Green Lantern Corps: Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Scott Hanna, Marc Deering, Gabe Eltaeb, Dave Sharpe

Guy Gardner, the most headstrong, audacious, and loudest of all the Green Lanterns, gets an origin telling here in this Zero Issue. It differs greatly from his original story, in which he was beaten by his father and escaped into comic books. Now, he’s a former police officer who grew up having to constantly compete for his father’s affection over his older brother (now named Gerard and not Mace) and younger sister, Gloria.

I like that there are less origin stories of abuse these days, because that kind of thing isn’t tolerated anymore, or overlooked, like it used to be. The parent who ignores is much more likely these days. The guy was married to his job, dedicated to being a police. He was wounded and started drinking to drown his sorrow. Being the middle child, Guy had a lot to struggle with.

Going through this issue, I felt nothing but sadness for Guy. All of the things he felt or said, the things other people said to him, it was all so tragic because I knew what Guy would become. I knew what he’d go on to do. He would save the world several times over. He would defend his world and his people, and give everything of himself. To watch these people around him treat him badly, and to see him doubt himself or fight for his pride and honor really made me feel for him.

So we see Guy fight with his father, and then run off to save his brother, who’s under fire. It’s a really great sequence where Guy comes to his rescue, and goes all Hollywood action star on the gang bangers. There’s some tragedy in this scene, but it’s also a triumphant moment because it’s in this moment of bravery when the ring selects Guy to be a Green Lantern.

Later in the story, Guy faces off against a big brutal dude named Xar with a bunch of other GL recruits, still not wearing their badge, and he watches as they’re all cut down…but he never gives up. In the end, we get a really great scene between Guy, Hal, and Kilowog.

I love how this book has never shied away from the gore. The beginning of the book is very gory, and there are plenty of other scenes of bloodiness as well. Pasarin has always delivered on the craziness. Remember issue #1? People being sliced up and brutally murdered. His art never disappoints, and I’m so glad he got to do the Zero Issue, when other titles are getting a different artist.

Green Lantern Corps #0, the verdict: A great story that really moved me, and somehow made Guy even more my favorite Green Lantern. Tomasi has given us excellent stories with each issue, and I’m looking forward to reading this whole year again all at once. It’s a true accomplishment to make a supporting title book that turns out to be better than the main flagship one. Incredible job, everyone on the team.

(Photo Source: DC Comics)