Comic Book Review: Green Lantern #54

Literary and Artistic Credits

Written by Geoff Johns

Penciled by Doug Mahnke

Inked by Christian Alamy, Tom Nguyen, Keith Champagne, & Mahnke

Colored by Randy Mayor

Lettered by Nick J, Napolitano

Cover by Shane Davis, Sandra Hope, Barbara Ciardo

Variant Cover by Alex Garner

Associate Editor: Adam Schlagman

Editor: Eddie Berganza

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

A lot can be said about this issue as it’s filled with multiple plotlines, resembling the Green Lantern Corps title.  We have Atrocitus taking out an entire subway train full of people, Hal Jordan still attempting to lift that seemingly weighty White Lantern, Sodam Yat being freed of his sunny-side prison, and the learning of the entities names along with our mysterious little man capturing Ion.  I’m actually very surprised that Johns was able to fit it all in 22 pages.  While this comic will never be a climactic issue that will be remembered for years to come, it definitely takes us on a roller coaster ride that is fun and epic.

First let me start off by saying Doug Mahnke is the MAN!  He has such an impressionable style that has only been equaled by Aaron Lopresti, Ed Benes, and Frank Quietly.  The use of light, depth perception, and attention to detail are arguably perfect in every way.  If my scanner hadn’t pooped out on me two weeks ago, I’d have scanned in some of my favorite panels to show you just how good this issue was.  I guess you’ll have to pick this issue up to see what I’m talking about huh?  Hey, look on the bright side, this issue is only three bucks!  Everything else is jumping up to four.  (That is a bright side right?)

The story—or stories—is pretty impressive.  It was nice to finally learn more about the entities and start getting more clues about why our once dead heroes have risen again.  Aquaman might still have issues with being dead, at least in part; the White Lantern called out “help me live” and almost immediately zoomed in on a past image of Black Lantern Aquaman.  We officially have been told by Mr. Johns that there are some missing pieces in each of the risen heroes lives that, of course, Hal Jordan will help unveil. 

Geoff Johns also shows his knack for creating devastatingly terrifying stories as Sodam Yet is released from using the Ion Power, and all of Daxam plummets to the ground.  This was odd to me at first seeing as how I originally thought Sodam Yat died by plunging into the Daxam red sun head first.  It seems the Ion power was strong enough to keep him in some type of suspended animation, which in turn was keeping the sun yellow.  This was not a major distraction, rather just caught me off guard.

Now, can I just say I’m just as big of a fan of guest appearances as the next guy; this is why comics based on continuity are so much fun, because you get occasional cameos from heroes in other titles.  But, if I had to vote on my top ten least favorite characters within the DC universe, Lobo would be it!  Sure, Magog sucks, but Lobo at least serves a purpose!  Lobo just comes off as annoying and stupid.  I certainly hope Johns was forced into putting the biker alien from Hell by the DC Comics hierarchs and wasn’t a part of his original plan.  UGH!

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

This issue is a lot of fun and definitely a vital addition to the Brightest Day series.  I’m trying to keep myself neutral about #55 and hope Lobo doesn’t kill the story for me.

Writing: 8.5

Themes: 10

Art: 10

Overall: 9.5 out of 10