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Review: Green Lantern #43

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GL_Cv43_ds“As worlds die”

This month is a real treat as prolific artist Ethan Van Sciver takes on guest penciling duties for this issue and knocks it out of the park. On to the action though, we start on a remote distant planet where Black Hand is trying to resurrect the recently dead to no avail. He is quite troubled by his powers not working. His hands are currently stone and he is reduced to weeping at his plight. Van Sciver’s pencils are fantastic here as he actually makes you feel sympathy for this horrible being. (Something I would not think possible) Instead of using his touch to resurrect the dead, it is now inexplicably turning them to beings of stone. Writer Robert Vendetti here, conveys Black Hand as a lost child who is so alone. This is a far cry from the demonic despot he has been portrayed before. This dynamic sucked me in right away. Kudos to you, sir.

We venture across the cosmos to the confines of a lone ship floating in vast nothingness. The crew aboard: a gentle being named Virgo, a ruthless hunter named Trapper and of course the star of the show, former Green Lantern now an army of one: Hal Jordan.

Hal is intent on finding out what happened to his former fellow Green Lantern Corps as well solving the mystery of the stone transformations. He is using his gauntlet and will to create tools to help him construct a special space suit that will allow him to masquerade as a different being to get answers. Again the pencils here just really bring this to life and remind you of why Van Sciver was “the” Green Lantern artist for quite some time. Hal has some touching dialogue as he notes he was always so busy being a Green Lantern first, that he never stopped to see the roses. Little human moments like this show Hal’s non cocky side and they really flesh out his character more.

Hal finishes his suit and orders Virgo that no one touches his stuff but him and to watch over Trapper while he’s on his mission. Hal needs the suit because where he’s going the spectrum of his green energy would be detected and make him an immediate threat.

Here we get my favorite panel of the book in the form of a splash page, showing the giant known as Relic maintaining the mystery artifact that is the Source Wall. Hal manages to get to Relic undetected and is even able to ask a few questions. Relic states it is a positive outcome that the Green Lantern Corps are no more. (C’mon we all know they are still kicking around, they have their own title each month but for this issue we suspend disbelief and roll with it.) Hal not pleased with the comment goes to leave, when Relic informs him that Black Hand was already here. Cue the ominous music, that is not good.

Back on the ship Virgo senses Hal might need some assistance and tries to don the Gauntlet but the energy defenses attack him. This act unwittedly alarms Relic of his presence and Hal hightails it back to the ship. Things have just gotten worse.The rest of the issue shows Hal rushing back to save his friend, arguing with his sarcastic ship Darlene and us being introduced to a new group threat.

Overall: I thought this month’s adventure was far better than the previous and the best installment of the “Renegade” storyline so far. The pacing was great, there were no slow spots and of course wonderful art from Mr. Van Sciver. (They definitely need him back on this title, pronto) I really enjoyed the switch of desperation in Black Hand’s character and Virgo’s attempt to be a hero. We all know the Corps are out there and it’s only a matter of time before they make their presence felt. However if we keep getting issues like this, I’m more than fine with the delay. 30 days seems like sufficient time to recharge the Gauntlet, and I have a feeling Hal and Co. are going to need it. See you across the stars next time readers…

Story: Robert Vendetti Art: Ethan Van Sciver
Story: 8.75 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Review: Green Lantern #42

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4647863-gl_cv42_ds“I’m not a Green Lantern anymore.”

We open up our tale racing across the stars in dashing fashion as the crew of a class 3 light cruiser named Darlene is streaking post-haste through the cosmos. As we adjourn inside captain: Hal Jordan, former Green Lantern turned renegade is transporting some very important cargo on a tight schedule. The cargo’s name is Trapper. He is a bounty hunter who tried to collect the wrong check and now finds himself in the comfort of a plasma barred cell. Hal seeks to show him the error of his ways via the means of taking a trip. The destination: Ketleth Prime, a distant planet. Hal is transporting Trapper as well as a native of that World, Virgo there.

Along the way Hal receives much heckling from both his captive and his spacecraft (and you thought Michael from Knight Rider had a raw deal) but he remains focused on his objective. However Hal receives a big surprise when he arrives at the coordinates where Ketleth Prime should be. When he investigates closer it appears to be that the planet, is now made entirely out of stone. This sends Virgo spiraling into grief. After a few tough moments, Hal not knowing what to do allows Virgo to grieve.

4647869-5+gl_42_5Before any kind of reprieve can be made, Hal’s ship Darlene warns him that a full-fledged armada is right outside his window. Now not being the one to shy away, Hal makes ready for confrontation. What makes the dynamic so interesting is even though he is a pariah in the eyes of the Green Lantern Corps, he’s still not willing turn his back on them. It’s very old school honor and I like it.

Trapper’s buds show up with an enormous fleet and he laughs thinking that Hal is all but done for. A great moment of dialogue is exchanged as Trapper says to Hal “You against my whole crew? Does this heap even have cannons?”  Hal just brazenly replies “No, because I don’t need any.” He then shows why he is the Embassador of Badassery as he fires up his Krona Gauntlet and floats outside the ship to handle the whole armada himself.

4660594-img_0108Hal then shows us why “will is skill” and any weapon is the greatest one in his hands, as he fully unleashes unbridled power on the fleet. On a personal note here, I go back and forth on Billy Tan’s art a lot but it’s the moments like this one that he makes me eat my words and just smile back at the page slack-jawed. I’ve heard people also give a lot of criticism on Hal’s new duds (which I absolutely love btw) and I think it’s unfounded. This is comics and entertainment folks, things will come and go and things will change (remember all the guns and extra pouches and cheesy violent code names in the 90’s?) but as long as the creative teams tackling this, respect and honor the essence of the character it’s perfectly fine. Besides I think Hal’s new costume is great and encompasses the changes to his character. It makes complete sense as he is now an individual and not considered a “Space Cop” anymore. No need for a team uniform. The long coat and costume change give him a much more lone gunman style look which I just think is freaking cool. Bottom line to me, if it walks like Hal Jordan, talks like Hal Jordan, and kicks an incredible amount of ass, then it’s Hal Jordan.

B5QCP06mThe remainder of the issue shows Virgo dealing with his grief, Hal having some trouble asserting dominance over his gauntlet (it’s sentient and strong willed too, giving a great dynamic as open’s the question as to who wields whom?) and the return of a very powerful Green Lantern villain who finds himself in despair as well.

Overall: This was a fun read that took sci-fi and gave Hal a touch of Chuck Norris (Hell I bet even Hal wishes he was Chuck) as he took on the entire fleet himself. After last months issue which started slow it turned it around for me, and I absolutely dug it. I liked the story and the art and they meshed great for some entertaining moments. Seeing Hal cut loose with the Gauntlet had me cheering. This is how you do a GL book, adventure, witty banter, and action..action..action! With the return of a classic lantern villain at the end, I am excited to see where this one goes next. We may be in for some strange alliances. It’s true he may not have the ring anymore, but if this momentum can continue there are sure to be plenty of “Brightest Days” ahead. Till next time guys, I gotta recharge the battery. Over and out!

Story: Robert Vendetti Art: Billy Tan
Story: 8.5 Art: 9 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy