Green Lantern #27 Review

GREEN LANTERN #27
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Mike McKone and various

This was a much better outing than last month's offering. I think Johns just needed a break because the last one felt like it was phoned in compared to this and previous work.

However, the art still isn't up to snuff. McKone does a well enough job, but after months of Reis and van Sciver, this is a huge step down. To be fair, the colouring seems to be a major factor, as this looks a lot like flats, only base colours applied with no real computer or digial effects. This is kind of a nitpick, as the art isn't atrocious or even close to being like the last issue of Teen Titans was. I feel Sinestro Corps War elevated the book to the top tier of comic books and I don't think there should be noticable dips in quality like this anymore. Maybe I'm expecting too much though.

First on the agenda for this issue, though, is the Alpha Lanterns. These are Green Lanterns that were mutilated by the Guardians and turned into Manhunter / Green Lanterns, designed to police the Green Lanterns like a GL Internal Affairs. Next month will see the GL CSI team. That's a joke. I hope. Back on topic, John Stewert was actually selected for this, but because he's not a relatively unknown character, he refuses. I'm sure there was a story based reason as well. Something about not knowing the new laws.

I was kind of disappointed at some of the GL's they chose. Not because I disagreed with the reasons, but because they were some personal favourites. Well, not that giant spherically shaped beach ball GL. I don't think anyone likes him. I hope the process ends up being reversible for some of them.

The first order of business for these Alphas? It seems everyone thinks the killing of Amon Sur was actually murder (ed note: it was). After a lengthy debate, it's decided she be put in the jail until a trial. She says no and a mini brawl starts. Before it can go anywhere, the Alphas show up and go Manhunter on everyone, draining the rings of all power and leaving everyone a bit leary of what the Guardians have done.

There were two other things of note in this issue. Scarecrow (yes the Batman villain) was actually chosen as the new bearer of Amon Sur's Sinestro ring because he could instill great fear. Johns pulled the rug out from under us though as Hal and John showed up to capture the ring before it could choose a host. Bastards.

The other event was one of the Guardians, the female that was scarred by the Anti-Monitor, requests a lone Green Lantern to hunt down the Anti-Monitor's corpse before anyone can use it for ill, like, say, a giant black lantern power battery. Sounds like a solid plan, but when asked if the other Guardians approve of this, we get a close up of the Guardian's eyes, which have pupils of the Black Lantern Corps symbol in them, as she eerily agrees that they all want this done. Corrupted by the Anti-Monitor's scar? Possessed by the Anti-Monitor's spirit? The one who imprisoned the AM in the black battery? Who knows?

Verdict - Must Read. Johns was back to form this month and the Alpha Lantern story is actually going somewhere now. There were a lot of subplots going on in the background here as well and all of them quite interesting, especially the 'evil' Guardian one.

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