Written by (See Credits Below)
Art by (See Credits Below)
Cover Art by Brian Bolland
SUMMARY:
Released by DC Comics in 2010, this 144-page collection reprints eleven early-to-mid-’80s back-up tales from the Green Lantern series headlined by Hal Jordan & John Stewart. Its extra-sized finale features multiple Lanterns seen in solo action elsewhere in this volume. The dozen stories are:
The Lysandra Saga, Part One: Sins in the Stars and Part Two: Sun-Fall (Green Lantern # 168-169, September-October 1983). Written by Jack C. Harris, with art by Jerome K. Moore, Sal Trapani, Philip Felix, & Jeanine Casey. On planet Zintha, rookie Green Lantern Lysandra precariously balances her world’s religious views preserving all life vs. the fate of its apparently dying sun.
Deeter & Dragons (Green Lantern # 171, December 1983). Written by Todd Klein, with art by Dave Gibbons and Jeanine Casey. Deeter, now a veteran Green Lantern, regales a bullied child with a romantic damsel-in-distress tale from his rookie days. His younger self misreads a crisis attempting to save abducted Princess Oryna from a dragon.
Scavenger (Green Lantern # 172, January 1984). Written by Todd Klein, with art by Dave Gibbons & Jeanine Casey. Taken prisoner, Green Man must enlist the aid of his captors, including a metal scavenger, to defend their world against the Spider Guild’s yellow armored drone. Green Man’s heroism sparks an ironic outcome.
Progress (Green Lantern # 173, February 1984). Written by Joey Cavalieri, with art by Dave Gibbons & Jeanine Casey. Without narration, an unknown Lantern valiantly falls to the Spider Guild’s invasion forces. Continuing the cycle, his caveman-like successor explores his new power ring’s magic before taking on the same Spider Guild armada.
Final Duties (Green Lantern # 177, June 1984). Written by Len Wein, with art by Gil Kane, Ben Oda, and Anthony Tollin. Green Lantern Kwo Varrikk has a busy and insightful last day on the job before entering retirement.
Green Magic: Enemy Lines Parts One and Two (Green Lantern # 179-180, September-August 1984). Written by Todd Klein, with art by Dave Gibbons & Anthony Tollin. On remote planet Rhoon, young Green Lantern Hollika Rahn struggles to find a means of ending her world’s war of sorcery vs. science. This story is the compilation’s only unresolved tale.
One Night in a Bar on Lawrel-Hardee XI (Green Lantern # 181, October 1984). Written by Paul Kuppenberg, with art by Don Newton, John Clark, & Anthony Tollin. Inside a sleazy, deep space cantina, diminutive Green Lantern Ch’p lights up a fugitive gang of pirates that fatally sabotaged a galactic cruise ship.
I, Lantern, Parts One and Two (Green Lantern # 182-184, November-December 1984). Written by Joey Cavalieri, with art by Kevin O’Neill, John Constanza, and Anthony Tollin. On planet Grenda, Yron reluctantly convinces the Guardians to make him a Green Lantern. Trying to alleviate a crisis on Grenda, Yron ironically finds that his predecessor, Stel, whom he once ridiculed, now shares his destiny.
Burdens (Green Lantern # 185, February 1985). Written by Kurt Busiek, with art by Don Heck, Todd Klein, & Shelley Eiber. Once planet Feron’s elderly Green Lantern retires, Feronians realize he won’t be coddling them anymore.
Forever Blowing Bubbles (Green Lantern # 187, April 1985). Written by Mike Baron, with art by Marshall Rogers, Ben Oda, and Anthony Tollin. Of the planet Jerome, single mother Green Lantern KT21 is taken prisoner by off-world raiders. A favorite toy-making hobby for her young son may be KT21’s last hope.
Mogo Doesn’t Socialize (Green Lantern # 188, May 1985). Written by Alan Moore, with art by Dave Gibbons, and Anthony Tollin. On planet Oa, Arisia hears a legendary fable from Tomar-Re re: a moronic thug who hunts their mysterious fellow Green Lantern known as Mogo.
Insect Trust, Parts One and Two (Green Lantern # 189-190, June-July 1985). Written by Todd Klein, with art by Kevin O’Neill and Anthony Tollin. On planet Xaos, the grasshopper-like Green Lantern Xax needs the Corps when his home planet faces the ruthless Spider Guild.
Those Who Worship Evil’s Might (Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual # 1, 1985). Written by Paul Kuppenberg & Len Wein, with art by Gil Kane, John Costanza, and Anthony Tollin. Six Green Lanterns (Arisia; Katma Tui; Ch’p; Xax; Arkkis Chummuck; and Tomar-Re) investigate a galactic crisis linked to an abducted Guardian. One Lantern must make an ultimate sacrifice to stop the villainous Maaldor.
Note: Despite his prominence on the cover, Hal Jordan isn’t in this volume. His then-replacement, John Stewart, appears in the book’s last panel.
REVIEW:
To this book’s credit, there is infinite diversity behind the stellar Brian Bolland cover. Even if these fables aren’t riveting, Tales of the Green Lantern Corps, Volume 2 is still commendable for concocting kid-friendly entertainment. Including its amusing pun-laden title, the Ch’p’ adventure is the best read, as fans are reminded why one shouldn’t mess with a little critter packing an emerald power ring. Other contenders for the best tale are the Mogo tale and Lysandra’s two-parter. The last story is a well-played team-up, as it features many of the better-known Corps members of that era. “Forever Blowing Bubbles” is an underrated treat, as it’s a gentle throwback to stories that the comics industry rarely produce anymore.
If anything, these imaginative gems (particularly, their consistently solid visuals) smartly expand upon the universe’s other 3,598 Lanterns not named Hal Jordan or John Stewart. In that sense, this well-produced collection should be construed as a nostalgic reminder of how virtuous DC Comics storytelling once was.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There is a helpful table of contents.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
