Red Lanterns #2 - Mobile Edition

DC Comics
Red Lanterns #2
By Hervé St-Louis
October 9, 2011 - 21:10

DC Comics
Writer(s): Peter Milligan
Penciller(s): Ed Benes
Inker(s): Rob Hunter
Colourist(s): Nathan Eyring
Letterer(s): Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Artist(s): Ed Benes, Rob Hunter, Nathan Eyring
$2.99 US

A planet devastated by a civil war between the visiting aliens known as the Yuervers and the native Ghanites produces rage strong enough to attract the leader of the Red Lantern Atrocitus so that he can exact vengeance and justice on behalf of an innocent girl whose siblings have been wiped out by the war. But Atrocitus soon discovers that not all rage is equal. Can intelligent rage coexist next to the mindless kind?

It’s a let down that the subplots introduced last issue with the humans brother potentially becoming Red Lanterns has not been pursued this issue. The entire issue is about what happens on Ghan IX and how Atrocitus reacts to the rage on the civil war-torn world. This issue feels like a slight detour and the only point of continuity with the last issue is that Atrocitus continues to ask himself what is the purpose of his mission as a Red Lantern. The story is interesting and although with sufficient action, we can tell that Milligan wants to push the concept of the Red Lanterns to their logical extent.

Redefining the Red Lanterns outside of the world of Green Lanterns will be necessary to make the series an independent franchise that’s not beholden to the Green Lantern world. A series such as this one will always sell less than the source it came from, unless it can become its own entity. As Atrocitus realizes himself, his fellow Red Lanterns are rather boring characters and more will have to be done to sustain a whole series based on angry characters. It’s interesting that Milligan, seeing the limits of the series addresses them within the series, redefining slowly what it means to be a Red Lantern. As foes of the Green Lanterns, the Red Lanterns were easy to define and entertaining enough. But more will be needed.

Ed Benes is just right for this series. Another artist would have made this series crawl to a halt, not because they aren’t good, but because their art would not be action-based. Milligan’s script is very wordy. Benes’ facial expressions have also improved over his previous series. I can’t wait to see where he grows next.

Rating: 8/10