Of all the Absolute books that DC’s been publishing, Absolute Green Lantern might be the one with the most unexpected plot twists. Not only does it present wildly different versions of Hal Jordan, Jo Muellin and John Stewart – in fact, this might be the first time I’ve actually been interesting in Hal Jordan as a character – but it’s presented the idea of the Green Lantern as less like a space faring superhero epic and more in the vein of cosmic horror. Absolute Green Lantern #3 keeps that up, even if it steps on the brakes a little bit.
Like previous installments, Absolute Green Lantern #3 begins with a series of dark, abstract images, including a sketchy white ring surrounded by what seems like endless darkness. It then calls John Stewart’s name, telling him to be without fear…but Stewart’s been hard at work figuring out how to break the dome that surrounds his town. What he comes up with is unexpected, yet it also calls back to a key weakness in Green Lantern form, given an Absolute twist. And I absolutely love it.
I also love that Al Ewing is continuing to tackle themes of myth and history in his comics. Ewing writes a monologue where John talks about the Philosopher’s Stone, which not only makes sense given that John’s wedding ring is a recurring image throughout the comic – it also ties in with the changes that Jo and Hal have gone through. Myth is a recurring element in Ewing’s comics, including Immortal Thor, and it only makes sense that it would feature in Absolute Green Lantern. This is a man who knows the power of a story.
DC
I also continue to be in love with Jahnoy Lindsay’s artwork. Lindsay captures the wonder and the terror of the Green Lantern, particularly in a fight sequence between Hal and Jo. Hal, possessed by the power of the Black Hand, forms it into a gun and fires; the effect is like a black hole swallowing the page. In contrast, Jo summons all her might and forms a giant green fist, emerald energy surrounding her body. John’s “tests” on the dome are also filled with literally explosive moments, up to the final pages.
Those pages are where the story take a turn. Up to that point, Absolute Green Lantern #3 has been a fairly slow burn of a story. But then, things take a horrific turn. What makes this moment work is how unexpected it is; rather than just being a shock moment to reel the reader in, it reminds them of what’s at stake. There’s a real level of danger here that hasn’t been matched by other Absolute books, but that’s also what makes them all unique and I’m glad it’s continuing this deep into the run.
Absolute Green Lantern #3 continues its deep dive into cosmic horror, with this installment being much more of a slow burn than the last two, but no less shocking. Ewing and Lindsay are crafting something special here, and I’m curious to see how it turns out.
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