NEW GUARDIANS #18

[ YOU GRABBING MY BARGAINS? ] 

Don't tell me he's at it again? Come on 'Volthoom'; use your f*cking brain! Repetition is for chumps. And will only give you lumps. Or maybe a rather sharp and stabbing pain. Yeah. Pain. Just like the multi-talented creative team of Writer: Tony Bedard; Artists: Hendry Prasetyo, Jim Calafiore, and Javier Pulido; with Publisher: DC Comic, in April, 2013.

Using GENERAL terms, answer the following 4 questions about this SEVENTHS PART of 'Wrath Of The First Lantern'.

• WHAT'S THE MAIN THRUST OF THIS TALE: Amongst the several other issues about Green Lanterns being emotionally dissected by The First Lantern, Volthoom, this time it's about three of the New Guardians team being put under his very same scrutiny.
• ARE THE MAIN OBJECTIVES ACHIEVED: Yeah. For the most part. It’s left out a couple colors of the spectrum, but I’m thinking they’re being stored for later issues.
• ANYTHING ELSE HAPPEN: Not really. But for having to cover several characters, it was quite a challenge really.
• HOW DOES THIS STORY END: With the three Lanterns under Volthoom’s spell escaping from his grasp (at least for now.), whilst the First Lantern himself takes his wrath to the next lantern. (or is it lanterns?).

All in all, what is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

Oh, this is an easy one! After several attempts at reaching into Larfleeze’s mind, Volthoom’s last efforts to get some new emotion from the Goat-Man is by turning him into a Blue Lantern, which fails faster than any earlier try.

Larfleeze slaps Volthoom’s hand and snaps at him by saying 'Get away, you leech! My emotions are my own!' Volthoom watches Larfleeze fly off saying 'I give up. I now realize the Orange Lantern didn’t make you this way, the Lantern found you because of who you are'.

Ha! The Orange Lantern is a fan favorite for a very good reason. He’s ridiculously extreme to the point of disbelief, but to earn a ring and be worthy of it, you have to be that ridiculous.

What are the BEST bits about this issue?

(+) Larfleeze. You think we’ve got another Atrocitus weakening scene, only to see that he is his own delightfully horrible character.

(+) Carol is a character that has been a little hard to read in prior issues. Since the New 52, she has seemed sort of a 'oh that Hal of mine, he upsets me, but boy, I can’t let him go' attitude, and needed more harsh or extreme choices to seem more deserving of her ring. This issue really fixes that, showing that love can indeed be harsh.

(+) This is an issue of many artists (each with their own lantern), and changing the style for each one was a very nice touch!

What are the WORST bits about this issue?

(-) Despite me liking the choice for different styles to the art, I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Prasetyo’s Carol pages. The simplifications in the character’s bodies made it look like a half step above a Bruce Timm cartoon.

(-) Also, Javier Pulido was lacking too. When looking at these pages, there's a  huge opportunity for huge emotion and reactions, and it seems it was always missed. For example, when people are being turned into members of the Third Army, they only looked mildly upset. Really upsetting.

(-) I know we only have one issue for three characters, but it did appear that Volthoom gave up waaaaay too fast in drinking emotions from these lanterns!! He ripped into each Green Lantern and fought them tooth and nail. Volthoom gets slightly distracted from Carol and she gets away. Pretty anti-climactic.

Choose TWO CHARACTERS out of this comic book, and then compare them to two REAL LIFE PEOPLE.

THE MIZ AS SAINT WALKER: Okay, I got a weird one for you, but follow me here. I want to compare Saint Walker to the professional wrestler, The Miz.

In the book, the idea is that no matter what block Volthoom puts on Walker, even giving him a green lantern ring, he perseveres and becomes a Blue Lantern with his complete dedication of never losing hope.

The Miz was first spotted on television in 'The Real World'. But even then he told the world he was going to be a professional wrestler. He then ended up on the reality wrestling show called 'Tough Enough' where people mocked his dedication to being a pro wrestler.

Basically, I see a connection in that you see this weird kid on MTV determined and sure to make it, and just a few years ago he was the main event at Wrestlemania. 

COLLEGE JERK AS LAFREEZE: That jerkface bro you roomed with in college. Ha! Remember how he’d use your mouthwash, but got real touchy if you were taking a little too much room in the shared fridge? Pretty sure the creator of Larfleeze used that bro as inspiration.

What QUOTE would be appropriate to sum-up this story?

'These colors don’t run' -- Many Hillbilly bumper stickers, ironically sun bleeched

What SONG, THEME-TUNE, or MELODY, would complement this tale, as well as add and extra dimension to it by default?

'THE DARK SIDE OF ME' BY 'COHEED & CAMBRIA': This happened to be on whilst reading this issue, and it seemed kind of fitting, but now listening to it even closer, this is VERY fitting for Carol’s story.

Kind of scary, really. I’d bet it could be put behind just about every 'Wrath of the First Lantern' story so far, but I think it’s struggle of sharing love and such just fits Carol like a violet glove.

ANYTHING Else?

This issue was for Larfleeze and Carol fans only, because they really both shined in this book. Their imperfections make for great characters and fun reads. Walker’s innocence seems a little too dry by default, and like a real blue lantern, is much more powerful with friends. Volthoom indeed gets some flavor and variety with these lanterns, but I need something more than these little tastes into people’s psyche.

Also, we're guaranteed a Red Lantern next issue, but we’re still missing the indigo and yellow characters, and I was intrigued to see what Arkillo has in his noggin. I will say I expected a pretty boring issue, and got quite the opposite.

Personally speaking, I feel to keep the 'New Guardians' fun and engaging, it needs to keep fun unique issues and avoid long drawn out stories. I want to see real conflicts between the spectrum and each imperfection, not the dull uniting of buds to beat a bad guy, and lately that’s what this series has been. Bravo!

GIVE IT, IT'S DUES: If This Comic Was A Type Of Pen, It Would Be One Of Those Pen's With Many Colored Inks In Them. Nice To Use, Variable At Best. 

*** This post was written by the one and only Freakin' Animal Man.