an awful lot about this. The aliens they meet have a whole lot of character and are amusing, the plot line was interesting and kept me guessing, the artwork is really clean and the pallets used are vibrant.

I do think the story could have done with a bit more depth and some explanation around certain things, there’s so much time spent focussing on her gaming that could have been used to give more detail about needed things.

Rep// sapphic MCs.


TW// sex (brief, little shown), violence, blood.

[Zedsdead · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Radiant Pink's turn at the wheel. And what a letdown after the rock solid Radiant Red volume.

It actually is interesting to get an inside peek at the mechanics of professional game-streaming, and showing a Radiant try to balance hero work with public-facing job demands is compelling. Moreso as it makes the point that any cause a hero supports automatically becomes a target of bad actors.

But the bulk of the book bogs down in wacky zany world-hopping, terrible-relationship management, and implausibly bad decision-making. It started strong but went off the rails and never even thought about trying to recover.

[Rockito · Rating 2 out of 5]

A somewhat nice insight into Radiant Pink's life but this could have been a one-off issue on Radiant Black.

[Gunnar Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m actually really bummed about this one. Radiant Pink has been a really cool character in the Massive-Verse and I was looking forward to how they’d expand her in her own solo book.

But man, this just didn’t work for me.

The pacing was just off. The plot moves so incredibly fast, at first I thought it was on purpose since Eva’s lesson is supposed to be slowing down and focusing on herself. But in truth it’s just kinda sloppy writing. No location feels fully fleshed out, the new characters feel really underdeveloped.

The new character, Kelly, I just didn’t feel anything for. She’s the love interest/villain of the book and I just didn’t buy her and Eva’s relationship. It feels rushed and by the end they’re saying they love one another but very little happens in the story to make me believe it. Their relationship is the core of the story but I don’t even know what they like about each other besides being sexually attracted to one another.

When it’s focusing more on strange sci-fi like living water or alien cats is when I think the story is working at its best. But a lot of those elements feel pushed aside or not giving the time they need.

And sadly, I didn’t care for the references. A lot of them feel more like name drops than organic dialogue. It felt like when Big Bang Theory mentions pop culture. It’s there just as a buzz word to remind you they’re nerds. Yes I get it she plays video games, sometimes it feels like that’s Eva’s single character trait.

I feel really bad being this harsh, but this is easily my least favorite book the Massive-Verse has brought us.

Rare Massive-Verse L.

[Nick Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 for what it’s trying to do. 2/5 for the execution. Bonus points for inclusivity and modernization, but there’s not enough plot here for 5 issues, and the adventuresome parts and the characterizations seemed rushed or unearned.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to Radiant Pink, but this was only alright. Emma Kubert’s Art is solid and expressive, but not extraordinary. Still better than most spin off series. If you’re interested in the character, I’d recommend it, but otherwise it’s skippable.

[Hello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed. 🏳️‍🌈😍

[Daisysbookmusings · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the art but the story just fell flat and wasn't what I had hoped for.

[Jack Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

It moves a bit too quickly and feels disjointed, but it functions well as a taste of the richness of the Massive-Verse.

[Will Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely disappointed with this one, especially since it starts out so strong! Radiant Pink focuses on the behind the scenes of a content streamer and the toll it takes to be a public performer while struggling with depression. It's solid character work. I can see some people having problems with the online "gamer" dialogue, but I think the cookie cutter phrases really helped emphasize how much of an act her consistently bubbly persona was when she was online.

Then we get to the actual adventure of the book and...what the heck happened here? We go from a quiet, introspective character study to a sloppy, rushed sci-fi romance. It was such a jarring shift I checked to see if they changed creative teams halfway through, but nope! Same writers the whole series. A real shame because nothing works after that first issue. The romance with the villain is clunky and unbelievable, the planets they travel to are underdeveloped, and the art change is a serious downgrade. Do yourself a favor, buy the first issue for cheap online and skip the rest. You'll save both time and money.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

8/8/2023 3.5 stars. V cute, with a powerful message about self-care! Full review tk at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.

8/11/2023 I'm pretty new to the Radiant universe (tho I've always had a weakness for the name since Magic The Gathering's badass Radiant Archangel.) This was a pretty great way for me to get started, tho, with the backstory and ongoing adventures of the superhero known as Radiant Pink.

Eva is a video game streamer trying to hold her life together in the face of both self-doubt and the criticism of people who don't think that what she's doing is a real job. One of these latter is her soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend, who doesn't take her sponsorships or stressors very seriously. When Eva's mic setup crashes one evening, her desperate search for a replacement leads her to a mysterious symbol that, much like the rest of her Radiant counterparts, imbues her with superpowers.

As Radiant Pink, Eva can teleport from place to place via neon pink portals. She uses her newfound abilities not only to fight crime but to hype up her stream, raising hundreds of thousands for charity from her small bedroom in Indiana. But not even a teleporter can be in two places at once, so she has to rope in her best friend Maddy to help keep her secret identity secret while Radiant Pink drops in from time to time to boost viewership on the EvaPlayys channel.

Maddy is worried that Eva is stretching herself way too thin, but Eva claims that becoming a superhero has also lessened her need for sleep. When Eva's latest charity appearance at a children's hospital goes terribly awry, Maddy is left holding the bag. How long can she cover for Eva, as a disoriented Radiant Pink traverses the galaxy, searching for her final leap, I mean portal, home?

I love so much that Eva is brown and queer, and that her love interests are minorities, as well. As a driven nerd with unconventional career choices myself, I totally sympathized with her need to prove herself, even to her own detriment. Most importantly, I love how she ultimately chooses to prioritize her own health, setting a really important example for readers young and old.

Popular streamer Meghan Camarena teams up with comics writer Melissa Flores to plot and script a comic bursting with verisimilitude. Third-generation comics artist Emma Kubert more than ably depicts the shenanigans, leaning in more (and more suitably) to the cuteness than the prologue's artist French Carlomagno does. There are even cameos from other Radiants, tho they would have probably landed with more impact were I more familiar with the universe. That said, this was a pretty great introduction, and I had a really fun time getting to know and love Radiant Pink and the rest of her world.

Radiant Pink, Vol. 1: Across the Universe by Meghan Camarena, Melissa Flores & Emma Kubert was published August 1 2023 by Image Comics and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!

[Gonçalo Bernardes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Radiant Pink was, unfortunately in my opinion, very disappointing. :(

For the past year, I've been making my way through the MassiveVerse, and I'm absolutely LOVING it!! Some of these comics are some of my favorites overall! With this whole catalogue of stories part of the same universe, I've come to expect a specific level of quality: a very high one. And i feel Radiant Pink fails to reach any level of quality.

I also want to say before I dive in, I have great respect for the people that worked on this comic and all people that are in the comics industry, it can be a very tough place to be at, so the very fact that you have even made a comic is an absolute blast!

Now, why did i actively dislike this comic? (unlike with anything I've ever read, most negative I've felt is 'neutral' about a book)

For starters, the story truly is nothing. It didn't get any interesting conversations going inside my head, and even if it wasn't aiming for high-brow storytelling (totally valid!) I didn't have fun with it either way. While I obviously love, appreciate, and WANT queer romances in all the stories I read, this one was just not a good romance in general: it felt forced, motivations didn't make any sense, and was overall bland and confusing.

Along with story, the art of the comics is something MassiveVerse excel at, and I actually found the art in this book plain bad. :( I hate to speak like this about a medium that I love and a position that i respect and would hope to have one day, an incredible privilege it is to make the art for a comic book, but this one just wasn't it. I know sometimes the odd choices are intentional because of the planet-hopping, but since the art never had good moments to make up for it, it's just all always bad.

This comic feels like a disservice to the character of Radiant Pink. As established with the first issue of this volume, from Radiant Black, and her previous appearances, she can be an interesting, rich character full of personality, quirks, and incredibly visually interesting (when well drawn)! But for the next 5 issues, as the creative team switches over, all goes downhill.

I feel like this book did not offer anything special or worthwhile to the experience of reading the MassiveVerse. It's so forgettable and weird with it's creative choices that it actively made me dislike the book. There's SO much potential for this character, and I'd hope it could be redeemed with future appearances in the MassiveVerse. I'd even be open to reading more Radiant Pink, if for future issues the creative team behind this mini-series was changed. I hope the poor quality of this specific book does not take away the chance of Image Comics and Black Market Narrative exploring all the rich nuances and interesting parts of Eva's character still left to discover.

I want to see this character thrive!

[Bex Mae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed Radiant Pink, Eva is an endearing and relatable protagonist, everything from her people-pleasing tendencies to her workaholic mindset makes it difficult to dislike her. Can't say the same about her love interest though. Kelly, who we are first made to believe is an innocent EMT, slowly reveals herself to be an emotionally manipulative, cocky individual who quite literally sucks the life out of Eva. Clearly, their relationship is meant to be toxic (Eva's unhealthy relationship with streaming is reflected in her relationship with Kelly- when Eva loves something she loves wholeheartedly to the detriment of her well-being), as the story acknowledges that how Kelly treats Eva isn't okay in the form of Maddie attempting to console Eva after the two had a fight. My issue with her, however, stems from the fact that the story tries to convince the reader that this isn't really Kelly, that the alien device strapped to her chest is what's bringing out the worst in her. It's difficult to think that since this abrasive and bitter nature is all we know of her. Kelly is given a sympathetic backstory, but it isn't enough to ignore her egregious actions in the present. I'm just happy that Eva was able to put herself first in the end.

[Nerdy Remarks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what I was expecting from Radiant Pink but that wasn't it.

Spoiler-Free Summary:
In Across the Universe, you meet Eva. A streamer that plays a variety of games whose cat breaks her microphone which leads to her becoming a Radiant? With the powers of creating portals, her local adventures turn cosmic as she's lost in space with another person.

This comic was very girly. A cat ship, a 4 eyed cat, Katneep IV, Kevin the Cat.. I'm surprised my allergies didn't start acting up. The book is silly, name drops a few games I play and overall was a fun read. I gave it a 3 out of 5 because while it's a fun read, I think it was a little too girly for myself. I'll continue reading the series to keep up with the Massive-verse. I couldn't help but think my wife would love this once I got half way into it.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Radiant Pink sees the titular character take centre stage, much like Radiant Red from last year. The difference being, Pink isn't anywhere near as compelling, and she comes across...kinda dumb.

Like, I don't often criticise characters for making decisions that seem obvious, because I know sometimes you have to be a little Plot Dumb to move the plot along. But Pink lets the villain of the piece here get away with almost literal murder, and I'm not entirely sure why other than because she thinks said villain is cute? C'mon girl.

Otherwise, the plot's fine. Some dimension hopping, alien cats, a lot of bickering. And Emma Kubert's artwork is decent enough, though she always feels a little fast and loose for my taste.

Not the Massiveverse's best entry by far, but still readable.

[Wyatt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coming off of Radiant Black then Radiant Red, this is somewhat disappointing, especially as I felt Radiant Pink as a character felt like she had the most potential in her debut. This mini series doesn't really sell me on a terribly realistic streamer-character or one with the depth you see in real life. Nor does it sell the romance plot and depression storyline. The violence feels out of place. Kelly is not very likable at all despite her interesting relationship with Pink. It blasts through storylines in the last issue, which kinda tells me it wasn't doing well and needed to wrap up. I do hope it gets a chance to return and do things better.

Would feel out of place of comic's pop culture besides the "sreaming" lifestyle if it released 10-15 years ago.

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 3 out of 5]

As somebody who has followed Meghan online for years, I really wanted to like this story. But it just wasn’t her best work. The artwork was beautiful, but the story and characters were all over the place. The constant video game references, the unserious responses during important scenes, and the forced humor just didn’t do it for me. It almost felt childish. I also didn’t like that her streams were such a big focus. Instead of focusing on the overall story of the Massive-Verse, it felt like she was just trying to get as many of her real life fans into the story, via the chatters on Eva’s stream. I think there was just too much Meghan and not enough Radiant Pink.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't aware it was based on anything else as a character so that's likely my first problem in understanding the deeper layer of comics but then again, it also didn't pull me in with plot or character. And the art, while pretty cool, didn't stun me either so I felt like I might have been missing something or just not into action comics knowing that I'd seen some play on this one in advertisements (or an Eisner runner up maybe?). I'm sure it was feted for its rep and knowing that it has a backstory it also makes sense, but as someone in the dark about Radiant Pink, it didn't make me want to know more about the character itself or the universe she inhabited.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid fun. Eva is a cool character and the dialogue is snappy and fun. I think she works best when she has other strong characters around her like the other Radiants. Here, things were a little too predictable, which is a real shame because both her powerset and her background make her more unique than a lot of the other main protagonists. I also think thinked they missed the opportunity to include radiant yellow and continue to pair them as mentor and mentee characters. But I'd definitely love to read more about her and I enjoyed the mental health themes, even though I wish it had gone a little deeper.

[aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read but I will say that it is so far the weakest of the MassiveVerse reads. That being said, I did enjoy the story of Eva. Mostly I wish that the pacing was better. I think if Melissa Flores had handled the whole book it would have been top notch and better paced. It just often felt like Eva's story was being incredibly rushed and could have just taken its time and marinated in the zaniness. I like Eva and would like to see her character fleshed out more. Still a fun read though.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars overall
Bar far the weakest entry in the Massive-Verse books that I've read so far; it starts with a reprint of Radiant Black #12, which first introduced us to Eva Reyes, her streamer life on-line and failing love life in the real world. The main story, unfortunately, written by Meghan Camarena with art by Emma Kubert (3rd gen), is a disappointment. Messy, unfocused and I-hate-to-say-it, boring.

[Mickey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was enticed by the concept - it seemed fun, a bit of superhero and a little romance. The delivery, writing and structure of this Volume was a little clunky for my liking, it felt like we were jumped around a fair bit. I liked the protagonists and the budding romance between them, though I felt a bit flat after this (although the very end was a nice - healthy - conclusion).

[Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've tried getting into other Radiant books, but I think I'm giving up. They're not for me. I was curious about this character after being introduced to her in another volume, but this book didn't hold up for me. The tone was off and the story felt rushed. The villain even attacks a hospital, just in case you didn't know they were bad.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is uneven, particularly with its slow start, but it ends up being a pretty good dive into who Radiant Pink is and a decent story as it settles down into its main focus.

Call it 3.5 stars, but worth reading.

[Will Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa

Great setup and story, very much set in the now. Handles real issues in a way I haven't seen done before, but also advancing the overall Radiant Black Existence=Truth through line as well. And Kitty Kitty is a hilarious detour.

[Kris Ritchie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Re-read while catching up on all things MassiveVerse and I kind of forgot how blah I felt about this book.

It just doesn't narratively grab me like Rogue Sun, Inferno Girl, Shift, and Radiant Black seem to have.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

↠ 2.5 stars