This
issue features two storytelling tropes that I absolutely despise. The first
occurs on the opening pages, as a beaten and bloody Hal Jordan lies at the feet
of General Zod (yes, THAT General Zod). The pages that follow then backtrack to
more sedate events, as John Stewart announces his resignation from the Green
Lantern Corps.
I’ve seen
this “show-the-climax-first” ploy before, in many TV shows and comics. To me,
this is laziness on the part of the writer, who can’t come up with a better hook.
I would suggest a splash page of John Stewart in civilian clothes, facing the
reader with his ring in his hand. “I quit!” That would capture my attention.
The other
infraction isn’t so egregious. It’s a double-page layout, which in print is not
so terrible. But in the digital editions ComicBookBin is provided, it’s lost on
me as I follow each individual page. Maybe it’s a display error, but I’ve not
found a solution using Acrobat Pro, so…
But I’ll
give DC credit for allowing Robert Venditti to use General Zod as the villain.
Though usually a Superman nemesis, it stands to reason he would cross paths
with other DC heroes from time to time. And I’ve often thought that were I one
of Flash’s rogues, and was always being bested by him, I would try my luck in another
city. Perhaps Gotham, where the resident crime fighter has no super-powers.
Perhaps this
will lead to the massive villain exchange I’ve hoped for, where technocrat
Luthor is paired off against Batman, or fear-mongering Scarecrow faces off
against Green Lantern. I’d just like DC to look at its roster of heroes and
their respective villains and decide which pairings have gotten stale, and what
might freshen the bloom a wee bit.
But Zod’s
story is not done. He has not been defeated. What this bodes for the DC
Universe should be interesting to behold.
Rating:
8/10