GREEN LANTERN #28

[ TWO FOR ONE SALE NOW ON ] 

Please don't worry comic book fans. This cover hasn't been presented in error. Because for one month, and one month only, those tight wads over at DC Comics have been gracious enough to do a two for one offer. Two issues of Lantern -- both Red and Green -- for the price of one. But as far as I'm concerned, I'm only going to be reviewing one of them. This one cobbled together by Robert Venditti, Billy Tan, and Published in March, 2014.

To QUOTE the Dalai Lama: 'Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them'.

THE STORY:

So there I was, Hal Jordan, enlisting the services of a couple of cosmic-crooks to help us Green Lanterns out with a universal rebellion we were having. When suddenly, out of the sky fall's two new recruits, quickly followed by a savage Red Lantern.

But I tell you something for nothing, my friends. This Red Lantern wasn't your normal home-grown Red Lantern. No way Jose! This Lantern was a rabid Kryptonian female that needed to be put out of her bloody misery.

'Yet how can I do that' you may ask yourself. I can't take her ring away or else she may perish. And Saint Walker doesn't want to know either, because he's got nothing to do with the Blue Light of hope anymore.

Still. Maybe someone else can help me. Someone named Guy perhaps?      

Now some of you might say the best thing about this first chapter would be that it had another free chapter included at the end of it. I wouldn't though. I wouldn't because I surmise this story got its title from the novel which was based upon one of my all time favorite films, 'Doctor Strangelove'.

OK. So there is a chance I could be wrong about my presumption. Yet something I don't think I'm wrong about, dear reader; is the fact that Billy Tan and Robert Venditti have produced yet another great story that I really did find fascinating to follow.

THE GOOD:

Not only because of Hal's intriguing dilemma involving the whole Supergirl / Red Lantern situation. But more than that, I did get a kick out of how this tale touched upon the other events happening throughout the 'Corps Universe', without it seeming too contrite or tacked on for the sake of scope.

Also, despite not being too keen on those 'Saint Walker scenes', mainly because they didn't 'pay off' at the end of the day, I still liked the tranquil interaction between Saint and Mogo, largely due to the calming characterizations that were ultimately being conveyed. 

THE BAD:

I suppose the only problem I had with this adventure is how most if came across like one big long excuse for it to continue within another installment. Now please don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to imply that I didn't enjoy this escapade at all. But the thing is, every time Hal tried to get Supergirl some help, he kept on getting the same old response again and again and again. No. No. No.

THE MUSIC:

For some pretty damn obvious reasons this tale reminded me of the Beatles song, 'Help', because in my eyes that is exactly what Hal Jordan needed throughout his quest.

THE COMPARISON:

Now I'm not quite sure what you'd call these places in other counties, but in England we call employment exchanges, 'Job Centers'. And that is what I'd like to compare this comic to. It's somewhere no one can find help even if they want it. Ha!

THE CONCLUSION:

I'm sure some of you out there may think I'm being a bit of a lazy git for not continuing by review of 'Red Alert' within the pages of 'Red Lantern'. Surmising that I'd rather review some old-school film of yesteryear than getting on with the job at hand.

Yet let me say this, dear reader. If I did that I might spoil the resolution that turned up at the end of this subsequent chapter, and I wouldn't want to do that to you, would I. To me reading a comic book is a very personal and private experience. Not everything I say in my reviews you will agree with. And not everything I do in my reviews is all that precise either.

That's the point, though, isn't it? If I tell every single detail about a comic before you pick it up, why the hell should you read it in the first place!

Anyway. That's enough of my justification methinks. As all I have left to say is that this issue of 'Green Lantern' was amazing at half the price. The artwork is getting better and better by the page. The story-line did precisely what it needed to do to progress it along in the right direction. And as push comes to shove, this book is quickly becoming one of my most favorite books out on the racks.

Nuff said.