Morgan Hampton keeps Green Lantern Corps moving with an issue that feels fresh, chaotic, and very much in the spirit of the wider Lantern mythos. The Manhunters have always been dangerous, but this time Hampton makes them feel genuinely terrifying. Longtime Green Lantern readers have seen the machines adapt before, especially during Green Lantern Vol. 3 #130–131, but here the threat feels different. These Manhunters aren’t just fighting Lanterns; they look like they may finally be learning how to counter the Emotional Spectrum itself.
DC
That escalation lands largely because of Aya. With Aya hijacked and forced into the enemy’s hands, the Manhunters gain a massive technological advantage, and Hampton uses that twist well. The upgraded “Aya-Hunters” immediately raise the stakes, making every confrontation feel desperate. I especially enjoyed how the issue plays with the idea of multiple Corps members using very different emotional energies in battle. There’s something fun about watching these old enemies try to process just how much the Lantern landscape has changed.
Hampton also continues to make the ensemble cast one of the book’s biggest strengths. Guy Gardner remains the perfect center for this kind of chaos; blunt, reckless, and somehow still the guy you want charging in first. The various character pairings keep the issue lively, and while this chapter mostly advances the plot, it still allows for strong interpersonal tension.
DC
I’ll admit, part of me kept wishing Kyle Rayner were around. With Fatality’s current status and Effigy back in play, this feels tailor-made for a little 1990s Green Lantern nostalgia. That’s more of a fan wish than a flaw, but it shows how well Hampton is mining the broader Lantern history.
On the art side, Juan José Ryp, Will Conrad, and Matt Herms fit seamlessly into the series. Even as new additions, they preserve the title’s visual identity while bringing plenty of their own energy. The action scenes feel urgent and expansive, especially when the story shifts into cosmic danger. Whether it’s large-scale battles in space or characters being dragged toward a black hole, the visuals sell both the spectacle and the panic.
Overall, Green Lantern Corps #16 delivers a strong middle chapter. It pushes the Manhunter threat forward, keeps the cast engaging, and leaves the stage set for a larger showdown. The Emotional Entities remain the big prize, and I’m more than ready to see where Hampton takes this next.
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