Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 by Gabriel Hardman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Green Lantern, Earth One, Vol. 1 marks an interesting new beginning for the Green Lanterns Corps as Hal Jordan discovers a power ring while mining an asteroid on the finger of a dead Abin Sur (though he's never identified by name.). He's carried away by the ring on an adventure. Joining forces with Kilowag, who has a ring but doesn't know what it's about, they search the galaxy for other bearers of the ring.

The book features solid art. It's dark, but not grimdark. It's appropriate for beautifully rendering a search through dingy backwater planets that are not pleasant. Jordan's heroism and determination make him a likable protagonist. In many ways, he's more likable than the main DC universe Jordan as he doesn't have that edge of arrogance about him. Rather he has a past and some things to atone for.

While this volume works well, there are some directions, I'm questionable about. For example, the rings don't seem to choose the user. It appears to be a bit of a crapshoot as to whether the person who gets them will use it responsibly or be fit to wear it. Also, the lack of experienced Lanterns is a problem. Will they just make up their own traditions if they reconstitute the Corps? That could be good or awful.

Still, while I'm dubious about the direction of future books, this book has enough working for it to make it an enjoyable read.



View all my reviews