Lantern Kyle Rayner is stuck on a ship full of living nightmares, but can him and the new guardians escape? Or will they find the worst nightmare of all onboard?
Writer: Justin Jordan
Artist: Bradley Walker, Andrew Hennessy
Publisher: DC Comics
Cover Price: $2.99
Previously in Green Lantern: New Guardians: Kyle, Carol and the new guardians get trapped on ship that was apparently created by the guardians. When one of their own goes missing, will they ever be able to escape?
WHITE IS NOT THE NEW GREEN
I have a strong affection for Kyle Rayner. He’s the Green Lantern that got me to read Green Lantern books. I remember seeing his first book on the stands proclaiming the all new all different Green Lantern, and I loved every minute of it.
Picking up this book, it’s immediately obvious that DC Comics seems to have no idea what to do with Kyle right now. He’s become the White Lantern. He’s palling around the universe with Carol and the new guardians. But what’s their purpose?
There’s intriguing idea in this issue. The ship that is causing these nightmares was some proclamation of the guardians years ago. This is an idea that was barely hit on in the issue. Which is sad, because that story element is so inherently fascinating.
The one true strength of this issue is the search for the missing guardian. The characters find all the members of their team except for one. When the reveal of his fate happens, it’s a little gruesome. The fact that they showed it at all in a DC Comic surprised me a little. It also leads to a sad ending as the team fights to save one of their own until he has to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The Psions pose a very real threat in this issue. The only problem is that it seems like Kyle and Carol are more than a match for them, and through many action scenes we see them dispense with their foes. However, with the loss of one of their own, there is little in this book to make us care about such a major character loss.
DARK SPACESHIPS
Brad Walker does a serviceable job of rendering the dark corridors through which the action of this issue takes place. Also, with two pencilers on this book, the art could have been muddled, but thankfully the art shift is barely noticed. Inks by Andrew Hennessy save the day and keep a unifying tone to this issue.
THE BOTTOM LINE: NOT NEW ENOUGH
Green Lantern: New Guardians started out in the New 52 with a lot of promise. Now, the book seems aimless, and looking for a direction. When major character deaths mean nothing to the overall direction of your book’s story, maybe it’s time to go back to the drawing board.
