Broken Frontier

More of the same (good and bad) awaits us in the Green Lantern corner of the DCnU.

Like Geoff Johns before him, writer Peter J. Tomasi (Batman and Robin, Brightest Day, GL: Emerald Warriors) continues his run on Green Lantern Corps, right into the New 52. The numbers of things that are different or fresh compared to the previous series are practically non-existent. There are no major (or minor for that matter) changes made to the main characters or their place in the Green Lantern Corps. They didn’t even get costume upgrades (no fancy collar like Hal). In that regard, it’s as strong or as weak as you considered this series before.

After a particularly violent opening involving some very unlucky Lanterns, we are brought back down to Earth to witness the normal lives of Corpsmen 2814.2, hot head Guy Gardner, and 2814.3, John Stewart. Just like Green Lantern #1 did with Hal, a good deal of the story involves Guy and John trying to blend in with society. The difference comes with the fact that Hal’s identity was secret, so he is considered a lazy person and a bad bet in the real world. Whereas Guy and John never hid their faces, and they are considered celebrities and liabilities all at the same time. It’s a really interesting and entertaining take on the characters. Two men, highly capable and/or intelligent, that are hindered in society by their strengths.

It’s not long before their botched job interviews bring them back to a life they can handle better, that of policing the cosmos of intergalactic threats. Upon hearing of recent Lantern deaths, seemingly related to the book’s brutal opening, Guy and John take a few Lanterns and investigate. What they find is more terrifying than they can imagine. Someone is sending a message to the Green Lantern Corps, and this is only the start.

The art by Fernando Pasarin is wonderful. It’s realistic, holds weight, but is not overly rendered or cartoony. Also impressive is the acting in his characters’ faces. The introductory scene is with Guy Gardner, slumped in the chair of a planetarium’s theatre. The way he is scrunched up between two seats, holding an image of the planet between his thumb and index finger, it’s a wonderfully drawn and realized bit of characterization like that that keeps this endeavor’s head above water more than it treads. Scott Hanna’s inks are solid and the colors by Gabe Eltaeb are spot on. The whole creative team coalesces in a functional and smooth way.

Like all good team books, the creation of it is also a team effort; a sum greater than the parts of their whole. Everyone is firing on all cylinders, blowing past the fact that the reboot is practically null and void and simply delivering a solid Green Lantern story. Honestly, as I stated before in my review of Green Lantern #1, part of me is disappointed that more liberties weren’t taken with this corner of the DCnU. But, just like with GL #1, there is a trust in these books being returned to a former glory that seems possible with this creative team. Here’s hoping that greener pastures are ahead…see what I did there?