A new Lantern is poised to fill a recent whole in the line up. Who is this replacement and what is his story? Thankfully it’s Zero Month so we can have questions like that answered. Major Spoilers has the review of Green Lantern #0 ahead!
Green Lantern #0
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Doug Manhke
Inkers: Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne, Mark Irwin
Colorists: Tony Avina, Alex Sinclair
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Green Lantern: Hal Jordan and Sinestro were handling themselves in a fight against the Black Hand, but once the Guardians showed up and took Black Hand for their evil plans, Hal and Sinestro were “killed”. As their bodies were sucked away, their rings combined back into one and zoomed away to find an acceptable candidate. And so it begins…
THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME GREAT FEAR
The statement that a Green Lantern ring says as it chooses the latest protector of Sector 2814 rings more true than it ever has when it slides onto Simon Baz’s finger.
As a Muslim-American who grew up in a post-9/11 America, Simon was subject to adverse treatment throughout his life. In the opening pages of Green Lantern #0 we see Simon and his family’s reaction as the Twin Towers were attacked, transition to him scrubbing hate graffiti off of the Dearborn Islamic Center the day after, then Simon and his sister being attacked five years later, and finally him being subjected to a “routine” airport security check ten years after that horrible day.
The rest of the issue is used as more of a set up for possible coming story lines, but also for the fateful moment that the Hal/Sinestro ring chooses Baz to take over the duties of looking over the Sector. In the wrap up pages it is fairly obvious that a worldwide (Justice League wide at a minimum) search for Hal Jordan is about to begin along with a call back/look forward of the Guardians horrible plans.
I haven’t read every issue of Green Lantern ever written but this maybe the best one that I have. Was it a perfect issue? No. There is that weird plot issue of, how do you steal a van that is completely empty besides a bomb and not notice said bomb? But don’t focus on that and focus on how they did more character building with Simon in the first two pages than entire issues can accomplish.
MORE EXPLOSIONS
Doug Manhke continues on as the lead guy for the Green Lantern series once again handling the penciling. For the most part it is stunning work, with the first page being both heartbreaking and beautiful. The scene where the ring flies in and fixes itself on Baz shows Manke’s ability to draw more action oriented sequences well. Not everything was a good though, as I did have a problem with his mouths. All the characters here are either presented as tight-lipped or in different variations of a snarl. Other body parts all look great; he just has that one hang up to round out the visual aspect of the issue.
BOTTOM LINE: WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
So there is now another new Green Lantern on Earth. Of course this will bring up the argument of does there really need to be another one, but we should be focusing on the fact that Hal is gone (until he can come back to save the day) and we have the possibilities for a run of new stories from a hopeful dynamic character. Green Lantern #0 did a superb job of fulfilling the concept of the zero issue and gave us background on Simon before he becomes the central focus of the coming issues. With some nice pacing and a couple really nice beats, coupled with above average art, Geoff and company gave Simon Baz a warm welcome into the DC Universe and get 3.5 out of 5 stars.
[rating:3.5/5]
17 Comments
Thanks for the review! I noticed you didn’t say much about Baz’s Green Lantern get up. The first time I saw this cover, I was surprised to see that DC was parading out their big-new Arab-American hero wearing what amounts to the Green Lantern version of a Ski-Mask and wielding a pistol, which potentially creates a very loaded image given Baz’s background. Is there any explanation of the costume in the issue at all? I’m sure DC isn’t oblivious to what some will call their non-politically-correct costume choice, so I’m curious as to what their greater plan is behind this costume.
As a Muslim, how does he reconcile the existence of aliens with his religious beliefs?
Probably the same way a Christian would.
One would think after the controversy of pre-reboot Superman ditching his American citizenship that DC had learned that trashing America isn’t the best strategy, saleswise, but apparently the lesson of 9/11 was to make sure Muslim feelings don’t get hurt.
In that vein, a blogger on another site had an interesting question: what does the Muslim Green Lantern think of the gay Green Lantern’s right to marry?
I don’t think anyone on NuDCU Earth except for Power Girl & The Huntress know about Earth-2. And the only person on Earth -2 who knows about NuDCU Earth is Mr. Terrific.
So, to get back to the question at hand, I don’t think he knows about the GL in question and thus has no opinion.
I’m guessing.
I don’t know why his reaction is more interesting to you than anyone else’s. Or why you would automatically think he has more of a problem with gay people than anyone else in the DCU.
DC can’t really ever learn anything about “trashing America” until and unless it ever attempts to do it.
Superman refusing American citizenship was by no means “trashing”. Although one can’t help but wonder when and why he would ever think of himself as American. Superman is much too pure a concept to care about petty nationalities.
So looking at post 9/11 America and fixating on Islamophobia isn’t trashing America, in your eyes.
Nice to know people at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo post here.
If you can’t get past the fact that not all Muslims are alike, and that 99.99999% of Muslim Americans love America, you have a serious problem.
I fully concede that the vast majority of Muslim Americans are loyal to this country. However, I should note that polls suggest that 99.99999% is an exaggeration. But, then again, so is the constant portrayal of Muslims as nothing but victims. The simple fact is that Christians and Jews are more likely to be attacked in the U.S. than Muslims, and this sort of thing is more common than the reverse:
http://www.wnd.com/2012/07/outrage-over-mob-attack-in-michigan/
I’d have to say that the likelihood of Christians and Jews being attacked may have something to do with population size, as well, wouldn’t you say?
Actually, even when you adjust for population size, it’s still more common for Christians and Jews to be attacked than Muslims.
This has got to be the worst character design in the nu52
There is one thing that I do like about the costume design, the short sleeves exposing the tattoo and how the ring seems to make it glow green. This is a nice touch to help solidify part of his character showing that he believes strongly in courage. Hopefully the artists who depict him in whatever books he shows up in can keeps it consistent.
If it’s good I don’t mind, but I really don’t want another gimmick! Death, rebirth, gay, etc.. gets old quick.
There is actually very little “religion” inside the issue. In fact, the only case you could make about there being any religion in here was the one panel of Baz cleaning graffiti off the Islamic Center.
Why? Why do we need yet another Green Lantern and to replace Hal Jordan who was shoehorned back into the universe after being dead. Been there. Done that. We don’t need five human green lanterns. Even if Hal Jordan is truly dead (he’s not ) four Green Lanterns was and still is too many. Give it a rest!
I really have not enjoyed the Green Lantern series since it came out. I think #0 was the last one. I also haven’t liked the evil Guardians. Why can’t they just go back to policing their sectors?