Green Lantern #172 - Mobile Edition

DC Comics
Green Lantern #172
By Koppy McFad
January 10, 2004 - 15:19

DC Comics
Writer(s): Ben Raab
Penciller(s): James Bosch, Rodney Ramos
Cover Artist(s): Keron Grant

Kyle Rayner attempts to infiltrate the ranks of the Black Circle, an interplanetary crime syndicate, by working with a motley band of aliens in taking down a rival group of arms dealers. For a cosmic story, it is all pretty humdrum. We all know that Green Lantern could pretty much squash these alien squid-gangsters with just one finger so there really isn't any sense of suspense. The colorful aliens that Kyle has allied himself with simply don't grab the reader's interest despite the obvious efforts to make them endearing and sympathetic. Even the big revelation at the end doesn't really shock anyone because it wasn't set up well. As for the art, Bosch and Ramos do good detailed work at the start of the story, yet it slowly deteriorates in the latter pages. Did the deadlines sneak up on them? Hopefully, they can turn out more consistent work in the future. Their art is probably one of the best things about this title but only when they are at their best.