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Earth One #9
Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1
In the newest installment of the Earth One original graphic novel line, writer/artist Gabriel Hardman (INVISIBLE REPUBLIC) creates an all-new origin for Hal Jordan in GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1!
In the newest installment of the Earth One original graphic novel line, writer/artist Gabriel Hardman (INVISIBLE REPUBLIC) creates an all-new origin for the Emerald Warrior in GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1!
Hal Jordan yearns for the thrill of discovery, but the days when astronaut and adventure were synonymous are long past. His gig prospecting asteroids for Ferris Galactic is less than fulfilling--but least he's not on Earth, where technology and culture have stagnated. He might be a nobody, but he's in space.
When Jordan finds a powerful ring, he also finds a destiny to live up to. There are worlds beyond his own, unlike anything he ever imagined. But revelation comes with a price: the Green Lantern Corps has fallen, long since murdered by ruthless killing machines known as Manhunters. The odds against reinstating the Corps are nearly impossible...but doing the impossible is exactly what an astronaut like Hal Jordan was trained to do.
From creator Gabriel Hardman, the critically acclaimed author of INVISIBLE REPUBLIC, comes a soaring new epic original graphic novel in the tradition of the best-selling WONDER WOMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 by Grant Morrison and BATMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 by Geoff Johns! GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 is a radical look at the Lantern mythology and a great entry point for new readers.
In the newest installment of the Earth One original graphic novel line, writer/artist Gabriel Hardman (INVISIBLE REPUBLIC) creates an all-new origin for the Emerald Warrior in GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1!
Hal Jordan yearns for the thrill of discovery, but the days when astronaut and adventure were synonymous are long past. His gig prospecting asteroids for Ferris Galactic is less than fulfilling--but least he's not on Earth, where technology and culture have stagnated. He might be a nobody, but he's in space.
When Jordan finds a powerful ring, he also finds a destiny to live up to. There are worlds beyond his own, unlike anything he ever imagined. But revelation comes with a price: the Green Lantern Corps has fallen, long since murdered by ruthless killing machines known as Manhunters. The odds against reinstating the Corps are nearly impossible...but doing the impossible is exactly what an astronaut like Hal Jordan was trained to do.
From creator Gabriel Hardman, the critically acclaimed author of INVISIBLE REPUBLIC, comes a soaring new epic original graphic novel in the tradition of the best-selling WONDER WOMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 by Grant Morrison and BATMAN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 by Geoff Johns! GREEN LANTERN: EARTH ONE VOL. 1 is a radical look at the Lantern mythology and a great entry point for new readers.
137 pages, Hardcover
First published March 20, 2018
91 people are currently reading
1756 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
September 9, 2024
It's not a bad adaptation of Green Lantern. I think this is one of the better Earth One books. I have to say my favourite is Superman Vol 1. I am not the biggest GL fan, so the changes made to the character do not bother me.
I like the darker artwork. I hope Gabriel Hartman is available to do the artwork for the next volume of Batman Earth One (hint). I am glad the bulk of the story takes place in space (or on different planets). I personally think this suits GL best.
Hal Jordan is my favourite GL, but this is not the traditional Hal Jordan. This version is a disillusioned astronaut, instead of a hot shot fearless fighter pilot. This suits Hal as I always thought of him as the not mature Lantern compared to Kyle. In this universe, the rings themselves do not choose their Lanterns and are more weapons.
Also, in this universe, there is no longer an established Green Lanterns team, so they have a lot to learn and find out and history to rediscover.
This is a good intro story, and it sets up more stories for the future, but it coves everything it needs to if you just want to read this volume on it’s own. In the end, there are a couple of pages of bonus art, as well as a page long summary of the whole story.
I like the darker artwork. I hope Gabriel Hartman is available to do the artwork for the next volume of Batman Earth One (hint). I am glad the bulk of the story takes place in space (or on different planets). I personally think this suits GL best.
Hal Jordan is my favourite GL, but this is not the traditional Hal Jordan. This version is a disillusioned astronaut, instead of a hot shot fearless fighter pilot. This suits Hal as I always thought of him as the not mature Lantern compared to Kyle. In this universe, the rings themselves do not choose their Lanterns and are more weapons.
Also, in this universe, there is no longer an established Green Lanterns team, so they have a lot to learn and find out and history to rediscover.
This is a good intro story, and it sets up more stories for the future, but it coves everything it needs to if you just want to read this volume on it’s own. In the end, there are a couple of pages of bonus art, as well as a page long summary of the whole story.
May 17, 2019
Well, this was certainly quite a variation on Hal Jordan's induction to the Green Lantern Corps!
And it seems like most of my friends are absolutely in love with this, so I'm not sure why it didn't light my fire a bit more. Honestly, I thought it was fine.
It did everything an Earth One is supposed to do as far as reinventing an old character and giving it that What If alternate Earth sort of spin.
I mean, Hardman took the general idea of the Corps and Jordan's origin and came up with something extremely fresh.
But, for whatever reason, I didn't go batshit over it while I was reading it. Looking back, it was a cool retelling, but I must have put this down 5 or 6 times before I finally finished it.
shrugs
Sorry. I got nothing.
A lot of you guys loved the art, but I just...ehhhh. I don't know. I think that scratchy/scruffy dark feel may have kept me from visually connecting with the characters?
Or maybe I just read it at the wrong time?
But. I definitely want to see where this story goes.
Unfortunately, getting more volumes out there in a timely manner is not where Earth One titles shine. Hopefully, we'll see what Hal and these newly minted Green Lanterns get up to within, oh...the next 5 years or so?
And it seems like most of my friends are absolutely in love with this, so I'm not sure why it didn't light my fire a bit more. Honestly, I thought it was fine.
It did everything an Earth One is supposed to do as far as reinventing an old character and giving it that What If alternate Earth sort of spin.
I mean, Hardman took the general idea of the Corps and Jordan's origin and came up with something extremely fresh.
But, for whatever reason, I didn't go batshit over it while I was reading it. Looking back, it was a cool retelling, but I must have put this down 5 or 6 times before I finally finished it.
shrugs
Sorry. I got nothing.
A lot of you guys loved the art, but I just...ehhhh. I don't know. I think that scratchy/scruffy dark feel may have kept me from visually connecting with the characters?
Or maybe I just read it at the wrong time?
But. I definitely want to see where this story goes.
Unfortunately, getting more volumes out there in a timely manner is not where Earth One titles shine. Hopefully, we'll see what Hal and these newly minted Green Lanterns get up to within, oh...the next 5 years or so?
June 4, 2018
Manhunters everywhere!
This is the first volume in a DC Comics Elseworlds series, known as “Earth-One”, setting Green Lantern in a different “Earth” than the used for its main storyline. Instead of being a monthly comic book title, it’s published as a graphic novel per volumes with non-determined publishing schedule.
Creative Team:
Writers: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman
Illustrator: Gabriel Hardman
LOOKING FOR HIS PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
What do you know about the Oans?
Very little. They created the Lanterns to bring order to the galaxy?
Those are very interesting words you used… To bring order. Does that sound benevolent to you?
Harold Jordan has been looking for his right place in the universe…
…and he doesn’t think that Earth is that place.
Good thing is that he’s an astronaut, so he has been able to be away from Earth for at least 8 years.
However, he hasn’t go that far anyway.
Since NASA is no more, so the willpower for exploring out of the Sol System is no more either. Now, Earth’s only interest on space is to look for relevant minerals for the construction of cell phones and stuff like it. So, now Ferris Galactic has the contracts for that and they hire different crews competing each other to find first a viable asteroid with the needed elements.
Jordan will find something beyond his wildest dreams about space exploration…
…a power ring.
BUT…
…Green Lantern Corps is no more. The emotionless mechanical Manhunters killed the majority of them, very few are hidden since their rings are a pale shadow of their original power levels, rumors said that it’s because the Main Power Battery was destroyed, and it may be very well the case, since the Manhunters took over Oa (along with dozens of other alien worlds), and there isn’t a single trace of the Guardians of the Universe.
So, in a moment, Harold Jordan thought that humans were alone in the universe…
…and in the next one, he’s barely surviving in the middle of a vast and diverse alien galactic community, suffering by the ruthless ruling of the Manhunters, and while he wasn’t “chosen” but “just find” the power ring…
…it seems that Jordan is the only remaining hope, with enough willpower, for making the Green Lantern Corps live again!
This is the first volume in a DC Comics Elseworlds series, known as “Earth-One”, setting Green Lantern in a different “Earth” than the used for its main storyline. Instead of being a monthly comic book title, it’s published as a graphic novel per volumes with non-determined publishing schedule.
Creative Team:
Writers: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman
Illustrator: Gabriel Hardman
LOOKING FOR HIS PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE
What do you know about the Oans?
Very little. They created the Lanterns to bring order to the galaxy?
Those are very interesting words you used… To bring order. Does that sound benevolent to you?
Harold Jordan has been looking for his right place in the universe…
…and he doesn’t think that Earth is that place.
Good thing is that he’s an astronaut, so he has been able to be away from Earth for at least 8 years.
However, he hasn’t go that far anyway.
Since NASA is no more, so the willpower for exploring out of the Sol System is no more either. Now, Earth’s only interest on space is to look for relevant minerals for the construction of cell phones and stuff like it. So, now Ferris Galactic has the contracts for that and they hire different crews competing each other to find first a viable asteroid with the needed elements.
Jordan will find something beyond his wildest dreams about space exploration…
…a power ring.
BUT…
…Green Lantern Corps is no more. The emotionless mechanical Manhunters killed the majority of them, very few are hidden since their rings are a pale shadow of their original power levels, rumors said that it’s because the Main Power Battery was destroyed, and it may be very well the case, since the Manhunters took over Oa (along with dozens of other alien worlds), and there isn’t a single trace of the Guardians of the Universe.
So, in a moment, Harold Jordan thought that humans were alone in the universe…
…and in the next one, he’s barely surviving in the middle of a vast and diverse alien galactic community, suffering by the ruthless ruling of the Manhunters, and while he wasn’t “chosen” but “just find” the power ring…
…it seems that Jordan is the only remaining hope, with enough willpower, for making the Green Lantern Corps live again!
December 28, 2017
Husband and wife creative team Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko give Green Lantern the Earth One treatment - an alternate-world origin - in this fairly decent first volume.
It’s basically the classic Hal Jordan origin with a few minor tweaks here and there. Hal’s reimagined as an asteroid miner who stumbles across the corpse of Abin Sur, picks up his mysterious green ring and is thrown into the strange world of the Green Lanterns.
I liked that Hal is written as less of the arrogant douche that he was in Geoff Johns’ run so he’s more likeable a character. I also like that the Lanterns are portrayed as an endangered species, kinda like the Jedi in the new Star Wars movies, so they’re not all-powerful, they’re scattered, and have to struggle to survive - the underdog approach is a refreshing angle.
And by far my favourite aspect of this book is Gabriel Hardman’s spectacular art. His time working as Christopher Nolan’s storyboard artist on Interstellar as well as on his sci-fi Image series Invisible Republic has given him a good pedigree to effectively pull off the requisite alien landscapes and characters that populate Green Lantern - I can easily see why he got the job.
That said, I didn’t like some of the other new changes like how the ring doesn’t select its bearer - all you have to do is put it on and voila, you’re a Lantern! No test for honour, suitability, etc. It takes away some of the magic. And once Hal meets Kilowog, essentially the only other character in this book, they go through a predictable and cliched training montage before plodding through the necessary, but still dreary, background of the Lanterns.
Then there are the dull villains of this story, the Manhunters. They’re very bland bad guys - evil killer robots who enslave aliens for no reason besides that’s what bad guys do! And, like too many Green Lantern stories, it ends with one generic and silly action scene after another. The more restrained first half of the book is definitely better than the second.
Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 isn’t badly written, it’s just not very interesting. That could be a problem as the Earth One series is at least partly aimed at bringing in new readers who likely won’t be coming back if they’re not excited about the character/concept. And I’m not sure there’s enough fresh material here to make this appealing for more seasoned Green Lantern readers either, so who knows who the audience is for this one? Still, it’s a serviceable and readable origin for the character with excellent art so I’d say it’s not a bad comic overall. Like Hardman/Bechko’s Invisible Republic, it’s good-looking, albeit very middle-of-the-road, unoriginal sci-fi.
It’s basically the classic Hal Jordan origin with a few minor tweaks here and there. Hal’s reimagined as an asteroid miner who stumbles across the corpse of Abin Sur, picks up his mysterious green ring and is thrown into the strange world of the Green Lanterns.
I liked that Hal is written as less of the arrogant douche that he was in Geoff Johns’ run so he’s more likeable a character. I also like that the Lanterns are portrayed as an endangered species, kinda like the Jedi in the new Star Wars movies, so they’re not all-powerful, they’re scattered, and have to struggle to survive - the underdog approach is a refreshing angle.
And by far my favourite aspect of this book is Gabriel Hardman’s spectacular art. His time working as Christopher Nolan’s storyboard artist on Interstellar as well as on his sci-fi Image series Invisible Republic has given him a good pedigree to effectively pull off the requisite alien landscapes and characters that populate Green Lantern - I can easily see why he got the job.
That said, I didn’t like some of the other new changes like how the ring doesn’t select its bearer - all you have to do is put it on and voila, you’re a Lantern! No test for honour, suitability, etc. It takes away some of the magic. And once Hal meets Kilowog, essentially the only other character in this book, they go through a predictable and cliched training montage before plodding through the necessary, but still dreary, background of the Lanterns.
Then there are the dull villains of this story, the Manhunters. They’re very bland bad guys - evil killer robots who enslave aliens for no reason besides that’s what bad guys do! And, like too many Green Lantern stories, it ends with one generic and silly action scene after another. The more restrained first half of the book is definitely better than the second.
Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 isn’t badly written, it’s just not very interesting. That could be a problem as the Earth One series is at least partly aimed at bringing in new readers who likely won’t be coming back if they’re not excited about the character/concept. And I’m not sure there’s enough fresh material here to make this appealing for more seasoned Green Lantern readers either, so who knows who the audience is for this one? Still, it’s a serviceable and readable origin for the character with excellent art so I’d say it’s not a bad comic overall. Like Hardman/Bechko’s Invisible Republic, it’s good-looking, albeit very middle-of-the-road, unoriginal sci-fi.
March 25, 2019
Rather undistinguished re-imagining of Hal Jordan's origin story with the Silver-Age version of the character. (Batman's two Earth One books are still the best of the bunch that I've read so far, though Superman's second volume had its moments.) In this version Jordan is a bland corporate astronaut who stumbles upon the ring by chance while 'on the clock' in outer space. He is then thrown into a standard sci-fi plot - trapped on another world / the main villains are killer robots (yawn!) - but yet he has a few good moments in the climax, where he has to rally long-dormant Lanterns for a battle.
February 22, 2018
I am a relative new comer to the realm of comics. I really only started reading them in the last 10 years. So I am not the hard-core font of knowledge about characters, worlds and past story arcs like my husband is. He's been collecting comics for almost 40 years. I do know what I like though...but in story line and artwork. I am usually not a big fan of sweeping re-boots and new origin stories. But I'm always willing to keep an open mind. And I think that is a point where I am maybe more forgiving of new reboot story arcs than my husband is most of the time. I am willing to read first, judge after.
Green Lantern: Earth One Volume 1 is a re-boot of the Hal Jordan origin story. When I first read the blurb for this new release, my immediate response was an eye-roll and a "Another fricking origin re-boot'' huffy under-my-breath snark moment. But....then I took a deep breath, and let my gray matter catch up with my knee-jerk decision.....wait a minute....maybe Hal Jordan needs a re-boot. He's a bit of a douche, and let's be frank.....the Green Lantern storyline could use a refreshing. Then the kicker: IF IT'S DONE RIGHT.
And you can't decide if it's done right if you don't soak in the art and the plot from start to finish.
So I sat down with my handy-dandy advanced readers copy of this book.....and really kept my mind clear of pre-conceived notions and here-we-go-again-prepare-to-be-underwhelmed auto-response.
And....you know what?
I like this reboot! With a couple minor concerns, I really enjoyed this book. I recant my eyerolls and snarky remarks.
Things I like:
Hal Jordan is decidedly less douche-y. In this re-boot, he isn't superior, and the ring didn't choose him. He found it...pure and simple. No reason to grow an oversized, cocky ego. He found it, and didn't even know what to do with the ring. Puts him on a totally different playing field....and I like how the story, and Jordan, develops in this reboot.
I love the artwork! Lots of action. Lots of Kabooms and Kapows with classic comic book flare. Alien worlds. Alien species. But, also some classic manhunter action, and classic GL style artwork. Much of the action is in space and on alien planets, so the art does have a tendency to be dark, but let's be real here -- space is dark, the story line is dark -- dark is kinda a necessity here. All in all, nicely done! The front cover art is awesome!
I like this story as an introduction to a new Green Lantern story arc. It flows well and introduces the new info, rebooted Jordan and new characters quite well. I did not roll my eyes and exclaim negatively about much of anything while reading this. And that doesn't usually happen when I'm reading an origin reboot. The authors did it right. Kudos!
What I didn't like:
The ring does not choose the wearer. Jordan finds the ring and puts it on. End of effort. This means ANYONE can find and wield a GL ring -- even evil people. While that is an interesting way to bring about some action-packed story lines in the future.....it's a change I'm not sure I'm comfortable with. There are several really evil entities in the GL universe that I would not like to see wielding a ring. *Shivers*
Manhunters. Or just large, pissed off robots in general. While they are formidable opponents and I enjoyed the action scenes in this book......this concept has been done to death. Trope, trope, trope through the alien tulips. Oh no! Large robots coming to attack the GLs. How did I not see that coming? Irk. Harumph. Meh. In a new origin story I was hoping just a little bit.....well, more than a little bit....that it wouldn't be just another big battle with Manhunters. They are intrinsic to the story....but I wanted something new. New origin.....new action, right? Nope. Same action. But....while I did find it a familiar plot....it was enjoyable and had some great fights. I guess this point shouldn't be labeled that I "didn't like'' it....more like I felt mild disappointment.
All in all, I was impressed and surprised by this origin reboot. As usual, this reboot is aimed at bringing in new readers. I hope many read this and enjoy the story and art like I did, and take a fresh look at Green Lantern. I'm going to let my husband read this ARC next and see what he thinks. Oftentimes as a more classic fan of comics, his opinions are sometimes harsher than mine. But this reboot keeps the feel of the original quite well.....I think he might also like this one.
A thumbs up from me!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from DC Comics via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Green Lantern: Earth One Volume 1 is a re-boot of the Hal Jordan origin story. When I first read the blurb for this new release, my immediate response was an eye-roll and a "Another fricking origin re-boot'' huffy under-my-breath snark moment. But....then I took a deep breath, and let my gray matter catch up with my knee-jerk decision.....wait a minute....maybe Hal Jordan needs a re-boot. He's a bit of a douche, and let's be frank.....the Green Lantern storyline could use a refreshing. Then the kicker: IF IT'S DONE RIGHT.
And you can't decide if it's done right if you don't soak in the art and the plot from start to finish.
So I sat down with my handy-dandy advanced readers copy of this book.....and really kept my mind clear of pre-conceived notions and here-we-go-again-prepare-to-be-underwhelmed auto-response.
And....you know what?
I like this reboot! With a couple minor concerns, I really enjoyed this book. I recant my eyerolls and snarky remarks.
Things I like:
Hal Jordan is decidedly less douche-y. In this re-boot, he isn't superior, and the ring didn't choose him. He found it...pure and simple. No reason to grow an oversized, cocky ego. He found it, and didn't even know what to do with the ring. Puts him on a totally different playing field....and I like how the story, and Jordan, develops in this reboot.
I love the artwork! Lots of action. Lots of Kabooms and Kapows with classic comic book flare. Alien worlds. Alien species. But, also some classic manhunter action, and classic GL style artwork. Much of the action is in space and on alien planets, so the art does have a tendency to be dark, but let's be real here -- space is dark, the story line is dark -- dark is kinda a necessity here. All in all, nicely done! The front cover art is awesome!
I like this story as an introduction to a new Green Lantern story arc. It flows well and introduces the new info, rebooted Jordan and new characters quite well. I did not roll my eyes and exclaim negatively about much of anything while reading this. And that doesn't usually happen when I'm reading an origin reboot. The authors did it right. Kudos!
What I didn't like:
The ring does not choose the wearer. Jordan finds the ring and puts it on. End of effort. This means ANYONE can find and wield a GL ring -- even evil people. While that is an interesting way to bring about some action-packed story lines in the future.....it's a change I'm not sure I'm comfortable with. There are several really evil entities in the GL universe that I would not like to see wielding a ring. *Shivers*
Manhunters. Or just large, pissed off robots in general. While they are formidable opponents and I enjoyed the action scenes in this book......this concept has been done to death. Trope, trope, trope through the alien tulips. Oh no! Large robots coming to attack the GLs. How did I not see that coming? Irk. Harumph. Meh. In a new origin story I was hoping just a little bit.....well, more than a little bit....that it wouldn't be just another big battle with Manhunters. They are intrinsic to the story....but I wanted something new. New origin.....new action, right? Nope. Same action. But....while I did find it a familiar plot....it was enjoyable and had some great fights. I guess this point shouldn't be labeled that I "didn't like'' it....more like I felt mild disappointment.
All in all, I was impressed and surprised by this origin reboot. As usual, this reboot is aimed at bringing in new readers. I hope many read this and enjoy the story and art like I did, and take a fresh look at Green Lantern. I'm going to let my husband read this ARC next and see what he thinks. Oftentimes as a more classic fan of comics, his opinions are sometimes harsher than mine. But this reboot keeps the feel of the original quite well.....I think he might also like this one.
A thumbs up from me!
**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from DC Comics via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
April 24, 2018
An otherworld tale of Hal Jordan, it’s about an ordinary man finding redemption through bravery and altruism. The retold origin in space is more fitting than the terrestrial pilot, and the action, while nothing new or special, serves the narrative and visual appeal. The art differs greatly from most GL stories, now dark and sketchy, giving Hal (and space) more grit and mystery over the usual polish.
March 24, 2018
This Earth One story differs from other books in the Earth One universe in that besides a few tweaks, it's the same origin Hal Jordan has always had. Hal Jordan is an asteroid miner who comes across Abin Sur's crashed ship. He finds the ring but doesn't really know what to do with it, acting on pure instinct. He comes across Kilowog and finds out the Corps has been wiped out by the Manhunters and the few GL's left live in hiding. That's pretty much all you need to know at this point, it's Green Lantern versus the Manhunters. The Manhunters are something of generic villain, but c'est la vie. Hal has lost his swagger. He's more of an regular Joe, than a egotistical, hotshot test pilot. The book is left open for a sequel.
Gabriel Hardman's art is very fitting for the book. You can tell he's a sci-fi vet and it shows, having worked on Invisible Republic and as the storyboard artist on Interstellar.
Gabriel Hardman's art is very fitting for the book. You can tell he's a sci-fi vet and it shows, having worked on Invisible Republic and as the storyboard artist on Interstellar.
May 16, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
One of DC’s most iconic superhero gets the Earth One treatment in this recent volume written by the creative couple Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Sara Becko. This line of graphic novels takes some of DC Comics’ characters and gives them a brand-new modern retelling of their origin story. Completely free of any continuity issues possible with these character’s stories, fans can enjoy some of the most original and riveting ideas that writers have been suppressing within themselves for countless years. Green Lantern: Earth One rises to be one of the better accomplishments so far in this line-up and promises to keep you hooked till the very end.
Playing around with a well-established superheroes’ origin story can be a little tricky when you’ve always known it to follow one particular line of events. This is why I’ve always found that these retellings are absolutely enthralling and perfect for new readers who have never heard of or never looked into the hero’s lore. What Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Sara Becko successfully deliver in Green Lantern: Earth One is the story of Hal Jordan as the hopeless explorer who dreads his return to Earth and prefers a never-ending deep space exploration to the stagnant and mundane technology-filled Earth life. But once he discovers a strange corpse wearing a distinguishable ring, his life takes a abrupt turn towards the unknown.
This modern sci-fi epic throws Hal Jordan into his role as the Green Lantern at a cost. While he fearlessly embraces his destiny, he also slowly but surely discovers countless lifeforms as well as the tragedies that struck each one of them. It’s upon learning about the Manhunters that he runs into the biggest challenge he’s ever crossed paths with, but also the most important trial into understanding what the Green Lantern Corps was always about. This first volume does a magnificent job in covering the character’s development from scratch and showcases Hal Jordan’s struggles as a newbie ring-bearer, but also his infinite will power and pure desire to do good. I did sometimes find it odd that Hal Jordan’s reaction to all the strange things he gradually came across was close to indifference, yet something about the character’s longtime desire to go through a mind-blowing life-changing event made me overlook it all as a simple hint of ability to have excellent composure. He is an astronaut after all.
The artwork is impeccable and stunning in my books. Unconventional for a Green Lantern story, this volume reorients itself towards a much more darker, grimmer and terrifying art style. With something much more closer to a ragged penciling, it easily captures the eerie vibes of space and all that is supernatural. I did find that some of the transition between panels were rough and could’ve benefited with a couple of more pages just to add a bit more fluidity to some sequences, but it’s nothing that hinders the enjoyment. In fact, I really loved the silent deep space moments where the action did all the talking. The ending did also feel heavily accelerated, but it goes perfectly with the heavy action sequences.
Green Lantern: Earth One (Vol. 1) is an excellent graphic novel to pick up and discover for anyone who has been curious about the Emerald Warrior. It captures the the heart of what a Lantern is all about and delivers it all with great knowledge of the character’s lore.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
_______________________
An excellent retelling of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)'s origin story. I'd definitely recommend this Earth One story for those who have never understood what exactly this hero was about.
P.S. Full review to come soon.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
One of DC’s most iconic superhero gets the Earth One treatment in this recent volume written by the creative couple Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Sara Becko. This line of graphic novels takes some of DC Comics’ characters and gives them a brand-new modern retelling of their origin story. Completely free of any continuity issues possible with these character’s stories, fans can enjoy some of the most original and riveting ideas that writers have been suppressing within themselves for countless years. Green Lantern: Earth One rises to be one of the better accomplishments so far in this line-up and promises to keep you hooked till the very end.
Playing around with a well-established superheroes’ origin story can be a little tricky when you’ve always known it to follow one particular line of events. This is why I’ve always found that these retellings are absolutely enthralling and perfect for new readers who have never heard of or never looked into the hero’s lore. What Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Sara Becko successfully deliver in Green Lantern: Earth One is the story of Hal Jordan as the hopeless explorer who dreads his return to Earth and prefers a never-ending deep space exploration to the stagnant and mundane technology-filled Earth life. But once he discovers a strange corpse wearing a distinguishable ring, his life takes a abrupt turn towards the unknown.
This modern sci-fi epic throws Hal Jordan into his role as the Green Lantern at a cost. While he fearlessly embraces his destiny, he also slowly but surely discovers countless lifeforms as well as the tragedies that struck each one of them. It’s upon learning about the Manhunters that he runs into the biggest challenge he’s ever crossed paths with, but also the most important trial into understanding what the Green Lantern Corps was always about. This first volume does a magnificent job in covering the character’s development from scratch and showcases Hal Jordan’s struggles as a newbie ring-bearer, but also his infinite will power and pure desire to do good. I did sometimes find it odd that Hal Jordan’s reaction to all the strange things he gradually came across was close to indifference, yet something about the character’s longtime desire to go through a mind-blowing life-changing event made me overlook it all as a simple hint of ability to have excellent composure. He is an astronaut after all.
The artwork is impeccable and stunning in my books. Unconventional for a Green Lantern story, this volume reorients itself towards a much more darker, grimmer and terrifying art style. With something much more closer to a ragged penciling, it easily captures the eerie vibes of space and all that is supernatural. I did find that some of the transition between panels were rough and could’ve benefited with a couple of more pages just to add a bit more fluidity to some sequences, but it’s nothing that hinders the enjoyment. In fact, I really loved the silent deep space moments where the action did all the talking. The ending did also feel heavily accelerated, but it goes perfectly with the heavy action sequences.
Green Lantern: Earth One (Vol. 1) is an excellent graphic novel to pick up and discover for anyone who has been curious about the Emerald Warrior. It captures the the heart of what a Lantern is all about and delivers it all with great knowledge of the character’s lore.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
_______________________
An excellent retelling of Green Lantern (Hal Jordan)'s origin story. I'd definitely recommend this Earth One story for those who have never understood what exactly this hero was about.
P.S. Full review to come soon.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
April 12, 2018
Whoa surprised so many people enjoyed this.
So this, like all other Earth One titles, is a retelling of the origins of our favorite heroes but with a twist usually. Superman was more modern time, Batman was having a rough time as the bats, and Wonder Woman...well I didn't read that one. This one has Hal being a Space Pilot, finds the finger, and...well...he goes against the army of machines known as the Manhunters.
Good: The art was pretty good and the idea of Hal starting off in space made more sense then him being a pilot and finding the ring in the originals.
Bad: The whole story is kind of bland. The dialog is stiff, the fights aren't interesting, the manhunters are a boring enemy, and a lot of changes to characters, including hal, aren't interesting. IN fact they make some of the characters duller than their normal counterpart. Opposite of what you want in a retelling.
Overall this was really meh. Save for the art and a decent origin idea the rest was dull. I can't go higher than a 2.
So this, like all other Earth One titles, is a retelling of the origins of our favorite heroes but with a twist usually. Superman was more modern time, Batman was having a rough time as the bats, and Wonder Woman...well I didn't read that one. This one has Hal being a Space Pilot, finds the finger, and...well...he goes against the army of machines known as the Manhunters.
Good: The art was pretty good and the idea of Hal starting off in space made more sense then him being a pilot and finding the ring in the originals.
Bad: The whole story is kind of bland. The dialog is stiff, the fights aren't interesting, the manhunters are a boring enemy, and a lot of changes to characters, including hal, aren't interesting. IN fact they make some of the characters duller than their normal counterpart. Opposite of what you want in a retelling.
Overall this was really meh. Save for the art and a decent origin idea the rest was dull. I can't go higher than a 2.
August 3, 2021
This was quite epic!
Its a new origin for Hal as this time he is a space miner and while on one of the missions he discovers some alien and manhunters on the moon and a ring and when he wears it he gains some powers but feeling that he has been infected and could give them radiation, his fellow astronauts abandon him and he is attacked by the Manhunter but rescued by Kilowog on Planet Bolovox Vik and there he learns of this power ring he has and trains but when the Manhunters attack that planet he needs to rescue his friend and then search for other lantern and we follow this epic quest as he goes to Oa and is enslaved and what not and finally he must reunite the corps to fight back against Manhunters and save this world or will he be able to? What secrets will he find about this corps? Plus who is this mysterious Guardian of the universe?
Its a great volume and is such a fresh origin and some elements feel familiar but they're so different and I love the new origins for the Manhunters and next up the introduction of whats to come next. Plus Jordan's character as this beaten up but still stand up guy and when he discovers this power he does everything to save the universe and the slow way with which he goes and recruits others is quite awesome and I love it. The new designs are awesome and I love the dynamic with Kilowog. What I appreciate about the series is the fast paced nature and slow revelations and the high action and everything makes it so worthwhile read. One of my favorite GL books there is.
Its a new origin for Hal as this time he is a space miner and while on one of the missions he discovers some alien and manhunters on the moon and a ring and when he wears it he gains some powers but feeling that he has been infected and could give them radiation, his fellow astronauts abandon him and he is attacked by the Manhunter but rescued by Kilowog on Planet Bolovox Vik and there he learns of this power ring he has and trains but when the Manhunters attack that planet he needs to rescue his friend and then search for other lantern and we follow this epic quest as he goes to Oa and is enslaved and what not and finally he must reunite the corps to fight back against Manhunters and save this world or will he be able to? What secrets will he find about this corps? Plus who is this mysterious Guardian of the universe?
Its a great volume and is such a fresh origin and some elements feel familiar but they're so different and I love the new origins for the Manhunters and next up the introduction of whats to come next. Plus Jordan's character as this beaten up but still stand up guy and when he discovers this power he does everything to save the universe and the slow way with which he goes and recruits others is quite awesome and I love it. The new designs are awesome and I love the dynamic with Kilowog. What I appreciate about the series is the fast paced nature and slow revelations and the high action and everything makes it so worthwhile read. One of my favorite GL books there is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2023
I got this in a Shopgoodwill lot with two other Green Lantern books.
So this was a reimagining of Green Lantern's origin with a cool setup. Hal Jordan is part of an asteroid mining crew and finds Abin Sur's crashed rocket, along with a dormant Manhunter and Sur's mummified corpse. The Green Lanterns have fallen and the Manhunters are everywhere.
This feels like it would be a good Green Lanern movie if Green Lantern wasn't meant to be part of a shared universe. Lots of alien vistas, strange looking creatures, and the forces of good hanging on by a thread. Since the Green Lantern Corps fell decades earlier and the central power battery is dead, the rings are much less powerful and used by whomever finds them.
The art is gritty, fitting for a galaxy on its last leg. I like seeing a young Hal Jordan learning how to use the ring and not leading the entire corps. The ending leaves the door open for the sequel, which is sadly out of print already. I may have to track it down. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
So this was a reimagining of Green Lantern's origin with a cool setup. Hal Jordan is part of an asteroid mining crew and finds Abin Sur's crashed rocket, along with a dormant Manhunter and Sur's mummified corpse. The Green Lanterns have fallen and the Manhunters are everywhere.
This feels like it would be a good Green Lanern movie if Green Lantern wasn't meant to be part of a shared universe. Lots of alien vistas, strange looking creatures, and the forces of good hanging on by a thread. Since the Green Lantern Corps fell decades earlier and the central power battery is dead, the rings are much less powerful and used by whomever finds them.
The art is gritty, fitting for a galaxy on its last leg. I like seeing a young Hal Jordan learning how to use the ring and not leading the entire corps. The ending leaves the door open for the sequel, which is sadly out of print already. I may have to track it down. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
August 10, 2020
Green Lantern gets the Earth One treatment and a chance to add something fresh and new to the Lantern mythos for new readers to discover. It doesn't fully succeed. Hal Jordan is now an astronaut working on a space mining team when he stumbles onto a green ring that seems to pack immense power. He discovers the legend of the Green Lantern Corps, an interstellar police force that was all but exterminated by the ruling Manhunter robots.
I like the idea that with the Corps being extinct and simply just stories of legend, that the rare rings can now be found and used by anyone. But I really hope that future volumes would focus on the new bearers really having to prove themselves to have great willpower, unlocking the true potential of the rings. If that doesn't happen then that's a real missed opportunity. It's a cool start to a fresh new take on the Lantern mythos, and while I like the concept of a more scrappy, ragtag origin to the Lantern Corps and the mystery of the legacy, the dialogue is a bit awkward and the action could have used a little more inspiration.
I like the idea that with the Corps being extinct and simply just stories of legend, that the rare rings can now be found and used by anyone. But I really hope that future volumes would focus on the new bearers really having to prove themselves to have great willpower, unlocking the true potential of the rings. If that doesn't happen then that's a real missed opportunity. It's a cool start to a fresh new take on the Lantern mythos, and while I like the concept of a more scrappy, ragtag origin to the Lantern Corps and the mystery of the legacy, the dialogue is a bit awkward and the action could have used a little more inspiration.
June 9, 2018
Ob Marvel oder DC, es gibt unzählige Serien-Neustarts, was durchaus sinn- und reizvoll sein kann; denn welcher Leser hat die gesamte Entwicklung seines Lieblingshelden über 7 1/2 Jahrzehnte drauf, welches Kreativ-Team kann die Kontinuität wahren? Und was in den späten 50er Jahren noch gut funktionierte, kann heute ganz schön antiquiert wirken.
EARTH ONE ist eine Reihe, in der DC Künstlern den Helden eine neue, alternative Origin-Story spendieren lässt. Im Falle von GREEN LANTERN ist das gut gelungen, finde ich. Die Artwork spricht mich sehr an und auch die Geschichte, wie Hal Jordan eine Green Lantern wird, ist mit Augenmaß und starken Ideen neu erzählt worden. Wer etwas für Space Operas übrig hat, dem wird dieser HC-Band sogar dann gefallen, wenn er von Green Lantern bisher noch nichts gehört hat, kommt beim Lesen doch durchaus ein wenig Star Wars=Stimmung auf. Ein Faible fürs Monumentale schaden dabei nicht :)
Den vierten Stern gab´s von mir für die wirklich coole Artwork.
EARTH ONE ist eine Reihe, in der DC Künstlern den Helden eine neue, alternative Origin-Story spendieren lässt. Im Falle von GREEN LANTERN ist das gut gelungen, finde ich. Die Artwork spricht mich sehr an und auch die Geschichte, wie Hal Jordan eine Green Lantern wird, ist mit Augenmaß und starken Ideen neu erzählt worden. Wer etwas für Space Operas übrig hat, dem wird dieser HC-Band sogar dann gefallen, wenn er von Green Lantern bisher noch nichts gehört hat, kommt beim Lesen doch durchaus ein wenig Star Wars=Stimmung auf. Ein Faible fürs Monumentale schaden dabei nicht :)
Den vierten Stern gab´s von mir für die wirklich coole Artwork.
March 20, 2018
During an energy palladium mining expedition on the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, astronaut Harold Jordan discovers a wrecked spacecraft where he stumbles across the corpse of Abin Sur, who possessed a glowing green ring. When Hal takes possession of the ring, he is plunged into the far reaches of space and finds himself in a galaxy ruled under tyranny by the robotic Manhunters, who destroyed the peacekeeping Green Lantern Corps. Whatever is left of the Lanterns, Jordan will try to achieve and reunite the Corps and bring freedom to the galaxy.
Please click here for my full review.
Please click here for my full review.
March 25, 2019
Yet another rehash of Hal's origin. I have said it before and I'll say it again: I think Hal Jordan's origin has been retold more than any other hero.
Anyway, this was pretty good for what it was, but I'll take the regular Green Lantern universe over this any day.
Anyway, this was pretty good for what it was, but I'll take the regular Green Lantern universe over this any day.
March 21, 2018
This was a really interesting take on the Green Lantern mythos. I liked that Hal wasn’t chosen to be a Lantern but rather just so happened to grab ahold of the ring. I also liked that in this version of the story, it seems like the Guardians are all gone (but one, who maybe is starting the Yellow Lantern Corps).
I liked the art and it really fit with the story. I’d definitely like to see this worlds version of John Stewart. And maybe Jessica Cruz too. I liked what they did with Kilowog and Salaak (the latter only having a cameo role). Pretty cool and I would definitely recommend. I’ve only read the Wonder Woman Earth One story so far, but I’m really liking what they’ve done to their respective characters’ mythos. I’ll be trying the Batman, Superman, and Teen Titans books shortly.
I liked the art and it really fit with the story. I’d definitely like to see this worlds version of John Stewart. And maybe Jessica Cruz too. I liked what they did with Kilowog and Salaak (the latter only having a cameo role). Pretty cool and I would definitely recommend. I’ve only read the Wonder Woman Earth One story so far, but I’m really liking what they’ve done to their respective characters’ mythos. I’ll be trying the Batman, Superman, and Teen Titans books shortly.
February 6, 2019
This is quite a different take on the Green Lantern story. It presents a much darker and cynical universe than in the mainstream DC continuity Green Lantern. I'm usually not of fan of dark and gritty, but there is also a hint of optimism here. In this telling of the story, rings don't search out the worthy. Anyone can pick them up and use them. Despite this, those who have the rings in this story are all good at heart (so far). Could the message be that despite the darkness in this universe, there is hope that good lives in the hearts of most people? That makes this story more interesting than it appears on the surface.
June 8, 2018
Art was good, love the near future setting. Green Lantern has only ever kinda interested me, much like the other Earth One characters other than Teen Titans, but this was pretty good. I enjoyed seeing the learning curve all the lanterns have, and the story was action packed and a quick read.
Unfortunately, I am now out of Earth Ones to read!
Unfortunately, I am now out of Earth Ones to read!
June 28, 2018
I must be the one of the only people who really didnt like this that much. The plot was pretty meh, the action scenes really average and the characters not all that different to the original Green Lantern story. Hal was an asteroid miner and not a pilot of such but that seemed to the only difference. The art was ok but not great, really disappointed with this one
March 26, 2018
Excellent! I really enjoyed this as I have the entire Earth One series Each of these books is a new (more modern) origin story and this book introduces how Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern. I've only been reading GL since "The New 52" so am not well versed in GL origins or history but this told a great beginning for Hal which in many ways kept parts of the original tale. Hal is a former NASA employee who now works as a contract asteroid miner. He gets his ring from a dead alien GL and the first of the group he meets is Kilowog, one of my favs. The book was a fun one to read and told a strong origin story for Hal.
April 16, 2018
For me the first minor misstep in the Earth One series that I've read so far.
"Harold" Jordan is a man haunted by his past, just a workaday asteroid miner who finds a You-Know-What out in You-Know-Where, and is drawn into You-Can-Guess-the-Rest.
It wasn't bad, but at the same time it wasn't great. I liked a lot of the art, at least, and the characterization of Kilowog was fun.
"Harold" Jordan is a man haunted by his past, just a workaday asteroid miner who finds a You-Know-What out in You-Know-Where, and is drawn into You-Can-Guess-the-Rest.
It wasn't bad, but at the same time it wasn't great. I liked a lot of the art, at least, and the characterization of Kilowog was fun.
December 8, 2017
The art was meh, too dark and murky, and the story was boring. I gave up at page 27.
June 19, 2018
It made my day when I won this graphic novel by Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko through Goodreads. I'd been hearing good things about it, and even though I'm not a huge Green Lantern fan, I thought the idea of reworking him within the Earth One concept could be a wonderfully entertaining experience.
Even though Green Lantern has been rooted in science fiction for the last sixty years or so, word on the street said this book would strip away all of the fantasy elements the character carries and make it a true work of science fiction.
If you're unfamiliar with the character, Hal Jordan is a test pilot who was chosen to replace a deceased member of the Green Lantern Corps, which is an intergalactic police force. Each member wears a ring that will create hard light constructs of anything the wearer imagines. However, Green Lanterns must recharge their ring every twenty-four hours with a battery that looks quite a bit like a ... well, lantern. That's green. This corps has hundreds if not thousands of members, and you can imagine all of the betrayals, deaths, love connections, uprisings, reshuffling of power, and so on that has occurred during the last several decades.
In this version, they broke with tradition and made Hal Jordan a rejected astronaut who currently works as a space prospector. And ... that's about it. Though the circumstances are slightly different, he still happens across the ring. He eventually connects with other Green Lanterns. He organizes and leads them. This Jordan is more of an underdog, but I found the whole book very similar to what's come before. Even his costume is pretty much the same.
In my opinion, they did not take it nearly far enough. They did not break away from his Silver Age roots in any meaningful way. That's generally been my issue with all of the Earth One books, though. The idea is that these books would depict what these heroes would be like in today's real world, and the answer is ... pretty much the same.
I do want to commend Gabriel Hardman's art, though. He's got an expert sense of anatomy and perspective, and his backgrounds are exquisite. I also very much enjoyed Jordan Boyd's colors. His use of green light surrounded by the darkness of space felt fresh. At times he seems to employ a dot matrix technique, which was also felt both nostalgic and original.
So while the book is well executed, I didn't find it particularly inspired. It wan't the innovative science fiction extravaganza that I expected.
Even though Green Lantern has been rooted in science fiction for the last sixty years or so, word on the street said this book would strip away all of the fantasy elements the character carries and make it a true work of science fiction.
If you're unfamiliar with the character, Hal Jordan is a test pilot who was chosen to replace a deceased member of the Green Lantern Corps, which is an intergalactic police force. Each member wears a ring that will create hard light constructs of anything the wearer imagines. However, Green Lanterns must recharge their ring every twenty-four hours with a battery that looks quite a bit like a ... well, lantern. That's green. This corps has hundreds if not thousands of members, and you can imagine all of the betrayals, deaths, love connections, uprisings, reshuffling of power, and so on that has occurred during the last several decades.
In this version, they broke with tradition and made Hal Jordan a rejected astronaut who currently works as a space prospector. And ... that's about it. Though the circumstances are slightly different, he still happens across the ring. He eventually connects with other Green Lanterns. He organizes and leads them. This Jordan is more of an underdog, but I found the whole book very similar to what's come before. Even his costume is pretty much the same.
In my opinion, they did not take it nearly far enough. They did not break away from his Silver Age roots in any meaningful way. That's generally been my issue with all of the Earth One books, though. The idea is that these books would depict what these heroes would be like in today's real world, and the answer is ... pretty much the same.
I do want to commend Gabriel Hardman's art, though. He's got an expert sense of anatomy and perspective, and his backgrounds are exquisite. I also very much enjoyed Jordan Boyd's colors. His use of green light surrounded by the darkness of space felt fresh. At times he seems to employ a dot matrix technique, which was also felt both nostalgic and original.
So while the book is well executed, I didn't find it particularly inspired. It wan't the innovative science fiction extravaganza that I expected.
April 4, 2018
A little change but not too much.
World: The art is fantastic, it’s moody, it’s dark it’s very ‘gritty space’ which if you’ve read enough GL you know that’s not the look of the main DCU for Hal. It’s a welcome change and really grounds the book tonally and also visually in a more realistic and less erratic and crazy world, I like it. The world building here is good. With Earth One book you are expecting all canon to go out the window and the writer to just do their own thing and surprise us, this is not so much the case for Hal Jordan. There are a lot of tweaks but the basic spine of the story is the same. I would have liked a bigger departure but the pieces that are altered make sense and also feels at the same time familiar. Especially what they did with the Guardians as Johns has been doing that since GL Rebirth but hey…it’s still good.
Story: Much like a good GL book the pace and emotions are fast and unrelenting. This story is a retooled origin and the new pieces made me smile and I enjoyed it. Did it differ to much from canon, not really and that’s also where this as a Earth One book fails. It’s fun but it’s not fresh and new. I would have not minded a crazy new origin but this one’s safe, it’s well done, well written and feels very grounded but it is safe. It does leave the door open for more and I hope that we see a bigger departure next time. I will say the Earth stuff that was only hinted at was very interesting to me and I like that for now we may see Hal on Earth which we’ve not had in a long time.
Characters: Hal is different, he’s much more broody like Kyle and that’s not a bad thing. We don’t get the hot shot arrogant pilot here but we do get a man with a past that is hinted at and I like it. It’s different for Hal and that’s a good thing (never a big Hal fan). The rest of aliens, which I won’t spoil, is done well and unexpected, this is a bigger departure and I like it, it leaves me guessing and not knowing where the book will take us. I like what they did to a lot of the core characters, it feels like them but something new. What they did with the Guardians was kinda meh but then again that’s been going on for a while now. Manhunters was a good starting point cause they are easy to write and are just a mindless horde that Hal can blow up so they served their purpose, I wonder if we will dive deeper into how they’ve evolved, that would be kinda cool.
A good read but not really a true EARTH ONE book. It’s still really good.
Onward to the next book!
World: The art is fantastic, it’s moody, it’s dark it’s very ‘gritty space’ which if you’ve read enough GL you know that’s not the look of the main DCU for Hal. It’s a welcome change and really grounds the book tonally and also visually in a more realistic and less erratic and crazy world, I like it. The world building here is good. With Earth One book you are expecting all canon to go out the window and the writer to just do their own thing and surprise us, this is not so much the case for Hal Jordan. There are a lot of tweaks but the basic spine of the story is the same. I would have liked a bigger departure but the pieces that are altered make sense and also feels at the same time familiar. Especially what they did with the Guardians as Johns has been doing that since GL Rebirth but hey…it’s still good.
Story: Much like a good GL book the pace and emotions are fast and unrelenting. This story is a retooled origin and the new pieces made me smile and I enjoyed it. Did it differ to much from canon, not really and that’s also where this as a Earth One book fails. It’s fun but it’s not fresh and new. I would have not minded a crazy new origin but this one’s safe, it’s well done, well written and feels very grounded but it is safe. It does leave the door open for more and I hope that we see a bigger departure next time. I will say the Earth stuff that was only hinted at was very interesting to me and I like that for now we may see Hal on Earth which we’ve not had in a long time.
Characters: Hal is different, he’s much more broody like Kyle and that’s not a bad thing. We don’t get the hot shot arrogant pilot here but we do get a man with a past that is hinted at and I like it. It’s different for Hal and that’s a good thing (never a big Hal fan). The rest of aliens, which I won’t spoil, is done well and unexpected, this is a bigger departure and I like it, it leaves me guessing and not knowing where the book will take us. I like what they did to a lot of the core characters, it feels like them but something new. What they did with the Guardians was kinda meh but then again that’s been going on for a while now. Manhunters was a good starting point cause they are easy to write and are just a mindless horde that Hal can blow up so they served their purpose, I wonder if we will dive deeper into how they’ve evolved, that would be kinda cool.
A good read but not really a true EARTH ONE book. It’s still really good.
Onward to the next book!
April 1, 2018
This was all around awesomeness!!! It was a great story and retelling of the origin. The art was super. I loved everything about this book.
February 10, 2023
This was a completely new take on Hal, which I liked.
December 17, 2021
Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 is a graphic novel co-penned by Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko and penciled by Gabriel Hardman. It is a modernized re-imagining of Hal Jordan's origin story and how he became a Green Lantern.
Ex-astronaut turned mining worker Hal Jordan discovers an alien spaceship buried within an asteroid – inside, he discover a deactivated robot, a dead alien body, a power battery the shape of a Lantern, and a ring. The support gives way, causing them to escape with the battery and ring.
Back in their ship, Hal reports their findings to the rest of the crew and is accidently jettison into space with the ring, which wakes up the robot – the Manhunter, which attacks him, which blasted him further into space.
Hal wakes up on an alien planet named Bolovax Vik, and meets with resistant Kilowog. Kilowog explains the use of both the ring and the power battery, and reveals they belong to the Green Lantern Corps. He tells the history of the Corps, that they were a peace keeping space force until they were all hunted and mostly destroyed by the same robots Hal fought, known as the Manhunters. It is later revealed that the Guardians of the Galaxy created the Manhunters to kill off the Corps.
Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 is written and constructed rather well. Hardman/Bechko takes an interesting twist to Hal Jordan as an astronaut rather than a test pilot and not even a glamorous astronaut, but a blue collar space miner. Even though Hardman do include most of the familiar elements fans associate with Hal's origin story, they're often subverted in unexpected ways. The result is a Green Lantern comic that's more steeped in science fiction than the superhero genre.
Hardman's penciling is done rather well. Hardman depicts an older Hal Jordan, who isn't the sleek, muscular hero wearing a skin-tight costume. Many of the franchises more colorful trappings have been toned down. Hardman's art brings a harsher edge and a more moody sensibility to the page. The alien characters actually look alien in many cases, not simply humans with funny-looking heads, the only exception is the Manhunters, which is rather cartoonish.
All in all, Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 is a good graphic novel of a modernization of the Green Lantern mythos.
Ex-astronaut turned mining worker Hal Jordan discovers an alien spaceship buried within an asteroid – inside, he discover a deactivated robot, a dead alien body, a power battery the shape of a Lantern, and a ring. The support gives way, causing them to escape with the battery and ring.
Back in their ship, Hal reports their findings to the rest of the crew and is accidently jettison into space with the ring, which wakes up the robot – the Manhunter, which attacks him, which blasted him further into space.
Hal wakes up on an alien planet named Bolovax Vik, and meets with resistant Kilowog. Kilowog explains the use of both the ring and the power battery, and reveals they belong to the Green Lantern Corps. He tells the history of the Corps, that they were a peace keeping space force until they were all hunted and mostly destroyed by the same robots Hal fought, known as the Manhunters. It is later revealed that the Guardians of the Galaxy created the Manhunters to kill off the Corps.
Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 is written and constructed rather well. Hardman/Bechko takes an interesting twist to Hal Jordan as an astronaut rather than a test pilot and not even a glamorous astronaut, but a blue collar space miner. Even though Hardman do include most of the familiar elements fans associate with Hal's origin story, they're often subverted in unexpected ways. The result is a Green Lantern comic that's more steeped in science fiction than the superhero genre.
Hardman's penciling is done rather well. Hardman depicts an older Hal Jordan, who isn't the sleek, muscular hero wearing a skin-tight costume. Many of the franchises more colorful trappings have been toned down. Hardman's art brings a harsher edge and a more moody sensibility to the page. The alien characters actually look alien in many cases, not simply humans with funny-looking heads, the only exception is the Manhunters, which is rather cartoonish.
All in all, Green Lantern: Earth One, Volume 1 is a good graphic novel of a modernization of the Green Lantern mythos.
April 15, 2018
I suppose I'm one of those people who loves icons and simultaneously loves iconoclasm. For me, this was probably the most interesting take on the origin story within the DC Earth-One iterations; the writers and the artists involved took some big chances and this did not receive the usual GL treatment. For starters, the ring didn't choose Hal - fate, or chance, or whatever you want to call it made sure that he would stumble across the ring. As it states in the liner notes at the back of the trade, this Green Lantern is more Gravity (or Interstellar) and less Star Trek. Captain Kirk with a Power Ring ain't to be found in these pages.
I won't delve too much into the goings-on or art within this story (which is terrific), but I will say that what really makes this Earth-One stand out is the tone and the atmosphere. Green Lantern has been one of my favorite DC books for quite a while now, and this team has done something innovative that I certainly haven't seen before. Looking forward to the next go-round.
I won't delve too much into the goings-on or art within this story (which is terrific), but I will say that what really makes this Earth-One stand out is the tone and the atmosphere. Green Lantern has been one of my favorite DC books for quite a while now, and this team has done something innovative that I certainly haven't seen before. Looking forward to the next go-round.
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