There is a lot to enjoy in this issue of
Green Lantern Corps. The buildup towards the upcoming cross-title event 'Blackest Night' continues, and the
Green Lantern and
Green Lantern Corps titles are working overtime to present two different perspectives on Lantern happenings in the DC Universe. The main GL series continues to put the spotlight on Hal Jordan as he battles his inner demons while also taking on the resurgent Sinestro Corps and the fresh threat of the Red Lanterns. In
Green Lantern Corps, a wider cast of heroes get their share of the spotlight as the same threats endanger the Corps and their base on planet Oa.
With Sinestro out of commission, the evil Mongul seeks to usurp his position and make himself the leader of the Sinestro Corps. He has chosen the planet Daxam, a xenophobic world which also happens to be the home planet of Green Lantern Sodam Yat. Mongul seeks to enslave the native population and install himself as the leader of the Sinestro Corps (now Mongul Corps?) and rule from his new throne-world.
On Oa, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner has a lot of issues to work through. He's struggling to deal with the unending losses of his comrades as violence spreads across the universe. This leads him to initiate a cathartic art project. He also has to face his fellow Lantern, Dr. Soranik Natu. In the previous issue of the series, Kyle and Soranik were informed by a love-driven Star Sapphire that the two of them were meant for each other. In this issue, the two Lanterns explore this further. Complicating matters is the fact that the Guardians of the Universe recently passed a new law in the Book of Oa - one that specifically outlaws romantic relationships between Lanterns. Superheroes never catch an easy break!
This issue is a pleasure to behold. In writing it, Tomasi threads together some seemingly disparate elements from previous issues into a cohesive whole, while propelling everything forward into the territory of the upcoming 'Blackest Night' event; Mongul makes his big comeback, the planet Daxam goes from being a murky element in Sodam Yat's back story to a key location within the current storyline. Sapphire Miri Riam encounters Green Lantern Saarek as he makes contact with the Anti-Monitor's corpse. These story beats are filled with intriguing dialogue and strong characterization. The effective writing is only rivalled by the artwork.
Gleason's pencils and Buchman's solid inking provide well concieved characters and some really fun moments. When two Lanterns lock lips, the light formations from their power rings are a dynamic expression of their shared emotional state. It's great, and it works! The appearance of Miri Riam allows for her outstretched arm to dip across a few panels on the page. This is a playful arrangement which works well and emphasizes the character's movement. The art team provides a great experience for readers.
The backup 'Origins and Omens' feature, which is appearing in many DC titles for the next little while, builds on this issue's story. This is a welcome addition, as opposed to the often out of place appearances it is making in other titles.
I'd like to take a moment to publicly congratulate Adam Schlagman. He recently got upgraded from assistant editor to 'Editor' on this title, and before all that, he got his start at DC Comics as an intern. It's really nice to see a publisher provide that kind of growth and continuity among its staff. Congratulations sir.
I think this has bee the surprise series of the year. It has been a fun read every month. Gleasons pencils have been over the top. With the oncoming storm of Black Knight it should only be getting better.
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