Black Science No. 39 review: How to build an Eververse

Black Science gets familiar as it begins the final arc

Some comic writers are out there, pumping out such a volume of work that it can be hard to keep up with it all. Some people put out something every couple of years, but it’s so mind blowing, or they’re already so famous, that the pace doesn’t matter. Writer Rick Remender falls somewhere in between those two examples; he’s famous, and he puts series out fairly regularly, yet somehow it always seems like each issue takes forever. Perhaps that’s because the things he writes connect to their readers in a visceral, necessary way that leaves them wanting more, immediately. Think “drug addiction,” but with pictures and words. Remender, combined with the amazing art of Matteo Scalera, the impeccable colors of Moreno Dinisio, and lettered by the superb Rus Wooton, has given readers a tale of infinite realities and how to screw every one up, as witnessed in the latest issue of Black Science. With the series ending in just three more issues, this finale will perhaps be the pinnacle of seven years of hard work.

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Reunions and banishment in Black Science

In the last issue of Black Science, Grant McKay and his wife, Sara, went to the Prime reality, at the center of the Eververse, and connected it to a negation wave that was going to wipe out all of everything, including themselves, when they were rescued by their children and research team, using the last Pillar in any reality. This issue starts out with a chipper tone, showing the family members crying and hugging, meeting new crew and working out how everything has played out, when an alarm goes off, notifying them that the Eververse is gone; the reality they currently inhabit is the only reality left. Kadir and his partner show up, being their usual arrogant jerk selves and, although Grant wants to kill Kadir for murdering his brother, he opts for exiling the two of them from their safehouse, in this reality where the witch Doxta has taken control of almost every living thing with her evil powers.

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A party and old stories and consummation

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After giving Kadir and company the boot, Grant’s son has misgivings about the banishment, to which Grant tells him to just trust that it’s the best choice. Having seen what comes from trusting Grant McKay, his son’s hesitation and doubt are completely understandable. After sitting down to a spaghetti dinner and more conversations about the past, the gang ponders if by simply making choices they are creating new realities and if the fact that they all were created as entertainment by the Prime reality means that they are legitimately “real”, now that there is only one reality left. Heady stuff. They don’t know how to stop Doxta, and the only person who claimed they did, Kadir, has just been exiled. Later on, everyone is drinking, and Grant and Sara discuss some of the mistakes they made, that let to the collapse of their family. Remender’s writing has a way of hitting you right in the feels, it must be said.

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Even later, Grant is roaring drunk with a couple of his research team and spills the booze, and goes to get more from his wife’s room, where he discovers her waiting for him, ready to join in marital bliss (since he re-proposed to her in the core of the Eververse). He bails on his friends, and the issue ends there, which is nice for both of them, seeing as how they used to absolutely despise each other. In the afterword, Remender lets it be known that he recently submitted a Black Science TV pilot, so we have that to hopefully look forward to, in addition to the final three issues. 9/10, highly recommended. Let us know what you thought in the comments section below.

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