DC Comics reviews for 6/28/17
Hal Jordan and
the Green Lantern Corps #23
John Stewart’s vision of keeping the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps as a united peacekeeping force gets dealt a serious blow this issue. Meanwhile, Soranik learns Kyle’s big secret and Guy & Arkillo play wrecking ball.
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps is always in the running for my favorite book of the week because writer Robert Venditti manages to pack so much into 22 pages. This cast is pretty massive, but Venditti has skillfully made GLC DC’s best ensemble title. Everyone gets just enough attention to not come across slighted and the character work is so strong it’s easy to get invested in these relationships.
John covers the political thriller role covered. The Kyle/Soranik subplot covers a romantic angle, Hal has the classic superhero aspect down and Guy & Arkillo have the crazy buddy cop dynamic locked up. There’s really a sense of something for everyone and with so many moving subplots and characters, it almost feels like reading multiple comics in one.
The pirate Bolphunga wants to blackmail John and the Lanterns with damning evidence that could derail the Lantern and Sinestro Corps partnership. That might not be the only thing to cause a wedge as Soranik figures out why Kyle doesn’t want her involved in the Sinestro Corps. This issue had a cinematic like quality to it that’s just missing some haunting, eerie music accompaniment.
Venditti smartly didn’t drag these subplot payoffs out too much longer. He’s paced the arc to have a potentially explosive conclusion in time for issue 25. And the best part? Artist Ethan Van Sciver is all set to continue his amazing work on the title for the big milestone issue.
Van Sciver brings such an amazing level of detail to his characters that it adds an extra element to the emotion conveyed. John looks especially concerned under Van Sciver’s pencils and pretty much every time he draws Gardner it makes me smile. Jason Wright’s colors are maybe easy to overlook component of this presentation, but are essential in making this one of DC’s best looking titles.
At this point, I’d put Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps against any Rebirth title. It’s that good and undoubtedly one of my easiest recommendations all month.
Rating: 10 out of 10