Written by Geoff Johns. Art by Daniel Acuña; & Rob Leigh.
Sinestro Corps Back-Up Tale Written by Geoff Johns. Art by Dave Gibbons; Moose Baumann; & Rob Leigh.
Cover Art by Ivan Reis; Oclair Albert; & Moose Baumann.
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Mystery of the Star Sapphire, Part 3,” this 32-page comic was published by DC Comics for July 2007. Defending Carol Ferris & a nearly-recruited Jill (aka “Cowgirl”) from renegade Zamarons, Hal Jordan ingeniously defies the Star Sapphire’s agenda. Unbeknownst to Hal, he forces the existence of the Star Sapphires’ own ring-powered Corps to combat the imminent Light War prophecy.
After Hal, Carol, and Jill briefly mingle, Hal’s casual romance with Jill evidently continues. Upon visiting the new Ferris Air, Hal congratulates Carol’s new business partner and learns of changes in Carol’s personal life during his absence.
In a six-page Yellow Lantern Corps back-up story, “The Fear Within” has new recruit Amon Sur on planet Qward learning from his female mentor the tale of a monstrous Yellow Lantern known as Bedovian. It’s Sur’s preparation for taking his own initiation test in a Fear Lodge.
REVIEW:
Impressively enhanced by Daniel Acuña’s distinctive watercolor style, this issue smartly updates the Star Sapphire concept, i.e. the Zamarons forcing Hal to choose between Carol and Jill. Hal’s inspired counter-strike is a neat sequence, particularly after Carol & Jill’s well-played interaction. Living up to a cool cover image, writer Geoff Johns nicely weaves Hal’s Ferris Air past (including a scene with his old friend, Tom Kalmaku) into his new life.
The combination of Johns’ script and Acuña’s stellar visuals makes Green Lantern # 20’s main feature a terrific read. Despite its solid artwork, the back-up tale isn’t much until the last panel. Johns’ dangling of one word to hint an upcoming thread in the primary storyline makes a smart creative choice. Overall, Green Lantern # 20 continues Johns’ strong run chronicling Hal Jordan’s re-emergence as DC’s definitive Green Lantern.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
In the DC Nation column, Dan DiDio hypes DC’s new Multiverse. A thumbnail cover reveal of Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special # 1 is included. Other thumbnail covers are: Amazons Attack # 2; Countdown # 48; and Justice Society of America # 6.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
