HAL JORDAN & THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #18 – DC Comics
It’s kind of curious that Hal gets first billing in this book when, at least in this issue, time is shared with all our favorite Lanterns, and then some. In fact, the big underlying theme in the whole issue is working together; it highlights the Greens and Yellows coming together as the Yellow Lanterns are setting up a battery to make camp where the Greens usually set up shop. It’s the 18th book, but writer Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar) does a good job at catching us up on why everything is happening how it’s happening– save for the existence of Kyle, Jon, Hal, and Guy as the same colored Lantern all on the same side.
The issue is pretty much a set-up for the most part. Space Ape and Gorin-Sunn start the story off on a routine patrol, reconciling their having to work together, when they get attacked by an anomaly on an abandoned planet. After that we cut away to seeing the Yellows and Greens pretty much hashing out the same conflict, albeit with more flashy fisticuffs when a fight breaks out, that are entertaining thanks to the art by Dexter Vines and V Ken Marion. Then, as the action gets going, another anomaly appearing at the Green Lantern HQ in the form of Rip Hunter foretelling the temporal erasure of the Lanterns, the issue closes with Rip being shown to have a ring. It’s quite a setup of an arc, but a little deflated as a singular issue — save for some resolution within the intra conflict of the Lanterns. If you’re looking to start another adventure with your favorite space cops this might be a good jumping on point, but maybe wait until right before the next issue’s release. 3.5/5 Bibles.