No Evil Shall Escape my Sight.

Acclaimed writer Grant Morrison has spent years dissecting the ins and outs of characters like Batman, Superman, and The Flash. Taking these characters fleshed out histories and flipping them on their head, delivering both fan service to new and old fans alike. So, what happens when he takes the pen to sector 2814’s greatest Lantern Corps protector, Hal Jordan? The answer is quite subjective to say the least. Is Hal Jordan a space cop or a superhero? Is he both? Morrisons work on the character is sublime, and possibly could influence James Gunn’s take on the character in Max’s limited series, Lanterns. Let’s take a look and see why Morrison’s tale has more than enough willpower to win you over, on Gaber’s Two Cents.

How’s the Story?

Morrison starts the story off on an intriguing note. With a routine Green Lantern patrol quickly getting out of hand, a band of space pirates gain control of an object that has the capability to wipe out entire galaxies. With the pirates completing their escape, a Green Lantern dies in their path. In turn, introducing us to an intergalactic conspiracy that leaves the entire universe at risk. With these events brings us to the man of the hour, Earths greatest Lantern officer, Hal Jordan. Morrison is a natural at writing Jordan, whether it be from the casual wisecracking jokes, or the omniscient characteristics concerning Hal Jordan’s endless amount of willpower, Morrison just gets it.

Not to mention, when Jordan is introduced in the books opening pages, it actually feels like a setup reminiscent of HBO’s acclaimed crime drama, True Detective. There have been several Green Lantern stories that seem to forget that Hal Jordan is a cop at his core, and yes that type of cop. Case files, patrolling, detective work, etc. the only difference being that his jurisdiction stretches into the endless reaches of space, and not being limited to one city or town like other heroes within this world. Intentional or not, one can only hope that Gunn takes inspiration from Morrisons setup for the new DC Cinematic Universe, as it makes Jordan more relatable and likeable.

As far as villains go, I will say the main bad is nothing to write home about. Which is fine! Several other villains from DC’s pantheon of evil make appearances, and their inclusions don’t feel forced, on the contrary they are quite organic. For example, there is a scene where a slave species is auctioning off planets to several intergalactic villains, some Green Lantern rogues appear, and Justice League villains as well. Some inclusions are such deep cuts that their last appearances date back to the sixties. These deep dives into characters obscure and convoluted histories are Grant Morrisons bread and butter. Occasionally these decisions actually hamper Morrison’s work. Thankfully this is not the case. Again, everything here is integrated seamlessly enough to the point where diehard and casual fans alike will be satisfied throughout the book’s gestation.

We’ll try to steer away from too much spoiler territory, but there is a moment within the story where Jordan makes a very uncharacteristic decision towards an unarmed villain. Which in turn had me backtracking certain panels to see if there was something I missed to warrant such a violent action. This moment is eventually resolved within the next two issues and reframes a previous moment that the audience has already seen through flashbacks under a different thematic lens. It more than pays off and provides a nice subtle twist that compliments the previous issues quite nicely. It’s story structure like this that can elevate comics into the upper echelon of storytelling. You care for Hal Jordan, you care for the Green Lantern Corps, you want to see the villains fail and witness the hero’s triumph. Without Morrison as the head writer, I don’t believe these emotions would resonate with me while reading this tale. Nonetheless, they do. It’s like watching your favorite player having a hell of a game, you’re not the one playing, but man does it feel good to watch.

How’s the Art?

Artist and illustrator Liam Sharp has the daunting task of matching the inventive yet wackiness writing of Grant Morrison. Does he succeed in doing so? A resounding yes would not be enough to convey just how well the art is in this book. Sharp outdoes himself with every intricate detail within the story’s panels. The mood of each image changes with each set piece and allows the imagery to never get redundant or old. With hints of H. P. Lovecraft in every distinguished species, alien planet, and technology, Sharps art makes the readers mind wonder, and I mean that in the best way possible. Just look at his rendition of OA (The Green Lantern Corps main HQ) above. The intricate details within the pages are so enveloping that they can be a tad overwhelming, in the best possible way of course.

Again, with a writer as savvy as Morrison you need someone that can match his inventiveness and produce images that awe and inspire, and Sharp does just that. Even within the panels that contain action, every choreographed move or powerset demonstrated is easy to follow and a joy to look at. Which is an impressive feat, considering just how exhaustive each panel is. When an artist can convey such an imaginative premise in a grounded realistic way, they have done exactly what was asked of them and more. The influences here are obvious, it’s the hybrid of all these different styles that make the work that much more remarkable.

If there were ever two artists that were meant to work with one another on Green Lantern, Grant Morrison and Liam Sharp fit the bill. Both of their styles go hand in hand, and their pairing provides for one of the best written and drawn Green Lantern stories in years. One can only hope that the pair continue to work together for many years to come. So, in the realm of ‘Brightest Day’ and without a hint of ‘Blackest Day’ in sight, we’ll call it a wrap. All that and more is why 2018’s The Green Lantern recieved this particular Cent Score.

Cent Score: 5 Cents

A creative triumph that has it all, perfection never looked so good.

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