Still playing in the sandbox built by Johns and company, Robert Venditti and Billy Tan continue to introduce small dynamic shifts to “Green Lantern,” with refreshing and enjoyable results.
Written by Robert Venditti
Illustrated by Billy Tan and Richard FriendHal struggles with his new role as leader of the Green Lantern Corps while he tries to solve the mystery of why the universe is atrophying! And an escaped prisoner has gotten hold of a power that makes her nearly unstoppable! The stage is set for the ultimate test against Relic!
It’s strange to admit, but “Green Lantern” is doing just fine without Geoff Johns. In fact, the series, and the entire line for that matter, is experiencing an overall increase in terms of month to month quality in terms of line synergy, cast diversity, and art direction. Part of this has to do with “Green Lantern” giving up some of its clout as the flagship title, playing on an equal field with the rest of the line. Fortunately, this allows for a smaller, character-driven focus.
Easily the best aspect of the new status quo is the influx of rookie lanterns to the corps. In the same way the post-“Avengers vs. X-Men” world brought a new cast of young mutants to books like “Wolverine & the X-Men” and “Uncanny X-Men,” these characters are a breath of fresh air, ripe with story potential. This issue spends some time acquainting the reader with two of these rookies, Gazzl and 2681795 (or Two-Six, as Hal so graciously nicknames her). Two-Six, in particular, is a delightful little creation, with a great background and killer visual design. The newbie’s irreverent sense of humor is a stark contrast to the grim and world-weary old guard, balancing out the tone for a well-rounded read.
That sense of humor isn’t exclusive to the rookies, as the new status quo ushers in one of the best character recastings in some time; Kilowog as protocol officer. Seeing the one-time drill instructor saddled with a desk job is hilarious conceptually, as well as visually, with the oversized brute occupying the diminutive Salaak’s station to disastrous results.
Creative collaboration is a evident throughout the issue, with a stellar (sorry, pun) design sense. Like Venditti, artist Billy Tan came on “Green Lantern” some big shoes to fill, but his work on the title so far is among his career best. As mentioned earlier, his penchant for character design is top notch, but where he truly excels is in Green Lantern’s trademark constructs. Usually known for his big green boxing-gloves and jet planes, Venditti and Tan’s Hal is a bit more creative. In one brilliantly rendered scene, Hal uses a curving half-pipe construct to return oncoming-laser blasts, an out of the box solution that spices up an otherwise standard standoff. Even more interesting are the Star Sapphire constructs, accentuated by soft curves and deadly barbs, calling to mind a thorned rose.
Like many of the non-Green corps, the Star Sapphires remain relatively ill-defined. That might soon change, with each of the “green” titles in the Lantern line prominently features a Star Sapphire in the supporting cast. Introduced last issue, the villainous Star Sapphire Nol-Anj is the issue’s primary focus. Revealed to be royalty among what appears to be a society of intelligent Tusken Raiders, Nol is an intriguing twist on the modern Star Sapphire concept. Nol’s love is for a specific group, not a particular person, and her violent actions exemplify the lengths individuals will go to protect those they love. While John’s original concept of the emotional spectrum was reasonably amoral, it eventually became rather black and white, with the bad guys on the red end and the good guys on the violet end. Nol’s introduction looks to return the concept to its original moral complexity.
As interesting as the new characters Venditti introduces are, the ongoing plot falters. Juggling the incoming rookies, Larfleeze’s attack on Oa, the increasingly erratic ring-function, Nol’s breakout, and the build-up to ‘Lights Out,’ Venditti’s script is unsurprisingly disjointed. The issue follows Hal from point to point, as if checking off a to-do list, rather than telling a logically flowing story. A lasting effect of the Johns’ era, the Lantern books remain in a seemingly constant state of crossover. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it can often hinder writers ability to tell a satisfying story in just twenty pages. This is most evident in the prophetic vision of the events in “Green Lantern: New Guardians,” conveniently halting Hal’s conflict with Nol and rendering a half-dozen story pages as filler.
While still experiencing some growing pains, it’s safe to say “Green Lantern” is in good hands. Not content to rest on what has come before, Venditti and Tan shake things up, introducing new characters and conflicts while rearranging the pieces already in play. Those who jumped of the title after Johns’ departure (or even before) owe it to themselves to give this title a second chance.
Final Verdict: 7.8 – Buy.
