Thursday, March 9, 2017

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #16


Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #16 is a headscratcher. While it certainly delivers Guy Gardner being Guy for his fans, the entire issue is little more than filler. Having rescued Saint Walker, Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner return to Mogo only to find John Stewart and Guy gone. This leaves their story to wilt on the vine while the comic looks elsewhere for plot.

The idea of Green and Yellow Lanterns working together to begin bringing in Sinestro Corps stragglers is largely dealt with in a single montage. The only example we see see expanded is Guy, heading out without his ring, picking a fist fight with Arkillo. It's a bloody, brutal sequence inter-cut with scenes from a young Gardner's experience with an abusive father. While the extended sequence isn't without merit in showcasing what is happening behind Guy's constant posturing, it's allowed to go on far too long indulging writer Robert Venditti and artist Rafa Sandoval at the cost of further expanding the arc's plot.

The outcome of the fight leaves Guy in bad shape and leaves the Green Lantern Corps without one of their big guns for at least a little while. Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

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