Green Lantern #3

    Now there's a cover - Green Lantern placing God under arrest?

   It's nice to see this cosmic series allowing some light-hearted moments to balance out the cosmic-level goings-on.

   (And no, there's nothing sacrilegious in the story, either - it explains that cover image nicely.)

   I'm enjoying Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp's take on the Lantern Corps - and it's certainly good to see Hal Jordan back in action (though that final-page cliffhanger is a bit of a shock).

   This series isn't for everyone - it's a strange combination of police procedural with super-hero action and cosmic (science fiction) concepts. 

   But the art is very impressive and the stories are fun to wade into - though they're not for the faint-hearted.

   So far, I'm enjoying this new version of the classic hero!

Grade: A-

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Green Lantern #1

   I had high hopes for the new creative team on Green Lantern - but my feelings are a bit mixed.

   I think they're taking the right approach - taking the comic "back to the basics" is almost always a good idea - but things are still a bit muddled.

   The story starts on an alien world, where a truly strange member of the Green Lantern Corps is dealing with some deadly criminals.

   Eventually we shift to Earth, where Hal Jordan comes across a crashed alien spaceship (in a nice throwback to his origin) and goes in search of those same criminals - though I'm not sure how they ended up crashing on Earth. Seems like a mighty big coincidence.

   I like that writer Grant Morrison seems to be stripping this down to its essence - it's almost a police procedural. And hey, there's actual science on display here - that always makes me happy.

   I like Liam Sharp's art a lot, although he seems much more at home with alien landscapes (and grisly moments) than with the usual superheroics.

   There was a lot to squeeze into this issue, so hopefully there will be room in upcoming stories to make Hal more likable. He's very good at his job (Space Policeman), and he's cool and sharp (as we'd expect from a Test Pilot), but we need a reason to be in his corner. 

   So far, he's kind of a jerk. Here's hoping that part doesn't last.

   And while I'm putting in requests, I'd like to see some Earthbound adventures - he shouldn't spend all his time on alien worlds.

Grade: A-

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Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1

   With a series like Green Lantern, it's easy to get lost in the magnitude of the concept.

   You're talking about a universe-spanning police force (the Green Lantern Corps) made up of thousands of aliens - and there are other, competing Corps made up of different colors.

   It's all happening on a cosmic scale - so it's easy to get lost in the, well, bigness of it all (if that's a word).

   The trick is to maintain a balance between the cosmic stories and the human ones - Hal Jordan has to be relatable for us to care about his adventures, right?

   Getting stuck in cosmic mode loses that side - and that's why I dropped this series a couple of years ago.

   For the Rebirth, I'm trying to give it another chance, and it's off to a decent start. Apparently the GL Corps and the Guardians were somehow banished from reality, leaving Hal to pick up the pieces - literally - with no support structure at all.

   He's managed to build his own ring - somehow - and is searching for the rest of the Corps.

   In the meantime, Sinestro is setting up his old power base, vowing to restore order to the galaxy - but his methods are as suspect as his motivation.

   So it's a big ol' story on a big ol' canvas, with great artwork and a solid story (though I'm a bit fuzzy on some of the details).

   I'd still like to see Hal back on Earth for at least a while, and give him a chance to show why he's a beloved hero. There's more to him that just a power ring.

Grade: B+

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The Classics - Showcase #22

   As the end of the 1950s neared, DC Comics was down to just three super-heroes - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

   In 1959 the company decided to give it another go (thank goodness), and they brought back The Flash. (I should add that J'onn J'onz, the Martian Manhunter, also gets credit as part of DC's superhero revival.)

   Surprisingly, they didn't just dust off the original character (Jay Garrick) - instead, they created a new version (Barry Allen) with a new, sleek costume, and a new supporting cast - but the hero's origin was virtually unchanged.

   It was a success, so the next hero in line was the oddly-named Green Lantern. This time, the reboot would be more thorough.

   Making his first appearance in Showcase #22, this GL was not magic-based, as the Golden Age Alan Scott had been. The new version for 1959 would be based on science fiction.

   So Hal Jordan was the ultimate American hero - a fearless test pilot, working for Ferris Aircraft. He is pulled by a mysterious green force to the site of a crashed spaceship, where he meets the dying alien Abin Sur, who gives him a power ring and a lantern - the source of the ring's energy.

   But the ring has limitations - it will only hold a charge for 24 hours, and it can't affect anything yellow. (Why yellow? No idea.)

   Hal's love interest is quickly established as Carol Ferris, the daughter of his boss. But when she's put in charge of the company, their romance seems to be doomed.

   The villains in the first issue are nothing special - generic saboteurs - but the story sets the stage for everything that follows.

   Writer John Broome was the best in DC's bullpen, and working with editor Julius Schwartz, he crafted terrific, inventive stories. The art was by Gil Kane, a towering legend in the field for good reason - his clean, vivid art and stunning character designs made the series stand out from the field.

   I have to admit, I didn't buy this issue off the stands - it was just before my time - but I anxiously read the reprints, because (with The Flash), Green Lantern was my "first favorite" - one of the comics I loved "at first sight," and one that helped hook me on comic books.

   After all these years, it holds up well - and the concepts the creative team devised still continue to form the foundation of the series to this day. This was the beginning of a legend.

Grade: A

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Green Lantern #27

   Disappointing.

   If I had to sum up the recent adventures of one of my long-time favorite characters, that would be it.

   Look, Green Lantern should be all about big adventure, heroism (since the hero is a man without fear), science fiction, cosmic threats - with some romance thrown in for good measure.

   Instead, for months - years, even - this has been a comic about a shallow, thinks-with-his-fists hero who seems ill equipped to be a leader.

   When a Galactus clone shows up and says that there's a limited amount of green energy, and using it up threatens to destroy the universe, Hal believes him without reservation.

   That storyline completely undermines the Corps, its purpose and its future. That story was followed up with an adventure where the entire Corps is needed to subdue a single ring-slinger, and in this issue a mysterious alien manages to undermine the Corps even further by sending out a single message. Right.

   The art is nice, with Dale Eaglesham doing his usual strong work - but the story just falls flat.

    I've been following this series for a long time, and it feels like it's time to give it a rest. I'll come back when they get around to bringing back Hal Jordan.

   The rest of the Corps makes for an interesting supporting cast, but for too long, it's been the focus - and Hal has been lost in the crowd.

Grade: C

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Green Lantern Annual #2

   This annual starts out with a couple of strikes against it. For one, it feels like just another issue of Green Lantern - shouldn't annuals be special?

   It's another one of those event stories that spills across all the GL-related titles - but I don't buy all of them, so presumably I missed parts of the story.

   But its biggest problem is that it sets up an impossible problem to solve - and then it doesn't solve it.

   The threat comes from the gigantic Relic, a scientist / survivor from a destroyed universe who's convinced that the various Lantern Corps are using up a limited amount of energy, and when it's used up, the universe will end.

   Relic is one of those menaces that no one can defeat - until it's time for him to be defeated. The story mixes in some assorted mythology (including some classic Kirby concepts) that seem a very odd fit for the Lantern mythology.

   The story wraps up with a few changes in the status quo - but not really. As always, it's the illusion of change - but what this series needs is some real change. It would be nice to see some stories about Hal Jordan the human, not the Hal who spends all his time on alien planets, surrounded by strange creatures.

   But DC seems committed to the Corps-centric stories. More's the pity.

Grade: C+

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Green Lantern #24

   I have to admit that this issue delights me for a simple reason: we finally get a new and different villain (well, I think he's a villain).

   Relic is a new and unusual challenge for Green Lantern and the Corps  - he (it?) is an ancient scientist who is trying to save the universe. His theory is that the use of the spectrum energies (such as the green energy used by GL) depletes a finite reservoir of energy and causes the end of the universe.

   Relic is so overwhelmingly powerful that it seems no one can stop him - thus the title of this event, "Lights Out."

   Writer Robert Venditti has the Corps (all of them, actually) with their backs against the wall, and it's difficult to see how they survive their encounter with Relic.

   The art by Billy Tan and Rob Hunter is quite good, with lots of cosmic spectacle and over-the-top battles.

   The only thing I don't like about Relic is that his origin, stature and mode of operation seems awfully similar the a certain other giant cosmic menace, Marvel's Galactus - right down to the "survivor of a previous reality" bit.

    But after years of stories about the different Lantern Corps, it's almost a relief to see someone shutting them down. It's almost a shame that it probably won't last - at least it'll be tough to continue the series without the green light.

Grade: B+

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Green Lantern #21

Now that writer Geoff Johns has flown, the question is, what happens to Green Lantern now?

Johns did a good job wrapping up the major story lines from his long run on the comic, and now he hands it over to Robert Venditti, and while it's too soon to render a final judgment, so far it's hard to tell that there's been a change.

That's because this issue is mostly dedicated to cleaning up loose ends and setting up some ongoing challenges for Hal and the rest of the Corps.

And there are plenty of challenges in the wake of the devastation cause by the "First Lantern" - Oa has to rebuild, it's being attacked and there's a big problem with the Power Rings...

I enjoy these cosmic stories, and it's great to see Hal back at the center of the fight again - but I have to admit, I'd like to see some Earth-bound stories that focus on Hal. The down side of the GL Corps stories is that he tends to get lost in the crowd.

Taking over the art chores is Billy Tan and Richard Friend, and they turn in strong work here - though it's not quite up to the high marks set by Doug Mahnke.

Still, it's a strong start for the new team. They have big shoes to fill, but the good news is: they're walking in the right direction.


Grade: B+

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Green Lantern #20

This giant-size issue of Green Lantern celebrates a few milestones, most notably the end of Geoff Johns' long run as writer.

(It also celebrates the wrap-up of several long-running story threads and offers some degree of closure and sets up the status quo for the next creative team.)

It's a shame to see Johns wrapping up his run because he's really taken this series to new heights. Personally, I'll always be grateful to him for bringing back Hal Jordan as Green Lantern.

Before his run, Hal had been dragged through the mud - driven insane, made into a mass murderer, killed, and brought back as the Spectre, it would have been easy for DC to just do away with the character.

But in the Rebirth series, Johns not only cleared away the mess the backstory had become, he also restored Hal to his rightful place in the Green Lantern Corps and was at the center of some of the biggest and best DC events in the last decade, including the Sinestro War and Blackest Night.

Which brings us to this issue, which wraps up the "Wrath of the First Lantern" story. It's a big, cosmic confrontation that somehow manages to jam in every significant character from the last 10 years, a confrontation with a god-like creature, another death for Hal (or is it?), and a glimpse at the future.

Most of the art is by the excellent Doug Mahnke (with a small army of inkers and several additional artists kicking in some excellent work). Considering how much his work resembles the amazing Brian Bolland, I continue to be amazed that Mahnke isn't a bigger fan favorite - but it'll happen eventually (his upcoming Justice League work should do the trick).

Johns leaves a tough mark for the next creative team to live up to - he's recast the series, created a vast number of new characters (and new Lantern Corps), and brought new life to the long-running series.

Best of all, he brought back "my" Green Lantern (and "my" Flash, for that matter) - and I'll always be grateful. Can't wait to see what he tackle next!

Grade: A-

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Green Lantern #19

While I'm certainly sorry to see writer Geoff Johns wrapping up his run on Green Lantern, I have to admit that the series has been suffering "event overload."

That's probably because the last two cosmic storylines seemed to pile on top of each other while the story hopped around between all the Green Lantern Family titles - and I don't buy those other titles (because you can't buy everything - well, unless you have a lot of money to spare).

Also, the stories have all been big, cosmic affairs, with battles raging across the galaxies. As a result, we've had very little time with Hal Jordan. He's become a secondary character in his own title, and that's true here, as the focus is on Sinestro and the horrors he faces at the hands of the First Lantern.

I do enjoy the fact that the "First Lantern's" name is Volthoom - that's a nod to a classic Silver Age bit of trivia - but otherwise the character is just another crazy cosmic powerhouse who exists to torment our protagonists.

Add to that the fact that Hal Jordan is stuck in a Death Dimension and you have a depressing story that can't wrap up soon enough for me.

Johns has created some amazing stories during his run on this series - but I'm hoping, in the aftermath of al this cosmic carnage, we'll see more focus on Hal Jordan for a while - and less of the universe-shaking threats.

Grade: B+

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Green Lantern #0

Don't be fooled by the number on the cover - this isn't issue #0 of Green Lantern.

It's actually issue #13, disguised as a zero issue.

The zero issues are supposed to take us back into the days before the first issue in the "New 52" series, but this issue does not give us a look at Hal Jordan's early days.

Instead, it follows up the events of GL #12, as Hal Jordan and Sinestro's Green Lantern rings are strangely merged and searching for a new host.

No doubt writer Geoff Johns would argue that this is an issue #0 for the new Green Lantern, an Arab-American named Simon Baz. He struggles with the day-to-day hatred for Arabs in the U.S. in the wake of the events of 9/11.

But he'd be wrong - this is an origin for a new Green Lantern, nothing more - and with Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, Kyle Rayner and 3597 other GLs, do we really need a new one?

I know, ask a silly question...

My nit-picking aside, there are certainly positives for having an Arab-American hero, as this story illustrates (though the whole terrorism angle seems heavy-handed).

The art is by the excellent Doug Mahnke, again paired with a trio of inkers (I have no idea why a single inker can't cover his work). He does strong work here, although there's not a lot of action to go around - it's almost all talking heads.

It's a decent issue, and might be a collectible (depending on whether or not GL Baz catches on), but I still say it should have the number 13 on the cover.

Grade: B+

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Green Lantern Annual #1

Of all the mega-events that have plagued comics in recent years, some of the best have spun out of the Green Lantern series.

The Sinestro War is one of the gold standards for such tales, as it had far-reaching effects and told a cracking good tale at the same time. Events since then have been a bit hit-and-miss, and this annual kicks off the next big event - the Rise of the Third Army.

It places the Guardians in the role of the bad guys, as they collectively decide that the universe needs to be controlled. To that end, they set out to dismantle the existing Lantern Corps (including their own creation).

Apparently the feeling is that the third time is the charm - the Guardians tried the Manhunters (went crazy), the Green Lantern Corps (too independent), so now they're creating the Third Army, which takes a disturbing form.

The issue is a bit disjointed, as we uncover more ancient mysteries connected to the Guardians, we see longtime characters face death, get a glimpse of The First Lantern, and learn the fate of Black Hand.

It just seems to be trying to cover a lot of ground quickly. It does have the good sense to enlist strong artists for the job, as Ethan Van Sciver and Pete Woods turn in powerful visuals.

The event promises a three-month-long epic covering four different "Lantern" series.

We'll have to wait to see if this is another "Sinestro War" - or something far less.

Grade: B+

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Green Lantern #11

In his original incarnation in the '60s, Black Hand was a lightweight villain.

His main bit was stealing power from Green Lantern and reciting proverbs that somehow tied in to each criminal act.

Definitely not one of John Broome or Gil Kane's greatest creations, but he made a reliable menace.

The modern version of Black Hand is at the opposite end of the spectrum - he's now a grim and gritty embodiment of death, killing at random at bringing dead bodies back to life.

This issue, written by Geoff Johns, is mostly about dealing with loose ends, as Hal Jordan and Sinestro wrap up their visit to the Indigo Trible, take a look at Sinestro's surprising home, and get ready to confront a new evil.

But the focus is on Black Hand, who escaped the Indigo Tribe by killing himself - only to be resurrected by a Black Lantern ring. Now he's a threat to every living thing - and could we see a return to the Blackest Night?

The art by Doug Mahnke is excellent as always, and once again, it's inked by a small army (no idea why this is). The art is crisp, the characters perfectly realized, and the design reflects a strong Bolland influence.

There are quite a few story elements bubbling along nicely here - and with a new war in the offing and the threat that the Guardians may put an end to the Green Lantern Corps, this is going to be a comic to watch.

Grade: B+

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Green Lantern #9

I have to admit that I'm impressed when a writer manages to surprise me.

I've been reading comics for over (ulp!) 50 years now, so many comics seem like just more of the same - but not this issue of Green Lantern.

We finally get the answer to the mysterious origin of the Indigo Lantern Corps, and it's one I certainly didn't see coming. (We even find out what the strange word "Nok" means!)

Green (Hal Jordan) Lantern is up against the wall, because he wears a green ring created by Sinestro - and Sinestro is now under the control of the mysterious Indigo tribe.

That sends Hal on a journey to discover the power source behind the Indigos - and I won't reveal any more for fear of taking away from a good story, but it's a surprising twist.

Doug Mahnke (who should be the latest superstar, based on his excellent craftsmanship on this series) does his usual stellar job on pencils here, though I'm surprised to see four inkers listed in the credits. That seems to be an ongoing condition in this series, and that doesn't help maintain consistency in the artwork.

A heck of a story and a strong cliffhanger to lead us into the next chapter.

Grade: A-

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Green Lantern #8

In creating the various colored Lantern Corps that now populate the Green Lantern comics, writer Geoff Johns spelled out the motivations behind most of them - but the Indigo Corps remained a mystery.

The group seemed benevolent, but recent activities have brought that into question.

As this issue begins, both Hal Jordan and Sinestro have been captured and imprisoned by the Indigos - and while Sinestro faces indoctrination, Hal confronts one of his oldest enemies, Black Hand, who had led the Black Lantern Corps, and has been part of the Indigo Corps since the end of the Blackest Night event.

Here we uncover some more information about the Indigos - but an even bigger mystery presents itself.

I admit that I've been feeling some burnout with the "other" Lantern Corps, since their stories have been omnipresent in this title - but the mystery introduced here certainly holds great promise.

Artist Doug Mahnke continues to quietly do spectacular work on this title, though I'm not sure if the "army of inkers" approach provides the best consistency. Still, excellent work here.

I still hope we'll get a break from the Lantern stories - it would be nice to see one focus on Hal Jordan, who's been sharing the spotlight generously in his own title. But if we must focus on other colors in the spectrum, we can be glad that the stories are entertaining.

Grade: B+

Green Lantern #7

I think it was ingenious of Geoff Johns to create the other Lantern Corps to offset the Green Lantern Corps.

However, I think he's made a mistake by making those assorted colors (yellow, red, blue, orange, indigo, violet) the (virtually) sole opponents for the past few years in the Green Lantern comic.

This issue is all setup, as Sinestro again recruits Hal Jordan to help him stop the secret plan of the Guardians - but before that happens, the mysterious Indigo tribe appears to disrupt the proceedings.

By the way, don't expect to discover the shocking secret of the tribe in this issue - this is only Part One.

The art by Doug Mahnke, as always, is terrific. His figures are perfectly carved and expressive, his layouts are powerful and the story flows along briskly.

It's too early to judge this storyline, of course - but it's off to a sputtering start. Maybe I'm just suffering from color overload - perhaps they could throw in one issue with a different villain, just to break things up?

Grade: B

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Green Lantern #3

The funny thing about the Green Lantern comic since the "reboot" as part of DC's "New 52" is that the only thing that has changed is that the main character is now Sinestro, with Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan placed in a supporting role.

After the War of the Green Lanterns, Jordan was stripped of his power ring by the ever-fickle Guardians, while the villain Sinestro was awarded a green power ring.

None of this sits well with, well, any of the characters - but it's especially difficult for the yellow ring-wearing members of the Sinestro Corps.

That group has taken over Sinestro's home planet and is torturing its inhabitants - so Sinestro recruits Jordan and provides him a green power ring (of sorts).

Needless to say, theirs is an uneasy partnership, and that makes for some entertaining scenes.

Geoff Johns has created an strong story here, thankfully focusing on a couple of central characters instead of a colorful army - and he manages a heck of a cliffhanger.

The art by Doug Mahnke just gets better all the time (though I'm not sure the army of inkers is the best approach here), and whether focusing on individuals or armies of aliens, the art is always clean and powerful - reminiscent of Brian Bolland and Gary Frank.

I'm anxious to see how they resolve the ending here, and curious to see how long this "Odd Couple" of GLs continue to work together. But so far, so good!

Grade: A-

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Green Lantern #2

In these humble reviews I usually focus on the story (and thus, the writer), because that's the most important element to me. When it comes to art, I only know what I like (you should forgive the hoary saying).

And I certainly like the work Doug Mahnke has been creating for Green Lantern.

He's done great work and he somehow seems to improve with each issue. His layouts are powerful and his characters are very well-defined. The raw emotions are in evidence on the faces of the characters, and his action sequences are visual, clever and easy to follow.

He has a great sense of design for the aliens that GL runs into, and he creates an especially horrific one for this issue.

His work actually reminds me a lot of Brian Bolland (one of the best in the business), with a bit of Gary Frank thrown in there (no slouch he).

It's all in service of Geoff John's story, which finds Hal Jordan in an unusual position - the Guardians have taken away his power ring. Even worse, it's now owned by Sinestro - who visits Hal and makes an offer that can't be refused.

It's an interesting tale, and (so far) it's an improvement on recent storylines in this series.

Even if that wasn't the case, this story would be worth picking up just for Mahnke's art. If he's not considered a superstar yet, he soon will be. Just wait.

Grade: B+

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Green Lantern #1

My first reaction to this issue of Green Lantern was: that guy on the cover looks nothing like Hal Jordan.

(Of course, I know it's actually Sinestro.)

Unlike every other "New DC" series I've looked at so far, you might never know that this issue was part of DC's "52." It picks up right where the "old" series left off, with no changes at all - not even an updated costume. Just a new #1 on the cover.

Hal is back on Earth, but he's no longer a member of the Green Lantern Corps - although perversely, Sinestro is once again a member of the team. Each character has his own struggles to deal with the new status quo, as Hal tries to manage living a normal life, and Sinestro feels the burden of wearing a hero's mantle again.

It's an odd first issue, but writer Geoff Johns gets the most out of it, and that final page suggests big events are on the way.

The art by Doug Mahnke is terrific - he just gets better with each issue, and here he seems to be channeling Brian Bolland, with sharp, precise features on the characters and powerful layouts.

Of course, i makes sense that this series wouldn't change too much for the "New 52" - it was already one of the best books DC publishes, so there's no reason to mess with success.

If only all the comics out there had that problem...

Grade: A-

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Green Lantern #67

This issue marks the final chapter in the War of the Green Lanterns, but the story doesn't so much conclude as it just runs out of gas.

It's shocking, really, given writer Geoff Johns' usual superior efforts - but this one doesn't work on many levels.

It's the old problem of building up an impossible menace - in this case, the mad Guardian Krona and the seven Guardians possessed by the powerful emotional entities that power the different Lantern Corps. Outpowered and outmatched, how can the Green Lantern Corps hope to stand against them?

The best solutions to problems like that are the clever, "I didn't see that one coming" variety - but here, the answer is of the "hammer over the head" variety.

Perhaps it was a case of trying to squeeze too much into one series, or just having to accelerate the story to make room for the upcoming "soft" reboot.

Whatever the case, this story was a rare letdown from Johns.

Even the art by the always-terrific Doug Mahnke seems a bit rushed - but more likely, it's just the effect of having four different inkers working on the issue.

I'm a big fan of the series, but I think this story just got away from the creative team. Hopefully the upcoming issue #1 will bring things back into focus.

Grade: B-

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