Green Lantern #30 review

In a shocking move, DC publishes a superhero book with no reference to DC KO. Hurrah!

Hal Jordan travels to Gotham to see if Batman can help solve the mystery of the painful visions he’s been having.

The investigation is put on hold when Batman is alerted to trouble in the city, and Hal decides he’ll help, getting his first ever ride in a Batmobile. The pilot in him is beyond thrilled.

Rude. And Batman gets worse.

When the pair arrive at Timm’s Wharf, they find the disturbance rather splashy.

And so the team-up proper begins, as Batman and Green Lantern slip into a smooth alliance, finding the person behind the mental constructs. Once things are dampened down, the heroes get back to the subject of Hal’s connection to the Book of Oa.

‘I do care… I’ve always cared.’

So why the heck have you spent most of the book being horrible to Hal? Honestly, this was like being back with the New 52 Justice League, when Caped Crusader and Green Gladiator just did not get on. But that was a couple of continuities ago, I can’t recall a single panel of tension between Hal and Bruce since Rebirth made the DC Universe a happier place.

Not that Hal seems overly fussed, getting a great dig in at Bat-God.

The final scene, with Batman explaining how much he respects Hal, is, I suppose, meant to pay off the rest of the issue, but it just doesn’t ring true. We know Batman and Green Lantern aren’t uneasy allies. Jeremy Adams has proven an excellent superhero writer, he could’ve worked in his compare and contrast without the unconvincing set-up. Or am I missing something?

Still, it’s great to have Hal on Earth and away from all the Green Lantern Corp politics for the second issue in a row. Last time he paired with Green Arrow, next month we’re getting the Flash… and it’s Wally West, who benefited hugely from Adams’s several year stint on his book. It’s almost certainly all leading back to Oa, but meanwhile I’m here for the team-ups.

Carmine Di Giandomenico draws a fantastic Hal and a superb Batman; every page is a pleasure, full of telling body language and facial expressions. The issue’s threat is a tad underwhelming, but Di Giandomenico keeps things dynamic, while Romulo Fajardo Jr cleverly turns the Gotham streets green, bringing a refreshing tone to Batman’s world. And when the panels aren’t lit by mystic light, the colourist brings a certain magic to the streets, making the Batmobile pop against the rest of the traffic.

The words are laid down by Dave Sharpe, who isn’t required to provide anything big and flashy, but the little touches – such as Hal’s whistling – are tip-top.

The cover is by Annie Wu and it’s deceptively simple, capturing the vibe of our heroes’ relationship – well, according to this issue – with style.

So, an odd Batman, a Hal hiding his worries, a cursory threat, excellent art – it all adds up to an issue that’s not perfect, but certainly worth your time.