Comic Book Review: Green Lantern #48

Written by Geoff Johns

Art and cover by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy

Variant cover by Rags Morales

Plot

The moment Geoff Johns has been promising us for so long has finally arrived, the formation of the “All Lantern Corps.”  Larfleeze takes on a horde of Black Lanterns, whose souls he consumed into his ring long ago, and fights for his life with the aid of the other representatives of different Lantern Corps’.  After the threat has been neutralized, Atrocitus is forced to relive a memory, which causes his uncontrollable rage to subside momentarily.

My Thoughts

If I were to ask myself what makes this title so good, my response would be two words…Geoff Johns.  Now I don’t think this issue was his best work, but I found it incredibly captivating and moving on every page.  He has turned this title into something that transcends science fiction, fantasy, and horror all jam-packed into one incredible piece of literature.

Each character had his or her own unique voice that held up on it’s own.  Johns has done a stellar job at characterizing each newly introduced Lantern Corps member, which now leads us to this very spot of the “All Lantern Corps formation.”  However, even with this new pact made by these Lanterns, Sinestro, Larfleeze and Atrocitus have plans to destroy the Green Lantern Corps, which means, of course, that this pact will only end in chaos. 

I have absolutely no respect for Larfleeze.  Even though Sinestro and Atrocitus are just as evil and sinister as the Orange Lantern, Larfleeze shows no sign of pain or anguish.  There is nothing compelling him to be like this other than his own selfish nature.  At least Atrocitus and Sinestro have something compelling them to lead a life of evil, Larfleeze just wants more stuff.  I’m wondering how this is going to play out in the end.  First off, we have a guardian pledging himself to the Muppet-like villain, and secondly, Larfleeze seems to continually get more airtime as we get closer and closer to the climactic ending.  Will Larfleeze have some mysterious role in the ending of Blackest Night?  I’m starting to think this to be a good possibility.

Doug Mahnke shows off his stuff again by giving each character their own distinctive look.  Hal being very confident, Saint showing a great sense of religious fervor, Atrocitus completely angry looking and without remorse, Sinestro…well…Sinister, and so on and so forth. 

Overall

Above average and definitely entertaining.  I’m looking forward to seeing the end of Blackest Night, but also dreading it because I know I’m going to be pissed off and happy all at the same time.  But maybe I should hold off on making a preconceived judgment on the series until the end.

7 out of 10 stars

Next Issue Coming December 23, 2009

BLACKEST NIGHT continues! John Stewart comes face to face with his greatest failures, the planet Xanshi and his wife and fellow Green Lantern, Katma Tui. Plus, what does Fatality truly want with John?