[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Ethan Van Sciver
Colorist: Jason Wright
Summary
The Green Lantern Corps receives a distress call from the artificial bank planet, the Vault – yes, the entire planet is a massive financial institution as well as home to a people who want for nothing. But, this day, one of them has become restless and has colluded with a pirate, Bolphunga. John Stewart dispatches a team of Greens and Yellows led by Hal Jordan. The Lanterns are able to stop the incursion rather quickly and bring the perpetrators back for questioning and incarceration.
During the battle, Tomar-Tu falters and claims he is feeling unwell. This raises an alarm in Hal Jordan, but he is not able to get much more information about the situation. Upon return to Corps headquarters, Kyle asks Soranik to consider taking back her Green Lantern ring and returning to the GLC instead of leading the Sinestro Corps.
Hal and John proceed to question Bolphunga. While they get a few simple answers, they are shocked when Bolphunga attempts to blackmail them with knowledge that if revealed will tear the two Corps apart.
Positives
As always, everyone gets a moment. Even if it is small, Guy, John, Soranik and Kyle all get character defining vignettes. Whether it’s Kyle drawing, or entreating Soranik to return to the GLC, or Guy chastising Arkillo for weak battle trash talk, everyone receives attention that builds on the individual characters as well as the bonds between them. It is this approach that allows a large cast to be functional. It is reminiscent of the best eras of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
And of course, the reveal at the end is earth shattering…or Mogo shattering? This alone is enough to bring a reader back for the next issue! Something interesting happens in the first few pages as we are introduced to the Vault and the way of life on the planet. In not mentioning the GLC or Sinestro Corps, Venditti creates a world that could exist on its own without the GLC. It feels complete as if it was clipped from a classic DC science fiction anthology and added on. Lastly, the issue itself functions as a self-contained story while pushing the sub-plots along and building the tension slowly, steadily and effectively without seeming to reveal to much at once that would detract from the story arc’s conclusion.
Negatives
Once again it is difficult to find a fault with this issue. Van Sciver’s art is beautiful, dramatic and striking as usual and the story hits on many levels and with subtlety when needed.
Verdict
By maintaining a focus on character with a large cast and expansive locales, Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps continues to be one of the best titles DC is currently publishing. It doesn’t matter which Lantern is your favorite, this title builds chemistry between characters and provides new favorites, sometimes surprisingly.
