Green Lantern / Sinestro Corps: Secret Files & Origins #1

Unlike the largely contained worlds of Batman and Superman, the Green Lantern franchise is a universe-spanning enterprise in which thousands of characters carry the book’s title. Containing 3600 sectors, each with at least two Lantern officers, the Green Lantern series runs the risk of overwhelming its readers with a constant flow of information. That is why this ‘Secret Files and Origins’ book is so helpful.

It should be noted that I have refrained from describing this comic as ‘essential’. That is because it is not a must-read at all. In fact, one could overlook this comic and still thoroughly enjoy the experience of following the current Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps series. Rather, this issue serves as a valuable supplement, adding to the reader’s experience by enriching the backgrounds of the various characters that crop up in current and past Green Lantern titles. It is not an all encompassing guide, but it aids in illuminating the current state of the series, while paying tribute to select elements of its past.

With the hundreds of mini-biographies contained in this issue, readers will spend plenty of time between the covers. While some bios were formulated specifically for this issue, introducing new characters, others are long forgotten personalities from previous series. This healthy mix of old and new helps form a cohesive universe in which the contributions of various writers of the past play a significant role. Current Lantern scribe, Johns, peppers the issue with hints regarding what is to come in the near future, but it is largely a tease.

A guide for ‘Fallen Lanterns’ provides a roll call for the dead, and a backup story illustrates the background of the Green Lantern crypt keeper, Morro. It is a decent six page story that smoothly transitions from the list of the fallen.

One of the most fun aspects of the issue can be found in the variety of artists. This book serves as a who’s who of the Green Lantern art community. An old favourite such as Gil Kane pops up amongst work by Ethan Van Sciver and Dave Gibbons. Surprises included Simone Bianchi and Gene Ha. One should be aware that the illustrations take a backseat to the copious amounts of text that make up this issue.

Are you a Green Lantern completist? If so, you already have this book. Otherwise, you may want to give it a peek and see if it is your cup of tea. For any followers of the current storyline, this book is a worthy addition to your collection.