Honor the dead.
We are standing at the edge of the chasm that is Uprising,
as the Corps face more and more difficulties in trying to re-establish a sense
of order. Hal’s going into this fight without ‘knowing’ his enemies and that’s
a shaky ground to be on as the events of this issue unfold.
The Durlans are the primary aggressors in the war against
the Lanterns, using the Khund and Non-Anj as pieces in their chess game. So,
the first targets for Hal are the Khunds. But going into a fight half-cocked
isn’t something Hal has learnt to let go off.
Vendetti is creating a societal quagmire for Hal as he
struggles to understand the role of a ‘leader’ and managing to balance the
disparate social structures across the galaxy. It’s commendable, and like in
this issue, comes across quite nicely. But ever so often this type of
commentary comes across as half-baked and this Durlan War has seen episodes of
that.
Coccolo comes on board this issue and he does a commendable
job. His facial responses are well crafted and the only problem for me has been
the Khunds, who are fairly generic (though that has been a problem throughout
this arc)>
SPOILERS FOLLOW…………………
The new crypt of the Corps is opened by a very reluctant Hal
Jordan,
as he eulogizes the fallen Lanterns, including a very much alive Kyle Rayner,
who was believed to have perished at the end of Lights Out.
Hal and co reach the interstellar Port Oasis Bay in Sector 571 where a Khund Warship
is docked. First of all, that statement brings me back to the Mass Effect days.
These little tidbits make me believe a massive Green Lantern RPG can be made.
But then, that’s just me.
The group decides to capture that ship and study it, but
before that they have to meet with emissary of the Bay. We get a nice little
tidbit here from Salaak that the Lantern of Sector 571, Voz (currently, the
Corps prison warden) saved the emissary once.
On board, emissary Preegus (apparently a small dog of some
sort looking like Yoda) greets them and arranges a trial to see who’ll win – by
hand-to-hand combat.
The fight is set against Hal from the start, as the choice
of weapon goes to the Khund, Commander Khu and the ring is forbidden.
As they wait, the Khund come over and Hal offers Khu a
drink. They talk and the Khund mentality of absolute battle is reinforced. They
know they’re being played but they thrive in battle, and would participate
anyway.
The fight goes poorly for Hal at first, but he uses Khu’s
own strength and arrogance against him, impaling him on the very sword he stuck
into the wall. And in one gruesome moment, the rest of his men kill him and
strip the dead Commander of his personal effects.
This is when it hits him. The Khund’s ways are not his own,
and one of the Khund says as much. Hal has no understanding of the customs
prevalent outside Earth, and yet presumes that everyone will conform to him.
That was the fallacy with the Guardians, and sadly Hal is unwittingly following
in their footsteps.
While the group leave with the warship, on Mogo, the fish
Lantern captures the apparently Durlan spy. But instead to leading him to the
prison cells, he kills the Durlan and lies to Voz that he was attacked. As Voz
heaves a sigh of relief with the knowledge that the spy has been captured, the
Fish Lantern smiles.
SPOILERS END……………..
While Vendetti is delving into what makes the Lanterns tick
– first, making their power sources controversial, now making their role as
universal police also such, he crafts an intriguing story of a non-omnipotent
man coming to grips with the magnitude of the Guardians legacy.
It proves very diverging, in some cases on point while other
times it feels like filler and wheel-spinning. Thankfully, this isn’t the case
here and actually makes quite a compelling read, especially in association with
Coccolo.
So, I give it 9.0 out of 10
+Hal is forced to confront some bitter truths
+The universe building continues
+The interactions with the Khunds are done well
+Coccolo does expressions brillaintly
-While not overly saturated, this arc feels like it’s dragging
its heels
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