Green Lantern Corps #35 Review

Ever since Tomasi came aboard Green Lantern Corps The Revolution has liked this title more and more. With each issue, Tomasi has fine tuned and tweaked this title into a consistently good read. While Johns has performed the “lofty” mythical work for Blackest Night over on Green Lantern, Tomasi has focused on the “grunts” and the battle scenes that have been taking place in this prelude to the Blackest Night event. I fully expect Green Lantern Corps #35 to be a solid read. Let’s hit this review.

Creative Team
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils: Patrick Gleason
Inks: Rebecca Buchanon

Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: We begin in the Sciencells where Green Lantern Voz is battling a Red Lantern. During the battle, the sciencell of one of the Sinestro Corps members gets damaged. The Sinestro Corps members exits the cell. The Red Lantern then kills Voz. The Red Lantern then kills the Sinestro Corps member who escaped from his cell.

We cut to deep beneath Oa where we see a Guardian (I believe that it is Scar) focusing and murmuring “Rings.” We see the Green Lantern symbol on the chest of the Guardian bleeding.

We shift to the containment cell where all of the Sinestro Rings from the dead Sinestro Corps members are being kept under lock and key by the Green Lanterns. Suddenly, the yellow power rings spring to life and explode through the steel vault door of the unit holding them.

The rings blast through the two Green Lanterns guarding the vault like little yellow bullets. The Green Lanterns fall to the ground dead. The alarm from the vault breach goes off.

We cut to Guy Gardner and Kyle leading a bunch of Green Lanterns to the Sciencells where the alarms are going off. The Green Lanterns know that if the yellow power rings make their way to the sciencells then the Sinestro Corps members will all break free. Unfortunately, the Guardians are all off in the Vega system and the Green Lanterns will have to handle this crisis on their own.

We slide back to the sciencells where we see all of the yellow power rings breaking into the various cells. The Sinestro Corps members are now free and fully armed. The Green Lanterns then arrive at the sciencells. And with that, ladies and gentlemen, we have a massive brawl.

We shift to Sector 1768 where Sodam Yat and Arisia are arriving outside of Daxam. Arisia asks what one of the Guardians whispered to Sodam before their diplomatic mission to Zamaron. Sodam replies that the Guardian told him that if things went bad for Sodam to tap into the power of Ion and decimate each and every Zamaron. Arisia is surprised and asks Sodam if he would have actually done that. Sodam replies that he would have followed his orders.

Our heroes arrive outside of Daxam and see a giant snake Sinestro Corps member wrapped around the planet and guarding it from any visitors. Sodam gets the bright idea to take advantage of the fact that Daxam is a magnet for meteorites. Arisia and Sodam then hide on a meteor that is headed for Daxam. They sneak right past the giant snake.

We cut to Arkillo leading a band of Sinestro Corps members to where a bunch of Daxamites are in hiding in caves. Arkillo is wearing his tongue as a necklace. Arkillo wears it as “a reminder.” Arkillo forbids his Sinestro Corps members working under him to mention the name “Mongul.” We slide into the caves where Sodam’s father tells his people that they will not be slaves to the alien conquerors.

We slide back outside of the caves where Arkillo and his Sinestro Corps team are sitting and waiting for the Daxamites. Suddenly, we see the Daxamites jumping from the caves and falling down to their deaths. The Sinestro Corps members comment that they should just sit back and watch the show. They comment about how the Daxamites bounce when they splat against the ground.

One of the Sinestro Corps members mentions Mongul’s name once again. An enraged Arkillo smashes the head of that Sinestro Corps member and kills him. Suddenly, Sodam and Arisia arrive on the scene. Sodam kills a couple of the Sinestro Corps members. Arisia flies over to the Daxamites while Sodam deals with the rest of the Sinestro Corps members.

Sodam then joins Arisia in the caves where the Daxamites are hiding. Sodam yells for the Daxamites to stop committing suicide. That it is time for them to fight to save themselves or die trying. Sodam tells his father that he is not here because of his family or because of Daxam. Sodam says that he is here simply out of his duties as a Green Lantern. A couple of little Daxamite kids are enamored with Sodam and say that they want to be Green Lanterns when they grow up.

We cut to Korugar where Iolande and Soranik speak before the Senate of Korugar. Soranik tells them that they must not seek blood and must become a place of hope and peace. Soranik and Iolande dismantle the death machine that was to be used for Sinestro’s public execution.

We shift to later with Iolande and Soranik back at their lab. Iolande states that the people of Korugar can never work toward their new future until Sinestro is killed. That the people’s bloodlust must be satisfied.

Suddenly, Sinestro arrives on the scene and quickly takes out Iolande. Sinestro looks at Soranik and says “Hello Soranik. I want to have a little heart-to-heart between a father and his daughter.” End of issue.

Comments

The Good: Green Lantern Corps #35 was a great read. Tomasi continues to impress me with his work on this title. And surprisingly enough, Green Lantern Corps has quietly become a more entertaining read than the mother title, Green Lantern. The reason for that is that Johns is confined to introducing the various colored Lantern Corps. And Johns is also patiently installing detailed set-up work for Blackest Night.

On the other hand, Tomasi has more freedom with Green Lantern Corps and is able to deliver intense action scenes and focus on plotlines outside of simply introducing the various players for the Blackest Night event. Also, Tomasi plays with a larger cast than Johns does on Green Lantern.

Green Lantern Corps #35 was a fast paced read, but it never feels disjointed or rushed. Tomasi unleashes a very lively read and keeps the story cracking as we jump from scene to scene. Even when Tomasi eases off the gas pedal, the story still simmers with tension as if it is ready to erupt once again at any moment.

Tomasi certainly serves up a huge heaping helping of action in this issue. We get plenty of bloody action that should satisfy most action fans. Tomasi demonstrates that he is just as talented at delivering high octane action as he is at delivering slower paced character heavy dramatic scenes. I liked the jailbreak scene at the sciencells. This was definitely an attention grabbing beginning to this issue. Tomasi wastes no time getting the reader’s pulse pounding.

While Johns has given the reader a good sense of the mythical aspect of Blackest Night, Tomasi has done a better job of cultivating that feel of an actual war about to break out. While Johns deals with prophecies, mysticism and grand cosmic forces, Tomasi is dealing with the foot soldiers fighting on the front lines and doing the dirty work.

Tomasi serves up his usual well crafted dialogue. The dialogue has a pleasant flow. Tomasi also continues to perform quality character work on this title.

I dig how Tomasi writes Sodam Yat in the scene where he is talking to Arisia about their mission to Zamaron. Yat’s character continues to grow on me. This character definitely has plenty of potential. Having said that, Tomasi needs to wrap up Yat’s problems with Daxam and his parents. I dramatically lose interest in Yat when Tomasi has him playing the whiny crybaby son who is constantly bitching about his parents and his fellow Daxamites.

Arkillo continues to be my favorite Sinestro Corps member. He is a great monster villain. Even though having Arkillo wear his tongue as a necklace is a bit over the top, I liked it. It works with Arkillo’s character. Plus, I figure that Arkillo is using it as fuel to stoke his fire of hatred for Mongul. And hopefully we will see Arkillo get a second shot at Mongul when Sinestro arrives on Daxam to reclaim control of the Sinestro Corps from Mongul.

One of the best aspects of both Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps have been the fantastic character designs that we get for the members of the various colored Corps. In this issue we are introduced to a giant snake that is a member of the Sinestro Corps. A giant snake wielding a yellow power ring? That is just too cool. It is obvious that Tomasi and Johns are having fun cooking up the members to the various colored Corps.

Tomasi ends Green Lantern #35 with a great hook ending. We get the surprise reveal that Soranik is Sinestro’s daughter. I think that most readers felt that Soranik was going to be revealed as Sinestro’s daughter. The next issue certainly should be a gripping read. I look forward to this father-daughter discussion.

Patrick Gleason and Rebecca Buchanon combine to deliver some solid artwork. The art is a bit inconsistent as some panels are stunning while others are weak. Still, overall, Green Lantern #35 is a clean looking issue.

The Bad: I am already bored with the entire Daxam plotline involving Sodam’s issues with his parents and his people. I get it already. The American blueprint for society is the superior one. We have to see this played out on several DC titles whether it is Superman: World of New Krypton or here on Green Lantern Corps. It is dull and uninteresting. I am totally over it.

Green Lantern Corps #35 is a violent and bloody issue. Readers who dislike this type of gore and violence may not enjoy this issue.

Overall: Green Lantern Corps #35 was an entertaining issue that should appeal to readers who enjoy like Sci-Fi or super hero stories. Green Lantern Corps #35 should appeal to action fans, but the issue has enough depth that readers who prefer plot heavy stories should enjoy this issue as well. If you are interested in the Blackest Night event but find Green Lantern a bit too slow then you might want to give Green Lantern Corps a try.