DCU Comic Book Reviews

GREEN LANTERN #14

Wanted:  Green Lantern, Chapter One

September 2006

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Ivan Reis

Inks by Oclair Albert

Cover by Ethan Van Sciver

Synopsis

During a mission with the Air Force flying over Chechnya, Hal Jordan along with two other pilots were shot down and taken to a prison camp.  Unable to break out because he failed to take his Green Lantern ring with him, Jordan was tortured for several months before he was able to escape.  After returning home, he and the other pilots were having difficulty adjusting.  Later, Jordan learns that one of the other pilots (code name:  Cowgirl) had gone back to Chechnya and once more was captured.  As Green Lantern, Jordan rushes in to save Cowgirl.  Just as he finds the one who tortured him and Jordan starts to question him, he is stopped by the Global Guardians, who arrest Jordan for the death of the Chechnya soldiers, who are killed in a puff of green smoke.  Meanwhile, bounty hunters from all over the universe are searching for Hal Jordan, including the son of Abin Sur!

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Although there were some good things to the issue, I am a bit disappointed in this issue for a number of reasons.  First, it is sad to see Abin Sur being thrust back into the current stories as this is. I wish Johns would leave the Lantern legacy well enough alone and get on with creating new stories rather than re-visiting older, worn-out stories.  Second, the Global Guardians never struck me as an interesting idea, especially considering the existence of Checkmate, both of whom work for the United Nations.  I hope, at some point, Johns explains the difference between the two.  Third, I was annoyed that the prisoner of war experience was essentially told in a very quick flashback.  When Johns first introduced this plot development, I was hoping we might see more than what we got.  Why not tell the whole story?  In addition to that, I think I’d like to see a little more of the threesome and how the experienced change them.    

There is an odd disconnect in this book.  When going back to the prison camp, Hal states that the ring will obey his every order, except to kill.  As a super hero, this makes sense, as the heroes of the DC universe abide by the strict laws of not taking a life.  Yet, early in the story, as Hal breaks out of the prison camp, he is seen firing his gun at the opposition, presumably killing them.  In the context of the story this makes sense; Hal is a member of the Air Force, a soldier whose job is to use lethal force if necessary.  After all, he was on a bombing run when he was shot down in the first.  When the two events are placed side by side, it becomes weird.  As a Colonel, he can kill; as a Green Lantern, he is not allowed to kill.  It just does not quite work.

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