Broken Frontier

Infinite Crisis comes home to Hal Jordan as he and old friend Green Arrow face off against the menace of Mongul, Jr.!

Green Arrow has come to visit his old friend and is more than a little concerned that Hal may be jumping back into life a little too quickly. Particularly since Hal’s new life has so much in common with the painful past of his old life. Despite Hal’s protestations that he is happy and content, word that Mongul, Jr. has arrived on Earth sends the hero off to settle some scores, with Green Arrow in tow. Mongul, though, is ready for the heroes and he has a few scores to settle of his own.

After a somewhat rocky start, the series is really showing forward momentum now. There is a definite sense that writer Geoff Johns is going somewhere with this title and character. It is not that what has gone on before was bad, just that it was disjointed, reading more like a series of adventures than the pointed, layered stories that fans are used to seeing from Johns. This issue, however, he begins to expand on the hints of problems, starting to build Hal Jordan into a hero who is not as together as he wants everyone to believe.

Johns also does a terrific job with Green Arrow and Hal’s friendship. He has moved them beyond their one-sided relationships and past combative stances and gives them a new layer of maturity. Added to this are some nice guest appearances from fellow Green Lanterns Guy Gardner and John Stewart and some truly funny bits of dialogue.

The introduction of Mongul and his family leads, of course, into an action packed fight scene. The sequence provides exposition, though, that fills in newer fans while managing to feel organic to the story and keep up the pacing.

The menace of the villain is really brought home with Carlos Pacheco’s art, along with Jesus Merino’s dark shadings and Moose Baumann’s amazing color work. Mongul here is a hulking figure radiating evil.

Pacheco handled the penciling duties on the series’ first story arc and this is his return to the title. He has settled comfortably into Green Lantern’s world and does a nice job with the energy constructs. There is also a touch of Gil Kane in his depictions of Green Lantern, particularly in flight. Green Arrow fans can also appreciate him creating a slick new Arrowcar.

I have to say, as well, that colorist Moose Baumann is fast becoming one of my favorites in the field. He has done a wonderful job working with both Pacheco and Van Sciver, proving able to shift and match his coloring styles to the varied artists.

Geoff Johns has revitalized a character given up for dead (literally) and is fast taking him in a new direction that holds great promise. The roller coaster is headed down the first drop here and it promises to be one wild ride.