SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for September 2009, it’s entitled “Black Night – Prologue: Tale of the Black Lantern.” As introduced by a corrupted ex-Guardian of the Universe, this tale is Black Hand’s (aka William Hand) self-narrated origin. Born as the middle child of three sons in a mortician’s family, young Billy Hand’s disturbing childhood includes a chilling fascination with taxidermy and with his father’s funeral parlor business.
A chance encounter witnessing Green Lanterns Sinestro and protégé Hal Jordan vs. Atrocitus in a cemetery inadvertently provides teenage Billy a cosmic device of collecting power (including Green Lantern’s emerald energy).
Dubbing himself ‘Black Hand,’ Billy becomes Green Lantern’s recurring foe for years until an alien abduction transforms him into his corpulent modern self. Hence, Billy has the power of seeing death (as twenty-five violent DC deaths are seen in montage). Motivated by the corrupted Guardian, Billy annihilates his own parents and two brothers in a multiple murder-suicide. ‘Rewarded’ for this despicable act, Black Hand becomes the first Black Lantern … and the Black Lantern Corps’ recruiter.
Note: Though the image isn’t provided in this comic, a variant cover was created by artists Eddy Barrows and Nei Ruffino.
REVIEW:
As the cover image implies, this ghastly issue is a Black Hand one-shot. Shockingly lacking a parental advisory label, its morbid contents are disturbing, depraved, and not remotely entertaining. The repulsive visuals are well-crafted, but such artwork isn’t any source of redemption for writer Geoff Johns’ ghoulish effort. Though the Blackest Night saga is DC’s epic foray into adult fantasy-horror, Green Lantern # 43 still sends the macabre concept rocketing to the bottom-of-the-barrel.
While the Blackest Night saga is supposed to be adult-oriented sci-fi/horror, Green Lantern # 45 crosses a well-marked line for consumers re: mainstream super-hero comics. There’s no mistaking gutter-level tripe being pushed by the creative team as supposed ‘ain’t it cool’ entertainment. Disappointingly, this grisly comic epitomizes exceedingly poor taste/judgment by DC Comics.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio teases his favorite Justice League incarnation in a single-page “DC Nation” column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 0 Stars
