Golden Ring

Robert Venditti, Ethan Van Sciver, & Rafa Sandoval “Hal Jordan & the Green Lanterns Corp, Volume 1: Sinestro’s Law” (DC Comics, 2017)

Wow. There’s a LOT going on here. The Green Lantern Corp has disappeared, Hal Jordan has some sort of proto-ring, and Sinestro and the Yellow Lanterns are running the universe. And that’s just the big picture.

And that’s the problem.  This book has so many characters, and so much going on, that it really feels overstuffed.

And for a Rebirth book, that is supposed to be attractive to new or lapsed readers, this is a huge problem.  Because I felt like I had no idea what the hell was going on. Of the various Rebirth books that I’ve read to date, this one felt like there was the strongest need to know deep continuity.

And yet somehow as it built towards Hal Jordan vs Sinestro, I felt like it was tired and in need of some fresh ideas.

The art was once again subpar. It’s a shame that on a book with such a cosmic scope they can’t put on some artists who can really bring the wonder.

I would say that this one is for serious GL fans only.

Straight Outta the 90s

Sam Humphrey & Ethan Van Sciver “Green Lanterns, Volume 1: Rage Planet” (DC Comics, 2017)

The good news is that I think I like these new Lanterns.  They seem to have some interesting personal stories and personalities.  I like how they are trying to work together, even though it is difficult. There’s some real potential here.

The bad news starts with all this Red Lantern bullshit. I was really hoping that all this would be left behind in the Nu52.  I mean red vomit Lanterns is about the most Xtreme 90s concept out there.  It is just so awful and stupid.  So of course the Red Lanterns get as much page time and our actual, you know, Green Lanterns.

DC, you’ve got some good characters here, don’t screw it up by putting them in the most XTREME storylines you can dream up.  Leave all that colored nonsense behind & just write some cool space cop stories.