Green Lantern #20 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke
Rating:★★★★1/2
Because of Geoff Johns’ unmatched skill in storytelling, and the astonishing artwork provided from the likes of Dough Mahnke, Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver and many others, Green Lantern has often been my favourite superhero comic to read. It’s one of the only series I’ve stuck with that remains consistently great, and its crossover events like Blackest Night or War of the Green Lanterns often fail to disappoint. But, we have finally reached the end of Johns’ grand run on the character in this final issue, and I’m very happy to see that in his final issue, Geoff Johns pulls out all of the stops.
The conclusion to Johns’ final event, Wrath of the First Lantern, is one of the most thrilling and explosive of its kind. Although there is a slight sense of the issue being overcrowded and overwhelming with all of these characters being reintroduced along with all of these different plots that require being tied up, I’m happy to see that Johns does a fantastic job of wrapping up any and all loose ends; neatly tying the knot for all of our favourite character in the Green Lantern universe and their individual stories. For the most part, these characters do not feel like they have been spread thin. Instead, each of them feel fully developed and realised by the end of the issue thanks to an epilogue that wraps up the stories of our favourite characters, whilst also leaving enough ambiguity to allow their stories to continue to unravel.
I was glad to see a lot of effort put into concluding the story of Sinestro, whom Geoff Johns has proved to be one of the most interesting characters in modern comics. It’s the relationship between him and Hal that takes the focus of this issue as we look back on the conflicts between the two and are rewarded with the conclusion to their love/hate relationship. This final issue truly felt like a reward from the creative team behind it for sticking with the series for so long, as this issue is a hugely fulfilling and satisfying conclusion not just to the Wrath of the First Lantern event, but to the entire series.
Thankfully, the epic conclusion avoids being crushed under its own weight like most of its kind and instead provides us fans with the conclusion we’ve been waiting and asking for. The way in which Green Lantern’s story was so neatly wrapped up convinced me to stop reading after this concluding issue. That may sound like a negative comment, but actually, I’d say that that is the greatest compliment you can give this issue. This ending was so fulfilling and near perfect for me that I couldn’t ask for anything more. Do I wish Geoff Johns was staying? Yes I do, but if the story has to end, this is without a doubt the ending it deserves.
Although this issue isn’t without its problems, and doesn’t leave enough room for some characters and plot points, it didn’t disappoint by any means. This issue is only a reminder of the kind of energy Geoff Johns has brought to the Green Lantern universe over the years of his epic run, how he has raised the bar for other comics and their creators and inspired so many, and why he will be sincerely missed. Geoff Johns created one of the most diverse and astonishing universes in modern comics, it’s time to let him do the same somewhere else. Wherever he goes next, his contribution to an already epic universe will never be forgotten.
(Review of the Wrath of the First Lantern event coming soon!)
Young Avengers #5 by Kieron Gillen, Jamie McKelvie and Mike Norton
Rating: ★★★★1/2
As one of my favourite series, I was eagerly anticipating this issue of Young Avengers that concludes the first story arc in the new series. Not only did this issue meet my expectations, it blew them out of the water, because #5 of Young Avengers is one of the best issues of the series so far (if not the best)! In this issue, we finally see the team come together to battle the parasite that Wiccan let in in #1.
Compared to previous issues, this issue is significantly dramatic, taking some of the characters in dark places, but Gillen manages to keep the light-heartedness of the series that has made it so whimsical and fun to read. This series really is nothing but fun, but I wasn’t thrown off when some much more serious issues were introduced. If anything, it made me a lot more invested in the characters. Gillen concludes this arc by finally assembling the team in genius way that you’ll have to read and discover for yourself.
Every month, Gillen has proved that Young Avengers is one of the best comics on the shelves (that is, if it hasn’t sold out) and includes some of Marvel’s greatest characters, and this month is no different. Gillen does it again by providing a perfect blend of humour, drama and intense action to keep me satisfied for yet another month.
"Let those who worship evil's might... Beware my power..."
-George