Comic Book Review: Green Lantern #51

Book Information

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Doug Mahnke

Plot

The moment all have been wondering about has arrived, Hal Jordan and Parallax reunited to defeat the Black Lantern Spectre!  But at what cost will this reunion be?  Will Jordan be able to defeat the Spectre while infested with the Yellow light’s Avatar?  And if he is victorious, does Hal have the will to separate himself from his long lost enemy?

My Thoughts

Never being a fan of Parallax and the story that tagged along with him, this issue didn’t particularly thrill me.  That part of Hal’s life always seemed contrived and over done.  It’s Superman and Doomsday for the Green Lantern Corps, Parallax just wont die!  The story in this issue is fine and a lot of fun, there’s just that damned yellow entity that keeps scratching away at my senses.

For what Geoff Johns has to work with, he did do a fine literary job with reintroducing Parallax into Jordan’s life.  In a way, he takes a step away from the Blackest Night storyline and focuses on the dealings with Parallax and the Spectre.  It’s an interesting move, but my dislike of Parallax hinders my ability to look past my own bias and find the true value of the story’s literary aspects. 

One thing I am starting to get slightly annoyed with is how often characters are toggling from Corps to Corps.  Jordan, early on, went from Green, to Blue, to Red, and back again.  Gardner had a run in with some rage, and now the Spectre went from Black to Red within two issues.  I understand the purpose, but how much more toggling can Johns continue to do before the symbolism looses its meaning?

As always, Doug Mahnke dazzles with a fantastic opener as Black Hand stares into the sky with that scaly, terrifying smile.  As the transition is made from page one to page two, we go from black and grey color tones to fiery orange light illuminating from Lex Luthor and the hilariously annoying Larfleeze.  Again, a transition is made in pages four and five with the cool, soothing feeling of green light, combined with the explosive power of yellow pummeling into the Spectre’s chest.  The book continues on like this as the transition of color only heightens and intensifies, creating beautiful sensations of explosive and destructive chaos.  Doug Mahnke must be given credit for his always fantastic work as a sketch artist, but it is Randy Mayor who deserves the artistic trophy here.  The entire book is one of the most impressive displays of comic book art that could rival Alex Ross.  This is where the book shines.

Overall

A fun issue, but its nothing more than a rehashing of already used material.  Some new developments were made, but they are more mysteries than anything else.  One thing is for sure however, Parallax will be back to annoy me again.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars

Next Issue Coming March 24, 2010

BLACKEST NIGHT'S penultimate chapter is here, and you do not want to miss this issue. Trust us on this one.