By Flodo Span
Wednesday 23rd January 2013 was unofficially branded Green Lantern Day.
Wednesday 23rd January 2013 was unofficially branded Green Lantern Day. Due to last minute changes in their publishing schedule DC Comics released Green Lantern #16, Green Lantern Corps #16 and Green Lantern: New Guardians #16 all on the same day. The excitement amongst Lantern fans was high and, given the recent disappointment of all three titles, I am pleased to report our excitement was suitably matched by great improvements in quality and storytelling.
Green Lantern #16 marks Simon Baz’s first real introduction to the Corps.
For the first time since ‘Rise of the Third Army’ began 13 issues previously we finally got two books where the story lead naturally from one title to the next in a way that fans would traditionally expect of a crossover. While GL:NG continues to tell its own story with Kyle Rayner, Green Lantern and GLC form a two part story in which our heroes begin to turn the tide on the Guardians’ mindless forces. I suspect the event was produced with the specific goal of making each book able to stand on its own so that readers weren’t put off by feeling obliged to pick all four participating titles. For me, however, this diminished the appeal. I was getting all of the books because they shared the ‘Rise…’ banner and the fact that they lacked cohesion was ultimately a factor that detracted from my overall satisfaction.
Veteran Lantern B’dg has arrived on the scene looking for Hal Jordan and is surprised to find Baz wearing a power ring that had been shared by Hal and Sinestro.
Thankfully I can put all of that bad feeling behind me now. Green Lantern #16 marks Simon Baz’s first real introduction to the Corps. Veteran Lantern B’dg has arrived on the scene looking for Hal Jordan and is surprised to find Baz wearing a power ring that had been shared by Hal and Sinestro. He is even more surprised to discover it depowered and on the finger of Earth’s newest recruit. And so begins Green Lantern ring slinging 101 – class is in session.
One of the main focuses in the issue is building Baz’s reputation and proving he is worthy to be a member of the Corps. Rather than go with FBI agent Fed to prove his innocence of the terrorist charges that have been levelled at him, he puts his GL mission first and follows B’dg in the search for Jordan. In the meantime Fed places a call to Amanda Waller. Cue introduction to JLA, the newest offering from DC Comics coming out in February.
Luckily squirrels from across the universe all speak the same language!
In a novel twist the lantern itself takes over the master class and says the sacred words for him.
As with most geeks, I’m a bit of a stickler for accuracy in my comics so correct me in the comments for this post if you think I’ve got the next bit wrong. We see B’dg returning the lantern to the pocket dimension it was removed from. Now we know from the first arc of the current Green Lantern Corps run that GLs no longer use a pocket dimension for storing power battery (Hal kept his in his locker at Ferris Air). So does this mean that B’dg has just sent Baz’s lantern back to Sinestro’s ‘Batcave’ hideout?
In any case, he unravels the message that we saw stored in the ring in GL #12 which basically gives us a recap of what happened to Hal and Sinestro in the annual. He pockets the Book of Black and then makes the mistake of telling Simon he cannot keep the ring, that it must be returned to Hal Jordan. As you would expect of any wielder of willpower Baz takes this as a challenge and sets off on his own mission which will test the ring’s powers to the limit. Along the way he effortlessly conjures up a phone construct and calls his sister to meet him at the hospital.
Simon Baz’s plan is to do the impossible. To use the ring to wake his brother-in-law from a coma.
Simon Baz’s plan is to do the impossible. To use the ring to wake his brother-in-law from a coma. B’dg tells him the ring can’t be used to raise the dead or cure any ill. We’re not living in the silver age any more where the Green Lantern Power ring changed at the whim of a writer from one week to the next and all things were possible. Nevertheless Simon summons up all of his determination to force the green energy it into his best friend’s motionless body. The writing and the art complement each other brilliantly here. Geoff Johns doesn’t rush the pace, giving time for Doug Mahnke to depict a true effort of will. Sparks crackle of both men and tears stream down the Lantern’s grimaced face. Just when all seems fruitless Nazir rises from his hospital bed, much to the astonishment of B’dg and the watching doctors.
In the meantime Johns brings us back to the Dead Zone for the big reveal of the hooded character who has been leading Hal and Sinestro through the zone. And the mysterious figure is… (drumroll… trumpets…) Tomar-Re! In the original silver age origin Tomar-Re was the first Green Lantern Hal Jordan came into contact with after the death of Abin Sur. He met his death at the hands of long-time GL villain Goldface during the time of ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’. In all my wildest speculation it never once crossed my mind that Tomar-Re would be the man behind the hood and let me tell you now, my little fanboy heart leaped in my chest and I couldn’t possibly be happier.
In all my wildest speculation it never once crossed my mind that Tomar-Re would be the man behind the hood.
The deceased hero warns that the First Lantern must be stopped before reality unravels and “changes lantern history as we know it.” The cynic in me says, “Oh, Green Lantern’s very own Flashpoint. How convenient”.
The news that the recently resigned GL has been jailed on Earth is again received via the device of a corny TV newsflash.
Putting all that aside I continued in my Green Lantern Day celebrations by immediately turning to Green Lantern Corps #16 where the Guardians of the universe continue to show little of the emotionless balance they profess to hold so dear. Instead they submit to downright pettiness as they turn the Third Army’s attention towards Guy Gardner. The news that the recently resigned GL has been jailed on Earth is again received via the device of a corny TV newsflash, only this time it is transmitted a billion miles telepathically via the eyes of a Thirdite on the rampage in Atlanta Georgia.
The Third Army assimilate everyone around them.
If there was ever any doubt that Guy is as hard as the proverbial nails this issue quells it. He knocks out his huge cell mate with a single below without so much as raising his head from its melancholic stupor. Playing successfully off the rebooted origin featured in Green Lantern Corps #0 Guy’s brother and sister visit him in prison only to wind up standing shoulder to shoulder with him as the Third Army assimilate everyone around them. The Gardner family are made of sterner stuff than your average Joe.
The Gardner family are made of sterner stuff than your average Joe.
The action briefly hops several sectors away to where John Stewart and Fatality have encountered a giant spaceship threatening a defenceless world. The ship’s weapon is powered by fragments of the GL fan favourite Mogo, a former sentient planet destroyed by Stewart himself. One thing I love about Green Lantern is the scale of the world they operate in. With 7,000 Corps members policing an entire universe rescuing a planet single-handedly is basically a pre-requisite for the job. And teamed with a Star Sapphire? Let’s just say those terrorists really didn’t stand a chance. Peter J. Tomasi has been teasing Mogo’s revival for several issues now we are hanging on a knife edge of ‘is he or isn’t he?”. The answer must surely be just around the corner.
John Stewart and Fatality have encountered a giant spaceship threatening a defenceless world.
Back on Earth the heroics continue as Baz and B’dg join the fray. Again, in GLC #16 the new Lantern’s portrayal is the epitome of of a comic book stalwart. He is brave and ferocious. He is self-assured but his priority is protecting the people around him from becoming victim to the Third Army. He shares many of these traits with Guy Gardner and I loved when the veteran showed his admiration saying, “Kids got a little outlaw in his eyes”. A very Guy kind of compliment.
I did wonder how the Green Lantern rings have suddenly become so effective on the Thirdites? The green energy can blast great chunks out of the creatures now whereas previously in this event they are shown to be impervious to its attack. However, I am entirely prepared to let it pass. The battle scene was tremendous. Tomasi has a knack for writing Green Lantern Corps like the very best war movies. The heroes hold their own against impossible odds and finally secure victory by containing their enemy in a construct and detonating two dozen army missiles on them. Fernando Pasarin matches the tempo with his art. Every panel is packed with action. Exploding weapons and exploding guts. Bodies flying in all directions. I have heard criticism of some comic art as visually static. Completely contrary to that description, GLC #16 is powered along by characters in constant motion.
GLC #16 is powered along by characters in constant motion.
The story ends on the moon with Guy learning Hal’s and Sinestro’s garbled message. Before that we confirm a response to the question that has persistently followed Simon Baz since DC released the first images of him last summer. Unusually for a Green Lantern he carries a gun. He has been caught out by the ring running out of charge once already and he is not about to get left without a weapon again.
Unusually for a Green Lantern he carries a gun.
Without a shadow of a doubt I can say that these were two great issues. The Green Lantern team is firing on all cylinders again. Our Emerald Crusaders show their willpower in abundance, courageously overcome fear and shed their unflinching light over evil. The conclusion of ‘Rise of the Third Army’ in Green Lantern Corps Annual #1 promises to be a hell of a showdown between the Guardians and their Corps.
Our Emerald Crusaders show their willpower in abundance, courageously overcome fear and shed their unflinching light over evil.
For more Green Lantern reviews, news and thoughts you can follow Flodo on his website flodospage.blogspot.co.uk or on Twitter at @GL875
Posted on March 1st, 2013
Category: FLODO'S TALE, REVIEWS
Tags: B'dg, Book of Black, Comic Review, DC Comics, Flodo Span, Flodo's Tale, FLODO’S TALE #007 – HEROES & FRIENDS – GREEN LANTERN #16 & GREEN LANTERN CORPS #16, Green lantern, Guardians of the Universe, Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, Simon Baz, Sinestro, Third Army
By Kulbir Mann
Beware my (diluted and weakened) Power, Green Lantern’s Light!
The Green Lantern world boggles my mind. It is just too big; there are too many heroes and too many species!
The Green Lantern world boggles my mind. It is just too big; there are too many heroes and too many species! Essentially the writers have infinite universes and species at their creative disposal, but they have shaken the Green Lantern world to the core, repeatedly, leaving it in a completely jumbled mess. They were part of the New 52 reshuffle, but did not follow suit, instead they landed a further two titles in the form of Red Lanterns and New Guardians. Many of the DC books returned to a simpler, less complex, restarted universe, meaning they could create simpler stories and focus on some core ideals. The Lantern world is as intricate and confusing as ever. The point I am trying to make is that we have had a succession of major crossover, lantern life altering events, that have all returned life back a status quo. They even sometimes introduce a new character to replace another, who then carries on into another sub plot. No single character alone can carry a plot to fruition, there is a need for everyone to be involved, which is diluting the established characters and making if difficult for new ones to shine. I think the rationale for this lies in the GL history books, and the grandeur of its development. Let us look at a little bit of this and focus on Earth lanterns to examine why.
We cannot begin with anyone else but Hal Jordan, the man without fear. His story is a classic origin tome, the man who looked up to his heroic father, who was taken from him far too young. He lives his life, taking risks, trying to follow in his father’s footsteps, knowing there will be nothing more fearful than living without his Dad.
We cannot begin with anyone else but Hal Jordan, the man without fear. His story is a classic origin tome.
After Abin Sur crashes near Coast City, the ring sought out Hal and he became one of, if not the greatest, Green Lanterns there has ever been. There have been some classic adventures and well-written stories. He has had an archenemy in the form of Sinestro, who claimed to be the greatest prior to Jordan. With all heroes there must be a fall. Hal’s came when his hometown of Coast City was destroyed by Mogul and the Cyborg Superman. After defeating them he recreated his home using the power ring, and started using it for personal use. His friends and family were gone and he was powerless to bring them back, except that he wasn’t. The Guardians tried to stop him, but he went on an all out killing spree and essentially destroyed the entire corps and the guardians, on a rampage for more power. The image of him with multiple green power rings is genuinely harrowing. He accepts his newfound dominance and takes on the mantle Parallax.
The image of Hal with multiple green power rings is genuinely harrowing.
He was ultimately taken down in the Zero Hour Arc, where his former friends and superhero allies fire an arrow into his heart. After this injury, he realises his transgressions, and goes about reigniting the sun and refreshing the universe. However he does not die and spends a long period of time in purgatory, as a host for the Spectre; the spirit of vengeance. This was where he spent most of the 90’s until his rebirth storyline, and his promotion back to front and centre of the Green Lanterns. He is a character that is incredibly single minded and selfish. His love for Carol and others was always secondary to the power ring, and this realisation only occurred when he was stripped of his ring. He has charm and charisma but ultimately this can emanate his conceitedness. It is a moral imperative to do good, which is why, with his immense bout of stubbornness and will, he became the greatest Lantern there is. In the current age little is said about the destruction of the corps and he seemed to have moved on, well I guess he has saved the universe a few times since then! During his incarceration as Spectre, there was another who carried the GL title and wielded the only ring in existence.
With all heroes there must be a fall.
Kyle Rayner was the lantern that kept the Green Lanterns alive. After the destruction of the Corp, the remaining Guardian Ganthet takes the remnants of Jordan’s original ring and takes it to Earth. He finds a freelance graphic artist, down on his luck, struggling for money and bestows upon him the greatest weapon in the universe. Unfortunately for Kyle he was given the power of the ring and had to learn to use it quickly, as Major Force kills his girlfriend and leaves her in a refrigerator. After her death he vowed to be the greatest lantern he could be, though he was also the only lantern alive at that moment.
Ganthet finds a freelance graphic artist, down on his luck, struggling for money and bestows upon him the greatest weapon in the universe.
He then joined the Justice league and was part of the defence against Parallax. He holds Hal in a full nelson lock, while Green Arrow fires an arrow into his chest. Kyle’s style of construct was more imaginative and creative, meaning his usefulness in a battle was more unpredictable. He takes a more prominent role when he recaptures the Green Lantern energy left by Hal Jordan after defeating Oblivion. He becomes the all poweful Ion, who is almost godlike in power but struggles with the responsibility of his immense ability. He sacrifices this to regenerate the central power battery on Oa and recreate the Guardians. The Green Lantern Corps slowly returns, and Kyle becomes their torchbearer, the man who carried the Lantern light to its resurgence. He is responsible for the return of Hal Jordan, as it is he who realises the truth about the Parallax entity. It has been hiding in Hal all this time and finally awakens in the Spectre. The yellow power entity, which fuels the Sinestro corps in the future, escapes and is taken down by the GLC and Hal is returned to his human form.
The Green Lantern Corps slowly returns, and Kyle becomes their torchbearer, the man who carried the Lantern light to its resurgence.
Kyle was chosen as a green lantern because “he would have to do”. It is later revealed that it was his emotional side, which would allow him to overcome fear by embracing his feelings. This is something that the Guardians never could, and Kyle represented the opposite type of Lantern to Hal Jordan. He is not overly aggressive, he is kind to others and he is able to empathise. He is affected by his emotions, and feels for those who he hurts. This may not be what you want in a hero, but he is able to function despite these thoughts. He is able to understand his thoughts and actions in order to strategize a victory. However this was to become his downfall as it is his emotional lability that allowed Sinestro to fabricate a story of Kyle being responsible for his mother’s death. He succumbs to fear and become the second incarnation of Parallax. The Sinestro Corps War saw the unification of the green lanterns to take down the yellow fear entity corps of Sinestro. Peace was once again restored, until the next big crossover.
We may have come a long way in our little history lesson, but we have two further lanterns to discuss yet!
John Stewart is an architect and a former US marine.
John Stewart is an architect and a former US marine. He was recruited to the Green Lantern corps as support to Hal Jordan and to Kyle Rayner when required. He often took the Green Lantern chair at the Justice League headquarters when required. His constructs are immensely detailed and engineered, performing an efficient task. His ability with a sniper rifle makes him a great marksman. He carries heavy responsibility with him on a daily basis, because he made an arrogant mistake that led to the destruction of the planet Xanshi. He is a proficient tactician, marksman and incredibly loyal, but he is always serious and can come across as dull. Emotions do not come into play when it comes to the mission, and he can make the decision others cannot. During the War of the Lanterns he makes the choice to destroy Mogo, the green lantern planet. The destruction of not only another world, but a Green Lantern. John is opposite to Kyle in the fact that he does not reveal his emotion easily; he is more similar to Hal but doesn’t socialise well or boast about his abilities. He brings reason and rationale to the corps and is key to battles that ensue; he was probably the Justice League’s most useful member.
Guy Gardener is a very different character to the others; he is a douchebag.
Guy Gardener is a very different character to the others; he is a douchebag. He is the second human to wield the ring, after he was chosen whilst saving a kid from a bus accident. He has always been loud, obnoxious, cocky and reckless, but most importantly his short fuse and predilection to violence makes him angry and unpredictable. He was never as good as he thought he was, and injury and recklessness cost him his sporting career and his job. His life is spent in continual shame from being expelled from the police force and disgracing his father’s family legacy. There has been a tale told in the Booster Gold book, that insinuates the ring could have easily have chosen Guy instead of Hal. He certainly has the will, but never had the focus or forethought of his actions. Guy has had his role in the Justice League of America, wielded a yellow ring, played the hero with intertwined Vuldarian warrior DNA and opened a pub on Oa! Despite all this, Guy wears a façade as he is really a man of passion, be it negative or positive; he wears his heart on his sleeve. This is very apparent over the last couple of years in the Green Lantern arcs with his friendships with Kyle and John and his love of Ice. He has mass quantities of loyalty, dedication and love to give. He continually fights to remove his family shame and is determined to be the greatest hero there is. Overcoming adversity and his previous transgressions gives meaning to Guy’s will, which is why he was chosen as a Green Lantern and why he brings something unique to the GL corps.
You can see that we have already had some epic battles over the years. Each character has their own personalities and depth. Now take these four characters through the Sinestro Corps War, the Blackest Night and then the War of the Lanterns, all coming out the other side alive and look where we have ended up, in the same place. Most books have one character that is the staple, but the lantern books have at least four. Create a world where there are other colour spectrums and power guardians, make them fight together and destroy each other. How can we up the scale even further? Give them three books to go round, GL is almost always Hal centric, GLC is for John but mainly Guy and NG is a book focused on Kyle. They all move along in their side plots but ultimately they will reconvene together, for another final battle. Have we not created a library full of earth shattering, timeline shaking, dead rising, story arcs to last a lifetime? Where do you take these guys next? Can they keep saving the universe? Are there even bigger bad guys to face? Apparently so as the Rise of the Third Army is currently taking place. Not only have the Guardians turned their back on the lanterns, they have created a collective hive mind that will change the universe FOREVER!!!!!
Where do you take these guys next? Can they keep saving the universe?
What can we do to stop them? I am not sure that four lanterns are enough because out of nowhere we appear to have added a fifth. Given that Hal and Kyle have single handedly destroyed and resurrected the GLC, we now have another universal threat that they may need help with. Is Simon Baz that person? What does he bring to the table given that he seems to be a risk taking stunt driver, reckless, full of himself and clearly takes care of his family? Does he not sound a little like Hal? Oh do not forget that he is Middle Eastern, Muslim, and another citizen of the United States. I am hoping that his outward appearance is not all that is different to his character. A fifth lantern needs to bring a new element to the lantern core, something that we have not seen before, apart from the fact he wields a gun. But I worry that there will be a return to status quo with a new set of guardians and five refreshed green lanterns.
I am not sure that four lanterns are enough because out of nowhere we appear to have added a fifth.
The Sinestro Corps war was incredible because it had an underlying theme, fear vs will. After the victory Hal goes to see Sinestro in his cell where they have a superb conversation about who really won the war. Though Sinestro lost, he claimed he had won because the lantern corps gave into fear. This was brilliant psychological warfare and is one of the reasons why Sinestro is so amazingly popular. Blackest Night was interesting because it allowed the whole DC universe to face up to their inner demons, in the form of the living dead. There was a possibility of redemption and peace, but most of the time it ended in fighting! However it was in interesting concept and the story was well played out. Since then I have been thoroughly uninspired, and the stories remind me of Larfreeze, where it is all about gaining more power to become victorius. Even the third army story is focused around the Guardians becoming stronger from a secret power source. It is a basic epitome of comic writing, heroes have powers that make them stronger then others, so they do good and help to achieve justice. This is so dull and played out in so many ways, that in the modern age we need to excel beyond the physical manifestations of power. I love the lanterns I really do, but sometimes I wish there was more time devoted to the characters created so far. They all have sufficient depth to progress in their own stories without the need for massive crossover tales.
Maybe Ron Marz had it right when Hal destroyed the GLC, they had become too big and crazy to be sustainable and the reset button was hit, leaving poor Kyle alone to continue the legacy. Maybe their imaginations weren’t big enough but creativity or not, the GLC has expanded to extreme borders at the moment and there is too much to hold onto and control. With all the lantern corps and five central characters, bear in mind I have forgotten the essential archenemy/good guy Sinestro, I do not think we can have more all-encompassing stories. I hope we spend time with the characters we love instead of creating new ones, dilating the old and designing new bad guys that are impossible to beat. The mantra states;
In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight, let those that worship evil’s might, beware my power, green lanterns light!
“Beware my power” has been taken too literally over the years, and its time to bring some thoughtful, character based tales. Make us believe again in the GL power again, it just doesn’t seem enough to beware of anymore.
For more comic views and reviews follow Kulbir on Twitter at @Kooliebear and check out his website over at houseofflyingscalpels.com
Posted on February 7th, 2013
Category: DEVIL IN THE DETAIL, NEWS & VIEWS, REVIEWS
Tags: Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Devil in the Detail, Green lantern, Green lantern corps, Guy Gardner, Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Kulbir Mann, Simon Baz
By Flodo Span
In Green Lantern #0 we were introduced to Simon Baz, a brand new character gracing our pages and taking up the Green Lantern mantel for the very first time.
As most geeks of any repute will no doubt be aware September was “zero month” in the DC universe. After a year of getting to know our heroes DC decided that it was high time to drop a few origin stories in our laps. Where Green Lantern differed to most of the rest of these books is that we didn’t get the origin to either of the characters we have been following in the title over the previous 12 months, Hal Jordan and Thal Sinestro. Instead we were introduced to Simon Baz, a brand new character gracing our pages and taking up the Green Lantern mantel for the very first time.
It was an audacious move by the publisher and one not without controversy. Images of this cowl attired lantern wielding a semi-automatic pistol have been splashed across the comic book back pages and blog sites for months. Opinion has been firmly split, albeit between the’ I’m not too sure yet’ crowd and the ‘this is a complete bloody travesty, I’m cancelling my pull-list and switching to Marvel’ crowd. If twitter were to be believed this creation, one that is clearly close to writer Geoff Johns’ heart in that it was reputedly modelled after his own experiences, was never going to get a fair hearing.
For me, GL#0 and GL#13 read together as one complete double issue prologue in preparation for the main event – the trials and tribulations of Green Lantern Baz of sector 2814.
As a result I held off on posting a review for GL #0 when it was released last month. I wanted to be sure how I felt about Baz and his introduction into the Green Lantern universe. I took a chance that his origin was too long to share completely in 20 pages and held off publishing my conclusions until after the release this following month of Green Lantern #13. And in that regard I was not disappointed. For me, GL#0 and GL#13 read together as one complete double issue prologue in preparation for the main event – the trials and tribulations of Green Lantern Baz of sector 2814.
Reflected in the eyes of their eldest child are the burning twin towers of the World Trade Centre attack.
Johns had no intention of steering away from the controversy that preceded this book beginning as he does with images of an Arabic-American family watching television with looks of horror and tears streaming down their faces. Reflected in the eyes of their eldest child are the burning twin towers of the World Trade Centre attack. As a result of that tragedy the boy spends the next 10 years of his life being abused and victimised by a culture who treat all Muslims as potential terrorists. Personally, I found these two pages very moving. Doug Manke’s pencils capture the adversity Baz and his family face in a very impactful manner. But at the same time the geek in me recognises that 9/11 did not happen in the DC universe, at least not prior to the reboot as the New 52.
We fast forward to the present day were Simon is caught up in a police chase when he is startled by the realisation that the stolen van he’s driving contains a massive time bomb. The digital display confirms that it is live and slowly ticking down to zero. Showing little regard for his own safety the former automotive engineer takes immediate evasion action and drives the bomb into the grounds of an abandoned factory and just manages to throw himself from the moving vehicle before it detonates. This is bravery indeed but if he hadn’t it might have been a very short book…
The action switches to a prison in Guantanamo where our hero has understandably been detained for committing acts of terrorism against the United States. The security services best interrogators can’t get Baz to admit that he is complicit in the bomb plot. The tension is ramped up when he is hooded and escorted to a room contained a table fitted out with arm and leg restraints. The implication is torture and even the US agents can’t agree on the moral proclivities of the line of questioning they are about to pursue. There is a great panel in this sequence showing the terrified prisoner’s face from under hood. Manke provides us with enough stylized light with to see the fear in his eyes and sweat beading on his forehead. With the instincts of a cornered animal he punches wildly in the dark to make a futile break for freedom.
Just as all seems lost a Green Lantern ring comes crashing through the prison walls and attaches itself to Simon’s finger. But something is wrong
Just as all seems lost a Green Lantern ring comes crashing through the prison walls and attaches itself to Simon’s finger. But something is wrong. The ring has an error in its programming. Instead of transforming him into a Lantern as expected, the ring electrocutes him. Lightning crackles and stabs at him causing him to scream out in pain. I don’t know if this is a deliberate choice by the colourists, Avina and Sinclair, but in comparison to other GL books the green light given off by the ring here is unpleasant and sickly.
Baz is launched with a boom through the ceiling of the interrogation cell. And make no mistake about it. This was not the exit of a silver-age lantern gliding effortlessly like a ghost through solid wall. This departure leaves a gaping hole and a trail of destruction in its wake. News of his escape is immediately passed to Amanda Waller and does not go unnoticed by the Justice League. In a teaser panel we briefly glimpse the transformed Third Army slave introduced in Green Lantern Annual before our attention is brought back to an unconscious Simon Baz lying prostrate in a field. Green energy wisps and smokes around him like the aftermath of an explosion. He is unaware that his new ring is trying to alert him to a mysterious waiting message.
He is unaware that his new ring is trying to alert him to a mysterious waiting message.
Elsewhere, in a one page epilogue, Hal Jordan and Sinestro apparently survived their ordeals of the previous issue and are trapped by an unearthly black energy.
As Green Lantern #13 opens we are back with Amanda Waller, this time briefing the US president on the identities of earth’s Green Lanterns and, of course, the recent activity of Simon Baz.
As Green Lantern #13 opens we are back with Amanda Waller, this time briefing the US president on the identities of earth’s Green Lanterns and, of course, the recent activity of Simon Baz. The president demands that she call in the Justice League to pursue the escaped terror suspect. Meanwhile the man in question continues to lie unconscious somewhere on the southern coast of Florida while the ring recalibrates itself to him, making the reader aware of an incident in his past that involved street racing. He wakes suddenly to find himself floating a foot or two above the ground in a GL uniform. The message telegraphed at the end of the previous issue begins to play.
The vibrant greens of Alex Sinclair’s colourings are back at their best in the rendering of a contorted morphing of Hal and Sinestro into a light construct that is reminiscent of Pablo Picasso on LSD.
The message itself is conveyed via a great piece of artwork. The vibrant greens of Alex Sinclair’s colourings are back at their best in the rendering of a contorted morphing of Hal and Sinestro into a light construct that is reminiscent of Pablo Picasso on LSD. The words attached are a mesh of the two previous ring wielder’s final thoughts before their sudden disappearance in a battle with Black Hand and the Guardians of the Universe. Despite this, the message could not be clearer. Get help, and stay the hell away from Oa!
A tattoo quoting the word ‘courage’ in Arabic glows green on Simon’s arm as he flies into the heavens, one step ahead of the authorities who are hot on his tail. The newest lantern’s use of the green energy is bold. He doesn’t just ‘take off’ or ‘land’. A more accurate description is that he ‘launches’ himself into the air and when he returns to terra-firma it is with all the force of a meteorite carving out craters from the ground beneath him.
A tattoo quoting the word ‘courage’ in Arabic glows green on Simon’s arm as he flies into the heavens, one step ahead of the authorities who are hot on his tail.
In this issue Geoff Johns sets out to give us a deeper exploration of the lead character’s background. Away from the action, scenes with his father and sister show the problems his predicament has heaped upon his family. His sister, Sira, is sacked from her job amidst fears for her colleagues’ safety. It transpires Simon had already brought hardship down on those closest to him when his brother-in-law was left comatose in an illegal car race between the two. He is desperate to lift the shame he has brought to their doors and wants to use his sister’s contacts to help identify the person he believes is responsible for setting him up. Despite all that has passed between them in recent years his sister clearly loves him and remembers times when he fought to protect her from the torments of bigoted troublemakers.
Elsewhere the Guardians Third Army expands relentlessly, adding a transformed truck driver and hitchhiker to their numbers. Under the Guardians instruction their primary pursuit is to track and assimilate Green Lantern ring slingers. Like all the best horror movies the mouthless aberrations seem unstoppable. In one panel they appear to reach out through the fourth wall to grab at us readers and drag us into the page, another unwilling victim of their ghoulish nightmare.
Elsewhere the Guardians Third Army expands relentlessly, adding a transformed truck driver and hitchhiker to their numbers.
Back in his hometown of Dearborn, Michigan, Simon wills a full head mask to cover his features from a prying security camera. In my opinion, this latest GL costume is pretty poor. There is barely any green on it. The back appears to be a black one piece leotard that would be more suited to a winter Olympian. Where the green does appear on the chest, shoulders and boots, it glows in a way that just doesn’t sit right. It is, perhaps, most similar to John Stewart’s uniform but it has none of the tangibility of his new look metallic shoulder pads. The mask is worst of all – it looks like a bad imitation of Mr Terrific’s facial T-plate.
Suddenly, a blue red blur knocks Baz from his rooftop perch. Before he can draw breath a heroic voice informs him he is in a lot of trouble, “like Justice League trouble”. In the final poster-worthy splash page the entire league led by Superman bear down on him. Manke draws a mighty cool JL, better in my assessment than the work Jim Lee does in the League’s own title. But for the record the yellow glowing lines on Flash’s costume look just as terrible as the Green ones on Baz’s, and he doesn’t even have the excuse of being new to the super-hero business!
Suddenly, a blue red blur knocks Baz from his rooftop perch. Before he can draw breath a heroic voice informs him he is in a lot of trouble, “like Justice League trouble”.
For more Green Lantern reviews, news and thoughts you can follow Flodo on his website flodospage.blogspot.co.uk or on Twitter at @GL875
Posted on November 3rd, 2012
Category: FLODO'S TALE, REVIEWS
Tags: Comic Reviews, DC Comics, Flodo Span, Flodo's Tale, Geoff Johns, Green lantern, Green Lantern #0 Review, Green Lantern #13 Review, Rise of the Third Army, Simon Baz
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