Green Lantern Corps 1-13
By John • Jan 21st, 2008 • Category: Dave Gibbons, Green Lantern, Patrick Gleason
After the introduction mini, we start with the ongoing series. Having already established the main cast in the mini, Dave Gibbons starts with the plot in the first arc. At the center of this arc is the planet Betressus, where people are killed mysteriously. The resolution to this mystery was well played out, and it brings to a shocking end. I quite liked the cop show feeling of this arc.
The next arc is a little bit lighter in tone, with Guy on vacation. It reminded me of Captain Picard’s vacation episodes. There are many other “cases” involving all the different characters, which again reinforces the cop show feel of the series.
Issues 7-9 are a fill in arc written Champagne, so this is a self-contained story starring Guy only. The story is about black ops version of the Corps, which we might see again in the future. I found it interesting, something I hadn’t thought about the Corps.
The last arc presents us with another mystery, but this time it affects the GLC directly. Some GLs seem to behave strangely, bringing to some deaths. Guy is also accused of those deaths. The resolution is interesting, then again Mogo was always an interesting concept for me.
Throughout the series there are hints at what the Guardians are planning, although we don’t really know what exactly is going on. They are hiding something, though we don’t know what that is yet.
I am very intrigued by this mystery about the Guardians, but it is taking too long. Luckily I don’t read this series monthly, or I wouldn’t even remember anything.
The art by Gleason is clear and competent, but next to Gibbons it pales in comparison. This series is keeping my attention, though it’s not the greatest superhero story.
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I like Gibbons’s art a bit better than Gleason’s as well, Gibbons seems like a better fit with the kind of old school concept of the book. I really didn’t care for the Champagne stories though. It seems to me the “secret black ops faction” thing is done an awful lot. Isn’t that also the basic concept behind the new X-Force book?
Yep, X-Force is a black ops team as well, though I haven’t read it yet. I agree it’s been done many times in the past, but I just never thought it applied to the GLC concept. At least until everything changed in SCW.
This isn’t particularly relevant to GLC 1-13, but I’m curious about how essential you think the post-SCW GLC issues will be to understanding Blackest Night. I’m planning on buying the trade for Secret Origins in GL (along with anything else Ivan Reis draws), but I’m not all that interested in current issues of GLC. It looks like they’re doing yet another spin on Alan Moore’s “For the man who has everything” story, which I’d just as soon skip.
Also, why doesn’t John Stewart show up more in the Green Lantern books? He’s more familiar to the general public than all the other GLs except (maybe) Jordan. You’d think they’d want him in the books.
I do think GLC will be relevant to Blackest Knight, and it will play a big role in it. Just as it did in SCW. The reason for that is Johns likes to plan ahead and work with other writers, coordinate with them on their little corner of the DCU. He’s doing the same thing with James Robinson on Superman, as well as JSA. I’m sure he’s also planning closely with Peter Tomasi. I haven’t read any GL since SCW, I just want to read it in big chunks of story. I think I’ll catch up on GL and GLC right before Blackest Knight, unless I read rave reviews about stories in between.