Green Lantern is always a title that The Revolution looks forward to reading. Johns is giving us a run that is going to become the definitive take on the Green Lantern mythos. There is no doubt in my mind that Green Lantern #28 is going to offer up yet another enjoyable read. Let’s go ahead and hit this review.
Creative Team
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Mike McKone
Inkers: Andy Lanning, Marlo Alquiza & Norm Rapmund
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: We begin with two aliens, Qull and Atrocitus, sentenced to life in exile on Ysmault. Qull says that he was the one who planted the seeds of fear in Abin Sur, and Abin Sur in turn spread the prophecy like a disease to the Guardians of the Universe. Atrocitus spits that because of Qull’s actions that the Guardians have sentenced them to life on Ysmault. Atrocitus yells that his rage has taught him the means of escape within his grasp. That Qull’s blood will Atrocitus his freedom and power. Then Atrocitus can have his revenge against the being who calls himself the “greatest” Green Lantern: Sinestro. Atrocitus then kills Qull with a red lantern.
We shift to the trial of Laira taking place. The Guardians rule that Laira violated the First Law concerning the authority to employ lethal force against the Sinestro Corps. That Amon Sur has surrendered and that lethal force was not justified. The Guardians rule that Laira is to be stripped of her ring and sent back to her planet. Laira screams that what she did was right and that she would do it again.
Hal watches the trial and thinks about how he spoke at Sinestro’s trial. That he spoke passionately in support of Sinestro. However, this trial is different. As much as Hal doesn’t want to admit it, Laira was not justified in employing lethal force against Amon Sur.
The Guardians then unveil the Second Law which allows lethal force against any enemy of the Green Lantern Corps. Hal Jordan watches the Alpha Lanterns and the new law being enacted. Hal thinks to himself how Sinestro was right. That the Guardians are turning the Green Lantern Corps into exactly what Sinestro said they would. Hal gets a bad feeling about all of these events.
We cut to Hal arriving outside of Sinestro’s cell. Sinestro gloats that he has shown the Guardians the proper path. That the Alpha Lanterns and the Second Law will enable the Green Lantern Corps to be reorganized as a force of order capable of crushing any and all chaos in the universe. That the Green Lantern Corps will rule the universe like Sinestro ruled Korugar. That whatever threat comes from the darkness will be incinerated by the green light. Sinestro says that he believes in the Green Lantern Corps. Sinestro then asks Hal Jordan if he does as well.
We zip over to the Guardians meeting with each other. They notice a flash of red in the universe. They talk about how the powers of the spectrum are being harnessed. That the Guardians must find these surges of emotion and put an end to them. That they must stay the war of light.
Suddenly, the Guardians who were searching for the Anti-Monitor appear on the scene. The Guardian tells the others that they have a problem and that he calls himself Agent Orange.
We then slide over to the Controllers who are meeting with each other. They talk about how their attempts to build their answer to the Guardians Green Lantern Corps have been too uncontrollable and that they cannot give up control. They state that the Darkstars were too weak to replace the Green Lantern Corps and that Effigy was too unstable.
The Controllers decide that they lack a central power source like the Guardians possess in their central power battery. The Controllers decide to tap into the fabric of sentient emotion. That control of the universe is theirs and only theirs. The Controllers agree to locate the orange light.
We shift to Hannu flying a shuttle to take Laira back to her home planet. Laira is full of hate and anger. Laira vows to keep fighting Sinestro Corps members. That her no longer having a power ring won’t stop her from tracking down and killing Sinestro Corps members.
Suddenly, there is an explosion that rocks the shuttle. A red ring floats into the shuttle and tells Laira that she has the capacity for great hatred. Hannu picks himself up off the floor and calls out for Laira to see if she is all right. We then see Laira with the red power ring on. Laira says that she is now the Red Lantern. End of issue.
Comments
The Good: Green Lantern #28 was another fantastic read. Johns simply can’t do any wrong with this title. This was a wonderfully paced issue as Johns doles out a nice blend of drama and action. The story is moving at a steady but measured pace that is creating plenty of tension and excitement within the reader.
Green Lantern #28 is strongly plotted. Johns has done a masterful job creating intricate, deep, and complex plotlines that are all nicely tied together to form a well-constructed story arc. Very few writers on the market are able to match Johns’ impressive long-term vision that he has displayed on Green Lantern.
Johns crafts plenty of fine dialogue. Each character speaks with a pleasantly formed external voice. Johns has such a wonderful feel for the personalities of all of the various Lanterns. It is as if Johns was simply born to write this title.
I enjoyed the scene between Sinestro and Hal. This was such a finely crafted scene. Johns is doing an impressive job conveying to the reader Sinestro’s love for the Green Lantern Corps. Despite everything that has gone on with Sinestro, there is no doubt that he still remains loyal to the Green Lantern Corps in his own way. Johns gets the reader to feel the chilling reality that crashes upon Hal Jordan as the reader sees how everything that is happening to the Green Lantern Corps is fulfilling Sinestro’s dreams for the Corps.
I like watching the Guardians, despite all their knowledge and power, unwittingly bring about the prophecy that they so desperately seek to avoid. I dig the new law authorizing the Green Lantern Corps to employ lethal force against any and all of their enemies. This is yet another logical step that brings the Green Lantern Corps one step closer to the fascist force of fear that Sinestro has long dreamt about.
I love the concept of the fabric of sentient emotion in the universe that physically manifests itself in the spectrum of colors and then can be harnessed for great power. This is such a fantastic theory and Johns has really run wild with it. This move was a brilliant one that has only served to make the Green Lantern Corps mythos so much more intricate and intriguing.
Johns teases us with the mention of a new player on the scene named Agent Orange. I’m certainly curious to learn more about this character. No doubt that this character is tied to the Controllers and their desire to form the new Orange Lantern Corps. Again, I am completely fascinated by the different colored Lantern Corps so I liked seeing the foundation of the Orange Lantern Corps in this issue. Maybe the Controllers will have a bit more success this time around.
I enjoyed seeing the growth of the Red Lantern Corps in this issue. Atrocitus certainly seems like a good candidate to be a Red Lantern. And Atrocitus’ hatred for Sinestro and Laira’s hatred for the Sinestro Corps should mean that the Sinestro Corps is going to soon have their hands full dealing with a bunch of pissed-off and bloodthirsty Red Lanterns.
And speaking of Laira, I loved the ending to this issue. Making Laira one of the new members of the fledgling Red Lantern Corps was brilliant. This should certainly create some delightful tension between the Green Lanterns and the Red Lanterns. And I’m pretty sure that Laira might be at the point where she just might tear through a Green Lantern if he tried to stop her from killing a Sinestro Corps member.
Mike McKone cranks out some fine-looking artwork. His sleek and smooth style of art is an excellent match for this title. McKone has done an admirable job filling in the artwork on this story arc. Even the inks by the committee could not drag down McKone’s fine work.
The Bad: I have no complaints about this issue.
Overall: Green Lantern #28 was another excellent read. Johns simply has the Midas touch on this title. It is amazing how hot he has been on Green Lantern. This title is certainly DC’s strongest read as it serves up such a quality effort each and every month. I highly recommend giving Green Lantern a chance. It doesn’t matter if you have ever been interested in Hal Jordan or not. This title is so much bigger than just his character. Johns is giving us a cosmic science fiction tale on such a grand scale that will appeal to a wide range of comic book readers.
7 thoughts on “Green Lantern #28 Review”
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I loved the issue, but I’m sort of confused on one point. The second Law and the first law seem an heck of a lot alike
This has been a pretty good arc overall, although in some ways it seems more suited to Green Lantern Corps rather than Green Lanter, because Hal (and John) are almost completely lost in the shuffle; they just react to developments in the story. That’s not a bad thing, per se; it’s always a good sign when the supporting cast can do a story on its own, and GL has nothing if not an expansive backdrop. The next arc is Hal’s origin retold (mixed in with all this “Blackest Night” stuff), so that affords some time to focus on him.
The unveiling of the second law was kind of redundant, since it’s just an expansion of the first law:
1. You may kill Sinestro Corpsmen.
2. You may kill anyone.
Why not just amend the first one?
McKone was a great choice for guest artist; I’ll be interested to see how many issues in a row Reis can do, after only three off (though he did manage to keep “Sinestro Corps” on schedule until they added more pages at the end, with four months lead-in).
I think its not at all redundant, it puts a different spin on the law. First, it controversial when first introduced against the Sinestro Corps, and when it was the appropriate time to excerise this law into practice. Now, with any enemy, it leads the way for even more ambiguity. Imagine, with a major war on the way, full of different coloured lanterns, the new law is a powerful indication of the way the GL Corps is heading. Also, by differentiating the Sinestro Corps by having them have their own law allowing for lethal force, the Guardians are able to signify the fact that they are the greatest and unique enemies of the green lanterns.
one of us is confused. in your wrap up you said that qull was killed by the red lantern, but i took it that the red lantern was pulled out of him, that he was the conduit of rage that was used to form it
I agree with Rokk about Atrocitus bludgeoning Qull (although in my mind’s eye, I saw Qull’s head coming off). Look at the 4th panel, the handle of the lantern is in Atrocitus’ hands BEFORE Qull dies. (Anyone else hoping DC Direct comes out with a full-size lantern for each color).
Also, good job on the review. It was a great issue, although McKone’s art is only servicable for me. I disagree with islandliberal about Hal and John. Me, I’m sick of em and am dreading the Secret Origin arc but fearing that I will pick it up anyway.
Finally, as for the Controllers, I was surprised to see them going for Greed (orange). I guess it makes sense in the way Johns says it, but I had them pegged for Indigo (sensu LSH’s Wanderers).
and Red Lantern Laira = WOW!
Now all we need is Red Lantern Grodd.
i didn’t notice the handle, but that makes me think we are both right. that Atrocitus killed him with a red lantern, and the action of killing him with it powered it,
Sounds plausable.