Comic Info
Comic Name: Green Lantern (Volume 4)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis/Ethan Van Sciver/Simone Bianchi/Carlos Pacheco/Daniel Acuna
# of Issues: 17
Release Date: 2019
Green Lantern (4) #12
Reprints Green Lantern (4) #4-20 (October 2005-July 2007). Hal Jordan is back, but he is still trying to atone for his past actions as Parallax. Though the Guardians have reinstated him and he’s regained the trust of the Justice League, the weight of his actions hang heavy on him…and the universe doesn’t intend to let him forget! When Hal learns that those he “killed” might still be alive, he goes on a desperate rescue mission, and back on Earth, Hal tries to deal with his decision not to wear his ring on an important mission. Hal’s old enemies are popping up all over the place, but something else is lurking…what is the Sinestro Corps?
Written by Geoff Johns, Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 2 is a DC Comics superhero comic book collection. Following Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 1, the collection features art by Ivan Reis, Ethan Van Sciver, Simone Bianchi, Carlos Pacheco, and Daniel Acuna. The issues in the collection were also collected as part of Green Lantern: No Fear, Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns, and Green Lantern: Wanted: Hal Jordan.
Geoff Johns put a spark under Green Lantern. He took what many consider to be a DC second stringer (despite the character’s age and depth) and made him a big force for the company. Over the past few years, the storyline has become a bit tarnished due to off-page behavior by Ethan Van Sciver and Geoff Johns, but Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 2 still is a fun read.
Green Lantern has heart. With a character like Superman or Batman, it feels like the boundaries of the character’s actions are pretty well defined. Superman is the good boy, Batman is the person that will do the right thing but through questionable methods…Hal Jordan is neither. Hal is a problem child. He fights with his will and to be a good Green Lantern, he has to be able to tap into his emotions and focus them. This means he’s a headstrong and doesn’t always take directions (I always find it ironic that they had to create someone even more anti-direction in Guy Gardner). In this collection, Hal has to continue to compensate for what part of Parallax was him and what part was the creature inside of him…he also has to work to get over his ego.
Green Lantern (4) #19
The series does jump around a lot and is sometimes fuzzy on its telling. I wasn’t a big fan of the Hal Jordan captured by Russians storyline and it was unrolled in a really strange and confusing means. Likewise, Amon Sur’s hunting of Hal also feels a bit mixed up. Despite these criticisms, Hal Jordan feels more like a Marvel hero than many DC heroes and in a way that contrast helps holes in the story.
What the volume really is known for is starting the set of the color wars. In the volume the Sinestro Corps is introduced and later the color spectrum of Lanterns is also briefly glimpsed. This storyline becomes the focus of Johns’ run and also has a bigger effect on DC as a result. It is fun to see the groundwork being laid out for an idea which seems like it should have been a no-brainer…yet it took decades for it to evolve.
Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 2 is a flawed book, but it still is fun. Hal Jordan and Green Lantern were always one of my favorite DC characters despite mainly be Marvel growing up. Johns seems to have the same zeal for the character and it is nice to see Green Lantern get some respect. Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 2 is followed by Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 3.
Related Links:
Green Lantern by Geoff Johns—Book 1
