GREEN LANTERN #0

[ GREEN COUPONS ] 

Where the hell is our green pal, Hal Jordan? Is he hiding somewhere with my favourite commissioner, James Gordon? Maybe this chap might know? You know this new one with a glow. Who's currently erecting a flimsy police cordon. Right next to Writer: Geoff Johns; Artist: Doug Mahnke; and Publisher: DC Comics in October 2012.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Have you ever been unjustly arrested before, only to end up living in a nudist colony populated by nymphomaniac supermodels? No? Me neither. But if I did, I'm sure it would be a lot like this issue of Green lantern entitled 'The New Normal'. Shocking. Dazzling. And rather Fresh to boot. 

• Imagine if you will. You're an Arabian American called Simon Baz, and after stealing a truck because you need to raise some funds, you suddenly discover that their is a bomb laying on the back-seat of this vehicle as well.
• Worst still, is that after -- BANG! -- err, once you've been arrested by the police, the FBI get their hands on you, and presume that you're a terrorist because your dead brother-in-law was one some time ago!
• Thank God for that green power-ring, huh? You know, that one which was sent to whisk you away from your troubles by two shadowy figures looming somewhere in the dark.
• What where their names again? Sin... somebody, and Hal... whatever.

Ha! Damn right to be continued...

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

There were two pieces of dialogue that stood out for me in this issue. The first piece was when Baz said to Fed "I am a car thief, not a terrorist" because it's not really a common phrase I'd hear everyday. And secondly when what looks like Sinestro says to what looks like Jordan "Where are we?" because that is what I was thinking at the time too.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

There was a very fresh vibe about this book that I liked quite a lot. It was as though someone 'cleared' the 'browser history so to speak', making what was once old new again. However, in the same breath, that hidden cameo at the end was a nice touch I thought, aiding this issue with a touch of mystery that I can't wait to see unravel.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

My one small gripe with this issue has to do with a plot discrepancy -- why didn't Baz notice the bomb whilst he was breaking into the van, instead of while he was driving it? To me I'm sure he would have noticed it as soon as he got into the vehicle because of his angel of entry.

Well, I did say it was a small gripe.

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: I do appreciate the inclusion of this new Arab-American hero called Baz, because I'm sure his 'alternate perspective' can aide this title in the future. To my own knowledge apart from 'Seraph' of the 'Global Guardian's', or Ra's Al Ghul, I don't think that I've seen many Arabians in the DC Universe before.

Oh! Unless you take into consideration the Ostrander / Yale run on the 'Suicide Squad' of course.

ART: I wonder if artist, Doug Mahnke, is in actual fact a film director posing as an illustrator. I just find many of his 'silent scenes' very fluid and easy to follow, as if I was watching a 'silent film' with some of the captions removed. Great. Just great.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

BAZ: After searching the internet for an appropriate actor to fill the role of Baz, all I could come up with is Mrad Mouawad, who's an Arabian model. If you can think of someone better, please drop me a line, OK?

FED: Now as soon as I saw this FED called Fed, straight away I thought to myself "My God, doesn't he look a lot like David Strathairn from that film 'Good Night, and Good Luck'!". Agreed?

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

If You Are Ever Arrested, Never Forget To Look For Shiny Object That Can Fly.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

Now if you swap the Arabian angle with an English angle, whilst maintaining an 'under-dog' character that gets into trouble because of his history and past transgressions, then I would compare this story with the Terrance Stamp flick, 'The Limey'. Honestly, both this film and this yarn do share a similar air of adventure about them.   

FINAL thoughts...

So far, so good. As I'm not the type of person who jumps to conclusions too soon, I like to think that Baz will go on to become a stalwart of the DCnU for the time being, just long enough for Hal to return, and yadda-yadda-yadda. However, there needs to be some more definition in Baz's personality by default. Just by calling him an Arabian-American, and seeing him picked on at school, does not a character portrait make. Also, the guys at DC have to make him appear less disposable as well, and more than a 'cash in' on a 'broader' comic book market.    

MARKS out of 10? 9