[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Tim Sheridan
Art: Cian Tormey with Jordi Tarragona
Colors: Matt Herms 
Letters: Lucas Gattoni

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

With the help of the Justice Society of America, Alan Scott, the Green Lantern defeats his lover and nemesis, the Red Lantern.  But, does he really believe Red Lantern is the villain?

Positives

 There’s a theme that Sheridan develops in this series that he brings around for this conclusion in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6.  The importance of Alan being gay is a believable through line for the series.  From a storytelling perspective it’s solid.  It works in the sense that the purpose of the series was to tell Alan Scott’s story since being retconned to being a member of the LGBTQ community.  Sheridan effectively demonstrates this in the conclusion as the plot points strewn about in the first five issues do in fact come together.

Cian Tormey’ art is effective and does its job.  There are some nice moments as he has a wide array of emotions to communicate throughout the ups and downs of this final issue.  Also, we finally get an appearance of Obsidian which confirms he and his sister, Jade are still part of continuity.

Negatives

The single biggest negative about this series and its culmination in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6, is how it devalues Alan Scott as the first Green Lantern.  Alan faces off with Johnny Ladd/ Vladimir Sokov/ Red Lantern who turns out to be more experienced, more effective and more knowledgeable about how to use will power to manipulate the Lantern flame.  He understands the Green and Red flames are related and he teaches Alan how to use will power to make the power in Alan’s ring do what he wants it to do.  For a series that should be all about how important Alan is, this aspect of the story does the exact opposite.  Alan may be the first Green Lantern, but the story that Sheridan gives us makes Alan second fiddle to Johnny/ Vlad.  It certainly comes across that Alan couldn’t have become a powerful, effective and iconic hero without Johnny/ Vlad’s instruction.  This actually lessens Alan’s importance of being the first, because now he really isn’t the first.  It also calls into question Alan’s willpower. 

Sheridan also adds aspects to Alan’s past that detract from what should be a heroic characterization.  In issue #3 we see Alan visit prostitutes.  In issue #1 we learn he had to be blackmailed into joining the Justice Society of America.  He’s also blackmailed into sex acts with J. Edgar Hoover.  While these may fit the narrative of a gay man in the 1940’s, they don’t fit the idea of an iconic DC Comics hero or a character known for willpower.  In this sense, Sheridan is more interested in writing a gay character as opposed to Alan Scott who’s existed for over 80 years and who’s never demonstrated these character traits.

Negatives Cont’d

Additionally, his love for Johnny/ Vlad seems to blind Alan to Vlad’s crimes, he even tells Vlad this as he suggests to Vlad how he can escape from the American authorities.  This is a very strange and troubling turn.  It also calls into his willpower.  Is he really unable to use that willpower to overcome his emotions and see Vlad/ Johnny for who he really is and that he’s held for his crimes?

Sheridan presents the idea that Alan’s willpower comes from his strength of being a gay man.  It seems that only by having to face the struggles of being a gay man in the ‘40’s was he able to develop his willpower.  As stated above, however, the importance of this willpower comes from Johnny/ Vlad.  This also indicates that without Johnny/ Vlad he wouldn’t have had the willpower to be able to get up every day and live his life.  He calls out Hoover who he knows hides the same secret:

“As if you Mr. Hoover, don’t know what it takes to live a secret life.  The exhausting amount of energy, of willpower to wake up every day, put on the suit, and quietly go to work for a world, that if they knew who you woke up next to would turn its back or worse- wait till you turn yours and pull the trigger.” 

He tells off Hoover and is able to free himself from the threat of blackmail.  The story demonstrates that it’s all due to Johnny/ Vlad instead of anything intrinsic in his own character.  We see that he doesn’t even know that willpower controls the power in the ring.

Negatives Cont’d

In the first five issues, Tim Sheridan goes to great lengths to show the reader what life for a gay man in the 1940’s is like.  A lot of these moments are sobering and effective.  Along the way, it’s not hard to see Alan as a different iteration of the Golden Age Green Lantern.  It’s easy to imagine that this Alan wouldn’t marry Rose Canton and have kids with her.  It’s easy to imagine that he wouldn’t marry Molly Mayne in their twilight years.  Alan isn’t questioning.  We’ve seen, in no uncertain terms, this series has shown not only is Alan gay, but he KNOWS he gay.  He’s accepted himself, it’s not an easy life but he knows what it takes to live this secret life.  Unfortunately, at the end of Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6,  Sheridan pivots and drops the ball by trying to fit in Alan’s relationships with women.  It comes off as editorial interference and something that wasn’t part of Sheridan’s plan for the character.  This series would’ve been much stronger had Sheridan not connected the dots and Alan’s past no longer included Rose, Molly and his children.   It would’ve served the story AND character MUCH better.

This is potentially the most compelling aspect of Alan’s new history, especially considering the strength with which Sheridan has developed the importance of Alan being gay.  Sheridan throws Rose and Molly in almost as an afterthought.  It appears to only be there because it has to be.  Ultimately, it isn’t explained satisfactorily and it actually calls into more questions about Alan’s character. 

Despite all we’ve seen in the first five issues and parts of #6 that all that reinforcement of Alan sexuality…he still likes women?  Despite reinforcement of the importance of Alan’s willpower he still has relationships with women…KNOWING he’s gay?  Wasn’t the point of this series to show Alan’s recontextualized history as a gay man?

This means that Alan has misrepresented himself and lied to these women.  This is a huge problem for his characterization.  It doesn’t fit the actions of a hero, nor does it reflect the abilities of someone who relies on willpower to accomplish his super-heroing.  It leaves him a mess.

Finally, there’s a bizarre time travel bit in which Alan leaves a letter for himself to read that he’s written in the future.  It adds nothing to the issue or the series and comes off as a reminder for Sheridan himself that he’s loved.  The content of the letter does something truly strange as it reinforces the importance of the love of his biological children, something completely incongruous with a man living a gay lifestyle.  It’s not clear what should be taken from this.  It further muddles the waters…is he saying, even though you know you’re gay you’ve got to trick a woman into having your children?  The more I think about it the worse it gets.

Verdict

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6, like the entire series, is uneven.  There are moments that really work and are quite compelling, but it all seems to be in service to retconning Alan’s sexuality as opposed to be in service of Alan as a heroic character.  Sheridan tries to get the reader there, but the end is just unsatisfying in almost every way.  If he’s supposed to be bi-sexual that’s a different story….  If he’s a gay man with a strong will power to live his life as he is then why would he lie and misrepresent himself to women?  It’s not heroic, it’s not…nice….  It highlights how forced changing Alan’s sexuality is.  It feels like DC wants to have its cake and eat it too.  The character ends up being weaker for it.

The post Review: Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Jeremy Adams
Art: Xermanico & Amancay Nahuelpan and Kevin Maguire
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Rosemary Cheetham
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Hal and company go to the United Planets to inform them about Thaaros…and it doesn’t go exactly as they plan.  On Earth, Carol Ferris makes a big decision!

Positives

While the conflict between the “renegade” Green Lanterns and Thaaros ramps up, perhaps the most interesting development in the issue is the final page cliffhanger with Carol Ferris.  Jeremy Adams wisely uses Carol’s history as a way of getting her involved in the proceedings on Oa.  Adams has been toying with the Hal/ Carol relationship since this series began.  It seemed Carol was completely happy with her current boyfriend and Hal was going to have to accept that Carol had moved on and their new status quo was going to be friendship.

With Green Lantern #11, Adams puts the focus on Carol’s desires as she forces the issue with her boyfriend convincing him to drive to Las Vegas to elope.  It’s a nuanced approach to Carol as it’s clear that while Carol is saying one thing, she is also having misgivings.  This leads to the final page surprise as Carol is confronted with another aspect of her past, an aspect that should prove to put her and Hal on equal footing.  This should force Carol to confront the truth of her feelings.  This was an unexpected though appropriate plot turn and a thoughtful examination of Carol’s character.

Positives Cont’d

It’s no secret that Thaaros isn’t automatically indicted by the U.P. Council.  Though expected, it does provide the continued tension between Hal and the renegades against the U.P. One wonders if this will lead to some sort of dismantling of the United Planets.  It would be a clever in-story way of resetting things for the U.P. to show up again in the future as part of a more traditional take on the legislative body as part of the world of the future Legion of Super-Heroes.  The United Planets as a contemporary entity has been an awkward take since Brian Michael Bendis introduced the idea during his ill conceived and executed runs on Superman and the Legion.

Like it or not, Adams also nails the Guy Gardner back up.  The art by Kevin Maguire is right on target, especially the facial expressions on Guy.  This is also seen when Carol gets her surprise on the last page.  Xermanico (I think) does a great job of communicating Carol’s misgivings throughout Green Lantern #11.  There’s a degree of subtlety here that is achieved at a high level.

Negatives

The flashback sequence with Hal and Carol as middle schoolers plays upon the long history the characters have.  Reflecting upon the childhood interest in bad boy Hal works against the more complex aspects of their relationship as adults.  The final page cliffhanger injects what is needed to bring it back around to the adult relationship between Hal and Carol.

Verdict

Green Lantern #11 takes a turn into the interior of Carol’s struggle.  The creative team does an exceptional job adding this layer to the storytelling by developing this subplot further setting it up for the next big part of this story.  Jeremy Adams continues to be the best writer at DC Comics these days understanding the balance of action-adventure and character.  

The post Review: Green Lantern #11 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Jeremy Adams
Art: Xermanico & Amancay Nahuelpan and Kevin Maguire
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Rosemary Cheetam
Letters: Dave Sharpe

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Jo Mullein leads Hal into the intrigue on Oa.  Hal finally understands the big picture that reveals United Planets President Thaaros as the man behind it all.

Positives

The lead story is well paced and looks great.  A lot of the pieces are filled in as Hal, Jo and the other “renegade” Lanterns jump into action to save one of their own.  Adams nicely connects some of the pieces from the Geoffery Thorne Green Lantern series.  While this run started out feeling very Hal-centric, with Green Lantern #10 Adams has got all the pieces moving and shaking so that it feels firmly interconnected with previous runs.

Since Hal constructed his own ring through his will, it still operates a little differently and it’s great to see that as a plot point that matters.  This keeps Hal as the focus as well as setting him apart just enough from the rest of the Corps to keep him special.  The art from Xermanico and Nahuelpan looks great throughout.  They deliver the espionage aspects and the power ringing equally well.

In the back up story featuring Guy Gardner, Adams and Kevin Maguire provide a huge dose of nostalgia for Guy and the JLI era including a guest appearance from Booster Gold.  If this is your jam, you’ll really enjoy this.  Adams hits all the right beats and writes Guy pitch perfect for that era.  Maguire’s art is great as usual and makes it the story appear it was plucked out of time.

Negatives

The only time I’ve liked Guy Gardner was in his original appearances in the sixties and seventies and then under Robert Venditti in Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps as one of the “Four Corpsman.”  Green Lantern #10 sees Guy in his less nuanced iteration and it’s difficult to take him, as it’s always been for me.

Verdict

Green Lantern #10 continues to ramp up the excitement.  It took a little while to get to this moment but it seems that this title is now where Jeremy Adams has been heading since issue #1.  Something big is just around the corner and the scope has expanded nicely to encompass not only the recent continuity but older events as well.

The post Review: Green Lantern #10 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Mikel Janin
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

The recruitment drive continues and in the process of trying to “apprehend” The Harlequin’s Son, the Golden Age Legionnaire shows up, and…WOW!

Positives

Geoff Johns knows his DC Universe.  Don’t take that lightly.  It’s not something that can be said about many DC writers these days.  Mark Waid, Jeremy Adams and Johns demonstrate every month that they know the history and how things should fit together.  Johns plays a huge card this issue on a final page reveal (no spoilers).  Additionally, Johns also hints around the edges at some of the changes to history that have transpired in this “New Golden Age.”  Even though there are changes afoot as we’ve seen mainly in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, Jay Garrick: The Flash and Wesley Dodds: The Sandman have also shown some of this new history, though all is not clear.  Like it or not, with this series and the three mini-series mentioned above, there is a new history at work here and it’s only being revealed slowly.  

The issue is peppered with references to new history as well as what history has been retained.  This not only ties in plot elements that have already been introduced, but some of the plot points seen in the adjacent mini-series.  Ruby’s story continues last issue which connects to Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, Jay and Judy are busy together which sets them up for Jay Garrick: The Flash, Quiz Kid is seen overhauling a T-Sphere that puts him in position for his appearance in Jay’s book, and we also get a glimpse of the Freedom Fighters, specifically Phantom Lady.  This allows Johns to show readers that it’s Grant Morrison’s post- Infinite Crisis iteration of the team.

Positives Cont’d

There are some clever character bits and pieces that are strong.  Power Girl seems like the Power Girl we’ve known for the past 48 years and outside the DC mandated uniform bears no similarity to the awful version in her current title.  Helena Wayne gets some confirmation that what she’s attempting in giving second chances not only works, but is known in the future as a success as confirmed by the Golden Age Legionnaire.  Mikel Janin brings all of this to life beautifully; Justice Society of America #9 is a great looking comic.  

The chase for The Harlequin’s Son, Michael Mayne, points to some of the history that is different and needs to be filled in.  Mayne is a new character, and what he says suggests some things about his mother.  He seems to cast her in more of a villainous role than her pre-“New 52” history.  Mayne’s mention of his father not only raises the question of who his father is, but curiously point to the person I’m willing to suggest here- Alan Scott.  There’s a long story there, but it’s not mine to tell.  

Justice Society of America #9 ends on a reveal that again points to Johns knowledge of DC Comics history.  It’s a reveal that will be a “holy $#!+ moment for readers who know.  It’s an incredible plot development that will certainly raise a lot of questions about the current state of the 31st Century.

Negatives

The negatives in this issue, outside of delays (maybe on purpose to line up with the other mini-series?) really can’t be determined until Johns’ plot points come to fruition.  So far the journey on this new history has been pretty compelling, and only time will tell.  Unfortunately, Johns is scheduled to leave DC behind soon and what comes after this issue is completely unknown.  Jeremy Adams seems to be the best candidate to continue with Robert Venditti a close second.  It’s not like they’re going to lure Roy Thomas in for a run.  After the first issue of Dan Jurgens The Bat-Man: First Knight, I would throw his name in the ring as well.

Verdict

Johns has certainly been doing the best job of presenting DCU history changes between this title and the related mini-series (Jeremy Adams is a close second in Jay Garrick: The Flash), and this issue is a prime example of that.  The biggest question remains is if it is being done well enough for readers to embrace it.  Justice Society of America #9 presents a number of ideas and it still feels like there’s not enough space to give resolution to all of them.  Perhaps, the point is not to reveal everything, but set things up for them to be developed elsewhere and elsewhen.  This issue though is quite wonderful.

The post Review: Justice Society of America #9 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review CONTAINS spoilers]

Writers: Jeremy Adams and Sam Humphries
Art: Xermanico and Yasmin Flores Montanez
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Alex Guimaraes
Letters: Dave Sharpe 

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

Hal Jordan finds the end of the road Madame Xanadu set him on.  It’s surprise after surprise that gets Hal off of the Earth and on the trail of the mystery of the destroyed Power Batteries.

Positives

Green Lantern #9 suddenly ramps up the action and mystery with a couple of surprises.  They are big and integral to the plot so it’s hard to avoid discussing the spoilers.

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

Hal’s path leads him to Tom Kalmaku.  Tom relates an encounter he had with a Guardian, reminding him that he’s the last of the New Guardians (see Millennium).  This is a call back to a series over 35 years old.  It’s not fondly remembered, but it’s a deep cut into DC history.  Tom then reveals to Hal a power battery left on Earth by the Guardians of the Universe and a mission from them- the Green Lanterns of Earth are the safety back up if anything happened to the Guardians or the Green Lantern Corps.  These events tie things together and provide some clarity for the events of the past few issues.  It put Hal in a position he’s comfortable with…and he’s raring to go.  

Positives Cont’d

Adams plays off Hal’s characterization and the perception of Earthlings by the rest of the Universe.  It’s cleverly executed as it fits both character and story.  Adams also addresses Hal’s feelings for Carol.  He gives Hal some resolution and it indicates that Hal is too attached to his life as Green Lantern to give it up for a regular married life on Earth.  It’s not unlike a priest taking a vow of celibacy to tend his flock…Hal’s life as a Lantern isn’t as much a job as it is a vocation.  The art by Xermanico and Romulo Fajardo, Jr. is simply beautiful at times.  The locations sing!  They capture the fantastic wonderfully.

The second story, “The Trial of Jessica Cruz” serves to expand the story and the world in which it is taking place.  We get a bit of Jess’s history for those unfamiliar and enough to inspire some research.  It’s put together well and connected to Hal’s story in an interesting way.  It’s easy to see how things will come together soon.  This back up story in Green Lantern #9 adds an additional layer as well as additional excitement for what will come next for not only Hal and Jessica, but the status quo of the Green Lantern Corps in the DC Universe.  It’s especially intriguing as it addresses the role of the United Planets.  The back up even reveals the parties behind the destruction of the Power Batteries, or at least one of them.

Negatives

It’s hard to find a negative with Green Lantern #9.  It may be a bit odd to bring back Millennium, but it goes a long way in making the history of the DC Universe matter.  It feels like there’s a shift in direction with the series after the opening two issues that set up the characters so well.  Even though it makes sense for Hal to be able to resign himself to being done with Carol, it would be good to see him actually have that conversation instead of just running away again.

Verdict

Green Lantern #9 brings a number of plot ideas together.  It feels like the lynchpin to this series and everything will pivot off this issue going forward.  The deep cuts are really exciting, as are the potentialities suggested in this issue with the Green Lantern Corps, Jessica Cruz and the United Planets.

The post Review: Green Lantern #9 appeared first on DC Comics News.

Summary

Hal Jordan with the help of Razer of the Blue Lantern Corps, finally gets a break on the case of the wonky emotional spectrum.  Someone is destroying central power batteries.

Positives

Despite the quality of Jeremy Adams’ writing in the Green Lantern issues of the “Knight Terrors” event, there’s no doubt that the delay from the event has slowed the progress in many series, including Green Lantern.  Green Lantern #8 begins to bring together the bigger idea of the issues of the problems with the emotional spectrum and Sinestro’s reasons for being on Earth in the first arc of this series (issues 1-6).  

Adams continues to play with the Hal/ Carol dynamic in a subtle and nuanced way as well providing an interesting surprise at the end with some new antagonists.  The appearance of Madame Xanadu is also a fun component as she always opens a doorway to something unexpected.  As elements come together, revisiting the emotional spectrum promises to be a significant idea for exploration and piques excitement for what’s to come.

The back up story is an interesting callback to the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern series of the 1990’s.  Writer Ron Marz returns to the character as he takes Kyle back to his beginnings including a ring construct appearance of Alex DeWitt the character that inspired the phrase “women in refrigerators.”  It’s a nice touch that will bring back the memories for readers of those comics from the ’90’s.

Negatives

Green Lantern #8 doesn’t quite bring everything together as some parts feel like they would’ve been better to have played out as the action instead of flashback.  While the magic connection between Madame Xanadu and the power rings is intriguing, that association has been more in line with Alan Scott’s ring while the rings of the Green Lantern Corps have remained rooted more in science fiction as a device of alien science.   It raises some questions that one trusts Adams will address in this story arc.

Verdict

Green Lantern #8 is a solid read that promises a large drama that will unfold in this series.  There are a number of interesting moments in the issues and it really feels like something is beginning in both the stories.  

The post Review: Green Lantern #8 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Mikel Janin
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

It’s a spotlight on Ruby Sokov as Helena tries to convince the team she’s worth saving while Alan Scott tries to convince Helena she’s an unrepentant criminal like her father.

Positives

As Geoff Johns continues building this world of “the new Golden Age,” a couple things become clear.  This isn’t completely unlike Earth-Two in the Bronze Age under writers like Gerry Conway, Paul Levitz and Roy Thomas.  These writers were filling in gaps, adding to back stories and introducing characters that fleshed out the histories of the Earth-Two heroes that had been around since the 1930 ‘s and 40’s.  And secondly, Johns is doing it with a strong focus on character, be it characters we are familiar with like Helena Wayne or new characters like Ruby Sokov or old characters with new histories like Alan Scott.  Even if Alan’s new history conflicts with the stories that old readers have come to love, Johns finds a way of making it interesting.  He is able to do the “how” well no matter the “what.”

So much of this series has been about relationships, but Justice Society of America #8 may be the most character focused issue so far as Johns highlights various relationships as he weaves in a question and a mystery.  Again, it’s the “how,” not the “what.”  The question Johns has Helena Wayne posit concerns her motivations for attempting to recruit the villains of her future in the present in order to save them.  The mystery concerns Alan Scott, Ruby Sokov and the Golden Age Red Lantern, Ruby’s father.  Ruby already has questions about her father- is he dead or alive?  Alan tries to convince her he’s dead, but as he unknowingly reveals something to Ruby.  It’s not spelled out here, but reading the clues like Alan’s over concern about Ruby and what Ruby senses, it seems that Alan and Vladimir (Ruby’s father) weren’t just enemies, but also had a romantic relationship at some point.  For further reading on this topic, check out Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3, also out this week.

Positives Cont’d

Mikel Janin returns on art this issue, and it’s a real blessing that this series has featured Janin, Jerry Ordway and Marco Santucci.  All three of these artists have made wonderful contributions to the series and they are all do a great job.  You can’t just pick one!  Janin imbues Ruby with a real personality in his depiction from the cover and through the issue.  She’s not naturally likable from the script, but Johns and Janin have created something deeply intriguing about her that’s hard to escape.

The final pages reveal the identity of the Legionnaire who is probably the Golden Age Legionnaire teased back in The Golden Age #1.  It’s a cool reference for fans of the Legion of Super-Heroes.  No spoilers, but one can’t help wonder if Johns will find a way to work in this character’s classic history into the broader scope of things in order to give new relevance to the classic stories.  That’s a bit obtuse, but it’s worth being surprised on the last page for the full reveal.  

Negatives

If there’s a negative in Justice Society of America #8, it’s not necessarily for this particular issue, but rather the approach to rewriting the Golden Age.  I mentioned the Silver and Bronze Age approach to developing the Golden Age characters above.  There’s a difference between how Conway, Levitz and Thomas did things and what we are getting in “the new Golden Age.”  Those Bronze Age creators worked very hard to build on things that already existed from the Golden Age and add things that made sense with the characters and they tried very hard not to write things that would contradict major aspects of the characters’ histories.  Roy Thomas even wrote stories that attempted make sense of contradictory stories from the Golden Age and stories that explained oddities from the era.  There was a real reverence for what had gone before and a genuine attempt to make almost all of it work together.

In much of Johns work he’s tried to do similar things.  Johns is probably not spearheading the rewriting of Alan’s history, but something he’s got to deal with in this series.  The approach to Alan Scott in this current era appears to ignore nearly everything significant that’s happened to him from the ’80’s and beyond and instead of making his Golden Age appearance a basis for his character they are just very basic ideas to touch on instead of elements of substance that have a bearing on his character.  I believe it’s fair to say that this Alan Scott is a new version of the character, it’s not pre-Crisis or post-Crisis Alan with a “reveal,” but simply a new version of the character and it’s probably best to think of it that way.  Though the details are different, it’s similar to Wesley Dodds, the Sandman before and after Sandman Mystery Theater.  This history developed for Wesley in that series has become the history, though it contradicts things from the Golden Age, Silver Age and Bronze Age that were done with the character.  If there’s a difference in these situations, it’s that the newest changes wrought on Alan’s history change things that were genuinely interesting and progressive whereas Wesley’s original past was generally bland and one-dimensional.

Verdict

Justice Society of America #8 is another excellent issue and in some ways perhaps the best of the series.  Mikel Janin turns in another wonderful job on art and Geoff Johns continues building his world with interesting and engaging character aspects for Ruby, Helena and Alan.  It’s a can’t miss issue with the Legionnaire reveal at the end.

The post Review: Justice Society of America #8 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writers: Jeremy Adams and Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Xermanico, Scott Godlewski and David Lafuente
Colors: Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Tamra Bonvillain
Letters: Dave Sharpe and Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

It’s mano y mano as Hal and Sinestro continue their confrontation with apparently the Earth at stake…as Sinestro wields RAGE instead of FEAR!

Positives

Since issue #1 of this series, Jeremy Adams and Xermanico have done the basics with the classic Silver Age Green Lantern extremely well, and as one might expect, issue #3 is no different.  Sinestro is undoubtedly Hal’s greatest nemesis.  Like the Joker for Batman, no one else quite does it like Sinestro when it comes to challenging Hal Jordan.  There’s a complexity to their relationship as it’s been developed over the years since Sinestro first appeared in Green Lantern #7 (no not next issue…Green Lantern #7 from 1961!).  And, that’s probably what makes Sinestro so significant for Hal.  Sinestro was Hal’s instructor in the Green Lantern Corps, and he’s been portrayed often in the past 20 years as much as an anti-hero as he has been portrayed as a villain.  Adams uses that in Green Lantern #6 to great effect as we see Hal trying to reason with Sinestro, appealing to a side of him he knows is there, even if it is often buried.

Adams also expands the use of the Emotional Spectrum as Sinestro wields a Red Lantern ring instead of his usual Yellow ring.  Hal saves the day, but he can’t stop Sinestro from escaping back to Korugar.  Adams seems to know how to use a character’s history and supporting cast to tell good stories that fit the main character well.  If only more comics were like this, DC would be getting more of my money.

Positives Cont’d

While the action in Green Lantern #3 is executed very well by Xermanico and Godlewski, there’s a static image of Carol on page 1 that is particularly striking.  Carol’s fear, concern and multitude of other thoughts are captured perfectly as she attempts to let Hal know what is going on.  There aren’t a ton of lines used, but it’s just the right ones that communicate these emotions around the eyes and shape of the mouth.

The “Wayward Son” back up story continues to build as Korg gets enough parts to try and launch his spaceship.  With the announcement of the upcoming Sinister Sons title, readers should pay close attention to what happens in this story.  You can tell Tomasi is building up to something as both Korg in this story and Sinestro in the main tale are headed for Korugar.

Negatives

With this first arc over, it’s still a little hard to tell how much the pacing was impacted by “Knight Terrors.”  It’s probably a good idea to go back and read all six issues in one sitting.

Verdict

Green Lantern #6 is just a really, really good comic.  It’s as simple as that.  The creative team exemplifies the “back to basics” approach.  It’s working extremely well for Hal and Co. and there’s no reason to think it will end.  Character comes first as it should!

The post Green Lantern #6 appeared first on DC Comics News.

[Editor’s Note: This review may contain spoilers]

Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Marco Santucci
Colors: Ivan Plascencia
Letters: Rob Leigh

Reviewed by: Matthew B. Lloyd

Summary

The Harlequin’s Son leads off Justice Society of America #7 as he describes himself as a monster which leads to the team tracking down a real monster…Solomon Grundy!

Positives

Certainly, one of the intriguing things about the Justice Society of America and The New Golden Age is the new characters.  Justice Society of America #7 finally gives the reader something more on The Harlequin’s Son.  With Alan Scott’s history suffering a severe retcon in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern, his erstwhile wife, Molly Mayne- The Golden Age Harlequin– gets a parallel treatment with the introduction of a son, Michael Mayne.  With the changes wrought on Alan Scott’s past, it’s unclear of how much of his history from the Bronze Age up until The New 52 in 2011, especially his history with Molly, is still in play.  However, this issue begins exploring where The Harlequin’s Son is right now.

Having Helena go after Solomon Grundy as an ally (she’s already done it in the future) plays on a couple of details from past comics.  The Huntress faced off against Solomon Grundy in a solo story from Wonder Woman #273, and in the ’80’s in Infinity, Inc., Alan Scott’s daughter, Jade was close with Grundy.  In Justice Society of America #7, Helena calls Grundy her friend.  While things don’t go as planned, the fact that the Solomon Grundy nursery rhyme is used to add some understanding is not only fun, but cleaver.  Taken these elements with Grundy and the Harlequin’s son, it makes one wonder if Obsidian and Jade, Alan’s children with Rose Canton (Golden Age Thorn) are being replaced by Michael Mayne and Helena Wayne in some sense.  Or perhaps, it is not Helena who is replacing Jade, but rather, Ruby Sokov.  We haven’t seen much of Ruby Sokov, yet, but, not only is Ruby a precious stone that is also a color like Jade, what we do know about Ruby describes her power functioning like Jade’s as well as turning her skin red.

Positives Cont’d

Power Girl and Mister Terrific seek out Cameron Mahkent, the Icicle in an attempt to recruit him for the team Helena wants to put together.  Power Girl is suffering mightily in her own current ongoing series. and seeing her portrayed accurately here is great, and it gives me hope that some writers actually do care about the characters they are writing.  Johns also includes an appearance of Jean Loring.  I’ve wanted to see her redeemed, and while it doesn’t look promising right now, there’s always a chance.  Jean plays a role in Yolanda Montez’s storyline as she begins to feel Eclipso taking over.

Marco Santucci turns in another great job on the art in Justice Society of America #7 in making everyone look distinct and carry the action.  Santucci conveys a myriad of emotions as he is able to reveal what’s going on behind the characters’ faces.  Sometimes he is describing a thought or simply keeping them in character.  The meeting with Mahkent demonstrates this in a particularly deep fashion.   Johns’ script is fairly sparse so Santucci handles most of the storytelling.  Johns does end the issue with a surprise as he picks up another plot thread with the appearance of some heroes from the future.

Negatives

If it turns out that Jade and Obsidian have been eliminated from continuity, it will be sad.  It’s a guess at this point, but a guess that feels right.  It would always help if this book were a monthly, I just need more of these characters!

Verdict

Justice Society of America continues to be a fun read for fans of these characters.  Johns likes to include as much history as possible and reference bits that expand the overall scope of the story.  There’s been a lot of world building since issue #1 and Justice Society of America #7 continues to add to it.  It’s clear with this issue that the history of the DC Universe and the Justice Society has changed and readers can’t always count on what has happened before still being included.  It’s nice that Johns tries to remind readers of what is still canon.

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Who are Jade and Obsidian?

Jennie-Lynn (Jade) Hayden and Todd (Obsidian) Rice first appeared in All-Star Squadron #25 cover dated September 1983 as part of a time travelling team of Justice Society of America characters who were mid controlled by the Ultra-Humanite to interfere with events during World War II.  Jade and Obsidian are twins and they make their most important entrance in Infinity, Inc. #1 when they along with other sons, daughters and proteges of the Justice Society burst in on the team and petition them for admission.  The pair believe that Alan Scott, the Golden Age Green Lantern is their father.  This storyline plays out over the first year and a half of Infinity, Inc. with the full story revealed in Infinity, Inc, Annual #1 from December 1985.

Alan Scott had married Rose Canton, the Golden Age Thorn who was operating under an alias.  On their wedding night the personality of The Thorn took over.  She disappeared that night not knowing she had become pregnant.  When Canton realized that The Thorn was a threat she put the twins up for adoption.  Alan Scott never knew what happened, including that the woman he married was in reality one of Jay (The Flash) Garrick’s adversaries.  The twins were adopted separately and each developed powers. Jade had a similar power set to the Green Lantern except that the green energy manifested directly from her body without the need for a ring or lantern for recharging.  It also caused her flesh to turn green when using the power.  Obsidian had the power of shadows and darkness much like The Shade.  He could engulf an opponent in the darkness terrorizing the individual.  He could also manifest a shadow self which was intangible.  

Jade and her father hit it off right away.  Obsidian and Alan Scott had a difficult relationship right out of the gate.  Marc Andreyko utilized this friction to expand on Todd’s character revealing him to be gay in the pages of Manhunter #18 in 2006.  The relationship between Alan Scott and his children was a long running subplot throughout Infinity, Inc. and subsequent JSA titles all the way up to the relaunch of the entire DC publishing line in September 2011 with the New 52 initiative. 

Where did they go?

At this point, Jade and Obsidian ceased to exist as there was no Justice Society in the New 52 and when the Earth 2 comic launched it was with new versions of Alan Scott, Jay Garrick and such on a new parallel Earth.  In this reality, because the elimination of Todd Rice as a representative of the LGBT community no longer existed, writer James Robinson wrote the Alan Scott of Earth 2 as gay in order to maintain representation.

At the end of Doomsday Clock the pre-New 52 JSA returned to continuity.  Around the same time, James Tynion IV penned a story for the Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular.  This story recounted Alan Scott’s origin from All-American Comics #16, but with a twist- he wasn’t just on the train when it crashed, he was hidden away in a car with another man having a romantic encounter and subsequently blamed himself for the man’s death.  This led to Alan Scott coming out to Jade and Obsidian in the pages of Infinite Frontier.  However, it did not address any other aspect of Scott’s past including his marriage to Rose Canton, or his second marriage, this time to Molly Mayne in the pages of the aforementioned Infinity, Inc. Annual #1.  It now seemed incongruous that Scott as a man in his ’60’s would enter into a second marriage when he married Molly Mayne if he was indeed, gay.   It raises lots of questions about Scott’s integrity and honesty.  It’s certainly believable that Scott would have tried to live as straight and marry Canton earlier in his life, but a second marriage as an older man when no one would have any expectations of him to marry at that age doesn’t really make sense.  Nor does it make sense that he would have finally come out at over 100 years of age, which is what we see in Infinite Frontier.

The New Golden Age

In November of 2022,  DC Comics finally brought the JSA back in a big way.  Under a banner of “The New Golden Age,” a mini-series, Stargirl and the Lost Children and the current Justice Society of America series were launched along with The New Golden Age #1 one-shot that served as an introduction to both titles.  Writer Geoff Johns introduced a number of new characters including a number of “forgotten” Golden Age sidekicks.  He also reintroduced the Golden Age Aquaman who hadn’t been seen since two brief appearance in All-Star Squadron #59 and #60.

Two of Johns creations were The Harlequin’s Son and the Red Lantern.  The Harlequin’s Son is exactly who he sounds like he is, the son of Molly Mayne, the Golden Age Harlequin.  Nothing has been revealed about his father yet, but some of the pertinent facts we have are that Michael Mayne is gay and that he used his mother’s gagets and he started out as a villain.  We also know that Sylvester Pemberton attempted to recruit him to Infinity, Inc. when he was forming the team.  This is not how it happened back in Infinity, Inc. #1, however, as that team was formed by Hector Hall and Lyta Trevor.  Pemberton was a member of the JSA at the time and sitting at the table when the youngsters broke in on the JSA meeting.  It’s not clear who else was recruited to this team now, but if Pemberton was doing the recruiting, it seems that Hector Hall and Lyta Trevor may not have been there at all.  The Harlequin’s Son’s Who’s Who entry in The Golden Age #1 also indicates that his relationship with his mother remains complicated.  

Johns also introduces readers to a new Golden Age arch-nemesis for Alan Scott- The Red Lantern.  In the early ’50’s the Red Lantern would have a daughter who would go missing.  This daughter is Ruby Sokov.  In Justice Society of America #1 we see that in the future, Helena Wayne as the Huntress along with Power Girl have resorted to recruiting villains to join the JSA due to dire circumstances.  We see Ruby and she appears much like Jade, only red instead of green.  Like Jade, Ruby manifests her power directly from her body.  Both she and her father are powered by the Crimson Flame, something similar to the Starheart which powered Alan and Jade.

As I wrote the review for the forthcoming Justice Society of America #7, I realized that Johns was playing with an element associated with Jade back in Infinity, Inc.  In this new comic, Johns is associating this relationship with a different character.  It got me thinking, and I realized Jade and Obsidian haven’t been seen for a while.  In fact, despite all the JSA characters that have been seen in this new series, Jade and Obsidian haven’t been seen at all.  I went back through The New Golden Age #1 and the first 6 issues of Justice Society of America to determine if I had missed a background appearance.  I  hadn’t.

post-Crisis– Iron Munro, Helena Kosmatos Fury, Flying Fox and…Helena Bertinelli

If they weren’t there, where were they?  As I pondered, it occurred to me that Michael Mayne and Ruby Sokov have some of the same energy as Obsidian and Jade.  Obsidian and Michael are both gay and both have had difficult relationships with the one parent they know.  Jade and Ruby are both powered organically though their respective father’s used a ring to direct their energy powers.  Also, both characters skin color is affected by the energy they wield.  Ruby and Jade are also names of precious stones that suggest the colors associated with their powers.

It struck me at this point that these new characters may have been designed to replace Jade and Obsidian in continuity, much like what was done with the Earth-Two Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and original Helena Wayne after the Crisis on Infinite Earths.  After all timelines were merged into one single Earth at the end of the Crisis on Infinite Earths,  some characters were deemed redundant and others simply couldn’t exist.  For doppelgangers, characters who were identical to their Earth-One counterparts like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Green Arrow, the Earth-One versions were retained.  Characters with unique identities like Jay Garrick and Alan Scott who didn’t resemble their Earth-One counterparts Barry Allen and Hal Jordan remained as the first generation of heroes from the 1940’s.  Helena Wayne could no longer exist because her father the Golden Age Batman no longer existed.  Helena’s best friend, Power Girl, was unique in her identity as to be unrecognizable as Supergirl and remained though she was given a new back story and origin unrelated to Superman (this truly is a separate story for another time!).

With these characters gone, there was an in-story void and energy that needed to be filled.  Roy Thomas came up with most of these replacement characters inserting Iron Munro for Superman, Flying Fox for Batman and Helena Kosmatos who would be the Golden Age Fury.  Helena Wayne was reimagined as Helena Bertinelli and retained the Huntress identity as well as a tenuous connection to the Bat-family.  Having thought it through, it seems like Michael Mayne and Ruby Sokov are taking the place of Obsidian and Jade in the new timeline.`

Despite the Pain…It Makes Sense

One of the biggest questions about the retcon of Alan Scott being gay was how it would affect his children and his history and his marriage to Molly Mayne.  It hurts to see Jade and Obsidian go, but in this new history with a gay Alan Scott it makes sense.  One can imagine that this time around Alan Scott has never been married.  This means he didn’t misrepresent himself and marry two different women under false pretenses.  The exact nature of his relationship with Molly in the Golden Age is still in question, but we do know that she still had a career as the Harlequin.  A close reading of the Harlequin’s Son’s Who’s Who page indicates she wound up on the side of the law eventually.

Eliminating Jade and Obsidian clears Alan’s past of any inconsistencies so that it is free to be explored without having to over explain what happened.  This has always been an issue in retconning Alan Scott’s sexuality.  It truly makes no sense if you keep his history, but you also lose what was there with the character if you rewrite the entirety of his history.  You lose Obsidian and the dynamic between father and son with whom through difficult years searched for common ground and a positive relationship.  It leaves Alan Scott as mostly a blank slate as all the character work done with him through the Bronze Age up to the New 52 just isn’t.  Without it, though- Who really is Alan Scott?  We get some glimpses in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 and his inclusion as a gay man is driving that series as even his membership in the JSA if forced by blackmail.  It’s certainly a different vibe than what Johns shows of the first JSA meeting in The New Golden Age #1 which while referencing Alan’s concerns subtly also shows him to be involved and cognizant of the magnitude of the event with no apparent misgivings.

I could be wrong.  I could be seeing things that aren’t there.  But, I don’t think I am.  

One clue that points in the opposite direction is the image on the Who’s Who page for The Harlequin’s Son.  One of the background images shows Michael Mayne in combat against Jade and Obsidian.  However,  when reading the page, it’s clear this could never happen.  The text explains that after being cleared of murder, he turned to acting and refused to join Sylvester Pemberton on Infinity, Inc. when Pemberton was putting the team together. Jade and Obsidian would have debuted at that time, so there couldn’t be an era in which Mayne was active as a villain and Jade and Obsidian were operating.  It’s not a friendly fight either as Jade and Obsidian are clearly interrupting him as he commits some sort of crime.  

RIP Jade and Obsidian.  Comic book limbo welcomes you.  

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