One of my favourite things in superhero comics is the Day in the Life issue, and that’s exactly what we have here – Hal Jordan and friends hanging out as they prepare for their next big battle.
First, we check in with Star Sapphire Carol Ferris, loving her new membership in Justice League Unlimited, even in the face of a monster that would give HP Lovecraft nightmares.
Later, in the JLU Watchtower, Hal explains the new challenge facing the Corps to Carol – and it’s personal.
At Corps HQ on Oa, Kyle Rayner is down in the ScienceCells, approaching the problem from a different angle.
Unsurprisingly, the escapee – Odyssey the Time Thief – agrees, and soon they’re in Australia, tracking down a non-Lantern hero who may be able to help.
Holy Thirst Trap, Batman, it’s the best modern Superboy, Kon-El!
And then they’re off, our heroes head out into deep space to search for the man known as Sorrow. And it is huge fun – writer Jeremy Adams has a real gift for bringing together great characters and creating new ones – such as Odyssey. I love the idea of a ‘Time Bandit’ and like her look, she reminds me of Dart from the long-ago Atari Force. I recognise the Legion Flight ring she grabs, but what about the rest of the stuff?
Is that an Amazon bracelet or a Booster Gold gauntlet? And what about that sword? And belt?
Adams has said on Twitter that he wanted to use Superboy’s fellow Young Justice member Cassie Sandsmark but couldn’t get permission, so came up with Odyssey. Well, I’m rather glad he did.
As for who ‘that other time traveler you seem to be avoiding’ is, my guess is Adams’s very own Goldbug, frivolous, but very competent, friend of Flash Wally West.
In my review of the Fractured Spectrum special earlier this month I said I hoped the onset of another space epic wouldn’t stop us having Hal on Earth. Well, we get that this issue, along with plenty of other nuggets of story that don’t involve galactic politics. If Hal, Carol, Kyle, Kon-El and Odyssey are this comic’s main cast for the duration of the Fractured Spectrum storyline – it’s weaving between Green Lantern and the upcoming Green Lantern Corps book – I will be one happy bunny. I’m especially pleased to see Kyle get a regular berth, he’s such a great character, hugely popular in the Nineties, but hasn’t had a regular home for 20 years.
Oh, and the classic Justice League of America villain we glimpsed last issue has some big plans…
The art, you will have noticed, is terrific, and for that we can thank penciller Fernando Pasarin and inkers Oclair Albert and Jason Paz. The opening action scene is a good argument for Pasarin to get the odd Justice League Unlimited assignment, with big, bold heroes and that horror show they’re fighting. Just look at how that beast schleps across the beach. Savour the character pin-ups dotted throughout. Relish the face ‘acting’ and body language that sells Adams’s clever dialogue.
The visuals are enhanced by the colouring of Romulo Fajardo Jr, which helps set the scene whether it’s the Hub City beach, a sterile Oan prison or a darkened chamber on a mysterious world. And the ever-welcome Dave Sharpe lays down the letters with style.
Add in a seriously stunning cover by Ariel Colon and we have the perfect package for fans of Green Lantern and the wider DC Universe. Don’t miss this comic.
You need more convincing?
Dinosaur gun!
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 
I thought of stealth from L.E.G.I.O.N. when I saw Odyssey myself. I’m also glad there were enough other heroes to blunt my distaste for Hal. Conner appearing is great but I don’t like the idiot persona of late. Johns’ version was too serious and I prefer a balance of the two.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, Grummet and Kesel Superboy is my favourite. As with Impulse, Geoff Johns squeezed all the joy from the character.
LikeLike
I’m most curious about whose Legion flight ring it is. Does Booster Gold still use one? Maybe it’s his and somehow didn’t make the trip into the Darkseid Omega universe with him. Or are we supposed to believe it’s the one that Connor picked up when he was a member of the team a couple of reboots ago?
Either way, it was a fun little story with enough going on in the background to hold my interest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good ideas, as ever, Murray, but given how many Legionnaires have spent time in the past at this point, any number of people might have left one behind. How about the Karate Kid who died in Countdown to Infinite Crisis, how likely wound up at STAR Labs or somewhere and could have made its way to Oa. Yes, that makes perfect sense, am creative genius.
LikeLike
Yeah that’s true enough. There have been plenty enough Legionnaires that have been in the past for one reason or another. No reason not to assume that it couldn’t be one of theirs. Curious to see if the ring is just a throwaway easter egg or if it leads anywhere.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fingers crossed, wearing plastic L* rings, it leads somewhere!
LikeLike
This review is quite timely Mart, I did write a comment on Fractured Spectrum but deleted it as I was a bit off topic on my feelings about Green Lantern (basically fell off the horse with the aftermath of Sinestro War, and never really got on again, despite reading season 1 of the Morrison run but not getting on with the art, and picking up the odd issue here and there) and talking about how it would be nice to focus on Kyle, and a vague hope that the idea of the fractured spectrum might reset all of that stuff which I would probably have been more open to if it hadn’t flooded in and drowned out everything else. So this sounds like it might be worth a shot (assuming comics don’t become prohibitively expensive in short order, might be time to switch to digital)
Stu
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, wish I’d got to read your original comment – just assume there is no off topic, if a post sparks a thought, through the filter away! I certainly got bored during the Geoff Johns run, despite the initial energy he brought to the book.
LikeLike
Loved seeing the Interceptor ship from Green Lantern: the Animated Series in the comic. However the artist likely was just shown the exterior designs but had never watched the show, because the ship was FLYING BACKWARDS…!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh good spot, can you tell I’ve never seen the show!
LikeLike