The last of the second wave of Absolute Universe titles is here with Absolute Green Lantern. With this new title we will get a perspective of the cosmic side of the Absolute Universe that we’ve only seen in Absolute Superman thus far. And even then we have really only seen how things are on Krypton. So Absolute Green Lantern could give us a greater perspective of how things work outside of Earth in the Absolute Universe. But as we’ve seen with the other Absolute Universe titles we really don’t know what to expect. With that in mind let’s find out how Absolute Green Lantern #1 turns out.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jahnoy Lindsay
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #1 SOLICITATION
“AL EWING AND JAHNOY LINDSAY GET COSMIC IN THE ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE! Without the Corps… without the ring… without the willpower, what’s left is the Absolute Green Lantern!” – DC Comics
REVIEW
Absolute Green Lantern #1 is built around a big mystery that is instantly given away in multiple ways at the beginning. The first is the opening pages with Hal Jordan’s status quo. The second is the title of this story in the credits that follow the first few pages of this first issue. All of this leaves opening of this story to end up falling on its faces rather than building an intriguing way to hook the reader in.
Now to be fair to Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay, they do a very good job at nailing a terrified Hal Jordan. Throughout this first issue Hal reacts exactly like someone that had a life changing experience that there is no explanation for. Hal having his hand in his pocket and doing his best to not show why he is doing so added to why he was terrified.
Hal’s state is further amplified by the choice of the remote setting in the border of Nevada and California. That people reacted exactly how you expect with the terrified wreck Hal was acting. Especially after he revealed he was coming from the town where the huge Green Lantern symbol landed. So at least in terms of what the reaction is to Hal that really worked well.
Unfortunately, you don’t really question what exactly Hal is terrified. You immediately recognize that what Hal is hiding is something that will be deadly. That is confirmed with the title of “The Black Hand.” If you are going to give the story such a title it should have been left to be revealed in the final page. But giving that away just made you know that Hal has some sort of deadly thing he was trying to hide. And when that is the big hook of this first issue it just a disappointment.
This is also where Hal dominating the majority of Absolute Green Lantern #1 should’ve been better thought out. The present day stuff should’ve been more of a minimal thing with the Evergreen, Nevada setting being more of a focus. There wasn’t enough time spent there to fully get over that this isn’t going to be another Hal Jordan Green Lantern title.
The problem with focusing so much time on Hal is shown with how well Ewing writes both Jo Mullein and John Stewart in the flashback scenes. In the three pages we see Hal, John, and Jo interacting we get to see so much of what the potential of this series is. Ewing has such a natural way of developing the chemistry between Hal, John, and Jo that you believe they are lifelong friends.
Because of that chemistry you are left wishing Evergreen was the focus with the big hook of the Abin Sur dropping the Green Lantern symbol on the town being built up to. Caring more about the town, which Jo mentions to also be where Guy Gardner lives as well, a greater connection to what is going on with Hal. But because of the story structure there is a sense that the story beats are being rushed, even if they aren’t.
Lindsay’s artwork is also solid enough. Lindsay does show potential in being able to draw the cosmic elements of the series well with the design for Absolute Abin Sur and the Green Lantern. Though Lindsay’s style does not work with the grounded setting and drawing people. There are many moments where we go from panels with detailed character faces to other panels that are less detailed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Absolute Green Lantern #1 shows potential but ends up faltering with how quickly the whole hook of this story is spoiled early on. The structure of how the story unfolds leaves a lot to be desired as Hal Jordan dominates to much of this issue. While this debut is a swing and miss there is some hope created that Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay will connect better in future issues.
Story Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
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