RED LANTERNS #29 (REVIEW)

Red Lanterns #29

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Alessandro Vitti

Cover: Stephen Segovia
          Gabe Eltaeb





The Rundown:
Skallox and Zox are testing both their weaponry and the powers of the new Red Lantern, Supergirl. Something that Kara requested. She holds her own pretty well using both her Kryptonian and her ring abilities to take out the missals. She somehow manages to crash the teams bar onto the missal launcher, and are about to share a drink when Guy Gardner steps. He stops Kara, claiming that she is too young to be drinking. Something that Kara doesn't take to kindly to as she causes the glass to break and cut Guy's hand out of small fit of rage. Controlling his own anger, Gardner informs them that they are heading out on patrol. While in space, Guy has Kara do a sweep of the moon while he asks Skallox and Zox to keep her busy while he seeks help with the situation.
Superman is in the middle of a rescue, and almost misses some people when Gardner swoops in with an assist. Guy introduces himself and goes on to explain the Red and Green Lantern situation and his arrangement with Hal. Superman is about to leave when Kara and the other Reds arrive. He immediately blames Guy and is about to remove Kara's ring when Skallox informs him of what would happen. Supergirl also learns that the situation is likely permanent, to which he loses her mind succumbing to the rage within. She begins to fly away when Superman opts to try and talk to her, to which she replies by hitting him with a baseball swing using a massive ship from the sea. She then vaporizes an approaching tidal wave with her heat vision, giving her the release she needs to calm down. Supergirl informs everyone that she is not a piece of luggage to be passed around, and is her own person. She tells Superman that perhaps this is what is best for her as the Reds don't repress anything. Superman doesn't agree with her choice, but he agrees it is hers to make. He just hopes she is happy with it in the end. Superman tell Guy that he appreciates the effort in attempting to help his cousin, but it is on him to look after her, so to try harder at doing so.

The Red Lanterns return to Ysmault to discover a large crater on the planets surface. As the team begins to approach, it is revealed to be a broken and battered Bleez. The Red Lantern Corps member is barely able to utter "Atrocitus". Guy Gardner is completely stunned having thought the former Red Lantern leader was dead.


The Review:
The story was decent, with Superman's reaction to his cousin being the newest member of the Red Lantern Corps. Although I would have preferred more of an action sequence before Superman learned of the situation as a whole, I did like Kara getting the upper hand on him showing the ring has added to her power level. I also enjoyed her reaction to learning that this is possibly a permanent thing and not an "okay I am done being angry now, see you later" type situation. Even though as a reader we know this will likely end at some point, unless overly popular.
The artwork style isn't one of my preferences, it did however, tell the story as it is supposed to. There were also the panels with Supergirl using her powers which were done very well, and popped off the page. As well as the shot of Bleez at the end, it didn't jump from the page, but was done well.
Overall it was an okay issue, I would rate it 2.5-out-of-5. Like I mentioned, I was hoping for more with the original Superhero making his appearance within the title. Superman man is a powerhouse so it presented an opportunity to load up some action sequences. I am liking the direction of the title as of late though. Was unsure of Guy Gardner's addition to the team, but he's grown on me. Zero offense to the current artist, but would like to see the title get a big name artist for a run or two.

You can find the review for the combo issue Green Lantern/Red Lanterns #28 HERE. For other Reviews, News and more! Be sure to head over to The Non-Geeky Nerd to check things out!

Stay Nerdy!

Green Lantern/Red Lanterns #28 (2-in-1 Review)

Green Lantern #28 (2013-present)
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Billy Tan

Red Lanterns #28 (2013-present)
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Alessandro Vitti

They gave us two issues in one, in the form of a "flip book". A term that I misunderstood, as I thought they had meant an animated flip book, especially with the contents of the stories. Regardless, here is two reviews in one. One for the Greens, and one for the Reds. Like Christmas....in February.

Green Lantern Rundown:

The story begins with Green Lanterns Barreer and Lok racing back to Mogo to see what is happening with communications being down. Off in the distance they see red light from a Red Lantern and with the new mission of the Green Lantern Corps is to police the use of power from the emotional spectrum. Unaware of whom she is, the Red Lantern that they encounter is, Supergirl, and judging by her screams and illegible speech, she has yet to visit the lake on Ysmault. She crashes into Barreer, who is trying to shield his face from the red plasma dripping from Kara's mouth. The other lantern attempts to help, but the meteor they landed on, is blown apart when Supergirl uses her laser-eye powers. Which causes her to pass out from exhaustion. Barreer and Lok use the opportunity to construct a coffin of sorts to continue  pull her on their way to Mogo to reach the other Green Lanterns.

Back on Mogo (who is a living planet bearing a Green ring, and current home of the Green Lantern Corps, for those unaware), we see Hal Jordan, leader of the corps, swearing in new recruits. There is still some annimosity amongst corps members over the new light weilding rules. Suddenly, Barreer and Lok arrive with their new "friend". Who has broken free and now requires all the Greens to construct retraints on her to hold her down. Nobody, including Hal, is aware of who she is and who her cousin is. After his ring does a scan of her, he now is aware she is Krytonian. Hal searches for Blue Lantern Saint Walker, who is on Mogo dealing with being the sole surviving member of the Blue Lanterns, and only person capable at the moment to "cure" a Red Lantern of being a Red Lantern. However, Saint Walker is still to greif stricken to help. Hal decides to leave Kilowog incharge and bring the new Red Lantern to Guy Gardner and the other Reds. We learn that Mogo's ring is simply hanging on a branch of a tree for treemunks to play with. Also, that Krypton was in Sector 2813.

Green Lantern Review:

Although I am a tad disappointed on the flip book situation, I am once again happy to see that Geoff Johns departure from the title hasn't hindered it at all in my opinion. I could definitely use a break from all the cross-overs (not just Green Lantern titles either), but it is nice to see that the flag ship title of this part of the DC Universe involved in a special kind of way, in bringing in Supergirl as a Red Lantern. A semi big deal for me. Story was decently done, I like how they are approaching the Blue Lantern situation, some out there may be against another dark situation in comics, but I think at times we need to see our heroes emerge from darkness that is as close to reality as they can, as to give us...hope if you will. And it will be interesting to see how the power of hope survives and returns from the loss of all member but one. Even though I am not totally on board with the "no using light" rule, I do like how it's adding a build up story with the dissension amongst the Green Lanterns that appears to be happening over this.

Red Lanterns Rundown:

Things begin where Red Lanterns #27 left off with Zox and Skallox squaring off against Shadow Thief. On route to a losing end, Guy Gardner and Ice show up to save the day. After Skallox explains Shadow Theif's powers absorb the light, Guy comes up with the plan to make things as bright as they possibly can as to eliminate the shadows. They do so using their rings, and have Ice follow-up using her abilities to freeze the body of the villain. Guy tries to finish patching things up with Ice, but she let's him know that she is not interested, despite his best efforts to show he has changed, and isn't the hot head she once knew. Heartbroken and angry, Guy and the other Red Lanterns head enroute back to Ysmault. We rejoin the sub story from last issue where, Rankorr and Bleez are trying to fend of the attack of Atrocitus, Dex-Starr and a creature we now learn is a red ring bearer named, Klarn. The new Reds ability is to not only absorb the power of from the Lanterns ring attacks, but to also send it all back out in an attack of its own. Atrocitus explains how he feels betrayed by his Red Lanterns and that Dex-Starr was his only loyal follower.

Hal and company arrive on Ysmault, to a "warning shot" by Guy Gardner picking up where Green Lanterns #28 left off. Gardner exclaims that the Reds are taking Sector 2814 because Hal promised a sector to them, and Ysmault is also in Sector 2814 like Earth. After some more heated words, Guy notices the Greens "package" and its contents. He cools down a bit, and Hal proceeds to explain that she is Kryptonian. Both agree that they need to tread lightly as the only other Kryptonian that they know is Superman, and neither want to be on his bad side. Upon hearing "Superman", Kara freaks out, breaks free and is back on the offensive. Hal decides to let the Red Lanterns find out the hard way first on how strong she is. They then work together to submerge her into the lake by the power battery. We are reminded by Zox, that before Guy arrived, Atrocitus had sent out nine rings, meaning there were eight more recruits on the loose plus Ratchet's "replacement".

Back to Bleez and Rankorr, still trying to survive Atrocitus and others' attack, it appears that Rankorr has decided to learn from fallen Lantern Ratchets actions, and sacrifice himself so that Bleez may escape to warn the rest of the Red Lantern Corps. Back on Ysmault, things wrap up with Guy and Hal waiting on the new recruit to re-emerge from the lake, agreeing that the Reds are in control of Sector 2814, with the only exception being that Green Lantern Simon Baz be allowed to remain on Earth. Now with a more clear head, the Kryptonian tells the men her name is "Kara Zor-El". Hal realizes that this may be a direct family member of Superman.

Red Lanterns Rundown:

I do like the direction the book is taking now. I didn't think that I would as I loved the character Atrocitus and wasn't ever a fan of Guy Gardner's. However, either he is being portrayed in a new way, or I just didn't give him a proper chance, then add the new look, I am a fan of the current Guy Gardner. I liked that they were attempting to add a human to the mix with Rankorr, but it is looking as though he may be short lived (or not), but with that comes the return of Atrocitus and Dex-Starr. I fell for the duo in the initial issue of the series when Atrocitus saved his kitty.
I am very happy that they added a bigger name to the mix with Supergirl. How long it will last I am not sure, but I think I will enjoy it while it lasts. Plus, there is apparently eight other rings out there. Not all of them may land on anyone worth noting or already established, but perhaps there will be a string of name brand characters will temporarily utilize the power of rage. Giving us a taste of what could be.
The art is as always, good, but a touch rough at times for my liking. Held its own with slightly better work on the flip side, and did not take away from the story at all, and did its job.

Stay Nerdy!

Red Lanterns #27 (Review)

Red Lanterns #27 (2013-present)

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist: Alessadro Vitti
Cover: Alessandro Vitti

The Rundown:

 Guy Gardner and the other Red Lanterns are back on Ysmault recouping from the events from the previous issue, and the loss of team member, Ratchet. The people that the Reds freed have built giant life like statues of each Lantern as tribute to the late Ratchet;s sacrifice. Guy has changed up his appearance, looking like a red-headed "Gambit" (from X-Men) with a handlebar mustache.

With Ratchet's death comes a new lantern, as the fallen members ring is out on the hunt for a new bearer. It is decided that Bleez and Rankorr will set out to find the new recruit, who will be a danger to everyone including themselves once the ring first rests on their finger until they "take the plunge" in the lake on Ysmault.

Guy takes fellow Lanterns, Zox and Skallox, to his home planet of Earth. Once they arrive, Gardner tells the two not to mess with anyone, as Earth is home to many powerful beings who would make quick work of them. Guy gives them a list of places he thinks that Zox and Skallox would appreciate, then heads off on his own for some personal business. Personal business involving old flame, Ice, who isn't too happy to see her old beau.

 
Skallox and Zox visit the places on Guy's list (Grand Canyon, etc) and are unimpressed really, when they encounter Shadow Thief. Shadow Thief is a human who hates aliens, despite wearing a living alien suit for her ability (which Skallox quickly points out), and quickly starts a fight with the two Red Lanterns.

The story comes to an end when we rejoin Bleez and Rankorr on their search for the new Red Lantern. Who they come upon is not whom they expected at all, that person being the founding and once again a ring bearer, Atrocitus. Atrocitus isn't alone, with him as always is the loyal Dex-Starr and a new "pet" it would appear bearing the Lantern logo.

The Review:

It is nice to see things back on Ysmault, I am not really feeling the whole ship thing. Guys new look is pretty good in my opinion, he was one character that I really never cared for appearance wise, even down to his jacket style. Like I mentioned above, it reminds me of Gambit with a handlebar or Hulk Hogan mustache. Having only begun really reading Green Lantern and Red Lanterns at the relaunch, I am not sure about the history between Guy and Ice, but I see that it wasn't cold like one would expect (puns, how I roll). I really enjoyed the banter between Zox and Skallox, even their retorts for the borderline racist Shadow Thief. Pointing out her hypocrisy was classic.

Overall in the writing department, I am liking the direction they have been taking the Reds, and with Atrocitus back in the picture (for now at least), things are great. Honestly, I thought he was going to be similar to what they had going on with Sinestro, embodying the corps entity. Art is hard for me to critique, as someone out there probably loves the artwork (the beauty of art), but I will say it looks a little rough at times for my liking inside the book, the cover was a lot better. But, it doesn't take away from the story at all for me, so it is good enough. Plus, like I said, I like Guy's new look.

Stay Nerdy!