Comics! Green Lantern #0

Green Lantern #0

Geoff Johns: writer
Doug Mahnke: penciller
Christian Alamy, Keith Champagne & Mark Irwin: inkers

The Solicitation

PROLOGUE TO THE THIRD ARMY!
• The introduction and origin of a surprising new Green Lantern!
• Where are Hal Jordan and Sinestro?


Preview

Why I Bought It
Well, let's get Zero Month started off right now. When last I remember a Green Lantern #0, we got our first insight into Kyle Rayner. This zero issue also introduces a new Green Lantern, so how does it do?

What I Liked
So part of the idea behind the zero issue, or at least what I am reading into it, is to give an origin tale of the title character, as well as make it accessible to new readers. At least, that is what I would do with an issue #0, and that is probably what some readers are hoping to find when they pick it up.

So this book does OK in that regard. This is an origin story, although rather cliche at times, but it definitely gives a beginning to the character.

The art is consistent as is always expected from this team. I have just about zero complaints about the art at all, although I did get a somewhat feel like this was done by Gleason, the regular artist for Batman & Robin, at certain times when the ink was a little on the heavy side.

What I Didn't Like
If the idea is that you would walk into this comic for the first time and then walk away fully understanding what is happening, then you would be disappointed. Regular reader of the book? Familiar with the concept behind the Green Lanterns? Then this book is just focusing on introducing the new character and having a small preview of what is happening with the "recently deceased."

Does this book explain what a Green Lantern is? No. Does this book explain what is going on with the ring? No. Instead, the focus is on introducing a new male character to the Green Lantern mythos, Which already has four of them from earth.

I have no problem with the race of the Green Lantern. Hell, there have been lanterns of all colors and races so that doesn't matter to me. What I find strange is that there are only males from earth represented. If Johns decided instead to introduce a female Muslim, I think that would have more implications and story potential for her becoming a Green Lantern and having willpower than would a car thief. But that idea is for another post.

The last few pages are a way for Johns to place this story within the larger context of the DC and give us a glimpse into what happened with Sinestro and Jordan, which obviously was not death. And this is absolutely fine for the experienced reader, but again, not focusing on explaining what a Green Lantern is and getting into those details made this comic miss the boat a little for me.

But seriously, what kind of car thief steals a van? And then expects to beat the police in a high speed chase? Fuck that nonsense.

Panel to Remember
I'm going with the one where the ring hovers around him before making him a Lantern. There wasn't really any panel in here that flew out at me and etched itself into my brain, but that seems like an honorary one to take.

Quotable
"Error." - The ring, right in the middle of selecting Baz for membership to the corps. I'm sure there is a bigger connotation to it than what you expect, but hell, as a first time reader, you are wondering what the hell is going on. Error just makes you think that the ring did something wrong.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - Really generic feel to this story.
Pictures: 7/10 - nothing exciting, but very consistent from previous issues.
Buy Next Issue: Apparently it will take three issues to explain why this Green Lantern is carrying a gun. It better be a damn good explanation to sell it, otherwise this is just something that is treading downhill for me.

Compare it to issue #1