Green Lantern #4 - Comic Review

 

Things feel like they might finally be picking up a bit with the latest issue of Green Lantern as after three issues of not a lot going on we're finally moving the story forward somewhat. As enjoyable as seeing Hal repeatedly fail at life can be, it's not really what folks come to the series for, and it's the intergalactic action and super heroics that are the main heart of this series. Well, with Sinestro making his presence known last issue, things have started to return to that as he and Hal come face to face once again.

Sinestro wants off Earth, and to do that he needs a power ring. As such, he's come to Hal in order to take his ring and get away. Hal, knowing that it won't work for him, hands the ring over to Sinestro to show this, and it enrages the villain. Just as with John Stewart, who in Green Lantern War Journal issue one showed off that he also has a super special type of ring, it seems like the Earth Lanterns are getting special treatment with unique and wondrous rings. And in Hals case it means no one else can use his ring. 

The angry Sinestro decides to take this as something of an insult from Hal, because he's Sinestro and that's the kind of guy he is, and detonates a series of bombs across the city, allowing him a clean getaway as Hal has to try to stop them. But, they're too much for him alone; so he calls upon a friend for help. Hal and Barry have always been a duo that readers have likes, and Green Lantern and Flash have been a combo that became so iconic that it was replicated multiple times over the decades, with Wally taking Barry's place, and eventually Kyle taking Hals. But, the best of these duo team-ups has been Hal and Barry, and we get to revisit that here.

The two of them work well together, and it's nice to see a story where a hero goes 'this is too much for me on my own, I'll call for some help' rather than just pushing through and doing it all on their own with potentially disastrous results. It also shows that despite his hotshot nature Hal knows when things are dire enough to need some extra help. He might showboat whilst in a jet, but he has a bit more sense when it comes to super heroics.

Barry even gives Hal a hand in investigating into what Sinestro and his mercenaries were doing at Ferris Air, using his CSI investigative skills to check out the scene of the crime. This also gave a nice moment for Barry to catch up with Carol, a pairing that would absolutely know each other well yet we don't really see interact that often. The main downside from this is Barry being another 'but Hal and Carol have to be together' voice in a book that keeps on parroting that sentiment. It's yet another male super hero who doesn't seem to understand or respect the fact that Carol has moved on and has a new partner. It's giving vibes of the angry ex who can't move on and I don't really enjoy this part of the book.

The art, by Xermanico and Romulo Fajardo Jr, looks really nice, and the action in this issue flows well. It's nice to see the art team tackle another hero for a bit too, and the Flash looks really good here, and compliments GL well. Even the quieter character driven moments look really good, and the opening scene of Hal and Sinestro in the diner together is a brilliantly choreographed and planned scene, with the art really helping to boost the tension between the two.

In addition to the main story there's also a back-up feature, introducing Sinson (awful name), an alien boy who believes that he's the son of Sinestro. Surviving on an alien world in an Oliver Twist type scenario where he has to steal for a cruel master, he wants to emulate the man he believes is his father. This seems to be set-up for Tomasi's Super Sons stuff, and is okay enough in itself but feels strangely toned when coupled with the main story.

Overall this was an enjoyable issue that improved the slow pace and shifted the focus away from human drama and love life woes of Hal Jordan and seemed to remember that this is a super hero series. Hopefully this trend will continue.

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