Hearts torn asunder.
When this Uprising saga started way before its actual titular
event, John Stewart had been struggling to hold his own book in the manner Guy
Gardner did before him.
Because, let’s face it – John’s isn’t exactly the most
interesting of the bunch beyond his duty-before-everything shtick. Introducing
former enemy Fatality aka last survivor of a planet doomed thanks to John’s
hubris, and making her into a Star Sapphire and his love interest didn’t help.
What became great about the Corps book after Jensen took
over was how he showcased the ones surrounding John and Fatality. Whether it
was new entrants like Jruk and Feska or old returning ones like Von Daggle,
they energized the book with their unique quirks and personal tragedies.
Sadly that is all gone here. We’re back to the old boring
duo of John and Fatality. And even that goes haywire.
Chang does have some good moments with the artwork here, but
there’s little he can do about the story, which feels like it’s just for the
sake of putting one over the readers.
SPOILERS FOLLOW………………
After the climactic (and slightly generic) final stand
against the Durlans ended with victory for Hal’s forces and a prison term for
the shape-shifters, John and Yrra spend some intimate time on Zezzen.
After the obligatory quote of war and death a result of
hate, she is spied by one of the many young Zezzites just as she’s about to
kiss John. Coming closer to the child, she reveals who she truly is even as she
swallows the Zezzite whole – a high level undercover Durlan.
WHAT???
Apparently, ever since Lights Out and maybe even before, the
John-Yrra thing has been about being close to the enemy. Apparently, they can
manipulate not only shape but also emotions.
As the being actually known as Verrat Din emerges with the
strength of a Daxamite, the requisite monologue begins explaining who she is.
And all I read is ‘Oh, the fight wasn’t enough and we need
to make something stupid happen just for shock value.’
So, John’s only stable relationship and one of the few
things that made him more than a stereotypical hardliner is totally false. Okayyyy.
John and Verrat start fighting even as the Lantern tries to
reconcile everything that’s happened just now.
The emerald ring tries to fly away but is crushed by Verrat,
though not before confirming that the real Yrra is still alive. Even as he
contacts Hal, he fails to restrain her from going off to Mogo.
Lantern Stel is the first casualty as he is broken apart
while the Durlan tries to find her people’s location from Lantern Perood.
Arisia, Isamot, Iolande and Oliversity engage her, even as Hal alerts Von
Daggle about the last problem.
Feigning rustiness, Daggle stays back from the fight and
with the help of Mogo, puts an end to the threat of the Durlans.
On the other hand, the fight continues and results in the
first fatality in Oliversity(in an eerie similarity to how many Lanterns died
in Infinite Crisis at the hands of Superboy Prime).
She reaches the prison cells but is too late. Apparently,
Mogo found a way to render the Durlans’ ability to shape-shift redundant and
trapped them in a state of constant flux, leaving them shapeless.
As Mogo moves away from the yellow sun, Verrat’s powers fade
and she is captured. John contemplates killing her but decides against it. For
now, John has only one objective – to find the real Yrra.
Elsewhere, some shadowy figures talk about how the Durlans
may have failed, but this is just the beginning of the onslaught on the Corps.
SPOILERS END…………………
With some fairly unwanted focus on two of the more
uninteresting characters in this book, and a twist which felt out of place and
just for shock value, Jensen’s final entry to the Uprising event is a bust.
Chang’s great visuals do redeem it a little, as does John’s
final act, but overall this both felt unnecessary and forced.
So, I give it 5.5 out of 10.
+Great artwork
-A horribly contrived twist
-Failed attempt to play off an underdeveloped relationship
-Pacing is off
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