One of the best things about Green Lantern is that there are different ring bearers. People can proclaim their love of Superman or Batman and we all know they mean Clark Kent or, Bruce Wayne, but when it comes to heroes like Green Lantern or The Flash, they need to be more specific. You hear about fandoms rooting for a secret identity of that legacy, and Hal Jordan is a name that makes a mark. In this issue, Jeremy Adams and Xermanico showcase two Silver Age heroes in this adventure, reminding us that heroes have alter egos, which is part of the fun with their stories.
The first team-up of just Hal Jordan and Barry Allen was back in April of 1962 with Green Lantern Vol. 2 #13 by John Broome and Gil Kane. That “Duel of the Super-Heroes” was a fun adventure, and right away, the two were aware of each other’s secret identities. Another adventure I’d like to cite about the friendship of Hal and Barry is Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold by Mark Waid, Tom Peyer, and Barry Kitson, a significant expansion on their history. This issue of Green Lantern by Jeremy Adams and Xermanico is a beautiful addition to the adventures of these two heroes.
It perfectly captures how they are available to back each other up at any time and how well they know each other to have their different power sets work perfectly in tandem. Jeremy Adams writes a scene that plays to the history of the two characters and why they would know how to work this situation out to save everyone. Of course, there is some favoritism to GL, but this is his book, and it would be a great reason to remind the readers that this isn’t just making a ring construct but also keeping it together at incredible speeds. Xermanico flexes his muscles by showing the reader the two power sets in action; even when the heroes are traveling, which creates a “still motion,” the effects help create a feeling of speed.
This issue nicely integrates into the main story by giving us a tease of the Hal vs. Sinestro showdown that will be coming but not fully within this portion. Sinestro is still quite the shark, and their interaction is tense with the possible destruction of a city and a deadly construct. Jeremy Adams manages to sneak in more mystery of the ring because it doesn’t work for Sinestro and the reaction of Sinestro saying, “This is not a Lantern ring.” I can’t wait to find out what it really is! After that, the rest of the story is just two guys being friends, perfectly displayed once out of costume. Hal doesn’t just need super speed help, but he also needs a crime scene detective. It is enjoyable to see how Barry can have more dimensions to his character; even his interactions with Carol Ferris show how human Barry can be.
The backup story, “Wayward Son,” by Peter J. Tomasi and David Lafuente, is a cute little adventure. It will be interesting to see the actual connection with Sinson and Sinestro. The idea is neat, but it will need a solid hook to make another character likable in the pretty crowded world of Green Lantern. It will be more enjoyable when Sinson starts running into family and which GL they will pit him against; will Tomasi involve him in his Super Sons adventures? This adventure was a great issue that packs a great one-two punch of experience and character by teaming up Flash and GL.
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