It’s time for the problems facing the Green Lanterns to converge, and that brings writers Jeremy Adams and Phillip Kennedy Johnson together. Johnson gave John Stewart the run around with multiple dimensions and a deadly Darkstar Ring in his Green Lantern War Journal series, which ran twelve issues. At the same time, Adams put Hal Jordan through Absolute Power and had an intense run-in with Lord Thaaros and the United Planets. The Green Lantern Corps is in a world of hurt, and the Emotional Spectrum is acting up. These are some scary moments, and it all comes together in Green Lantern Civil Corps Special. How does this “firing shot” ring out?
DC Comics
If you look at our preview, you can see from the pages and cover the return of a much-loved Lantern. While I’m happy to see Kilowog’s return, I am also very interested in why he wears a Sinestro Corps uniform with a Green Lantern logo. We have seen from Adams’ Green Lantern series that Lanterns can change color/emotion, so it isn’t a big surprise. However, how much of Kilowog is in control? Whatever the answer to that question, Kilowog does lay the smackdown on John Stewart, which results in the bad guys gaining quite the artifact.
DC Comics
The issue continues to move things along and gets characters into place for their part of the mission. I appreciated the players I saw in this issue, and that only ups the ante for the Lanterns not shown. Two characters have carried over from Absolute Power, and I am pleased to see them in this special. I hope they continue their stay after this arc – I appreciate how Johnson and Adams weave their stories together. I did not read War Journal, so I’m a bit lost in that part, which makes me wonder how lost people would be if they didn’t read Green Lantern. I doubt you would be reading this special if you weren’t reading the main series, though, so a bit of a recap of events from War Journal would’ve been nice.
On the art side, Salvador Larroca and Luis Guerrero have their hands full, presenting action and drama. Larroca had quite the task of different locations and body language. The action scenes are significant as the character poses match the situation, but the calmer moments are slower, which causes you to look at the art more and discover that it seems more intense than needed. Larroca has been in the industry for quite a while, so it might help to have someone come over and ink his work to touch up. Guerrero doesn’t miss when it comes to all the different colors in action.
DC
DC’s All In is an excellent refresh, and it seems to lead towards a payoff for readers of both Lantern series. There is a bit of a misstep in the opener, however, which slows the momentum. Maybe that comes from not reading both series, but these types usually find a way to get readers caught up, so this will be challenging for a person wanting to try Green Lantern. I hope the next part can push onward with the groundwork laid out here, leading to significant outcomes for the Darkstar ring and the Emotional Spectrum.
The problems facing John Stewart and the GLC unite to bring about a huge challenge for the heroes. Will they have enough Light to stop Evil’s Might? Prepare for the problems with the United Planets to finally get their moment as the Lanterns prepare the pieces for war against the Universe. If you go in with a better background on both series, this Special might seem tighter and hype you up; otherwise, you could be a little lost.
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