Sam Humphries continues to key into the emotional spectrum that the Lantern powers come from as the Phantom Ring attempts to destroy the Green Lanterns! This issue wraps up their fight with the Phantom Lantern, but is it good?
Green Lanterns #14 (DC Comics)
So what’s it about? The summary reads:
“THE PHANTOM LANTERN” conclusion! It’s Simon and Jessica’s final confrontation with the Phantom Lantern as the evil Volthoom’s plan for the rogue Guardian of the Universe inches closer to realization.
Why does this book matter?
Humphries has done well to make the Green Lanterns, Simon and Jessica, emotionally motivated in their actions and reactions to being Lanterns. They’ve also attempted to work together in a time when Hal is long gone. The series has had primo art too which has given it a larger than life, highly detailed look.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Recap power up!
This issue could have been retitled, “Everything you wanted to know about compassion but were afraid to ask.” As the Phantom Lantern dips into the compassion spectrum he goes through all the emotions that come with it. Given his rather out of control nature it makes sense how this power shakes out and gives this issue a satisfying conclusion. It’s actually a direction I didn’t see coming at all and while some might want more kicking and punching, it suits Humphries’ focus on the emotions that come with being a Lantern of any color.
Readers want to see change, so that the issue they read matters, and this one brings about important change. Jessica undergoes some major development that should get folks giddy for what comes next for her — and there’s also an empowering moment for her that most won’t see coming.
Outside of this “confrontation” Volthoom and the Guardian are going at it full force. This section aims to remind us what Volthoom’s deal is and sets up the results of said confrontation well. Given the results, Humphries makes the turn of events feel earned and should get folks interested in where this story goes from here.
The art continues to be top notch. Another vertically sliced page does well to convey the different colors of the Lanterns spectrum (and would be a sick poster).
It can’t be perfect can it?
Much of the events when it comes to Volthoom do feel like retread, particularly what they say as we already know this information. The first page of the book recaps things too and while it’s helpful for new readers it feels like filler to some extent. The bi-weekly release of this book makes me wonder if there’s some unnecessary decompression going on. Given how much has happened over the last few issues it certainly doesn’t feel like much has progressed. Given the price of the book though it’s not that big of a deal.
Dude is trippin.
Is It Good?
Green Lanterns #14 offers a few surprises and some major turn of events that’ll get folks talking and wanting more.
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