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Review: Green Lantern #16

By | January 24th, 2013
Posted in Reviews | % Comments

The Third Army has risen, but thankfully in this issue they take a back seat to Baz and B’dg, the best new team in comics.

Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by Doug Mankhe

– “RISE OF THE THIRD ARMY” marches toward its conclusion as Simon Baz meets his fellow Green Lantern for the first time, just as the Corps teeters on absolute destruction!
– The Guardians of the Universe make their next move exploiting the power of the First Lantern.
– Plus: What’s happened to Hal Jordan and Sinestro since they’ve been sucked into the Dead Zone?
– The end of the Guardians’ control over the Corps is near as we prepare for the next big epic!

Since the beginning of the New 52, Green Lantern has experienced a slow but steady uptick in quality. Much of this rejuvenation is due to Johns’ latest addition to the GL mythos, Simon Baz. While some might question the need for another human male GL, seeing this world through fresh eyes has made things a lot more interesting.

When Baz first appeared, he seemed to play heavily into ethnic and social stereotypes. Johns has since proven that the character has far more depth. This issue marks the first major payoff for Baz as a character. The threads that began in issue #0 culminate in an emotional and satisfactory way, and we finally get an explanation for that silly pistol (even if it still seems in poor taste).

Along with all the work he puts into Baz, Johns is building up a fantastic supporting cast. “Green Lantern” is a great epic of a story, spanning solar systems and realities, but it is always at its best when it focuses on character relationships. After the events of the last issue, Agent Fed and Baz enter into an interesting understanding of one another, one that will likely factor in heavily with the upcoming “Justice League of America.” Much like Hal Jordan’s brother added a lot of heart to the early issues of Johns’ run, Baz’s relationship with his sister allows for powerful and relatable character moments that make the far book more than the cosmic slug fest it’s been recently. You will definitely have a smile on your face and a warmed heart after one particular scene.

DC must have taken note of Rocket Raccoon’s recent surge in popularity, so, much to the delight of basically everyone, B’dg the Green Lantern squirrel takes center stage here. Similar to the way Sinestro and Tomar-Re mentored Hal Jordan, B’dg takes Baz under his wing, teaching him to use his new Green Lantern abilities. These characters have a great chemistry together, which will hopefully lead to a long-term friendship between the characters.

Even with all that happens with Baz, this remains a part of the ‘Rise of the Third Army’ crossover and that plot is moved forward ever so slightly. Continuing in suit with the last few issues of “Green Lantern,” we get the obligatory one page check-in with Hal and Sinestro. While we’re treated to a ginormous reveal leading to a typical Johnsian cliffhanger (one that is extremely over the top yet leaves you dying for more), it’s time for this subplot to really get moving. Hopefully the upcoming ‘Wrath of the First Lantern’ will do a better job of balancing Hal and Sinestro’s story with Baz’s quest.

Another minor annoyance is that readers are advised to follow Baz’s story into “Green Lantern Corps” #16 and the upcoming “Green Lantern Corps” Annual. While this likely isn’t a problem for hardcore GL fans, it’s a shame that Baz’s story can’t be contained in his own title, considering the Green Lantern books have remained fairly autonomous since the New 52 began. On the other hand, the prospect of Baz interacting with other earth Green Lanterns is pretty exciting.

If you don’t know by now, Doug Mankhe is an artistic beast, and one who doesn’t receive anywhere near the recognition he deserves. His exaggerated style is perfect for a book full of alien creatures with otherworldly powers. That’s not say he can’t handle the mundane, as he does a fantastic job of detailing characters emotions and moods through facial expressions. The small scenes between Baz and his family are just as powerful as the ones crackling from gutter to gutter with green energy. Mankhe’s work is usually best when paired with inker Christian Alamy, but his army of additional inkers keep up the quality throughout the issue. Far more noticeable is Tony Avina’s assist in the color department. Avina’s work isn’t bad by any means, but it is far more subdued than the bright and vibrant colors of Alex Sinclair. In a book that is as defined by color as “Green Lantern,” it’s imperative that colors are as striking and memorable as possible.

After “Blackest Night” many fans seemed to believe that the best days of “Green Lantern” had passed and jumped ship, waiting for the next guy to come along. However, Geoff Johns is still going strong. With new additions like the Third Army, the First Lantern, and Simon Baz, there seems to be no end in sight. If you’re one who loved the early days of John’s run but have since fallen off the wagon, you owe it to yourself to come back and see how things are going.

Verdict: 9.0 – After seven long years, Green Lantern continues to keep things interesting.


Zach Wilkerson

Zach Wilkerson, part of the DC3 trinity, still writes about comics sometimes. He would probably rather be reading manga or thinking about Kingdom Hearts. For more on those things, follow him on Twitter @TheWilkofZ

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