Green Lantern Dark #3 is finally here, and it brings with it a swath of improvements from the last issue. Created by Tate Brombal, Werther Dell’edera, and Giovanna Niro, issue #3 introduces more of Rina’s world. in the process, they offer insight into what rarely makes this all-new Green Lantern tick. Unfortunately, Rina doesn’t seem to have the answer to that herself.
Before getting into the issue’s details, it’s important to address the elephant-sized lantern in the room. Maintaining a connection to monthly comics can be difficult enough, but the two-month gap between Green Lantern Dark #2 and Green Lantern Dark #3 is especially bleak. It was acceptable for the first issue, which could easily have been standalone. By issue #3, however, it is getting tiring. This book is certainly fun, but the gap is a great way to kill momentum.
DC Comics
With the next issue poised for a late April release, the lack of momentum can be a genuine issue. DC needs to get this together before readers begin relegating this series to the trade pile. Anyone looking to read the next issue should reread the first two, if only to remember some of the finer details of the story. This book makes no attempt to offer a recap of previous issues. It’s entirely on the reader, which is a lot to ask after a series of two-month delays.
With the real-world issues out of the way, it is finally time to revisit Rina’s story. As always, Rina is an absolute delight. She offers a unique look at what a Green Lantern can be, and she never feels bogged down by lore. Her personality is the driving force of this story (even if she insists that it’s Lunette).
Speaking of Lunette, there was significant improvement with her character in Green Lantern Dark #3. Where she felt incredibly preachy last issue, it was nice to see her admitting to personal mistakes, while still standing by her beliefs. It’s a model of what Rina needs to become, which makes her a nice mirror. The antagonists of the issue serve the same function, and it’s great to see three different characters that point to each of Rina’s flaws.
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Green Lantern Dark #3’s art remains spectacular. The first three pages alone create an entire world of action with nothing more than jagged lines and images of grotesque and monstrous beings. It’s a great way to introduce an issue that focuses entirely on battling against a supposed monster. It also serves as a great way to foreshadow the major twist of the issue. Though it can be easy to miss for someone flipping through to find Green Lantern Dark‘s hero, it’s an excellent opener.
Additionally, the style is incredibly unique, blending a simple style with a shock of dark colors. Every fight scene is incredible, and the character designs remain top-notch. The monster, especially, is as simple as it is effective. There are admittedly some points where the style leans a bit too far into sketchwork. Characters appear in full-sized panels as little more than two dots and a circle. As a whole, however, the art perfectly communicates the chaotic nature of the Green Lantern Dark world.
DC Comics
Unlike the last issue, this one was also far less formulaic. The twist has been done before, but playing on a Green Lantern’s refusal to use her willpower is interesting. Rina sourcing that power from others is also a fascinating element for any character chosen by a ring. In a devastated world like this, finding light in others, rather than the self, makes for an immense challenge. It’s a brilliant character decision that will undoubtedly lead to fascinating storytelling.
There are still other issues, of course. While the art is extraordinary in places, it feels very rushed in others. Some backgrounds are not defined at all, and the characters battle in limited spaces. A few panels are hard to read, particularly when the lettering covers most of the available space. Even the monster’s transformation was hurt by a lack of space to truly show what was happening, outside bland morphing.
Green Lantern Dark #3 continues to prove why this book is an exceptional read. The world is the greatest character, and the creators worked diligently to ensure that even background stars remain significant players. While the art is as unique as it is incredible, it does fall short in a few key places. This issue is undoubtedly worth reading, but it will likely read much better in trade.
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