Review: Green Lantern: Dragon Lord #3
For us fans of Bruce Lee, in his limited filmography lies a treasure trove of life lessons. Ones that pushes people beyond what they accept for themselves and ones in which infinite potential is the ceiling. His book, the Tao Of Jeet Kune Do, impresses on its readers to“Not being tense but ready. Not thinking but not dreaming. Not being set but flexible. Liberation from the uneasy sense of confinement. It is being wholly and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come.” As these words would confuse most, but to see the forest through the trees per say, is what his philosophies demanded for comprehension.
These philosophies were embedded in every role he played, as these backstories for each character, he had something to do with it. Enter The Dragon carried many of his philosophies about martial arts and life in general. His most personal film was his last, Game Of Death, very action packed and one which intertwines his philosophies all throughout. In the last book of Green Lantern: Dragon Lord, our hero must go on his ow quest to find the woman who holds his heart and to purge evil throughout the kingdom.
We find Jong Li, about to enter the fabled Lung Mountain, where a series of trials and marauders await his arrival, each one he must conquer and save Jade Moon. General Shan plots to have the power of the Green Lantern to himself as well as overthrow the emperor, both are at his grasp, if he defeats Jong Li. As Jong Li, fights his way to the top of the mountain, he brings back the Dragon Lords, is finally able to confront Shan. By book’s end, not everything goes as planned, as he saves Jade Moon, but she still suffers a fatality, her son becomes the new emperor and Jong Li enters history a legend.
Overall, a heart rendering end to a great story, one which gets to the core of what makes Jonng Li, one of the greatest Green Lanterns of all time. The story by Doug Moench is whimsical, thriving with lore and gives the reader a nice slice of history. The art by the creative team more than complements the story, it illuminates these great characters. Altogether, an almost perfect ending to a such a momentous story.
Story: Doug Moench
Art: Bob Lappan, Dave Stewart, Joe Rubinstein, Paul Gulacy and James Sinclair
Story: 10 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.7 Recommendation: Buy
The world is in love with the “reluctant” hero figure. Men and women who can and should save people. But those heroes always have some boiler plate excuse like “I don’t do that no more.” Of course the worse excuse being “I’m no hero.” This is exactly why Alan Ladd’s seminal classic Shane is a favorite among middle aged men, even those who don’t like Westerns. The story revolves around a high plains drifter who wanders into a small town and accepts a family’s hospitality. This peace of course doesn’t last. He eventually gets caught in the war for the Wyoming rang as a land baron looks to take over the family’s land. This leaves Shane in a precarious position as his honor leaves him no choice but to get involved.
There is nothing a like a great prequel, especially if it fills in all those holes that the reader wants to know about their favorite characters. One of the best ones I remember from growing up is the Muppet Babies, as I grew up watching The Muppet Show, and the cartoon offered us fans another side to our favorite characters. This is also true of the Truth: Red, White and Black book where we see that before Steve Rogers became the iconic hero, many Black soldiers volunteered, much like the Tuskegee Experiment. As I always wondered who was there before, as the new Black Panther comic book, showcases in many trips to the Hall of the Black Panther, where he seeks the council of all the Panthers who came before.