Rating: 3.5/5 – New creative team making this a fun read
The Lantern rings have been randomly losing their charge and it’s causing the Green Lantern Corps and the Star Sapphires all sorts of problems in issue 23 of Green Lantern Corps. After the wrap up of the First Lantern saga from a few issues ago, I’ve really enjoyed the Green Lantern Corps. Although this title stars the least popular (not less important) Green Lantern characters like John Sterwart, Fatality the Star Sapphire, and Kilowog, that doesn’t mean that this series is any less enjoyable.
Writer Van Jensen who’s previous work was on Pinocchio: Vampire Slayer is telling a pretty strong story here. It’s his first time working in the DCU and he’s sharing the co-plotting work with Robert Ventitti. As mentioned above, the Lantern rings are weakening and while Kilowog and Salaak are investigating the why, John Stewart is trying to train a group of new recruits who have fallen into danger, and Fatality has been captured by the Durlans who are trying to build up their race’s power again. There are also appearances by the Lantern entities who haven’t been seen since the Brightest Day mini-series. Overall, this issue has a really nice balance between the action and the mystery and it’s all beautifully drawn by Bernard Chang.
Since coming on the book with Jensen, Chang’s art has been a wonderful fit. He packs the page with multiple panels and easily switches between the human and alien characters. Chang has had previous DC work on Wonder Woman and DC Universe Presents starring Deadman, but I feel that this is his best work yet. He makes the shapeshifting Durlans look scary, and gives Kilowog and Salaak such strong and particular features that they truly stand out on the page. As always, color is such an important part of the lantern books and colorist Marcelo Maiolo does a great job of adding to the overall look. Of all the lantern books out right now, I really feel that this title has the strongest visuals.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book and it was nice to read a Lantern story that isn’t part of a line-wide crossover like the Third Army and Wrath of the First Lantern that have come before. I hope this creative team continues their work on this title together as they’re starting to tell a compelling story, while adding some depth to some lesser known characters in the Lantern mythos.
Reviewed by: Shawn Hoklas – shawn@comicspectrum.com
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