Written by: Geoff Johns
Illustrated by: Doug MahnkeThe red-hot GREEN LANTERN team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Doug Mahnke introduce an unexpected new Lantern.
Green Lantern is one of my favorite franchises at DC. Or rather, I guess you could say it used to be. Now we’ve been relaunchbooted, so who knows if this will ring true moving into the DCnU. We’ve been told that not much is changing within the Green Lantern neck of woods because of its proclivity to sell well, but will that stay accurate? How close to the old will the new actually be? Will leaving things the same actually be a good idea when everything around it is evolving and changing?
There is only one way to find out! Read the book! If you can’t, though, I’ve got the next best thing — a review. Hidden behind the link below is the future. Do you dare tread? As a note, spoilers are discussed.
So let’s get into it shall we? We’ll look at this book from two vantage points. The first is as a long time Lantern fan and the other as a fresh eyed new reader. It’s important to do this because there is without a doubt a difference between the two, and DC is actively trying to propel their books into a direction that appeals to both. Does this book appeal to both, though?
I would say the answer to the above question is a solid yes. Geoff Johns provides a book that most certainly does both. As a long-term fan you’ll find that GL hasn’t changed much at all and carries over seamlessly from the War of the Lanterns Aftermath micro-mini series. Sinestro is now a Green Lantern and Hal Jordan’s just a regular human earthling, which is something he is struggling with. Hal finds that while he was off soaring through space on adventure after adventure, he forgot what it was like to be normal, to have to pay bills and relate to people on an acceptable social basis.
It’s honestly the most compelling the title has been in a long time because of its humanity and grounding. For too long the title has been grand stories and life threatening obstacles. Finally we get to see some character work with Hal and his relationship with Carol Ferris. The epic stories are great but they aren’t worth squat without the stories like this one that ground the hero into reality. The story should always be as much about Hal as it is Green Lantern. This issue gets us back to Hal being important.
While that much continuation from the old into the new could be confusing for new readers, the issue is actually a good jumping on point. The issue presents a lot of characters from the movie and even continues the on and off feel of Hal and Carol from the movie. The issue works as a jumping on point effectively because it presents the cast and gives you a feel for where they stand in this newly introduced universe. We also have hopefully just enough hints at more going on to keep new readers intrigued to learn more.
The issue definitely has the capability to hook new readers but it isn’t entirely free from confusion when it comes to them. New readers might be confused as to why Hal was stripped of his GL powers as well as why the Guardians are hating on one of their own for thinking Sinestro a villain, and the same goes for people who might be coming into the book after seeing the movie. The presence of the Sinestro Corps also could be confusing. I don’t think these things are enough to keep new readers from continuing on, though, and instead will help the readers to find just the right amount of curiosity to continue through the series to get answers.
Does the book hurt itself for not being a complete reboot like most of the DCnU? I think to an extent, like the Batman books, it does. If DC wanted the whole thing to truly seem fresh and be taken serious with the relaunch, they would have been wise to reset it all. On the other hand the book was selling well enough that you have to worry about throwing the baby out with the bath water, so in the end I think that while it at times seems out of place in a universe that feels brand new, it also was the wisest decision when you look long term. While the relaunch may not be guaranteed to last, the sales of this book at the time were, for the most part. I think new fans can still get into the book and old fans can have what they were already enjoying. It’s the best of both worlds.
Continued belowI’d be remiss to not mention the art of Doug Mahnke, even if briefly, in the issue. Mahnke provides some of my favorite work from him in quite some time, I’d say since early issues of Blackest Night. The panels of Sinestro strangling a Sinestro Corp member with a construct looked great and provided the right amount of chill factor with a spot of awesomeness. Mahnke continues to do a wonderful job of interpreting Johns’ script. He does everything well from conveying the emotions of the characters to giving us brilliant panels like the one I mentioned earlier.
When it’s all said and done, this was a good book. It wasn’t a great book but it was worth the buy and certainly worth checking out the second issue to see where the story goes from here. Whether you are a long-term fan or someone trying out a DC comic for the first time, this is a book you’ll enjoy. So worry not about the book’s ties to previous continuity and just simply enjoy the book. That’s what it should be about anyway, right?
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy it!
