DCU Comic Book Reviews

BLACKEST NIGHT:  TALES OF THE CORPS #2

September 2009

Tales of Red Lantern by Geoff Johns and Eddy Barrows & Ruy Jose

Tales Of The Star Sapphires by Geoff Johns and Gene Ha

Tales Of The Orange Lantern by Peter J. Tomasi and Tom Mandrake

Covers by Ed Benes and Dave Gibbons

Synopsis

On the planet Havania, Bleez rejects all suitors because she wants someone who wants more than just her beauty.  Her home planet is then invaded by a member of the Sinestro Corps, who puts her chains.  When Green Lanterns, attack, Bleez tries to run away.  However, the Sinestro Coprs member stops her.  He kisses her.  In her rage she becomes a Red Lantern.  She kills him. 

On Earth, Carol Ferris is asked to become a member of the Star Sapphire because she has a hole in her heart.  Carol doesn’t believe.  The ring convinces her that she loves Hal Jordan and the only way to help him and to protect him is to become a Star Sapphire.  Carol agrees and is the newest Star Sapphire. 

Many years ago, the God of Hunger travels from planet to planet and demands offering of their most previous items or he will destroy them.  That is, until the God reaches Okaara, where he is consumed by Larfleeze.  The God of Hunger belongs to Agent Orange.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Overall, I like the idea behind this mini-series, but I am not sure doing it in separate installments like this was the right way to go.  These, I think, are better suited as back-up features, attached to the Green Lantern Corps book.  I will say, however, that these stories are much better than the first issue.  Unlike that first issue, these are complete stories.  Yet, none of the characters are important to the Blackest Night or indeed will have any type of role, except as background in those two-page splashes of the fight scenes.  Having said that, however, I think the important part of the story is not the character, but the transformation of the character so that we understand the different Lanterns better. 

In the Red Lantern story, Johns does a good job to explain how someone could become a member of the Red Lantern corps.  We see Bleez (lousy name) as someone who already has a lot of anger towards her mother for trying to arrange a match, so when the Sinestro member forces himself on her, it makes sense for her rage to boil over like it does. 

In the Star Sapphire story, I finally got the explanation I was looking for, which is how and why Carol becomes the leader of Star Sapphires.  And while I can kinda understand the reasoning, I am still not totally convinced.  Yes, I get that she loves Hal, but I would like to think she is a strong, intelligent, independent woman who doesn’t need to define her life by what Hal does.  And what that is exactly what happens here.  She agrees to take the ring so she can help Hal.  You know, behind every good man is a good woman….  As I said, I understand the concept; I just wish Johns could’ve found a way to make Carol more of a woman and a person and not the obligatory love interest. 

The final piece is the amusing tale of Agent Orange.  It is an amusing concept and Tomasi and Mandrake have fun with the piece.  The end was a little abrupt, but I overall I liked the story.  I especially liked the planet where the kids are the most precious items, which is how it should be.

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