Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Green Lantern Corps #35
DC Comics
Tomasi, Gleason, Buchman
We are getting so close to the Blackest Night story arc this issue might as well serve as a preview. It’s got a huge multiple colored battle and so much more getting set up. The issue is fun and awesome.
The issue begins with the jailbreak on Oa. However, the problem with the criminals escaping is that they are mostly weapon-less. However, the Guardians have been hoarding yellow power rings with limited guards on duty and that doesn’t bode well for a jailbreak of this magnitude. The other problem is that the inmates are a mixture of colors and they aren’t exactly united in the escape. The result is a two page spread of green versus yellow versus the one red lantern. The only confusing part to this whole opening sequence is the manner in which the yellow rings are called to their masters and exactly how the red lantern gets himself powered up. These are minor details but I would have liked them to be more clear.
Then we get a small break in the action to check in on Yat and Arisia as they arrive on Yat’s home world that is infested with yellow lanterns. The best part of this (and the artwork overall for that matter) is the creature that is protecting the world. I can’t recall seeing this villain before and this snake-like creature that wraps itself around the planet is very creative, but so is the way Yat and Arisia circumvent the thing. This was my favorite part of the comic.
Once on the world Yat confronts his father as he tries to rally his people to rebel. The part of this whole sequence that seemed amiss was the interaction of the yellow lanterns with each other. I can’t really tell if they are working together or to undermine each other. It just seems with Mongul ruling with such an iron fist that they would all be on the same page and yet they don’t seem to be.
The issue ends with Sinestro revealing his daughter’s identity. Well, he sort of reveals it. There are two women in the frame and one of them is his kid, but it’s debatable as to which one it is. Still, this provides a good crossover of the characters and stories from the main Green Lantern title as it was first revealed there that Sinestro had a daughter. This is a great way to get people back into picking up both titles if they aren’t all ready.
There you have it. It’s a lot to swallow. There are a lot of characters and some do get some very nice usage but not all of them. This comic has generally done a great job of managing a huge cast. However, for the past year or so it really hasn’t needed to showcase more than one villain. Now, there are several and I just hope the core characters don’t get too lost in the shuffle.
The art is tremendous. Once again, this title’s use of color just steals the story away. Looking at the two page splash of the war of the three colored rings really makes me recall how outstanding the Sinestro Corps War was and how I hope the Blackest Night matches it.
Another excellent installment for this series. Month after month we get a great story and we get that much closer to the big arc looming overhead. However, stop and smell the roses once in a while because these stories are pretty darn good too.
4 out of 5 geek goggles
