Posted in: Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: dc comics, eduardo pansica, green lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lanterns, HRL, jessica cruz, new gods, rami, rebirth, sam humphries, simon baz, the guardians, volthoom

Green Lanterns #29 Review: The Students Become The Masters

Having met the original seven Green Lanterns of the Corps and watched a Kryptonian become overwhelmed and killed by the uninhibited power of the Green Ring, Simon and Jessica have been forced to make the other six their students.

There is promise amongst them, but they are unwilling still to help the Guardians against the threat of Volthoom.

With shards of his old Ring in his arm, Simon attempts to focus and use whatever power is in him to help Jessica and the others. Through this, he has once more attained the Emerald Sight! What he sees with this vision may very well convince the six Green Lanterns that they need to stand against Volthoom after all.

Green Lanterns #29 is a bit of a build-up issue for the coming conflict with Volthoom. It establishes Jessica and Simon's relationship with the original six Lanterns, their weaknesses and strengths, and how they are likely to use their abilities in the coming battle.

And it largely works as such. It's interesting to see the two novices in a teacher-student relationship with six diverse and strong-willed alien beings.

That being said, it's easily among the slowest and least interesting issues of Green Lanterns thus far. In its defense, Sam Humphries has made that a high standard to have to follow. You do get tidbits of each of the six that keep them interesting, and seeing Jessica go drill sergeant is pretty damn cool. However, this feels like sort of a predetermined plot beat, and it doesn't go too far out of the expectations for such a story.

What helps make up for the slight lacking in plot is the return of artist Eduardo Pansica. He was last seen in the "Polarity" storyline in the series, and his work looks gorgeous. He has a unique style that plays on depth, shadows, and gives a real textured feel to the world he creates. I hope he sticks around for a few issues, because I love looking at his work.

Julio Ferreira's inks bolster this by adding depth to the shading, and Alex Solazzo's color art contrasts it with brilliant and dazzling greens that make for a visually stunning comic book.

While this is one of the slower issues of Green Lanterns, it still makes for a compelling read. Sam Humphries has kept this series compulsively readable, and it goes far beyond the hopes I envisioned back when this comic was announced. This is Rebirth's best comic, and it deserves a read. Check it out.

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