Green Lantern Corps: Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Scott Hanna, Gabe Eltaeb, Dave Sharpe, Andy Kubert, Alex Sinclair

I know the guy’s a legend, and somewhat untouchable, but check out the legs of the Keeper on Kubert’s cover. Seem a little disproportional to you? Does to me. Anyway, good cover otherwise. I like Guy’s face. This book introduces us to the Mean Machine - a group of senior hard-as-nails group of GLs that don’t mind getting their hands dirty for fun. Guy seeks them out (and makes a huge deal out of them being located beneath his bar, like we’re supposed to care as much as he does) to bring along on their rescue mission to the Keepers’ planet. Our surprise guest from last issue appears here again and explains the situation to everyone. We finally get the story of the Keepers and what the whole thing’s about. I have to admit, I love Manhunter’s involvement here even if it is totally ironic. Y’know, that someone called the Manhunter is helping the Green Lanterns. I’ll just let that one stew if you aren’t making the connection. Guy and the Mean Machine make their plan to drop a “fear bomb” on the Keepers and then go in with “guns, lots of guns,” (/keanu reeves). I’m excited. It looks like they have something that will work to their advantage, and they have a good chance of saving their friends - who are being tortured, by the way, for information on how to get past Oa’s planetary shield. Jon’s a tough sonuvabee…I don’t think he’ll let up. I have to laugh anytime Salaak tries to interfere with the Lanterns, too. He’s such a laughable character in that Guy always berates him into doing what he wants. Same with Hal. No one has ever really failed to stand up to Salaak. He folds like a house of cards. Though, in this instance, Guy does have a good point. Just how many times, I often wonder as well, will the Corps have to clean up the Guardians’ messes? Seriously…those blue freaks make more mistakes than I ever did on my math homework (and math is not my strong point). I seriously don’t think they’re fit to police the universe anymore. Or ever were. Anyway, we’ve got Pasarin’s art again, which is always a treat to behold. I love the look of the Mean Machine here, and their different GL outfits. That’s probably one of my favorite parts of the GL comics…is seeing all of their different costumes. We don’t yet really see them use any interesting constructs at this point, but they are trying to preserve energy, so that’s fine. Hopefully we’ll see some cool stuff out of them later. I think next issue is going to be spectacular.

Green Lantern Corps #5, the verdict: This has been a fun series. We have a very real problem for the Corps, and it’s up to Guy, of course, to save them all. He’s assembled a good team, and they have a good plan, and I cannot wait to see it all play out. I think we’re going to have quite the fun firefight next issue. The story of the Keepers is definitely an interesting one, and it poses a good challenge for the GLs, and - yet again - calls into question the emotionless judgement of the Guardians. I can’t wait, also, to find out why the Guardians removed the batteries from the Keeper planet. They had to have a reason…and I bet it’s going to be an utterly ridiculous one that makes everyone go, “Oh, if only they’d think with their hearts!!” Because that’s never happened before with the Guardians, has it?

(Photo Source: Science Fiction)