Review: Green Lanterns #17

DC Comics
Review: Green Lanterns #17
By Philip Schweier
February 21, 2017 - 16:29

DC Comics
Writer(s): Sam Humphries
Penciller(s): Eduardo Pansica
Inker(s): Julio Ferreira
Colourist(s): Blond
Letterer(s): Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist(s): James Harren; variant cover by Emanuela Lupacchino and Andrew Marino

Some years back, during the Sinestro Corps war saga, I understand a yellow ring sought out Batman, for his ability to instill great fear. No doubt. But I always wondered why Scarecrow, who can induce sheer terror, wasn’t a candidate. Seemed pretty obvious to me at the time.

Well, Sam Humphries seemed to agree, as Batman and the Green Lanterns combine resources against a yellow ring wielding Jonathan Crane. But what I found interesting about this story was not the super-heroics of our costumed crime fighters. It was the examination of fear. Not Jessica Cruz’s anxiety, because we’ve dwelt on that enough. Instead, we get a glimpse into why Simon Baz carries a gun, when he literally has the most powerful weapon in the universe at his fingertips.

We also have a peek inside Batman’s feelings toward his colleagues among the Green Lantern Corps. He renders opinions on Hal Jordan and Guy Gardner, but remains confusingly silent about John Stewart. While it’s debatable if the Justice League animated series can be considered canon, I still can’t help but be puzzled.

This two-part story was a pleasant diversion from the usual multi-chapter destined-for-trade-paperback narratives. It almost harkened back to the old Brave and the Bold series of the 1970s, but seen from the other side of the team-up. I’d like to see more stories like this: short, but with a lot of meat on their bones.