Comics : Comic Reviews : DC Comics

Last Updated: Jan 1, 2009 - 6:19:39 PM

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Green Lantern #34 By Nathan Madison Sep 11, 2008 - 7:42:04 AM DC Comics Writer(s): Geoff Johns Penciller(s): Ivan Reis Inker(s): Oclair Albert Cover Artist(s): Ivan Reis $2.99 US, $3.05 Canada

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When I first saw the solicitations, months and months ago in Diamond's Previews, that the next arc of Geoff John's run on Green Lantern would be a flashback, a kind of retelling of the Emerald Dawn/Showcase #22  origin storylines, I was somewhat unsure. I had no problems concerning Geoff Johns’ writing, to be sure; but more so, after coming off of something as dramatic and epic as the Sinestro Corps War, I did not want something that would take me back, as opposed to forward. This Secret Origin, of which issue #34 is Part 6, however, is just as exciting, engaging and suspenseful as the recently wrapped-up Sinestro Corps War mega-event.

In this issue, we see the beginnings of an explanation as to why the (as of until recently) minor Green Lantern villain Black Hand is more important to both Hal Jordan's, as well as the Green Lantern Corps itself, ultimate destiny, with the escaped Inversion Atrocitus singling him out as what will bring about the blackness that would envelope the universe; the upcoming Blackest Night. Hal Jordan, and his mentor/superior officer Sinestro, engage Abin Sur's killer, with Hal Jordan momentarily piercing the yellow impurity barrier shared by all Lantern Rings, and saving Sinestro, who does not quite believe that Jordan was able to do break the barrier (or rather, does not want to believe that Jordan was able to, while he has not been successful in his endeavors to do the same). After defeating the demon, Sinestro warns Jordan of his inability to come to terms with his various personal grudges and shortcomings, which results in Hal going to confront Carl Ferris, who he blames for his father's death years earlier; instead, he finds an incapacitated Ferris, with his daughter acting as caregiver without anyone's knowledge; a scene in which we are also treated to a view of the early stages of Hal and Carol's relationship. After coming to a sense of understanding and trust in each other open Hal’s return, Sinestro and Jordan are recalled to Oa, to face reprimands for a transgression not yet fully explained by issue's end.

With this issue, Geoff Johns continues to display why he is, in my opinion, the best writer DC Comics has at the moment. Another writer could have simply presented a retelling of Green Lantern's origin; Johns, however, relates the history of Hal Jordan, the seemingly normal man who happens to be granted a unique and powerful gift, as opposed to the origin of simply the hero; he recreates what exactly the relationship was between Sinestro and Jordan before they became arch enemies, and expands on Alan Moore's classic Tygers storyline from 20 years ago (the basis for the entire Sinestro Corps/Blackest Night sagas). At the same time, all of these amendments are tied in, flawlessly, with everything Johns has worked on, and has yet to complete, since returning Hal Jordan to the land of the living in Green Lantern: Rebirth. An excellent installment, in an already exceptional series.

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