Review: Green Lantern #64

“War of the Green Lanterns” – Part 1

Writer: Geoff Johns

Pencils: Doug Mahnke

Inks: Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Mark Irwin & Tom Nguyen

Colors: Randy Mayor

Letters: Steve Wands

Cover: Ivan Reis & O’Clair Albert W/Rod Reis

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 23rd, 2011

 

Now, this is the kind of issue I have been waiting for!

With Green Lantern #64, events from the past year’s worth of storylines come to a head in “War of the Green Lanterns” – a 22 page issue of all out action.

As we have seen building up, the Guardians deem Hal, and his irrational behavior, a threat to the very Corps he works for and also protects. Their fateful decision on how to handle Hal could result in dire consequences for the Lantern of Sector 2814. All too often, as in times past, we have seen the Guardians attempt to purge the Green Lantern Light of any impurities – and all too often it has come back to bite them, sometimes literally. Each attempt was not only answered by failure, but by the Guardians laying blame in everything else – but themselves. The Guardians, in trying to purge all emotion, now must face it – quite abruptly!

Throughout the various Green Lantern and Brightest Day titles, a mysterious garbed figure appeared becoming the latest threat to the Spectrum of Emotion. Revealed to be the rogue Guardian, Krona, who has now acquired all of the Emotional Spectrum Entities, this being welcomes the feelings at his disposal and uses them to his full advantage. While the Guardians seek to eliminate emotion, Krona wishes to control it. And wield it well, he does.

The light of the other Lanterns has been particularly burning bright, with Sinestro of the Yellow Lanterns, Atrocitus of the Red Lanterns, Larfleeze of the Orange, Carol Ferris of the Star Sapphires, Saint Walker of the Blue and Indigo-1 of the Indigo Tribe, outshining Hal’s, to the dismay of readers, in his own book. That looks to cease in this issue, which is most welcomed. Though all their powers stem from the same source, their refusal to realize their common trait, may in turn, destroy them all.

This issue was non-stop from start to finish, never letting up, each page-turn leading to another jaw dropping revelation. This issue continues from the prologue of last issue and is a great set-up promising a very Green Lantern centered story to come. Geoff Johns outdid himself as everything comes together for a brilliant start to the “War of the Green Lanterns.” Really, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Likewise, the art by Doug Mahnke is the best its ever been. The issue is heavy on character and detail, gorgeous splash pages and emotion-filled battle scenes.

While everything within the book is amazing, the cover is just a bit misleading – but something I have come to expect, so I had no disappointment.

Green Lantern currently tops the charts and this issue shows us exactly why. You don’t want to miss this one.