Comic Book Review: Green Lantern #53

This months issue of Green Lantern was the first since Blackest Night ended, and the first since Brightest Day began last week. It's a issue that is setting the stage for things to come, and a prologue of sorts to the new Green Lantern ongoing, Emerald Warriors, and the upcoming Green Lantern arc, White Lanterns. So, let's recap.


This issue begins in Belle Reeve Prison, where Hector Hammond is being communicated with telepathically by an unknown being. Hector is jealous, sad even, because he tasted Hal Jordan's thought during Blackest Night, where Hal was once again a hero. The unknown being talking to Hector is revealed to be on the lost sector of the planet Ryut. We can't see their face, as it is covered by a raggedy cloak. They're wrapped in bandages, with green chains on it's ankles, and it's also note worthy that they being is quite short, and when it speaks, it's word balloons are yellow. It talks about the hurt the universe has endured with the Blackest Night, and that a new day, The Brightest Day, is upon them. It claims to have written the green lantern prophecy, and that it protected the universe before the guardians. As it enters a chamber, it says it will protect the universe again. The chamber contains seven large stones, each containing a lantern emblem. The most interesting thing in the chamber though, is that Parallax is chained to the stone holding the symbol of the Sinestro Corps.

Back in Coast City, Hal and Carol are having a drink, awkwardly having a conversation, while trying to avoid the one they know they should have. They quickly get bored, but Carol has an idea, and the next page, they're racing their jets, while trading jabs. Hal finally asks though, "Do you love me?" and Carol avoids answering by replying with questions about Hal's relationship with Cowgirl. Before the conversation can go any further, they notice a yellow object heading straight toward them. They split, but Hal's plane is demolished by an always cocky Sinestro. Hal and Carol are now in their Lantern forms, and begin to attack Sinestro, while pointing out that less then a day ago after Blackest Night, an intergalactic truce was agreed upon. Sinestro claims that the treaty still stands, and the reason he interrupted, was because he found the White Lantern, and the lantern is asking for Hal.

In Metropolis, Lex Luthor is examining the remains of a charred Black Lantern. He says after the Blackest Night, all the Black Lanterns burst into flames, leaving very few remains, and no rings, which is a shame because he wants one. Larfleeze barges into the lab with his new guardian and orange constructs, hungry with greed as always. Larfleeze wants to know what people on Earth want, because then he will can take it. Luthor replies "power" which Larfleeze already has. Luthor pauses, thinks, smiles, and then says "land." Larfleeze is now excited, "WHAT IS LAND? I WANT SOME."

In the Coast City cemetery, Saint Walker, Barry Allen, and other volunteers are burying bodies. After every grave, Saint Walker stops, and recites a eulogy prepared for every individual person.

On the planet Ysmault, Atrocitus is being recruited by an unknown individual who radiates green. The green person wants to fight against the guardians, and the Green Lantern Corps, all while preserving life. Atrocitus is contemplating the offer, we see the recruiters: Ganthet, and Guy Gardner. Guy is loving the idea, and says that if they all team up, he could no longer be friends with Hal, to which a smiling Ganthet replies "I Know."

The last panels are Hal flying, wondering out loud where the White Lantern came from.

It tells us to follow the adventures of Guy, in the Emerald Warriors, the adventures of Ganthet in the Green Lantern Corps, and of course Hal Jordan in Brightest Day.

This issue did a good job of closing off Blackest Night, while helping last week welcome us into the new are for all things Green Lantern. Johns of course, always has secrets up his sleeve, leaving us clues as to what's coming next in a fun, mysterious way. The only problem I have with Green Lantern is Doug Mahnke. Not saying that he's not a great artists, just that everything always looks very posed, and he puts way to much emphasis on everyones chin. Still, it was in all a great issue, and I'm looking forward to discovering the secrets behind the White Light.