After surviving the Red Lantern takeover of Earth, our Green Lanterns gained respect for each other and have become a more cohesive team. Hal Jordan put them in charge and expected them to help each other and it’s nice see they can make this work. With that out of the way, they are on the lookout for the Guardian while kids trick or treat. Sounds like a good enough setting, but is it good?
Green Lanterns #8 (DC Comics)
So what’s it about? The DC summary reads:
“TRICK OR TREAT!” Rookie Green Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz face their most daunting mission yet: a night of Halloween trick or treating with Simon’s young nephew and a on-the-run Guardian of the Universe.
Why does this book matter?
DC recently signed an exclusive deal with writer Sam Humphries, and for good reason: the guy knows how to write meaningful characters with genuine relationships. Given this is a buddy cop drama, he’s the perfect writer for this. On top of that, the series has introduced a new ring to the Green Lantern mythos which should shake things up!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
The evil that goes bump in the night.
The Halloween setting suits the story in this issue as two sharp-toothed aliens plot to acquire the Guardian’s special ring in the shadows of suburbia. It opens innocently enough as Simon and Jessica hang with Simon’s sister and nephew (dressed as Flash) trick or treating, and Humphries and artist Ed Benes make this feel like a true Halloween book. Once they encounter the Guardian after using some detective skills, the characters must prove their worth to the Guardian who wants Hal Jordan or no Lantern at all. Given the setting and the premise of this issue, readers are in store for a bit of action that has purpose.
Readers who have been following along should know the Guardian’s backstory–including why the special ring was made–is revealed. The flashback helps establish what the deal is with the ring, though it’s pretty obvious making a ring that anyone can wear is a rather risky invention. Then again, he has a point given how easy Lanterns of all colors can be swayed against their compatriots.
Ed Benes and Blond do a good job establishing the darker tone with heavy inks and a bit of brightness when it comes to Green Lantern powers and the Guardian’s blue skin. It’s also fun to see all the dressed up adults and kids in the opening pages with Joker and other villains popping up in the background. It’s interesting to see Jessica’s powers and how they’re not a traditional construct.
It can’t be perfect can it?
The only weakness of this issue is the rather left field cliffhanger that doesn’t do enough to get the reader interested or excited. Clearly our heroes are in store for a threat, but who they are or why we should be worried (considering it seems to be an average human threat and nothing they can’t handle) isn’t established.
Trick or treat!
Is It Good?
This is a great issue that will get you into the Halloween spirit. More importantly the Guardian gets an important backstory and finally appears to trust the Green Lanterns.
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