I realize that Green Lantern #21 came out yesterday and some of you may be wondering why I am reviewing issue #20 so late. There are several reasons, like the fact I didn’t get a hold of my issue #20 until today, but that is not why I am reviewing this issue so late. I am reviewing this issue out of respect for a great comic writer, the one and only Geoff Johns. You see, this marked the end of his run of the Green Lantern title. So, I know I am a month behind, but I still wanted to review his final issue of Green Lantern.
For those of you who may not have been following the books, here is what has been going on in a “nutshell”. The Guardians trapped Hal Jordan and Sinestro in the Dead Zone. The Guardians also created a Third Army to take over the Corps. That plan failed when Green Lantern Kyle Rayner mastered all spectrums of the ring and led an assault on this Third Army. Well, in doing this, the First Lantern was released. The First Lantern was very powerful and able to alter reality as we know it.
Hal Jordan and Sinestro were aware of what was going on but were helpless to do something until Simon Baz was trapped in the Dead Zone by the Black Hand. With Simon there with the Green Lantern ring still on he was able to leave the Dead Zone and Sinestro decided to hitch a ride. Unfortunately for Sinestro it was too late. The First Lantern had already gained enough power to destroy his home world. This caused Sinestro to lose it and turn to his Sinestro Corps for strength. Sinestro was once again a Yellow Lantern, and no one could save the Guardians from his wrath.
Still trapped in the Dead Zone, Hal realized the only way he could get out was to die and take control of the Black Ring. Knowing that was his only hope to save all those he loved, he leapt to his death to be reborn as a Black Lantern. That is when it really hit the fan for the First Lantern. You see, while Hal was making this sacrifice, all the Lantern Corps had attacked the First Lantern, Sinestro took control of Parallax to fight the powerful foe. Lantern lead an army of Black Lanterns to attack but these attacks seemed to do little to the First Lantern. So Hal knew what he had to do, he had to release Nekron from his prison in the Dead Zone. With a final attack from Nekron, the Corps one and all was set right. Hal was revived by the Green Lantern’s light and his first mission was to save Sinestro.
This of course could not be done. Sinestro had already gotten his vengeance on the Guardians and he vowed to leave the Corps alone. He took his Sinestro Corps to a new Sector of space to watch over and left the Lanterns alone. Or did he? Something tells me he will return to OA one day.
Any book written by Geoff Johns is well written, but issue #20 was filled with more emotion and it pulled you in the story. The Green Lantern books have lost a great writer but the JLA is gaining a great writer. I cannot wait to see what Johns has in mind with the JLA! I give Green Lantern #20 a rating of 20 out of 10. This book is that damn good! If you don’t have a copy, get one. If you have a copy, read it again.
Thank You Geoff for all the great Green Lantern stories that we know and love.
