Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax #2 Review

The forces of Electropolis have attacked (and possibly killed) neophyte Green Lantern Kyle Rayner.  Now, Hal “Parallax” Jordan has blood in his eye and no compunction about using his massive stolen powers to destroy them in retaliation.  Is this the end of the Green Lantern?  Your Major Spoilers review of Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax #2 awaits!

CONVERGENCE: GREEN LANTERN/PARALLAX #2
Writer: Tony Bedard
Penciler: Ron Wagner
Inker: Bill Reinhold
Colorist: Paul Mounts
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Marie Javins
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $3.99

Previously in Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax: The destruction of Coast City by Mongul drove Hal Jordan to the brink of his sanity (along with, it was later revealed, the influence of an extradimensional fear creature known as Parallax.)  Having been snatched away by Brainiac, both men have spent a year under a power-sapping dome, only to have freedom offered to them if they destroy another city, Electropolis.  Unfortunately, the princess of Electropolis has attacked first, seemingly taking out Kyle, leaving Hal shaken, angry and possessed of the power to single-handedly destroy their city.

It’s probably not gonna go well…

BLOOD AND THUNDER AND POWER RINGS

We open our festivities with Kyle Rayner awakening form a beatdown, one that came at the hands of Princess Fern of Electropolis (daughter of Lord Volt and Lady Quark, and possessor of a costume that makes her look like the offspring of the Bronze Age Fury and Plastic Man), and immediately tries, in Kyle fashion, to talk his opponents down from combat.  It’s a nice moment from our young Lantern, and one that contrasts quickly with the actions of Parallax, who has begun a fullbore offensive on Electropolis, with all the power of the Green Lantern power battery.  Kyle’s parlay with the leaders of Electropolis is successful, as it his attempt to bring Hal Jordan back to his senses (though it’s unclear how much of Hal is actually in the mind of Parallax.)  We once again confront the mysterious earthquake that has been referenced throughout the line, and end the issue with one of the more shocking moments of the series, as we finally see what happens when one city successfully annihilates the other…

A REALLY FINE-LOOKING ISSUE

The art in this comic book is top-notch, especially given that Hal and Kyle are in their Zero Hour-era garb, also known as the “Nobody But Darryl Banks Ever Makes Them Look Right” suits, with armored shoulders for Jordan and Kyle in his notorious “crab-mask.”  The battle sequences are really well-blocked, and the final sequence showing Hal literally rocketing Kyle to safety before destroying Electropolis is both retro and very cool to look at.  Bedard’s scripting is pretty skillful, as well, though the book just sort of fizzles out without answering the question of what happens to Hal Jordan OR what happens to Metropolis after Electropolis is razed, giving me yet another non-ending and another reference to the mysterious Earthquake.  (Now I have to go read the main title to see if any of this is explained there, which annoys me a bit, given that we have been repeatedly told that we WON’T have to read Convergence to enjoy the crossover titles.)

THE BOTTOM LINE: *AGAIN* WITH THE NON-ENDING?

Still, given the strong use of both Kyle and madman-era Hal, and the excellent art, I’m kind of okay with this strange title, hearkening back to the dark days of 1994 and reminding me of the good parts of the early 90s excess.  Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax #2 doesn’t stick the landing, and has some maddening bits within, but captures enough of the past zeitgeist to earn 3 out of 5 stars overall, thanks in large part to very strong art.  I’ll let you know if there are any answers in the Convergence main title, but honestly, I’m not holding my breath…