Written by Benjamin Raab.
Art by Pete Woods; Jamal Igle; Rick Burchett; Andy Owens; John Workman; Tom McCraw; & Digital Chameleon.
Cover Art by Kevin Nowlan.
SUMMARY:
Entitled “Tomorrow’s Hero,” DC Comics released this 48-page one-shot for July 2002. Re-imagining 1965’s Green Lantern # 40, in the present-day, ex-radio executive Alan Scott reluctantly accepts a lifetime achievement award from Gotham City’s mayor. At this public relations dinner supporting Alan are his daughter, Jade, and her boyfriend, Kyle Rayner.
Sensing Alan’s pensive mood, Kyle privately approaches him. Alan then relates his first team-up with a brash, young Hal Jordan … away from the early Justice League/Justice Society-related crises.
Though resentful of Hal’s arrogant blowhard attitude, Alan joins him, at the behest of the Guardians of the Universe, against the cosmic threat of evil Oan scientist, Krona. The elder Lantern later concedes Hal’s solo action realigning the moon to prevent further devastation impacting Earth makes him the best man wearing the ring. Yet, once Hal’s physical body is taken over by Krona, Alan and Hal must implicitly trust one another, if there’s still time to stop their adversary.
Finally shifting back to the present-day, it appears that two generations of Green Lantern gladly look upon Jade and Kyle as their shared legacy.
REVIEW:
Though a roguish Hal Jordan is not particularly likable for much of this tale, writer Benjamin Raab effectively distinguishes Alan Scott as Hal’s equal. With the art squad’s excellent visuals, Raab concocts a well-played tale bridging Alan and Hal’s familiar Silver Age incarnations with DC’s present continuity. All that is missing from DC is some acknowledgment of the original creative team that devised this issue’s source material (i.e., writer John Broome; artist Gil Kane, etc.).
Overall, for Green Lantern fans, this one-shot offers a welcome addition to any comics collection.
Note: Raab’s story has some inferences and a suggestive hook-up scene between Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris that are not necessarily kid-appropriate.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The full-page “1st and Foremost” column hypes three other DC First one-shots: Superman/Lobo; Superman/Flash (Jay Garrick); and Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)/Joker.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
