Morgan Hampton and Will Conrad continue the adventures of new Green Lantern Corps members Keli, Aya, Vexar’u, and Narf as they explore what both their rings and themselves are capable of. While there is always fun in watching Guy Gardner and Kilowog train, there is an extra emotional rollercoaster by way of Enquar and his origins. Not only do we get a new villain, but we also get another villain returning, and I can’t wait to see what havoc they can bring to the Green Lantern Corps. And while all this is happening for the Lantern Corps, what is going on for John Stewart?
DC
The opening of this issue, with Enquar’s origin, brings the mystery and sadness of how he came to be in his current situation. I am excited about this villain and think they have compelling motivations, so I can’t wait to see how they play out and just how far they will drag Fatality into their mess. I guess I have a soft spot for Yrra from the epilogue in Geoff Johns’ finale and hope she would stay that route, but now that “Katma Tui” is back, I can see her being another factor in Yrra’s distancing. Going back to Enquar, there is a bit of deja vu with villain Legion from way back in the original Emerald Dawn miniseries.
Continuing with the villains, it is excellent to see Effigy back in action again. All that’s missing is Kyle Rayner, and this could be a great fight with Kyle and John Stewart going up against Effigy and Fatality. Morgan Hampton knows his comics and nails it perfectly by citing Effigy’s last actions against the Spectre way back in Final Crisis. The modern Green Lantern era has been about embracing all characters from the Lantern Mythos, no matter what media they come from, and having them join the action. I do hope that Hampton has more in store for Effigy, as the character realized he messed up by going after Ellie. It was great to see Will Conrad draw Effigy with his hands out, hoping to stop John Stewart.
DC
The best part of the issue was the moment John Stewart found himself with Ellie. Since we learned it was another John who created her, it is interesting to see how they share family but are unfamiliar with each other in their current selves, since they really just met. I like the rationale that Morgan Hampton gives the two about not accepting their direct linkage, but instead looking at the bigger picture. The moment with the Stewarts and even Aya’s growth make this a significant character issue, creating bonds that make it worth following.
Green Lantern Corps #11 reminds us why John Stewart is one of the emotional pillars of the Lantern mythos. This issue isn’t about winning fights; instead, it’s about reckoning with loss, legacy, and the weight of connection. Whether it’s Enquar’s tragic path, Effigy realizing just how badly he’s crossed the line, or John and Ellie navigating a bond that exists without shared memory, the story leans into the humans behind the power rings. Morgan Hampton understands that the Corps thrives not just on willpower, but on relationships, and this issue strengthens those bonds while planting seeds for conflicts that feel personal, dangerous, and worth following.
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