Green Lantern #22 review

Look at writer Jeremy Adams breaking the rules.

First of all we have the big confrontation with classic Green Lantern annoyance Hector Hammond…

… ending five pages into the issue.

Then we have the return of a long-gone superhero with not a hint of it on the cover.

You know, Dan Garrett, the first…

Oi! That should be ‘Blue Beetle’. Then again, with two Blue Beetles already running around the DC Universe, why not give the original a new look and a new name. Well, new to him, it was previously used by Infinity Inc hero Hector Hall, who also tried being Sandman and Dr Fate.

But that’s not important right now.

Dan shows up as a prisoner on a world ruled by the Reach aliens, known for their connection to the Blue Beetle legacy. The storyline involving Superboy Conner Kent, Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Odyssey, er, Odyssey has been going on a couple of issues. I forget what their mission actually is, but I’m enjoying the mix of characters.

(Looks it up…) Oh yes, they’re trying to find a cache of Nth Metal to help the recently reorganised Green Lantern Corps rebuild the Central Power Battery

As for Hal, the named star of this series, he’s been teamed with girlfriend Carol Ferris aka Star Sapphire, and Dawn Grainger, Dove, the latter two both members of the new Justice League Unlimited. They’re out to find Source energy, another element needed in the Corps’ plan to get all their systems in full working order. Hal’s plan didn’t involve a fight with Hector Hammond, they just bumped into the mental madman. After the fight, though, we do learn where Hal thinks they might find Source force.

Adams keeps the surprises coming, with not only a trip to the British Isles, but a swapping of sidekicks. We’re told Carol’s love-based powers preclude her presence, while Dove… well, there’s no explanation for her no-show, but she has been shown to be a little off her emotional game, so maybe she’s having a cup of tea on the Watchtower. Certainly it makes sense to have spiritual super folk Phantom Stranger and Zauriel on hand given their destination.

I thought that sign said ‘Purgatory’? Then again, if Purgatory is the limbo between Heaven and Hell it’s not so unlikely you can get to one level from another. Anyway, if there weren’t already enough surprises this issue, the final page sees yet another long-lost character found, and they’re someone you really wouldn’t expect to find condemned for Hell.

Well, unless being seriously irritating is cause for eternal damnation.

Lately this series is like Green Lantern Team-Up and I love it. We’re getting mini-adventures, all serving the bigger story, and there’s still room for some great Hal stuff, such as a corker of a confrontation this time with Mr Bones of the DEO.

And the art by Xermanico with colourist Romulo Fajardo Jr is perfect for a chapter featuring diverse characters across the DC Universe. Heroes and villain alike command the attention, and the action scenes blaze across the pages. Xermanico’s storytelling is spot-on, with bags of imagination when it comes to the locations. And whether we’re indoors among the everyday, or outdoors witnessing pulsating energetic blasts, Fajardo makes everything looks amazing.

Dave Sharpe’s letters, as ever, are exemplary, I appreciate that he always puts extra effort in when a logo or some other display lettering is needed.

And that cover! It took me a few seconds to notice Hector’s hidden cry – tremendous work

Green Lantern is one of my favourite DC reads each month, and this issue is a perfect illustration of just why that is – Adams uses the history and breadth of the DC Universe to fabulous effect, and Xermanico brings characters and incidents to glorious life.