Concluding any story can be a difficult thing to do. Every fitting conclusion typically ties back to the introduction, wraps up any major hanging threads, and generally re-establishes pre-existing themes. Comic book conclusions are especially difficult, because they need to draw a relatively short story to a close, while also leaving the ending open enough that future stories can spin off of their conclusions. All of those factors mean that proper endings are rare, challenging, and especially rewarding. Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6 satisfies all three qualities.
Since Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1, this book has been all about exploring the original Green Lantern’s complicated history and the recent retcon that established his sexuality. Created by Tim Sheridan, Cian Tormey, and Matt Herms, issue #6 offers a fitting end — or beginning — to a delightful and oftentimes tragic series.
Relationships are at the core of this issue, as they have been since the beginning of the book. Alan’s connection with Vlad is the most apparent, and it absolutely shines. Vlad is an endlessly complex character, and his refusal to accept Alan’s fervent pleading is emblematic of his curious nature. Their dynamic is fascinating, especially with the open-ended conclusion that leaves them circling each other even into the foreseeable future.
The final pages promise more from Alan, which is excellent, because his character feels refreshing in a way that a man from the 1940s really shouldn’t. His long struggle to accept his identity as a gay man, and his oscillation between pride and shame is fascinating for a man who has a power driven by will. It continues to be the most effective part of this story.
DC Comics
One notable disappointment with the issue is that the fight feels somewhat tacked-on. It exists to drive a pre-existing wedge between the Red and Green Lantern, and that effect is effective. Unfortunately, the battle itself feels underdeveloped and unengaging.
Despite taking up half of the issue, the fight’s setting feels uninteresting and underdesigned, the Justice Society’s presence is unnecessary for the fight itself, and the villains hardly feel impactful or memorable. Their existence provided Vlad a reason to alienate Alan, of course, but that was all. They could easily have been replaced by any Soviet villain and it would hardly make much of a difference.
Thankfully, the fighting has never been the most memorable part of the Alan Scott: The Green Lantern series. Character, relationships, and dialogue is far more prominent in the story, and they are where it continues to shine. Alan’s relationships with Vlad, his son, and the Justice Society continue to resound here, making a genuinely touching storyline all the more effective.
DC Comics
The art remains excellent, and it does serve to provide some meaning to the fight. One page, in particular, highlights the strained relationship between Alan and Vlad and feels like it could have been plucked from an especially stylized movie. It is incredibly well done and communicates Alan’s shame and disappointments perfectly. Unfortunately, the coloring for this issue was somewhat difficult to parse, as entire pages swimming with red were part of what made the fight so challenging to comprehend. The ever-bare backgrounds certainly didn’t help.
Still, it is the writing and the dialogue where this story excelled — as in every issue of Alan Scott: The Green Lantern. It is a shame that the story is ending here, especially as Alan’s narrative has grown more interesting every month. The final page was begging for an “Alan Scott will return soon!” caption, so it was disappointing to see a simple “The Beginning”. Having loyal readers who want more is certainly a good problem to have, of course, but it’s hard to ignore how disappointing it is to see this story end so soon.
Wherever Alan Scott goes next, it will be amazing to see if the events of this story stick with him. Any reader should be glad to have experienced Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, and Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6 is no different. With strong writing and touching artwork, this story proves just how capable Alan is as a hero and a role model. After an excellent finale, Alan Scott remains among DC’s best books over the past year.
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