Kyle Rayner’s new adventures continue as he balances life as Earth’s Green Lantern, Odyssey’s bodyguard, and someone trying to rekindle a romance with his heroic ex, Jade. Jeremy Adams has done a great job blending Kyle’s superhero responsibilities with his everyday life, creating a refreshing change of pace from the cosmic adventures that usually define the Green Lantern mythos. Watching Kyle help Odyssey adapt to modern-day Los Angeles while navigating his own relationships has become one of the book’s biggest strengths. Just wait until the final page, when another blast from Kyle’s past arrives to complicate things even further.
Artist Xermánico gets the opportunity to lean into horror with this issue’s newest villain, Troll. I especially enjoyed the opening pages, where Xermánico builds suspense with an almost Alfred Hitchcock-style sense of psychological tension before revealing the threat. Unfortunately, once Troll steps fully into the spotlight, the menace fades a bit. The confrontation shifts more toward comedy than horror, with Kyle and Jade’s reactions providing some fun visual humor. While the payoff isn’t quite as chilling as the setup, the artwork remains expressive and energetic throughout.
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The biggest strength of this issue is its slice-of-life storytelling. Jeremy Adams continues to flesh out Kyle’s life in Los Angeles, making the city feel like a natural home for him while giving Jade and Odyssey meaningful roles in the supporting cast. Their interactions make the issue an enjoyable character piece, even if the superhero action doesn’t quite match it.
That said, the story feels a little light. It reads quickly and plays more like half of a larger chapter than a complete issue. Troll ultimately comes across as another escaped Sciencells villain who serves the immediate plot without leaving much of a lasting impression. I’d like to see these newer villains develop stronger motivations beyond simply escaping imprisonment.
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Ironically, some of the issue’s biggest hooks come from the backup threads. The brief pages featuring Hal Jordan and Jayna continue to build intrigue around their cosmic journey. At the same time, the growing S.H.A.D.E. subplot introduces what looks to be a MAJOR headache waiting for Kyle in future issues. Those final developments leave the strongest impression and do an excellent job of building anticipation for what’s coming next.
Overall, Green Lantern #37 is a decent chapter in Kyle Rayner’s return to center stage. While the main conflict lacks the weight of previous issues, the character work, humor, and exciting final-page reveal make it an easy recommendation for DC readers.
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