So begins a new arc for this duo of space cops (who are thoroughly planted on Earth). The only difference is they actually like each other–finally–and their closest ally is actually their greatest enemy! We review, but is it good?
Green Lanterns #19 (DC Comics)
So what’s it about? The official summary reads:
“The GREEN IMPURITY” part one! Simon helps Jessica find a Guardian of the Universe to train her. As the rogue Guardian called Rami begins his lessons, but they may not be enough to stop Volthoom’s influence over the Lanterns as his obsession with controlling Jessica again grows.
Why does this book matter?
Green Lanterns #19 begins a new story arc, so anyone wishing to get a little more green in their lives can start here. Plus, metal-controlling villain Dr. Polaris is the main villain and given Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz’s (lack of) experience he may be more than they can handle!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
If Lex hosts talks he can’t be that bad.
And indeed, writer Sam Humphries shows us these Green Lanterns are in fact green in more ways than one. That’s okay though, and in fact makes their adventures more interesting. There’s a reason Hal Jordan made Simon and Jessica team up and that’s because they have a lot to learn. The issue opens with Polaris dreaming of being at a Ted Talk (in the DC universe they are called Lex Talk’s apparently) and we soon learn he has good intentions. Unfortunately for him the head of the Suicide Squad is out to get him and a misunderstanding sort of story begins.
Part of the success of this issue is the time Humphries puts into Polaris, fleshing him out and making him feel more than just an angry villain; we’re shown that he’s calculating, smart, and possibly more strategic than the Green Lanterns. That helps when the Green Lanterns mess up later as it’s believable they’d come in guns ablazing.
The art by Ronan Cliquet is detailed, with a darker tone due to the inks. The style suits the more character focused storytelling, but gets interesting really fast with good use of layouts to show Polaris’ powers. There’s a full page spread later in the issue that shows the carnage Polaris is capable of that’s pretty graphic and is blocked well to show a sense of depth in the page.
Nothing comes before family.
It can’t be perfect can it?
Polaris takes down the Lanterns in a somewhat simplistic way that makes them seem way more bush league than I think they really are. That includes ramming them with a mac truck! The end result is interesting and a good cliffhanger, but getting there seems a bit lazy.
Is It Good?
This is a well written issue that delves into its characters in interesting ways. It’s refreshing to see a villain written in a complex way, when so many comics make them one-off baddies simply because they’re bad.
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