Green Lantern: War Journal, Vol. 1: Contagion

Green Lantern: War Journal (2023)

by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Montos (Artist), Adriano Lucas (Colorist)

John Stewart returns as Green Lantern for a story about rediscovering your past and forging your future as a Guardian!

Just when John Stewart thought he was out as a Green Lantern…he’s pulled back in! Hanging up the emerald power ring, the once great Green Lantern is giving the post-superhero life a try. This all comes to a screeching halt when a mysterious Guardian from another universe lands on Earth, seeking John’s help. With new threats emerging from the shadows, this new lantern will help John Stewart rediscover what once fueled the fire to make him the greatest Green Lantern in the Multiverse!

Reprinting the War Journal backup stories from Green Lantern #1-3 and Green Lantern: War Journal #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Superheroes, Science Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2024

About the author

Phillip Kennedy Johnson earned a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he served as Teaching Fellow for the Department of Jazz Studies, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University. SFC Johnson has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Washington Symphonic Brass, and the Moscow Ballet, and was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 2004 to 2005. SFC Johnson remains active as a composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician, and also enjoys a second career as a writer of comics and graphic novels. His work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, and more.

Reviews

[Khurram · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story my second favourite Green Lantern John Stewart takes centre stage. Sounds a bid disrespectful, but is there anyone who does not have Hal as the greatest GL? Great artwork (I really like the artwork stretching across two page spreads) and story.

The Green Lanterns have been taken over United Planets. Any Lantern who does not like it can leave. That is what John Stewart did to fulfil another promise. Unfortunately, a threat from another universe has emerged. Will John re-enter the fight?

A very good series, I am wondering if this will link up with the main series, but if not if not it is more than strong enough to stand on its own. Can John unleash his potential?

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. It had really good artwork paired with a deeply moving story. I’m talking about the story between John and his ailing mother, of course. All the stuff about rings and aliens is just fluff to set the real story inside.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Green Lantern title I’ve read in a while in terms of both writing and art. I’m interested in following where Kennedy is leading with this one.


Geared up.

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

I don't know much about the Lanterns universe and even less about John Stewart. It's a bit awkward at times but the stakes are simple and clear: cosmic threat to be destroyed. See, easy enough, eh?

No, what makes the series so interesting is Stewart, of course. I don't have a point of comparison but I like what PKJ has written. A decent character, confident without being arrogant, aware of what's at stake whatever the scale.
The family subplot is classic but charged with just the right amount of emotion. The main plot has enough horror in it to be engaging. This first volume is centred on Earth, the next and final one will be in space.

I'm discovering Montos as an artist with this volume and appreciate his style, which is well suited to horror, with inking that sometimes reminds me vaguely of Bill Sienkewicz.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've barely read any Green Lantern comics, so I was hesitant going into Green Lantern: War Journal, but I trusted Phillip Kennedy Johnson as an author. My trust was well-placed: this is a smart, exciting, cosmic tale that (mostly) doesn't require you to have a strong working knowledge of John Stewart and the Green Lantern Corps.

Stewart recently gave up Lanterning (though he retains powers without a ring) in favor of taking care of his ailing mother. Because this is a comic book, he's naturally pulled right back into the thick of things. There's a lot of ring-based hooey that's probably par for the course with these comics, but there's also an intriguing villain (a daughter of the oldest god, Olgrun!) and some thrilling battles. Most of the character moments hit, which helps cover up the less-than-understandable Green Lantern stuff. Montos' artwork is also a strong addition.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the events of "Dark Crisis", John Stewart decided he was unwilling to obey the United Planets and their takeover of the Green Lantern Corps, effectively resigning. But... when you are one of the strongest forces of willpower in the universe, can you really quit?
Highlights:
- The primary villain of this Volume is The Revenant Queen and the armies of the Radiant Dead. They are imbued with the powers of Olgrun, one of the original Old Gods. If John doesn't find a way to become a Green Lantern again, the Radiant Dead will take over Earth and then the universe
- Though he doesn't have a ring, John still has plenty of willpower and can use GL abilities. (If Hal can, why not John too?)
- Varron, a current GL (under the UP) comes to Earth to fight, but loses to the Radiant Dead, and loses his ring.
- John also gets infected by RD, but is able to fight it off with the help of Lantern Shephard and Kyle Rayner (where has he been and why is he blind?) as well as Steel (John is currently working at Steelworks) until he can claim Varron's ring, which really upsets the current head of the GLC, Lord Premier Thaaros.
- At the end, John is using the lessons learned from his connection to the Radiant Dead to basically change his body into light and become invincible.

Not super sure what will happen next, but really glad to see another good Green Lantern title going in this "Dawn of DC" starter event.
Recommend.

[Andrew Lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a tragic character oml. John Stewart is such a great Green Lantern. Need the next book asap.

[Benjamin Kimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. I’ve been a big fan of PKJ since his Superman work and I was excited to see him work on Green Lantern. I think PKJ was able to use some of his own military background when writing John Stewart but it didn’t feel heavy handed. Basically John is ready to retire but the current Green Lantern Corps keep’s harassing him and then a Green Lantern from another universe needs his help. He’s pulled into a big conflict with a being known as the Revenant Queen. What’s cool about this is that it ties back into the Olgrun plot from PKJ’s Action Comics. I really liked the writing of John here as a powerful but tired hero. I was also a big fan of Montos’ art. He wasn’t an artist I’d heard of before but he has a style that really lended itself to the overall tone of the book that I really appreciated. I want more PKJ books.

[Alek Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Jonh Stewart being my first experience with the character Green Lantern it's odd I've never read a John Stewart centric GL story. I was very happy with the characterization and the plot. It's a continuation of Phillip Kennedy Johnson's Genesis/Olrug story arc, so if you loved his Superman War World this is connected.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great blend of personal, relatable battles (trying to support a mother with dementia), with big life-or-death battles (a malevolent force spreading a deadly contagion around the planet). Another top effort from Johnson, who is fast becoming a favourite.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because no one loves their mama like John Stewart loves his mama. ❤️ Also, let's keep Shepherd.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review is for both volumes, though there are nuances for each.

It takes a lot for me to give a crap about John Stewart. I never watched the Justice League cartoon when I was little, I never had much of a fondness for him, and whenever he shows up in the Green Lantern comics he always feels really flat - he's an architect and/or a soldier, and that's kind of it.

However, PKJ has changed all that. Green Lantern: War Journal features 12 issues and some back-up stories from the main Green Lantern title that have made me care about John Stewart, something I never expected to do.

John finds himself besieged by a new villain, the Revenant Queen, whose Black Lantern-adjacent powers send him spinning out into space at exactly the wrong time, because his poor mom's got dementia and is likely going to die soon. What follows is a space odyssey with great character work at its core, and a kickass ending that made me smile wider than I have in a while.

I do think the first half of the book is stronger. Once things get a bit more universal with the introduction of the Dark Star of the Fenn (yes, those Darkstars), it gets a bit harder to follow, though props to PKJ again for managing to get Olgrun involved once again. The more personal stuff back on Earth keeps the story grounded, and is oftentimes better than the space stuff in the second half of the story, honestly.

All 12 issues and the back-ups are drawn by Montos, who never skimps on the backgrounds and shoves every panel full of light and detail. Superb visuals for a space series for certain, and I wanna see where he ends up next, because it's very impressive.

War Journal is a Green Lantern book I never expected to read, or enjoy. It meanders a little in the second half, but overall, this is a John Stewart book that I'll be recommending to anyone like me, who's never really cared about him much.

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Dc Comics has a one-two punch with Jeremy Adams on the main line Hal Jordan lead Green Lantern book and Phillip Kennedy Johnson on this John Stewart mini series. They call it a mini series but I get the feeling that DC comics wants this book to do well. Especially since the DC Studios has a Green Lantern tv series in the works featuring John Stewart and Hal Jordan as the lead characters. I am a John Stewart Lantern fan. This goes back to the 2001 Justice League cartoon. There is a quiet nobility about his character that make him different from Hal. John always seemed calm and collected. He is an ex soldier and an architect which always made him perfect for the job of Green Lantern. If Hal is the brash and courageous hero John is more of the team player and has a determination. Johnson does a great job of not just capturing this side of Stewart but he has crafted a very personal story around an epic space adventure. It is a very interesting direction that the editors & writers for the Green Lantern books are taking the corps. I felt that Geoffrey Thorne began with some great ideas on his run but ultimately he broke too much of the lore in his run on Green Lantern. Johnson is added things while still keeping true to the mythos. The artwork by Montos is well done. There are some great visuals in this book. The colors and the sketches crackle with energy in the ring slinging action moments. The moments between Stewart and his mother are really heartfelt. This was a very entertaining read and definitely a must for Green Lantern fans. I'm glad DC comics have not given up on the John Stewart character and lets hope will see more in the future.

[Ángel Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sin ser Stewart mi Green Lantern favorito (ese es Guy Gardner, claro), he de reconocer que este tebeo está entretenido. Demasiado autorreferencial para mi gusto (se dan por conocidas un montón de cosas de las que no tenía la menor idea), pero, si obviamos eso, se deja leer sin problemas. Básicamente, se trata de John Stewart contra un montón de zombis estelares y una especie de lich de otra dimensión que los crea y controla. Como el Stewart de su universo le zurró la badana pero bien, la tipa se muda al universo DC estándar a cargarse a su contrapartida de allí. Vale, lógica cero. Pero, insisto, está entretenido.

Lo mejor son las escenas cotidianas, con la madre cada vez más senil de John y la hermana constructo que este se saca de la manga. Me gusta mucho que verdaderamente, después de décadas insistiendo en que el anillo puede hacer cualquier cosa, por fin se haga eso realidad, aunque se abre la puerta para la práctica omnipotencia de Lanterns como Stewart, cuya voluntad se sale de las escalas (y, si esto es así para John, que no será para Hal). El dibujo, resultón con destellos de brillantez en momentos puntuales, aunque al bueno de Montos solo le sale bien la gente cabreada.

En definitiva, una adición digna al universo de los Linternas Verdes.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Stewart is perhaps the most human of all the Green Lanterns. We've really seen him at his best and at his worst, particularly in comics like Cosmic Odyssey and the superb Green Lantern: Mosaic (which obviously should be collected, even if the author is problematic). This is more of the same.

On the one hand, we get a wonderfully characterized Stewart, reembracing his role as an architect, working with John Irons, and perhaps most importantly reconnecting with his family. It's more of that terrific portrait of him that's been revealed over the decades.

On the other hand, we get a terrific Johnson-esque story. We get multiple universe and a powerful new foe who seems to respect the story of the emotional spectrum while still offering something totally new.

All around, a fun story. I'm sorry it's only lasted 12 issues.

[David Palazzolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is okay but the art is spectacular. I’m not really thrilled that the power behind the apparent big bad was a menace introduced during one of the author’s previous DC series. It is presented like the reader should be aware of the villain as if he were a Darkseid or Trigon but never really heard of him before and had to go research to get an idea of what level of crap had just hit the fan. I will give one big call out to the story—John Stewart’s coming to grips with being a caregiver to his ailing Mother who is slowly succumbing to dementia rings very true. It’s a bold move to put such a story in an adventure series but it is done respectfully and keeps the cosmic story very grounded in humanity. Looking forward to book 2

[Nick Sokol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tired of foul mouthed, hotshot green lanterns? Then look no further than John Stewart. He should be THE Green Lantern for the DCU. This book cements that. John is everything we struggle with, family, love, expectations. His story is compelling and interesting. I put this book in my top 10 comics of the year. It’s a must read and has a great message (faith in yourself, hope, duty, honor) with some inspiring moments.

10/10 I highly recommend.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - This was an interesting John Stewart story, providing some insight into the character as well as showing how even the strongest superhero can't stop disease or aging.

The pacing felt a bit uneven. And it seemed like the end of this volume had an unearned, sudden denoument. It seemed like this volume was going to maybe unveil a central secret, but it didn't. After the rushing ahead in some areas, that felt disappointing.

[Tim Rooney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using this as placeholder for the full series. Pretty solid. Great emotional through line. Monti has some really innovative layouts. Some of the plot points don’t fit together nearly or flow and it was occasionally hard to follow how characters ended up in a certain place they did. Still unsure how John healed himself or why he ended up having a Green Lantern ring again. But the emotional journey tracks even when these specifics don’t.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 I wanted to enjoy this more than I actually did. The concept of John Stewart facing space Cthulhu zombies is very fun and the emotional core of John Stewart facing both his mother's dementia and rising up after losing his place in the GLC because of the United Planets should hit. But for some reason it just didn't slap like I feel like it is. Maybe it's the sentence to sentence writing. I don't know. It also doesn't help the art is a bit hit or miss. Montos was definitely brought in for his excellent action scenes which are only enhanced by great colorist work especially on the glitchy purple effect of the Radiant Dead. But at other times it can feel a bit awkward to look at especially in more regular day moments with certain faces.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Stewart is back on Earth taking care of his mom who suffers from dementia. He's left the Green Lantern Corp after it was taken over by the United Planets (who it turns out are now a bunch of dirtbags). This Reverent Queen has come from another universe and is after John Stewart because in this other universe he kept her at bay. Good stuff so far. Montos's art isn't bad either.

[Malcolm Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay, nothing remarkable. i enjoyed everything regarding john’s family and background. however i thought the main villain wasn’t well very thought out, just kind of a vague alien virus. i would’ve loved to instead see stewart get a more personal challenge in this spotlight. i also felt like the art was a bit generic. johns characterization was spot on tho

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good art coupled with a touching story with John and his mother navigating her illness and his withdrawal from the Corps. Interest villain, albeit not the most fleshed out (ha). Glad Volume 2 is out so I can get it finished up before finishing Absolute Power and getting to DC All In.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice Start

A good John Stewart story but a little confusing if you are just trying to this out and unfamiliar with any Green Lantern lore or John Stewart himself. The art is great and really works in the non traditional lay outs.

[Mike Jozic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very person John Stewart story….but I really needed it to conclude and not have a cliffhanger.

[Jim Cira · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a time to read this book. With all of the stuff that is happening in the country and the state of U. S. politics, John Stewart is the hero we need NOW!

[Malum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to this new series. Expertly combines cosmic, earth-shattering stakes with believable human drama.

[Andrew Fischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The back half is pretty cool but it took forever to get John in the suit

[Will Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Green Lantern protecting his mama and trying to save the world from a light virus. Ok, let's do it.