I’ll admit, I know very little about Alan Scott and his run as Green Lantern. His history, and the Justice Society as a whole, aren’t comics I’ve ever really read or had an interest in. I’ve read some here and there but it’s never been a regular read. But, with the hyperbolic controversy surrounding Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1, I made sure to see what the deal was all about and honestly, I’m glad I did.

Written by Tim Sheridan, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 is an interesting comic. It’s part origin, it’s part fact-ish, it’s also fiction. The comic blends history with superheroics to create a story that explores the real and imaginary past. Taking place in 1941, the Justice Society of America is a relatively new team pushed by J. Edgar Hoover to fight crime. While Alan Scott, as Green Lantern, is supposed to be a part of it, he’s still flying solo, angering Hoover. And Hoover being Hoover, uses his resources to blackmail Scott into being a team player.

Sheridan’s take is an interesting one that dances around the reality of Hoover’s war against crime. Yes, he absolutely blackmailed individuals. Yes, Hoover regularly used propaganda in his battle, including writing comic book scripts to be published (yes, he seriously did it). And all this while Hoover himself was hiding his own secrets. Sheridan explores that all in his own ways while most importantly diving into Scott’s life.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 acts as an origin in a way as we learn about his mission in the army concerning something called “Project Crimson,” and his relationship while in the army. All of this at a time when homosexuality was not accepted and kept a secret. There’s an unease the Scott feels about it all that bleeds off the page. The tragedy is there in so many ways.

But, beyond that, Sheridan keeps the heroics coming. There’s lots of action and lots of dynamic moments whose visuals are engaging and interesting thanks to the art of Cian Tormey. Tormey is joined by Matt Herms on color and Lucas Gattoni on lettering, and it feels like a style that has a bit of a throwback look to it in some ways. There’s some great visual moments on the page such as the entire sequence of a ship being attacked that has a very cinematic feel to it all. There’s a bit of an exaggeration to it all that works really well and makes it all have a bit more of a fun vibe about it, when things could otherwise be rather gloomy.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 leaves things in a bit of a shocker, and I was able to read the second issue which makes me even more confident in Sheridan’s direction. It’s a comic that feels like it’s a nice mix of what was and what is, using history to blend it all together for a new adventure. I never really cared about Scott and the JSA, but this debut has me intrigued to go back see what I might have missed.

Story: Tim Sheridan Art: Cian Tormey
Color: Matt Herms Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 8.15 Art: 8.15 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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