DCU Comic Book Reviews

GREEN LANTERN #29

Green Lantern Secret Origin, Part 1

May 2008

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Ivan Reis

Inks by Oclair Albert

Cover by Ivan Reis

Synopsis

As a young boy, all Hal Jordan ever wanted to do was fly airplanes, just like his father.  Even after his father crashed his plane and died, Hal defied his mother and joined the Air Force.  His decision splits apart the family and his mother refuses to see him as long as he remains in the Air Force.  So when Hal learns his mother his dying, Hal purposely punches a senior officer and is given a discharge.  However, he arrives too late.  Elsewhere, Abin Sur is battling Qull and Atorcitus.  Abin Sur wants to know about the prophecy and the Blackest Night.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Much of this secret origin of Hal Jordan that unfolds in this story occurs in the mini-series Rebirth that brought Hal Jordan back to the DCU about three or so years ago.  Granted, the origin story doesn’t appear in chronological order in Rebirth as it does here and I think there are a few scenes shown here that are not in the mini-series, but the story remains the same.  And I think that is where I have a problem with this issue; I am reading a story that had only just been recently told.  It seems like this entire story-arc is a waste of time, giving us a story already told, but is redeemed by the last page where we see Abin Sur and the Blackest Night prophecy.  Since we know Abin Sur will give his power ring to Hal Jordan, then I think it might safe to assume that something else, connected to the prophecy, will also be given to Hal Jordan.  So, I am willing to give Johns some leeway with this origin to see where it might lead. 

On the flip side, Johns does wonders with the story, giving Hal’s childhood some emotional depth and resonance.  There are a lot of details to be found that make this story a good read.  It is not often that Johns writes a comic book story so grounded in reality (usually Johns ins kneed deep in aliens) and I think Johns nails this as best as he can, despite the redundant storyline. 

I did not like the brief appearance of John Stewart.  It comes across as too cutesy for my taste, a knowing wink to the reader showing us the too green lanterns fighting each other before they ever knew who they would become. 

Out of curiosity, I wonder how far this origin will take Hal Jordan’s story.  Will we see the destruction of Coast City and the aftermath, or will Johns gloss over it to get back to Jordan’s return to the Green Lantern corps?  Will we recycle the Lost Lanterns story one more time?  Will we see Parallax or even the Spectre?

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