The Outhouse - The Greatest Comic Book Forum

[LOLtron]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.  You mean to tell me that there's more than one Green Lantern book?  Head...so...confused.  Read on to find out how Green Lantern Corps did in 52apolooza!

Welcome to 52apolooza, the Outhouse feature focusing on DC's September Relaunch.  All of DC's 52 titles will be reviewed by our pool of reviewers to point out the best and worst that DC's new comic book line has to offer.  To see how this book ranks among the other new DC titles, be sure to check out our 52apolooza Rankings!

When we had last seen John Stewart and Guy Gardner, Stewart had just blown up a planet to see it die and Gardner was attempting to punch Hal Jordan in the face for his role in that crappy Green Lantern movie.  So how does their new book fare in DC's New 52?  Read on and find out!

---

Grab Bag Reviewer: Jerry Steinhelper

This title was a must read before Flashpoint – and it still is.

The book opens with some rather violent deaths of a couple Green Lanterns by some unseen foe. Segue to Earth and a few scenes of Green Lanterns Guy Gardner and John Stewart attempting to pick up the pieces of their civilian lives (unsuccessfully). Turn to the destruction of an alien population before returning back to Guy and John committing themselves back to the Corps full time and undertaking a mission to investigate the deaths of the previously mentioned GL's and planet.

Peter Tomasi packs a lot into this issue, and where that has been to the detriment of other New 52 (i.e. Stormwatch, Frankenstein, etc) everything about this issue flows smoothly. The action scenes explode and the talking moments are realistic (like Guy and John's discussion on masks and identities).

On art is Fernando Pasarin who used to be pretty good. I'm not sure what happened here but he's turned up his talent a tenfold! Inks and colors add more excellence to the detail within whether they be backgrounds or simple facial expressions. Great stuff.

Easily one of the best of the new 52.

Writing – 23/25
Art – 24-25
Accessibility – 22/25
Enjoyment – 23/25

Overall – 92/100

---

DC Reviewer: Sakie

I enjoyed the introductions to both Guy Gardner and John Stewart. In a few pages new readers will get a better explanation of who the Green Lanterns are and what role they play in the DCnU than they did in the entire first issue of last week's Green Lantern. Peter Tomasi wastes no time in establishing the threat level of the mysterious new baddies without ever actually revealing them. We know that they can move faster than a power ring can detect them, they can easily dispatch multiple Green Lanterns at a time, and that they have the power to evaporate an entire planet's ocean, murdering its entire population in the process. As far as accessibility is concerned, this issue is an improvement.

That being said, this issue falls apart when you try to read it as the next chapter in the Green Lantern saga. When we left the Corps prior to the relaunch, John Stewart had to kill Mogo in the belief that he had to do so to save the Corps. He instantly became one of the most hated members of the corps, with almost nobody trusting him or wanting to work with him. There is absolutely no hint of that here. In fact, aside from mentioning that Hal was no longer a member of the GLC, there was really no mention of the aftermath of War of the Green Lanterns in this issue. Speaking of mentioning that Hal is no longer a Green Lantern, when Salaak is questioning both Guy and John about why they have left Earth and returned to Oa, they respond that Hal and Kyle can "mind the store for awhile." Interestingly enough, it is Salaak who has to remind the twoGreen Lanterns who were present when Hal was stripped of his ring that he is no longer a Green Lantern.

When I reviewed Green Lantern last week, I remember saying that it was like meeting one of your best friends in the middle of a room filled with strangers. Since Green Lantern Corps is another one of the DCnU titles that were only getting renumbered it should stand to reason that you should get that same feeling when reading it. Personally, I really didn't get that same vibe this week. This can be viewed as a double edged sword. For new readers wanting to jump into the Green Lantern universe, Green Lantern Corps is a good start. Older readers may feel a little left out because of the lack of any immediate fallout from War of the Green Lanterns.

Finally, Fernando Pasarin's art was really fresh and added a great element to this story. There were a few panels that were a little lacking but as a whole, I look forward to what he has to offer on this title in the future.

Writing: 19/25
Art: 20/25
Accessibility: 21/25
Enjoyability: 19/25

Total Score: 79/100

---

Marvel Reviewer: E_Galston

Just like Green Lantern #1, Green Lantern Corps didn't get rebooted, which is a plus for me. The focus is now on Guy Gardner and John Stewart, since the book's previous co-star, Kyle Rayner, gets his own book next week. Guy and John play well off of each other and their different personalities should make this book interesting to read in the future.

The basic plot was fine. I did enjoy showing Guy and Kyle basically failing at being human. It really showed how much of a commitment being a Green Lantern is. At the same time, the big threat of Green Lanterns being murdered by an unknown enemy was kind of lacking. It seems like every couple of story arcs the same plot happens. I was hoping for something a little more engrossing. I know a lot of people read the exchange between John, Guy and Salaak as them not knowing Hal was fired. But I read it totally different. I read it as they knew he was fired, but unlike Salaak, John and Guy still view Hal as a Lantern and his banishment from the Corps to be a temporary thing.

The art was much better than previous work I've seen from Fernando Pasarin. My only real issue with art was that Salaak looked much different than I'm used to. But really that's just a minor complaint.

All in all, this first issue was great. It is nice that in this revamp/reboot, to have a group of titles that really haven't changed much.

Writing: 20/25
Art: 20/25
Accessibility: 15/25
Enjoyability: 20/25

Total: 75/100

---

Total 52apolooza Score (with Three Reviews In): 246 (Average Score: 82.0)

Written or Contributed by: Jerry Steinhelper, Sakie and E_Galston


http://173.199.169.70/index.php/reviews/comics-reviews/52apalooza/16279-52apolooza-green-lantern-corps.html/

[e_galston]

in regards to what Sakie says about the book should pick up from the last issue. You have to remember this is a different creative team then the last issue.

[Grayson]

in regards to what Sakie says about the book should pick up from the last issue. You have to remember this is a different creative team then the last issue.

That is a very valid point. However, aside from mentioning that Hal is no longer a Green Lantern there really isn't any mention of what has occured since the War. I'm just saying that it would have been nice if they had made some mention about the Mogo situation when Guy and John took their squad of GLs on their mission. Are the other GLs still bitter about Mogo?

[Starlord]

Great reviews guys! I think I liked it a lot more than Sakie or E, but the reviews are excellent!

[Victorian Squid]

It's maybe because I don't follow the lantern books, but this was only slightly more readable to me than Red Lantern # 1 and I still didn't bother reading all 20 pages. These lantern comics feel like the DCU isn't new at all, although I did think Sinestro is the best GL ever, and don't provide good entrance points for new readers.

[e_galston]

It's maybe because I don't follow the lantern books, but this was only slightly more readable to me than Red Lantern # 1 and I still didn't bother reading all 20 pages. These lantern comics feel like the DCU isn't new at all, although I did think Sinestro is the best GL ever, and don't provide good entrance points for new readers.

That's why i gave it the score i did for accessibility. if you have been reading the GL books for the last few years you would get what was going on, but if you are a brand new reader you won't.

[Victorian Squid]

That's why i gave it the score i did for accessibility. if you have been reading the GL books for the last few years you would get what was going on, but if you are a brand new reader you won't.

Agree.

[e_galston]

and i've read the GL books for the last few years, so if i was basing my assessment on just me it would be a higher score, but i factored in the fact that new readers (which this initiative was supposed to bring in) would have no clue what happened last month, or two years ago.

[Kolimar]

Good reviews.

[Comic_Doctor]

I really liked GL Corps #1! Tomasi's versions of Guy Gardner and John Stewart were perfect IMO, and the art was fantastic too. I wasn't expecting much going into this issue, but now I have to read a few more issues.

[avengingtitan]

It's maybe because I don't follow the lantern books, but this was only slightly more readable to me than Red Lantern # 1 and I still didn't bother reading all 20 pages. These lantern comics feel like the DCU isn't new at all, although I did think Sinestro is the best GL ever, and don't provide good entrance points for new readers.

Which is why to me they've been my favorites so far.

[Comic_Doctor]

Which is why to me they've been my favorites so far.

But not the point of what DC was supposed to do with the DCnU.

[avengingtitan]

But not the point of what DC was supposed to do with the DCnU.

Well since I dont like the DCnU I'm okay with that.