Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke; Christian Alamy; Tom Nguyen; Randy Mayor; & Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Doug Mahnke; Christian Alamy; & Hi-Fi
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Love Hurts,” this Blackest Night tie-in was published by DC Comics for October 2009. In deep space, Green Lantern John Stewart ominously discovers a Black Lantern source planet. At planet Zamaron, the Star Sapphires struggle to convert Sinestro’s Yellow Lanterns. Carol Ferris, as the galaxy’s greatest Star Sapphire, faces off vs. a sneering Sinestro in a showdown. Carol’s Sapphire powers force a glimpse of Sinestro’s secret long-lost love to be revealed. On planet Ysmault, the back-peddling Red Lanterns contend with Yellow Lanterns and the hard-core Alpha Lanterns. The Black Lanterns simultaneously plunder their battlefield for new recruits.
On planet Odym, the Blue Lanterns are under assault. On planet Okaara, an Orange Lantern faces an army of Lanterns converted to Black Lanterns. While the brutal Black Lantern onslaught continues across the galaxy, Sinestro and a now-captive Carol Ferris are vastly outnumbered by yet another legion of Black Lanterns, this time led by Abin Sur.
Note: Though the image isn’t available in this comic, the variant cover art team is Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato.
REVIEW:
Beyond Hal Jordan’s unexplained absence, readers unfamiliar with the macabre Blackest Night saga might be utterly bewildered. Though the Carol vs. Sinestro face-off is excellent, an overindulgence of sub-plots re: various Lantern Corps vs. the Black Lanterns overwhelm this issue.
Led by Doug Mahnke, the art team’s stellar work tries hard and nearly succeeds offsetting writer Geoff Johns’ convoluted narrative. For whatever reason, Johns inexplicably neglects to summarize the related Blackest Night events to date. Still, no matter the excessive sub-plotting, Green Lantern # 45 admirably shines a spotlight on a valiant and underrated Carol Ferris.
Note: To its credit, Johns’ work here far outclasses what he wrote in the reprehensible Green Lantern # 43 (a Blackest Night prologue starring Black Hand).
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
None. The usual “DC Nation” column has been replaced by a ‘on vacation – see you later’-type image.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
