Brightest Day #16

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The table includes 8 guide observations and 0 catalog references. These are reference values, not guaranteed sale proceeds.

Graded population

CGC records 8 graded copies for Brightest Day #16 (2011). Population is the number recorded by this grading source, not the total print run or all surviving copies.

"Short Fuse"

In Atlantis, Aquaman) monitors the situation on a bank of computer monitors in his command center while Jackson Hyde) observes. Jackson notices pictures adoring the command center and asks about the child in one of them. Orin reveals that the child is Arthur Curry, Jr.), who was killed by Jackson’s real father, Black Manta). It is revealed that Jackson’s adoptive parents have been brought to Atlantis for their safety. Orin explains the origins of the Xebel people.

They are a warlike faction of Atlanteans who warred with Atlantis for centuries. Centuries ago, they were eventually defeated and exiled to Dimension Aqua through a gate located in the Bermuda Triangle. Now, it seems they intend to return and incite a war between the ocean dwellers and the surface that Orin believes will destroy both. Jackson is shocked when Orin tells him that Orin wants Jackson to accompanying him in opposing the Xebelians because Jackson is the key to stopping their invasion.

In the Justice League of America headquarters, Doctor Mid-Nite) and Mister Terrific) conduct experiments on Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond)/Jason Rusch)) to help them control the growing energy they have been manifesting. They want to find Alvin Rusch) and Martin Stein) and need to control their powers to do so.

Elsewhere, Deathstorm), who has absorbed Alvin and Martin, has acquired the White Lantern Power Battery. Martin attempts to get information and Deathstorm reveals that the Battery is connected to all life and he is not the one who wants it, he is merely a courier. Deathstorm further reveals that he is more powerful than Firestorm (Ronnie Raymond/Jason Rusch) because he can transmute organic matter. He will kill them and they cannot kill him because Martin and Alvin will then die too. However, he offers Alvin a chance to save Ronnie and Jason, by killing himself, manifesting a handgun in the Firestorm Matrix. Alvin and Stein agree to die for Ronnie and Jason, so Alvin puts the gun to his head and pulls the trigger. However, the gun is empty; it was merely a game played by Deathstorm.

Meanwhile, Orin and Jackson follow the map they found previously, to cave in a seaside cliff face. There, they find another chest with a biolock. Orin convinces Jackson to open it. When Jackson interacts with the chest he manifests Electrokinesis and the electricity he produces opens the chest. When it opens, he receives a message recorded in the biolock. The message was placed there by Mera many years ago. She calls Jackson by another name, Kaldur'ahm, and explains that her people kidnapped Jackson’s mother while he was still in her womb bringing her to Xebel. There, they conducted terrible experiments on him. He survived and was born in Xebel but, seemingly, his mother died. Mera’s father believed that, because his mother gave birth to him in Xebel, he was made into a living key that could open and close the gate between Dimension Aqua and Earth. So, Mera stole him from Xebel. While some would want him to be killed to protect the gate, she brought him to Earth to hide him. Orin interrupts the message and the contents of the chest are revealed to be a uniform and devices called Waterbearers. Orin explains that, like other Xebelians, Jackson has a limited form of hydrokinesis, and the Waterbearers will help him focus his ability to shape water into weapons. Jackson refuses to accept his destiny attacking Orin, saying Orin cannot understand Jackson’s position. However, Orin calms him and tells him that Atlantean terrorists came for him when he was thirteen and he can understand. Orin apologizes for asking him to help, but they have no alternatives. Realizing that he and Orin have common trauma, Jackson agrees donning the uniform and trying out the Waterbearers saying that if Orin persevered he can too.

Back at the Justice League of America headquarters, Atom) has a plan to bleed off the surplus energy, but Ronnie and Jason end up arguing about it causing the power to surge even more resulting in a detonation. Suddenly, they find themselves in dark barren void and Ronnie fears that they have destroyed the universe.

| Appearing1 = **Featured Characters:** * Aquaman) * Firestorm ** Ronnie Raymond) ** Jason Rusch) **Supporting Characters:** * Aqualad (Jackson Hyde)) * Justice League of America) ** Supergirl) ** Jade) ** Atom (Ray Palmer)) ** Congorilla) * Justice Society of America) ** Mister Terrific) ** Doctor Mid-Nite) * Martin Stein) * Alvin Rusch) **Antagonists:** * Deathstorm) **Other Characters:** * Mera) * Arthur Curry, Jr.) **Locations:** * Atlantic Ocean * The Watchtower **Items:** * White Lantern Power Battery

| Notes = | Trivia = | Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi

Interior art: Ivan Reis, Scott Clark, Joe Prado

Color: Aspen Studios, Peter Steigerwald

Source records & attribution

Panel Profits keeps each source identity attached to its edition record.

COMICBASE: comicbase:183763

GCD: 793549

PANEL PROFITS: 2524490