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

The conclusion of the Alpha War happens here. I did like this story arc, even though it can be boiled down to one of things I dislike most in comics: in-fighting. The GLs are rebelling against the Alpha Lanterns. It could only get more in-fighting if Guy socked John in the jaw.

So we’re in full revolt mode. I’m surprised the GLs didn’t go knock down the Guardians’ doors afterward to tell them what happened. I’m surprised the Guardians didn’t come out and say something about the radical behavior of the Alphas, maybe make up some bullcrap about how the Alphas lost control of themselves, or became to willful. I dunno.

The only reason I say that is because I can’t see the Guardians getting away with it. Guy’s the type of…erm, guy…to go up to them and tell them that the Alphas were always a bad idea. While the Guardians are planning the collapse of the Corps, how will they respond to that?

This issue is pretty action-heavy. There are a couple of great character moments, but mostly it’s there to serve the purpose of showing the GLs taking on the Alphas. There are a lot of really gorgeous splash pages full of ring blasts and Alphas being badasses. Pasarin’s art is unleashed in this ish, thanks to all the huge images he has to draw. I’m really impressed. Even more so that Eltaeb’s colors are still amazing to look at, and each green is distinct from another’s. Like, it doesn’t all blur together.

The end scene with the Guardians was interesting, and I like what they did. It definitely closed a chapter in the GL history…one that actually doesn’t seem that long. It’s sad, also, when you think about the characters that are lost. Yeah, that does happen. But I remember reading some of these characters decades ago…to see them finally go is a bit depressing.

So the Rise of the Third army starts next. Knowing GLC, we’re likely to get even more character deaths…and, yet, I find myself excited for what’s to come. I really hope we get to see Guy punch out a Guardian.

Green Lantern Corps #12, the verdict: I wish I had more to say about this one, but it was pretty straightforward. Without revealing too many spoilers, it’s hard to talk about my favorite parts. There’s a sacrificing moment that was pretty powerful at the end. And there was a bit where Guy and John are yanking power batteries out of Alphas. Oh, is that all we had to do to them? In any case, it’s pretty awesome looking. Good action, and good use of constructs. Great character moments at the end. Incredible work by the art team.

(Photo Source: Collectorz.com)

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)

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

Wow, this was a fast read! It was paced perfectly, and it was full of edge-of-your-seat action! The Alpha Lanterns continue their ruthless campaign against Guy Gardner and John Stewart, taking out their frustrations on Kilowog and the others who helped rescue Stewart from the Sciencells.

Varix, one of the Alpha Lanterns, starts to have second thoughts about what the Alpha Lanterns are doing…the lengths they’re going to, and the rules they’re bending. Well, the feeling seems to be widespread, because soon everyone is disobeying the Alpha Lanterns. There’s a great moment of defiance from Salaak, one of the staunchest of the rule-followers in the Corps. I cheered for him at this part when I normally think of him as an annoyance, or comedy relief.

John and Guy go down to the Ring Foundry and find all of the designs and prototypes of all the failed machinations the Guardians built. The Manhunters, the Alpha Lanterns, and something called the Psions. I’m not familiar with these, actually. A part of the Green Lantern mythos of which I’m unaware, interesting. John gets an idea, and assembles a large group of animatronic warriors to fight against the Alpha Lanterns.

In the attempt to beat them back and overthrow the Alpha Lanterns, these machines start to mold together…and it results in a very intimidating splash page that’s beautifully done by Pasarin.

Meanwhile, the Guardians are just watching. They’ve become so disillusioned with their own Corps, the lives of these people that they’ve chosen to fight for them, that they don’t even care what happens to them. They’re all just pawns in their greater game. A means to an end. Well, they’re the thing that needs to “end” for the means to become real, the Third Army. Interesting that Guy and John didn’t find any clues to this Third Army in the tunnels of Oa. That’s definitely where I thought that sequence was going.

We do discover, in line with that, all of the new rings the Foundry is making aren’t leaving to find new recruits. In fact, they’re all stuck there in an unbreachable containment field.

The loyalty the other Lanterns display for Guy and John is really incredible, and it made my heart soar to watch them endure great pain for these GLs. It’s funny, the things the Alpha Lanterns are saying and doing to them…and the unanimous refusal to cooperate from the Corps members…is very similar to what John went through with the Keepers. And the Alphas don’t even realize what they’re doing. Boodikka in particular. How ironic that the Alphas are now in a position that could force the same kind of actions from a Lantern that John had to take. The hypocrisy of it all is staggering.

I normally say how amazing Pasarin’s artwork is…and it still is…but I want to take a moment to take my hat off to Gabe Eltaeb, the colorist. Do you realize how much freaking green is in this title? There’s green in almost every single panel. EVERY ONE. That’s hard to do without making the entire book bleed together into an ugly pile of boogers. I’ve seen Green Lantern constructs that looked like that, too, trust me (mainly from the Golden Age, but still). It’s not easy to make the look of a book up of just one color and still make the visuals interesting and, more importantly, striking. It’s got to be an image that stands out from the rest of the book, the other panels surrounding it. And while Pasarin does a great job of showcasing different things on each page, it’s Eltaeb who makes it easy to read and not an eyesore of green. Nice work.

Green Lantern Corps #11, the verdict: This is quite excellent. If this issue were a delicious alcoholic beverage, I wouldn’t sip at it gently because it’s too strong and it’d burn going down. It’s smooth, tasty, and easy to drink so that I can enjoy it thirstily. If it were a dessert treat, it would be enjoyable, sweet, probably green, and good to the last bite. Not something that you get three-quarters of the way through and decide you’ve had enough, or the taste is getting too strong, or it’s leaving a film in your mouth. No. Green Lantern Corps, and #11 specifically, is everything good about story, character, and art, wrapped in a neat, well-wrapped package. That’s green. I can’t get enough of this book. To me, it’s the best of the GL titles. No contest. Nice job.

(Photo Source: Newsarama)

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

I converse with various DC Comics writers and artists over on Twitter every now and then. I like to think I’m being a liaison. But really, I’m just grateful. Now, there are times when this book, or Batman and Robin, is just so fantastic that I really wish Peter J. Tomasi was active on Twitter so I could reach out to him - like I do others - and let him know how much I enjoyed his work.

This whole Alpha War thing, with John’s sentencing, has kept me on the edge of my seat every single issue. I never know which way it’s going to go. Are they going to find him innocent or guilty? How are they going to sentence him? Is Guy planning on fighting the Alphas or breaking John out? What are the Guardians going to do in their efforts to manipulate the Corps? There are so many outcomes. So many roads the story could take. And the most thrilling part? I’m not one iota in control. I just grab my lap bar and hang the hell on.

I liked this series when it first started. The beginnings of the Keepers story was really good. I admit to faltering a couple times, but you know what? Overall, this title has had a really great run so far. I was hard keeping it out of my Top 10 at the time. It’s definitely a contender for the next round of Top 10 (yeah, keep your eyes open for that in the next couple of months!).

Everyone in this issue is playing their character to the letter. It’s great seeing Guy, in his new status, conferring with the Guardians while the Alphas decide the manner of execution. It was great seeing him interacting with John just before Kilowog intervenes. Even the Guardians continue to eschew responsibility for everything going on, and go on warping their Corps into the time bomb that’s going to cause the Third Army soon.

Pasarin’s art…oh, good lord, how I love Pasarin’s art. I wish Green Lantern were his to draw too. It’s so detailed, and the constructs are always top notch. You want to see how good Pasarin is? Check out that huge full-page splash of Kilowog’s construct busting through the wall above John and Guy. That whole page is ecstasy. A feast for your eyes. The detail and the scale of it is unbelievable. I almost missed that page because I mistook it for an ad.

Even in the huge crowd scenes at the Tribunal and such, Pasarin remembers to draw alien shapes in the audience. And Hannu? Look at the awesome closeup of Hannu on page 3. Incredible.

I’m still incredibly anxious to see where this goes, what’s going to happen next. Will the Guardians intercede? Will this be the hammer stroke that forces their hands to shut down the Corps? I just can’t wait!

Green Lantern Corps #10, the verdict: If this book somehow falls out of continuation because DC Comics makes yet another bonehead cancellation decision, I will cry. For maybe a week. I won’t be able to overcome a mindless tragedy such as that. Just imagining a world with one less Tomasi-written book, or without a monthly dose of Pasarinonin (an addictive drug I’ve just made up using his name), is a dark and cold world indeed. Green Lantern Corps continues to be one of the strongest of the GL family books DC is offering. And, thanks to the over-arcing story that ties in with most of the other titles, it’s seeing a boost in sales. Hopefully other people discover the addiction to Pasarinonin so that, after the arc, they still want more!

(Photo Source: Comic Book Movie)

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

Alpha Lanterns: “John Stewart, you are under arrest for murder!”

John: “But he was gonna send the Keepers to destroy Oa and the Guardians.”

Alpha Lanterns: “…Oh, well…we forgot that part…”

John: “Yeah, I was doing my duty as a GL to protect our home.”

Alpha Lanterns: “I suppose that is more important than one Lantern’s life…”

And then John was free to go! YAY!

…Well, that’s how it SHOULD have gone down! Instead, John does basically say those things, but the Alphas don’t listen and force a trial upon our stoic GL. Guy has some really excellent character moments in defending John to basically anyone who’ll listen. The Guardians love how this is all fitting into their skeezy little plan. And here I am thinking, “REMEMBER WHEN ALL THIS WAS SIMPLER?!”

I admit, I miss the days when our heroes were all fighting external forces, and not each other. Used to be the majority of comics that were released were about fighting an enemy, either alone or on a team. It was a rarity, a special occasion that people excitedly talked about when something happened BETWEEN heroes and they started fighting.

Now it’s flip-flopped. And I’m sitting here shrugging and hoping things improve.

I’m not interested in my favorite heroes fighting each other. I don’t find myself sitting here going, “What would happen if all the Teen Titans fought each other?” I just don’t care! I don’t wanna see that! I wanna see my heroes working together! Being an awesome team! A focused weapon that totally rocks!

Well nobody in the New 52 seems to understand that. So John Stewart’s on trial for Kirrt’s murder. It’s so open-and-shut it’s ridiculous, but the spectacle is made and we’re given pretty much the cliche, predictable ending…but it’s still intriguing. And here’s why: This is pretty much all leading up to the whole Third Army deal - and apparently a new GL from Earth. So what does that mean for John?

Surely they won’t kill him. But will he become a refugee? An outlaw? Will they fight back and defeat all the Alpha Lanterns? Hard to say, and that’s the exciting part. I literally have no idea what happens next.

Still digging Pasarin’s art here. There’s lots of detail in his work that really adds depth to the panels. I especially like how the Alpha Lanterns lift their face shields, removing all possible links to their former, biological selves, when they announce their sentence of John. It’s just…creepy. In an “I’ve-lost-control-of-my-robot” way.

Green Lantern Corps #9, the verdict: Guy is really the one who shines in this issue. Poor John is merely left to protest his - not innocence, but justification. Guy, I’ve decided, is my favorite Green Lantern. John is kind of a plot device character at this point, but I’m hoping he’s going to have a bigger role in future issues. He really was in the right for what he did, but apparently Alpha Lanterns are dicks. Hence everything in this issue. I can’t help but think the Guardians are just sitting back, sipping champagne, and eating this all up. After all, Palpatine’s behind it all!!

(Photo Source: Science Fiction)

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

Another good, solid issue. What I love about this book is how Tomasi is able to keep elements of his stories going even after that arc is over. Because of John’s actions in the Keepers arc, the Alpha Lanterns have decided to arrest him for murder. Guy is getting all kinds of fun recognition in this issue, which I think is about time. He’s my favorite 2814 Lantern, and this issue really highlights why. He’s brash, he speaks his mind…often he plays both the roles of the hand and the conscience of the Corps. He’s not afraid to act. Because of all this, and his tenure with the Corps, the Guardians are appointing a brand new rank for him, even higher than Salaak. He now reports directly to the Guardians, and no other Lantern is above him. This is pretty awesome…but I cannot help but wonder what the blue dudes are planning with this. Obviously they have the downfall of the Corps to think of, is this part of their game? Or are they trying to properly recognize Guy’s hard work before the end? Hard to say. Anyway, they get into a bar fight at Warriors when the Alpha Lanterns show up. That’s basically it. Well, aside from the Guardians deciding the Sinestro Corps battery be kept, buried, on Oa. That’s actually what sets Guy off. He has a point, too, about trusting Sinestro. He does always have a plan…and while we currently don’t know what that is…it actually DOES look like he’s sticking with the Green this time, over in Green Lantern. Some of the construct images of Sinestro Guy pulls up are hilarious, too, with him sharing beer and playing poker with the Corps. Speaking of, we got more beautiful art here by Pasarin. This guy was born to draw Green Lantern, I mean it. I can never get over how awesome this title looks, every issue. Nice work.

Green Lantern Corps #8, the verdict: Well John’s in deep trouble now. Nobody escapes the Alpha Lanterns, after all. Though…I’m sure somehow this will all work out. Surely they won’t execute John right here in the New 52. No way. So I’m excited to see what happens, though the promise of no lethal threat kind of dampens that excitement. What are you gonna do, though? I’m also anxious to see how Guy uses (and abuses) his new status. Perhaps he’ll use that to save John? I’m proud of Guy, though. He deserves this, I think. Also, I love how much of the issue takes place in Warriors. I love that there’s a freaking bar on Oa. A bar! Another point of Guy’s genius. And he even talks about serving club sandwiches. It’s so great. I’d love to visit Warriors.

(Photo Source: Green Lantern Wikia)

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

This is the best of the GL books in the New 52. Green Lantern is interesting…but it stagnates more often than Corps does. New Guardians is just laughable. It’s almost painfully hilarious. Red Lanterns needs work to improve, but it’s getting there. But it’s really no surprise that Corps is outshining the other titles in the GL group: Peter J. Tomasi is on the job. He’s writing Batman and Robin…which is also excellent. Some proof in the pudding right there. Last issue we saw Guy rounding up some tough nutters to take on the Keepers on their turf. They brought along a fear bomb in a couple of Yellow Lanterns…and LOTS of guns. So we have Guy, Sheriff, Hannu, Brik, and Kol - they’ve had the spotlight in this series so far. They recruit four battle-hardened Lanterns in Aldo, Lee, Bronchuk, and Flint to help them with the assault on the Keepers’ planet, Urak, and the rescue of the captured Lanterns. Speaking of captured Lanterns…we see John and the others being tortured for access codes to Zion’s mainframe— I mean to Oa’s energy shield surrounding the planet. Lantern Kirrt starts to crack, and almost gives it up, but John does the unthinkable…and kills him. Well…it’s not unthinkable given how Jon also murdered Mogo previously to this story. John’s a man of action, and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep Oa, and the Lantern Corps, safe and intact. Good for him. I agree with his decision, too. The fighting erupts as the other Lanterns arrive and we get to see this incredible art by Pasarin. The detail is amazing. Really, take a moment to look all over these pages at everything that’s there…and marvel at it all. What was even more incredible was the dilemma posed by the Keepers and what they’re doing to keep themselves alive. The people are literally serving their masters by siphoning their life forces into them. But the Keeper leaders have a point that, without them, the species would have died out and all. It’s a double-edged sword, and Guy ends up forcing the Keepers to pay for the killing they caused. It’s a great issue, and a great way to wrap up the Keepers storyline.

Green Lantern Corps #6, the verdict: With the first story arc out of the way, I hope we’ll get to see more diverse stories that really work to explore the universe and the various species within it. I also hope we don’t get this bogged down on single arcs anymore. We’re supposed to be presenting single stories here, not huge, multi-issue arcs (according to DC’s relaunch plans and announcements). In any case, we know Tomasi’s a great writer, and I trust him to carry us through the coming issues with strength and some outstanding content. 

(Photo Source: Newsarama)

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)

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

A compelling, controversial, and fairly accurate cover gives way to an excellent issue. This is my favorite one so far (but I’m biased, let’s face it. You’ll find out why). Even so, I really enjoyed this one. It starts out with the GLs having to surrender, but definitely not wanting to. Jon Stewart knows they’re going to die and tries to buy them some more time, but it doesn’t exactly work. In fact, it causes the death of yet another Green Lantern. Despite that, Jon still proves to be a hard-ass and orders some restraint out of his team. From here, we get a disturbingly good look at what these guys look like under their armor (and skin). Guy attempts to question this one, but it doesn’t go as well. It looks like they’re as willful as the Green Lanterns. But this is all taken care of in a simple and handy way by…A SURPRISE GUEST!! I’m not going to ruin it for anyone who hasn’t yet read this book…but this was AWESOME!! This is the reason I’m biased for loving this issue above the other three so far…because of this special guest. I love this character, and it’s so cool to see them out of their own series and helping out Guy. From this interaction, we actually learn a lot about these guys…who are called the Keepers, and for a very good reason. What they keep actually explains the Emerald Plains only pages prior. I love how connected these two storylines are right now…with Jon and his team being taken to the Keepers’ homeworld, and Guy and the special guest figuring out who and what the Keepers are. It’s so cinematic, and it feels just right. See, if they do a Green Lantern movie sequel, I’d want it to focus on the Corps, and the other Lanterns from sector 2814. That’d be an awesome movie that really focuses on the galactic position the Corps has. Peter J. Tomasi should pen it. Anyway, we do learn a lot this issue - finally some answers! - and it’s nice to put a name to “these guys.” The Keepers pose a huge threat to the Corps and to Oa, and it’ll be cool to see what happens next. Poor Oa can’t handle many more full-on assaults.

Green Lantern Corps #4, the verdict: To me, this is the best of the GL titles in the New 52. It’s much more entertaining than Green Lantern, and it’s much more congruent and sticks to the canon better than New Guardians. Plus, I never really cared about Kyle Rayner. Guy Gardner tends to be my favorite Lantern. He shines in this book, and I’m glad to see him here. I LOVE the special guest in this issue, and still can’t believe they were included, and can’t wait to see where else this person crops up, if at all. They are the one with the power, after all, to make it seem like they were never there. The art here is fantastic, as it has been so far, and I’m loving the look of these Keeper guys. Also, our special guest looks outrageously good. It’s far too sexy to be real. Really well done. Can’t wait for the next issue!

Green Lantern Corps: Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Scott Hanna, Gabe Eltaeb

It’s refreshing to see a cover that actually happens in the comic. Anyways, let’s talk about #2 here. EDGE. OF. MY. SEAT. Let me tell you. I felt like this was a fantastic and epic-sized issue. We’re dealing with a threat here that could eliminate entire planets…murder entire races of aliens at once. And, even more startling, overpower and brutally kill the Green Lanterns of the sector. No easy feat. This is starting to get a little reminiscent of how the final issues of “Emerald Warriors” went, what with the Beast that ate Green Lanterns. But no, that’s not what’s happening here. The Lanterns investigate a planet of death and move on to investigate another danger. It’s really interesting what’s happening to these planets. First, theft of water…then, theft of flora (or so you think). I like what they’re doing here, and it adds a very believable and sympathetic purpose to our villains here. I’ve mentioned that purpose and reason are important for our characters in multiple reviews of DC’s new comics (see Superboy and Catwoman for example). It’s nice to see them fighting for something they truly believe in here. Something they need. It makes them infinitely more dangerous. And to have a villain who is so unaffected by willpower creates a deadly combination for the Lanterns. I loved seeing the different constructs, and explosions of will energy throughout this issue - it was VERY action-packed. In fact, it was one of the better GL action scenes I’ve read in a long time. Righteously displaying their raw power and strategy. And what Green Lantern fan doesn’t like seeing the motto? The art and coloring are both done so incredible well in this issue…and have to tip my proverbial hat to Pasarin and Eltaeb. You can only do so much with just green…or so I thought until I read this issue. And, oh, Isamot. I’ve always liked your incredible, unadulterated enthusiasm. Your willpower is so strong and burns so bright. It was shocking to see what that bully Tomasi did to you. It’ll be interesting to see where that goes.

Green Lantern Corps #2, the verdict: I am very excited to read #3. This book was so enthralling, and had me gripped from the beginning. The action was so full and epic, I felt the book was going to burst from it. The art is fantastic…some of these Lanterns look their best. The story is gripping, it’s highly threatening to our heroes, and it looks like it could get oh, so much worse…but there doesn’t seem to be any way for it to get better any time soon. This is perfect. This is the kind of anticipation, the kind of danger we need from a story about a galactic police corps. This is no-holds-barred. Fantastic work by all parties involved.

Green Lantern Corps: Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Scott Hanna
I was a big fan of this title before the relaunch. I followed it from bits and pieces during Geoff Johns’ revitalization of the “Green Lantern” series, through “Blackest Night” and “Brightest Day” and beyond, right up to the end. And it was there…at that end…where the book started disappointing me. I became bored and unhappy with it. It seemed to have lost the spark that made it such a fun, ringslinging series. Maybe the writer got depressed to hear about the relaunch, I can’t say. I don’t remember who was writing it, and I’m too lazy to find out right now. I do think it was Tomasi, though, so how ironic. Anyway, so I was very hesitant to check this book out. However, I was MORE than pleasantly surprised. I really did like how FUN this book was to read. There are people who just really dislike Guy Gardner, but let me tell you…he’s a hoot. YES, A HOOT. I dig him, and I’ll always dig him. He says what we’re all thinking, and he’s not ashamed of it. I kind of wish this were an approved “mature” rated comic, just so I could hear the more colorful dialog he’d use. Seeing both Guy and Jon Stewart try to adjust to normal lives was interesting…. Not sure why they had to, seeing as how they’re STILL Green Lanterns (unlike Hal, who has no choice). And they’re identities are KNOWN to the public. While that little tidbit actually DOES play out in the book, and we get to see how they both react to and treat their “fame”, it was still confusing a little bit. Well, they do eventually come to their senses and decide to whoop some alien butt that’s been doing awful things to other GLCorps members throughout the sectors. So it’s up to these emerald warriors to find out who, what, and why. Doug Mahnke did the cover for this issue…and thank goodness he’s not on interior art. Pasarin makes Mahnke’s stuff look like elementary scratches, it’s so beautiful. It’s so much more lifelike, I find. And the FACE he has Guy make are just…SO funny. Here’s a guy who really understands Guy. The GL constructs in this issue are a nice marriage of the really “hard” substance looking stuff from Green Lantern and the more “light”-looking effects in Justice League, so I was happy. The constructs are very important to me, in a GL book, after all. And I love the shine on Stewart’s suit.
Green Lantern Corps, the verdict: I was not expecting a book this bloody and violent, and that’s something of a surprise, but not one that made me put the book down. I dug it, and I’m definitely going to stick with it…for the art and the writing, and for my love of Guy Gardner. Check it out if you like either of the ringslingers in this title.