Green Lantern: Sinestro by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke
Rating: ★★★★1/2
Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern has been one of the best series to come out of DC’s relaunch, The New 52. Unlike most of the relaunched titles running alongside it, Green Lantern does not ignore it’s previous continuity, instead it builds from where War of the Green Lanterns (the final GL story arc before the relaunch) left off, most likely because Geoff Johns is still writing. One major difference that separates the series from its predecessor is that this is truly Sinestro’s story. Although he and Hal Jordan share a story that balances them both fairly equally, this is Sinestro’s redemption story, and really sets up how the rest of the series is going to play out. The series also contains some astonishing artwork, which remains of this quality even today. The artwork gives this story arc a specific style to be remembered by, especially in the more action-driven sequences of the story. But the book’s artwork also doesn’t lack variety. You’ll notice how every member of the Sinestro Corps looks unique – it’s nearly impossible to find a Yellow Lantern that looks too similar to another. Good examples of great looking Yellow Lanterns include new characters Gorgor, a large tentacle-bearing beast from the climax of #2, and Professor Insidd, a menacing new villain introduced in #4 who soon comes to a sticky end. Although the arc might lack the excitement of Blackest Night or the fun of Brightest Day, this story is really driven by the excellent chemistry between Hal and Sinestro that has never read better. Johns shows a whole new side to the two’s relationship, writing Sinestro as more likable than ever before without fully redeeming him, allowing him to remain as one of the most interesting villains in the DC universe. Overall, this is a great start to what is essentially a continuation of Geoff Johns’ fantastic run on Green Lantern that, although can lack the excitement and epicness of previous story arcs, is still on-par, and often even exceeds expectations.
Green Lantern: Revenge of the Black Hand by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke
Rating: ★★★★
Geoff Johns’ relaunched series continues as it enters its next story arc. After uncovering a threat from within the Green Lantern Corps in the form of the Guardians of the Universe, Sinestro requests the aid of Hal Jordan once again. But the two are stopped in their tracks by the Indigo Tribe, who want to make Sinestro their newest recruit. In a race against time, Hal Jordan must free his new partner and uncover the shocking secret of the mysterious tribe and its members, all whilst the Guardians prepare to replace the Green Lantern Corps with something called “The Third Army”. Over the years, Johns has teased the idea of the Guardians being villains in the Green Lantern universe, slowly turning them into the antagonists of the series. By the end of this arc, we realise the threat they truly pose, as they take drastic measure to ensure the universe is protected, starting with disbanding the Green Lantern Corps.
Once again, one of the book’s greatest strengths is its artwork. Doug Mahnke does it again, bringing to life this astonishing world Johns has created. We are thrown into a much darker world in this arc on the home world of the Indigo Tribe, and later on when the battle with Black Hand presents a much more sombre tone. However, despite the much darker look of these environments, the ring-bearers and their constructs still manage to astonish as their colours brighten the otherwise dark pages. Although the colours aren’t as bold and festive as those found on the pages of Blackest Night or Brightest Day, they still manage to freshen up the pages and give the arc a very specific tone. Think back to Sinestro Corps War, and you’ll think of the blazing using of yellow colours. Think back to War of the Green Lanterns, and you’ll remember bold use of green. Revenge of the Black Hand will definitely sets itself apart from its predecessors with much darker uses of its colours that, although feel a lot more muted and dusty, still fit into the series appropriately. But anyway, that’s enough about colours!
Story wise, Revenge of the Black Hand spends a lot of time teasing the arc to follow – Rise of the Third Army. Sinestro is given another glimpse into a dark future, setting up the “shocking” events to follow. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still a lot of plot development here. Although it does feel like panels and pages can be wasted sometimes (#7-10 do feel as though they could have been compressed into two or three issues if tried), there’s still plenty to enjoy here, even if that is mostly due to the never failing artwork of Doug Mahnke, and the incredible work done by Ethan Van Sciver when he takes over for the Green Lantern Annual #1. The arc starts off fairly slow, but it makes up for that by answering a lot of questions we’ve had from the introduction of the Indigo Tribe. The issues tease answers to our questions about the tribe and their shocking secret, and they manage to deliver. Not only does Geoff Johns once again expand his universe and take Green Lantern in a new direction, but we also go back and learn things we never knew about character, like Sinestro and Abin Sur, who we thought we knew, but Johns proves us wrong again. An encounter with the Indigo Tribe later sends Hal and Sinestro on a collision-course with infamous Green Lantern foe Black Hand. Despite a slow opening, this is where the arc packs most of its punches.
By the end of the arc, we’ve reached the point Geoff Johns has been building to since the climax of War of the Green Lanterns, the rise of the mysterious “Third Army”. And the climax of the arc (found in Green Lantern Annual #1) absolutely delivers, setting up another epic event to follow.
Overall, this is another great addition to Geoff Johns’ epic run on Green Lantern, and once again he fails to disappoint. Although it is a much enjoyable read as one collected volume instead of single issues each month, each issue still mostly packs enough in it to satisfy. Revenge of the Black Hand includes some surprising revelations that will leave the Green lantern universe and its characters forever changed as Geoff Johns only expands the fantastic universe he has created that is always buzzing with excitement. Although the issues mostly setup the arc to follow, there’s enough here to keep us interested and encourage us to read Rise of the Third Army.
Green Lantern: Rise of the Third Army by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke
Rating: ★★★★
Thoughts: Rise of the Third Army is a crossover event that spans over the four Green Lantern titles in DC’s New 52 (GL, GL Corps, New Guardians and Red Lanterns). This event brings together some of the corps’ greatest lanterns to combat a threat from within the crops; the Guardians! It also introduces new Green Lantern Simon Baz. And Hal Jordan is nowhere to be found. We are introduced to Simon Baz in #0, a special issue that shows us the origin of Simon Baz, and how he came to be one of the greatest Green Lanterns. Simon starts off as a fairly generic character, and feels like an excuse to add some diversity to the DC Universe at first. But, thankfully, he becomes a lot more likeable across the following issues, especially when he proves himself of being worthy of a power ring. #13 (the first issue in the Rise of the Third Army arc) kick-starts this epic story, with Simon on the run, and the F.B.I. hot on his tail. I quickly found myself rooting for Simon, and hoping for him to succeed on his quest to clear his name. Once again, Geoff Johns takes Green Lantern in a new direction, and although it has a slow start, it’s one that kept me reading and makes me want to see more of Simon Baz.
#14 pitches Simon Baz against the Justice League. At first, I thought this event was starting to get a little too crowded. How could Geoff Johns fit in the Justice League and the Third Army in this short event? But Johns is able to pull it off whilst giving each member of the League just enough time in this issue. It also gives Simon Baz a chance to prove himself as someone worthy of wielding a green lantern ring. This is an action packed issue, and it’s great to see the Justice League drawn by Doug Mahnke, whose artwork never fails to astonish.
#15 and #16 allow us to get to know new characters like Agent Fed and Lantern B’dg, both of whom provide an expert mix of humour and drama to the story. Especially in #15, which is nothing other than a heart-pumping thrill ride of an issue. There’s a lot going on in the first few issues of this arc, that much can be side. Unfortunately, most of the event’s time is spent introducing Simon Baz and, although Geoff Johns does an excellent job of this, it leaves little time to actually show the Third Army. We only really see the damage they’re doing in a few panels every issue, and in some of the tie-in issues. But when we do see them, like in the opening of #15, they’re actually pretty scary, and the threat they hold is truly realised.
Rise of the Third Army concludes on an epic scale in Green Lantern Corps Annual #1, and this is probably the greatest part of the entire event. This annual is a thrilling rollercoaster-ride that is chocked full of adrenaline, action and suspense. The artwork is easily the best I’ve seen in this series, and even rivals Doug Mahnke’s work at some points, some of the page spreads blew my mind. What’s best about this issue is that, despite a very abrupt ending, it mostly concludes the event very well, and sets up Wrath of the First Lantern perfectly. We have characters like Kyle Rayner and Atrocitus joining the fight and being re-introduced in ingenious ways. Rise of the Third Army was a good event before this annual, but this concluding chapter turned it into a great one.
Overall, Geoff Johns’ does it again with another epic event that lives up to expectations, and paves the way for another great story to follow. We begin to see light at the end of the tunnel, as John’s run nears its end. But if Wrath of the Fist Lantern is anywhere near being on par with these previous events, it should leave us fans overjoyed.
The final issue of Geoff Johns' run on Green lantern (#20) is released next week (May 22nd). My review for the issue will be up that week in my usual "This Week in Comics" Review/Discussion. My review of the Wrath of the First event as a whole will be up the following week.
"...No evil shall escape my sight..."
-George