War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath #2
Written by Tony Bedard
Art by Ransom Getty, Andy Smith, Scott Hanna, Jay Leinsten, Cam Smith, Keith Champagne, Tom Nguyen, Marlo Alquiza, Steve Bird, Rain Beredo
Man, where to start? The first issue of this proved much better aftermath to the War than the issues of GLC picking up the pieces, or the stock issues of Emerald Warriors that barely play up just what exactly just happened in the Green Lantern books. I mean, it actually put focus on the Corps and our various name brand cast members as they dealt with what just happened to them at the hands of Krona, as opposed to using it as a reference point for other plots. And on top of that, after the last issue, the plot to kill Sinestro takes front and center for this story.
Sinestro has a Green Lantern ring, this is not news. The Green Lantern Corps is not particularly pleased, also not news. Lanterns like Vath Sarn (a Rannian soldier recruited during the Rann/Thanagar War), Raker Qarrigat (who lived on Apokolips for centuries as the secret Green Lantern of Darkseid’s planet), Hannu (the rocky Lost Lantern with a penchant for not using his ring, and a favorite of many GLC writers), and their most recently recruited would be assassin…Soranik Natu, ex-girlfriend of Kyle Rayner, and most importantly, the daughter of Sinestro. The grouping makes sense, and I’ll add that there are Lanterns I don’t recognize in the group, but they just make it seem that much bigger of a deal that unusual pairings are being made. Admittedly, the P.T.S.D. isn’t doing these guys any favors, and their plan isn’t exactly brilliantly thought out, but the plot has the legs that get this issue from start to finish and create a few cool moments throughout it.
Another segment of the issue focuses around three of our core cast members in Guy, Kyle, and Kilowog as they do clean up and discuss life. Stuff like Kyle and Sora’s on the rocks relationship comes up, as does Jordan’s dismissal, and John’s blowing up of Mogo. This foreshadows an event at the end of the issue, but it’s delayed by Morro the Crypt Keeper arriving to say that Lantern Salaak is readying a place in the Crypt for Krona. This…obviously does not sit well with anyone, as this murderer should not have a place in their tomb. It leads to a talk about Salaak’s blind following of orders from the Guardians, even in the wake of them keeping him out of the loop last issue. I’ve complained about Salaak’s regression as a character by not questioning the orders of the Guardians, especially after it was their secrets and lies that caused the War of Light and Blackest Night to unfold as they did. He doesn’t openly take what they say to heart, but the amount of face time he’s received lately makes me think that this could be a thing once the books relaunch next month.
Ganthet and Saint Walker get an extended moment in this issue to go with their interactions last month, and I have to say that Ganthet is being set up in a really interesting method. He opts not to return to the Blue Lanterns, but he has things he wants to do. Like get back Sayd from her position as Larfleeze’s Guardian, and do what he can to appease Atrocitus after the failure of their pact. Ganthet promised the Red Lantern leader vengeance against Krona, something Hal stole from him when he killed the mad Guardian. Later in the issue Ganthet makes a potentially disastrous decision in the attempt at creating a peace, but where he is left when we last see him makes me curious….especially when coupled with the upcoming New Guardians cover that he’ll appear on in November.
Ransom Getty and Andy Smith provide the pencils for this issue, but they bring an army of inkers along for the ride. Now, it doesn’t looks as good as last month with Miguel Sepulveda and Tyler Kirkham, but that isn’t to say it looks bad either, in fact, I’d honestly call them a better combination as I couldn’t tell you where one artist ends and the other begins. The characters look a bit wonky throughout the issues, faces don’t really convey the same tone as the scenes or dialogue, Vath Sarn for some reason has normal legs and not his Thanagarian ones, and just some random inconsistencies. However, the action scenes look pretty freaking sweet, but maybe that’s just that Kyle Rayner gets to be a bad ass and I always mark for that. There’s nice construct usage, and some cool visuals, and I think they did a decent enough job here on this. I will say that, despite not knowing which pages are Andy Smith’s, he does a much better job here than he did on WWE Heroes.
The end of the issue is a fight right at the Guardians chambers as a would be mutiny is held off. I don’t feel bad saying as much, despite the spoiler breach, but if there was a full blown mutiny the solicits for September might look different. And if the angry Lanterns succeeded in killing Sinestro, he wouldn’t be the lead in GL in September, so there are elements of the issue that do wind up going as you’d expect. Another interesting thing though, to couple with what happens to Ganthet, is the Guardians new edict on who hangs out on Oa. Instead of everyone, currently Oa visitation is apparently limited to Honor Guard, Alpha Lanterns, and support staff (Salaak, Morro, the trainers, etc).
As far as filling the gap between the War of the Green Lanterns, this mini has done a great job of keeping readers of the franchise with something featuring their favorite characters and helping to bridge the old status quo to the new one, though if you were a reader of Hal Jordan only you’re most likely not going to find much of anything here for you. This is a Green Lantern Corps book through and through, and I expect to see Tomasi and Bedard following up on the events here far more than Johns. Seriously, the lone thing that would effect Johns is the Corps finding out that Sinestro’s ring can not be removed, something previews told us weeks ago.
All in all, it’s a good issue, very solid, and while it’s hardly must read, it’s a nice piece for Green Lantern fans.
Oh, and the end is a coupling of the Ganthet stuff I mentioned earlier that builds my interest in the character, as well as a goodbye to Lantern Mogo that is very tastefully done. Serious kudos to Tony Bedard for going with something unique and classy and very ‘Mogo’.
Overall?
7.5/10
