That’s a pretty dramatic cover from Cian Tormey and Romulo Fajardo Jr, and the stakes are high in this DC KO tie-in featuring Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, but the actual story is soufflé light. And I’m very much not complaining.
The issue opens with Kyle, Superboy Kon-El and bounty hunter pal Odyssey fighting Darkseid’s parademons on Earth as the KO tournament takes place in Skartaris. Kyle uses his White Lantern powers to clear the battlefield, making him vulnerable to parademon attack.
Yes Kyle, yes you did, and you’ve ended up at another fight.
The red-headed space wrestler is Omega-Bam-Man, who we first met in a 2022 issue of Flash written by this issue’s author, Jeremy Adams. Winning his bout, and knowing the planet they’re on is about to die in a nuclear conflagration, Bam teleports himself and Kyle back to The Hub, headquarters of WAM (Wrestling Across the Multiverse).
OBB tells Kyle he’s from the planet Galaxia, where males do all the menial work to discourage a genetic tendency towards violence.
Inspired by catching sight of a WAM bout involving the wrestler Bromega, Bam trains himself to follow in his footsteps. A second meeting with Bromega leads the older man to become his mentor, shaping young Bam into the fierce Omega-Bam-Man. We even get the secret origin of his horrible haircut.
Flashback over, Kyle asks Bam to help him reach the Algorithmic Drive that takes the Hub across time and space to fight on planets about to die. Surely Earth in 2026 qualifies? Bam advises a change of outfit so Kyle won’t stand out in a place where Green Lanterns aren’t welcome.
After all these years, Kyle finally has the ultimate costume! In losing the shirt he seems to have gained 100lb of muscle, though it is established (dumb) GL lore that Lanterns tone their muscles via power ring energy.
As for what’s surprising the new pals, I say buy this extra-length special and enjoy one of the best KO spin-offs so far. Kyle and Bam make for fun partners, there’s plenty of action and the story does impact on the wider event. Sure, I found the surfeit of wrestling commentary tedious, but the actual moves are pretty engaging. We also get a mystery involving Kon-El’s old squeeze Knockout (with her name she really should be front and centre in this event), and a set-up for Bam to mix more with the heroes of the DCU.
Adams provides the well-plotted, witty script I’ve come to expect from him, he’s a writer who plays well with others at event time while including his own original characters like Bam…don’t be surprised if Gold Beetle shows up in his Green Lantern series soon.
Cian Tormey draws the bulk of the book, with Bam’s secret origin handled by Pat Boutin. The two styles sit side by side nicely. Tormey looks like he’s having a ball choreographing the fights, while Boutin bestows an air of whimsy on Bam’s beginnings. Both artists do a terrific job keeping the story moving along.
Romulo Fajardo Jr’s colours are cheery throughout, with obvious thought put into light sources, while Buddy Beaudoin‘s letters are easy on the eye.
All in all, Green Lantern: Galactic Slam is a thoroughly entertaining slice of DC Universe life.
Too Dangerous For a Girl 2 