Review: War Of The Green Lanterns – Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8 By Peter Tomasi

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Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8

Written by Peter Tomasi

Art by Fernando Pasarin and Cam Smith

 

You know what Peter Tomasi brings to an event like War of the Green Lanterns? Details, exposition, and well balanced drama. The covers to this issue didn’t lie, and there won’t be spoilers pulls from this issue. Tomasi has crafted an issue that not only gives us Guy Gardner vs Hal Jordan, but also that gives us more explaination both into the causes of the War and Guy’s pact with Ganthet and Atrocitus. The true testement to Tomasi’s abilities comes in the fight itself though.

Just like Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps before it, this issue picks up with the stars following up on the previous issue, in this case Guy, ‘Wog, and Arisia returning from their confrontation with Zardor, and Arisia’s not allowinbg Kilowog to kill Sodam Yat. The Parallax infection comes on page two, but until that point Tomasi does a great job of not making you feel like it’s just a matter of time before it. In GLC last week we saw Tony Bedard do background stories on Kyle and John, there’s none of that here. The story he was telling moves forward until the impurity is restored and War mode kicks in. From there Guy and ‘Wog piece everything together in record speed, covering every base from who dunnit to why they aren’t effected, all the way up to knowing they can’t be the only ones. From there we’re in the preview pages, and from here on out it’s Green House time.

The Green House, as an idea, works for me. After all the various times that crap has hit the fan in GL over the years, and how many times Hal or Guy has cleaned it up, a neutral meeting place for regrouping that the Corps as a whole would not be aware of. This is where Hal enters our story, and the storytelling really kicks in. Tomasi goes ahead and weaves together the various pieces of the plot from the various titles in the Lantern family, from the New Guardians to Krona, to Guy’s pact with Atrocitus and Ganthet to his travels in the unknown sectors. But this isn’t just a casual swapping of information, and while the two seem far more in control of their faculties than John and Kyle did in Green Lantern Corps, it’s clear that it’s only a matter of time before the Parallax push in their rings drives these two into the brawl from the cover.

The fight itself comes at a moment when it looks very much like both characters understand what’s happening to them and what they need to do, but neither wants to be the first one to drop their weapon. That’s where it escalates from, neither wanting to remove their ring, and from that moment on it’s a really well written fine between the two powerhouses of the franchise. On top of that, it’s rather well balanced with no one truly coming out on top for a prolonged period of time. Both have moments of awesome, but it stays rather well balaned…alright, fine, Guy does come across a bit better, which you can easily write off as the fact that this is technically his book, and Tomasi has been writing him for years. The fight is not simple Lantern on Lantern action, however, and instead is a very verbal affair, where Hal has a few good lines, but Guy verbally tears Jordan a new one.

The fight looks amazing, and while I’ve been happy with Fernando Pasarin’s art, I think it truly shines in an issue like this. Oddly enough, the thing I’m noticing isn’t even him, it’s just how bright and clear the issue is. After so many issues of space and tunnels and dark places, seeing a fight contrasted like this one is a nice touch. Also, early pages with Guy and Kilowog against a group of possessed Corps members look spectacular, and it was very nice to see Lantern’s Vath, Isamot, and Iolande again, even if just for a double page spread. I miss those three and could have sworn that Vath and Isamot would be joining the cast of this book. They really should.

The ending of the fight is nicely handed as well, with much better resolution than we got from GLC last week. Of course, it leaves our characters in much the same way, which leaves me wondering what’s coming next. Tomasi does a much better job with the fight in this issue than Bedard did in his book, but that can easily be attributed to Tomasi’s knowing and understanding of the characters, and the fact that he took the Parallax Infection and rather than force them to fight because of it, he actually built up in character to the point where the first punch could easily have come without the infection. It’s smart writing, and it’s a great voice to have added to this event. Definitely worth the read.

 

Overall?

8.5/10

A lifelong reader and self proclaimed continuity guru, Grey is the Editor in Chief of Comics Nexus. Known for his love of Booster Gold, Spider-Girl (the real one), Stephanie Brown, and The Boys. Don't miss The Gold Standard.