Green Lantern #24 Review

The end has arrived for the Green Lantern Corps.

We start the Lights Out event with the Blue Lanterns dead (see New Guardians #23) and Relic arriving on Oa.

Hal Jordan is now the leader of the Corps and apparently the central batteries of all the corps are getting depleted. Also, Kyle Rayner White Lantern and the rest have arrived at Oa, followed by Relic.

First of all, this is a very wordy comic. There is dialogue and exposition at every turn, but as the first issue of this event (and I believe New Guardians #22-23 is the prologue), it needed a little light on what exactly is going on.

And yes, a lot is going on and I admire the way Vendetti is able to carry on the torch from Johns. The theme of this event is universe encompassing and it's hard to take a side - Relic or the Spectrum. That's the way it should be.

There are massive moments in this book and I recommend it. The next big show for the Green Lanterns is here and it has started brilliantly.

SPOILERS follow.................

Hal is in a very bad spot. The different spectrum corps have been facing problems since Green Lantern #21, as their power rings are flickering on and off. And the different color entities are dying (we already saw the Predator (love/violet) and the Entity (life/white) ). This issue gives us the disturbing imagery of Ion being regurgitated by the Oan Central Battery and leaving looking sick.

And Kyle has problems of his own. A scientist from the old universe, Relic, is the last survivor of his race and the big problem is that he blames the Lightsmiths, the people who manipulated the emotional spectrum, for destroying that universe.

As mentioned above, the Blue Lanterns are no more. Only Walker is left and he is badly injured.

All of this comes colliding in Green Lantern #24. Hal receives the disturbing news that Ion has left the building and the Battery is running on empty when Kyle, Carol and the Oan Keepers arrive on Oa.

And then Relic arrives.

One of the best moments is when Relic says that he will leave them be if they allow him to take the Battery. He knows that the universe is at stake and if he does not act quickly, it may be too late. From a different perspective, the Green Lanterns may be the villains.

And it is predictable. Relic is able to throw Hal's constructs back at him and then sucks the Battery dry, destroying it.

And we get Salaak's  ominous warning that the Battery was embedded to Oa's core, and Oa is about to explode.

A few thoughts...............

1. The other colours of the spectrum (besides Yellow and Green) arrived later in the universe and have been used a lot in the last few years. Coupled with the rings flickering and Relic's experience, it may be safe to say that the universe is really in danger. No, not from Relic. From the Lanterns. Major bummer.

2. How cool was the shot of the Battery exploding? Really made me forget Johns is not on this book anymore.

This book is a good start to the next saga of Green Lantern. A bit wordy, but the imagery and story makes up for it. A must-read.

But for fans of Hal Jordan, this may not suit them. John Stewart fans, on the other hand, get this!

So, I give it 8.0 out of 10.

+Great visuals
+Some great character moments
+Story seems fresh

-Hal is getting short-shifted