Black Hand is back as Sinestro and Hal Jordan come face to face with the undead villain one more time. The dead are coming back to life, and it’s up to the two of them to put a stop to it. Does this issue come alive, or is it buried six feet under? Hit the jump to find out!
GREEN LANTERN #12
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artists: Renato Guedes, Jim Calafiore
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Green Lantern: Sinestro and Hal Jordan leave the planet of Nok for Korugar to retrieve The Book of the Black. Elsewhere, the newly escaped Black Hand has raised his family from the dead to share a nice demented dinner. And he’s brought Chinese food. Because we all know the dead love the taste of flesh…and egg rolls.
UNINVITED DINNER GUESTS
Hal Jordan and Sinestro are transported by The Book of the Black into the middle of Black Hand’s sick little dinner party where he has started to make the dead rise. The Guardians discuss their future plans for a new “Third Army” which will “Replace Everyone.” Also, The Book of the Black provides us with information that Hal Jordan might just be a different Lantern than we all expect.
This issue moves along at a nice brisk pace, mainly consisting of Hal and Sinestro’s fight with Black Hand’s undead army. The setup for the next big event in the Green Lantern universe is strongly apparent here, and Johns overall succeeds in making this a fun read. The characterization of Sinestro and Hal are consistent though Hal’s new cocky ass routine is starting to wear thin with me. Johns has been setting up the Guardians to be villains for awhile now and I’m looking forward to seeing what they have planned (though I’m not looking forward to the next event, in which I’ll only be buying this title.) Black Hand is as creepy as ever, with his family issues still readily apparent. The fight with all the risen corpses was fun, though Sinestro conveniently grabbing his yellow lantern felt like an easy out to me. Then there is the reveal at the end, which really was not that shocking and was quite easy to figure out earlier on in the issue. I do like the idea of Hal becoming a Black Lantern and can’t wait to see what Johns does with that.
SOMETHING DOESN’T QUITE GO TOGETHER
Taking the place of Doug Mahnke this issue are Renato Guedes and Jim Calafiore, artists unfamiliar to me, but I do like what I see. Guedes’ in particular was fantastic and I will be on the lookout for more work by him. He draws Black Hand and all the undead with such detail that it really provides great atmosphere for the book. Calafiore’s art is also well done with a more simple approach and a few thicker lines. And here is where there may be a slight problem for some. The differences between the art is fairly noticeable, not to the point of being distracting, but readers who don’t like changes in artists mid book may not enjoy this issue as much. Colors are dark and moody throughout with the page of multiple lanterns being the exception. All in all, it’s great art and is a fitting fill in for Mr. Mahnke.
BOTTOM LINE: WORTH A LOOK
If you’ve been enjoying the Green Lantern title up ‘till now, there shouldn’t be any real reason why you wouldn’t enjoy this issue. Though the reveal might not surprise some, it does set up some interesting things for down the road. Those who don’t enjoy multiple artists on a book might not like this issue, but the differences are minor. I had a fun time reading this issue and while I’m not looking forward to another big Green Lantern event, I will still be picking up this title. Green Lantern #12 gets 3 out of 5 Stars.
