Coming around 3 or 4 years later than it rightfully should have, Sinestro finally gets his own ongoing series. I bet it stings that Larfleeze got his own book first, doesn’t it Sinestro?
Written by Cullen Bunn
Illustrated by Dale EagleshamThaal Sinestro has lost everything he’s ever loved: his home, his family, his only friend. But no matter how desperate he becomes, Sinestro will never be without fear…a lesson his one-time ally, one-time enemy Lyssa Drak is eager to teach him! Can he take back the despicable Yellow Lantern Corps? Or does the universe have a new destiny in mind for Sinestro?
In the heyday of my burgeoning comic book obsession, I absolutely could not get enough of Sinestro. He was the villain, a space-Hitler with a warped sense of dignity, honor, and morality. The man single handedly crafted his own corps, made up of some of the most feared beings in the DCU, for the sole purpose of getting the Green Lantern Corps to authorize lethal force. How awesome and absurd is that?
The character rode the increasing wave of popularity through Geoff Johns’ run on “Green Lantern,” eventually settling into the role of anti-hero. However, with Johns’ tenure on the Lanternverse over and done, the character’s prominence in the New 52 has decreased drastically. It’s now up to Cullen Bunn and Dale Eaglesham to recapture that yellow lightning in a bottle, redefining Sinestro for a new era.
“Sinestro” #1 picks up an indeterminate time after “Forever Evil” and the “Sinestro” Villain’s Month one shot. Sinestro has placed himself in self imposed exile, which mostly consists of fighting giant alien beasts with his bare hands and thinking you really dramatic thoughts. It takes the return of a longtime associate to get the legendary ring-slinger back in the game.
Sadly, Bunn plays the issue fairly safe. Several key touchstones are hit upon; Sinestro’s rocky relationship with his corps, the destruction of Korugar, and recent events regarding the Green Lanterns. However, most of the time it feels as if Bunn is simply checking off boxes, hitting the points that need to be covered, rather than telling a worthwhile story.
There are two areas where this isn’t the case; Lyssa Drak and the Paling. Drak, one time keeper of the Book of Parallax, has always been one of the more fascinating and endearing characters of the Sinestro Corps. She became even more interesting when she became a sort of story vampire, and keeper of the book of the black, towards the end of Johns’ run. Bunn now continues the character’s evolution, tying the concept of story even deeper to the core of the character. I won’t spoil exactly what this means, but it’s certainly an interesting twist, one that Dale Eaglesham presents masterfully.
The other interesting aspect of the issue is the Paling, who appear to be the book’s first major antagonist. This mysterious cult of “anti-emotion” comes completely out of left field, and initially seems quite similar in concept to other Lantern villains, particularly the Black Lanterns. However, while their abrupt introduction is somewhat off-putting, Bunn and Eaglesham do a fine job of building them up as an ominous shadow hanging over the universe.
Dale Eaglesham’s take on the character is considerably different than more recent portrayals. Like most artists (other than Ethan Van Sciver) Eaglesham ditches the “egg-head” look, preferring a more more typical “super hero” build. His broad chest and muscular build is a far cry from the lithe Doug Mahnke version, and outstrips even the iconic Ivan Reis interpretation. Of course, I suppose spending a few months wrestling space tigers, without the aid of lantern ring, can do wonders for your physique.
One thing is for sure, the artist can certainly do cosmic well. Eaglesham transitions from smaller terrestrial scenes to the vast expanse of space with ease, utilizing some unique page layouts in the process. Eaglesham displays an incredible amount of detail, something that always comes into play in a Lantern title with the various ring constructs. However, with that high level of detail comes a certain degree of stiffness to his pages. Even panels that are high in action and movement feel somewhat static. Still, there’s no denying that Eaglesham turns in some gorgeous pages, and is a terrific asset for this book moving forward.
Unfortunately, “Sinestro” #1 isn’t quite the solid start that the character needs or deserves. Bunn retreads several plot points from recent years, and even makes reference to that fact within the issue. Hopefully, by getting these threads tied up early, Bunn can begin moving the character forward. There’s a great potential for the character reconnect with his estranged daughter, a plot point that has always been fascinating but never fully explored. This book appears to have only a marginal connection to the greater “Green Lantern” line. Outside of the purview of space operatic crossover events, Bunn has the perfect opportunity to explore the character in new ways, and Dale Eaglesham proves to a more than fitting partner for such an endeavor. There’s the potential for something good, and perhaps even great, but it’s going to take a bit more polish and innovation to get there.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Browse
