The “Super Friends” tour continues, and Green Lantern #31 takes us to Hal Jordan’s best friend, the former Flash, Barry Allen. The first time these two titans met was back in Green Lantern (Vol. 2) #13, cover-dated April 1962, in the classic story “The Duel of the Super-Heroes!” That issue launched the long-standing tradition of Green Lanterns and Flashes teaming up, a legacy that continues here.
Jeremy Adams is no stranger to pairing this “Brave and the Bold,” having previously teamed Jordan with Allen in issue #4 of this series and later pairing Jordan with Wally West in issue #15. What’s especially amusing about that earlier team-up is that both heroes were powerless, whereas this time, it’s only Allen without his abilities. So how will these two heroes help each other navigate their respective struggles?
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To recap the current story arc, Hal Jordan had a vision from the Book of Oa that has left him questioning himself and its meaning. That vision has led Jordan back to Earth, where he’s been teaming up with friends and fellow heroes like Green Arrow and Batman while seeking their advice. In this issue, we finally get Barry Allen, and I stress the secret identity because Allen no longer has his super speed. That wrinkle is a major downer, because instead of feeling like a “bro-to-bro” conversation, the visit feels more like a witness-protection gig.
While this approach does give the issue some action, it sadly ends up hogging the entire visit. The duo spends only about two pages discussing the visions, which are supposed to be the main reason Hal Jordan is there. Instead, Barry Allen’s status as witness to a mob hit takes over, and honestly, it makes the issue feel more like an issue of The Flash with Green Lantern guest starring. Jeremy Adams sets up a situation for the duo to team up and even creates a power-sharing moment, but in the end, he misses a key emotional beat in their friendship. The conversation the two shared back in issue #4 was excellent and deeply personal; here, that depth is sacrificed in favor of spectacle.
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Artist Montos joins the team for this issue, and his style works well with the mob-driven, street-level tone of Barry Allen’s predicament. Montos keeps the action grounded, which suits the new villain, Bruto, perfectly. Colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr., a constant throughout this series, complements Montos’ work by leaning into darker hues that help cement the grounded vibe.
Overall, this isn’t a bad issue, but it is easily the weakest team-up we’ve seen so far. That’s frustrating given this should have been the strongest, especially if wedding bells are truly on the horizon, as Barry would logically be Hal’s best man. Unfortunately, in this situation, he’s not the best man at all. Maybe the upcoming Green Lantern/Flash team-up in issue #34 will be more fun.
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