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Green Lantern Emerald Warriors

John Wilson on the issue!

I should preface this by saying that I never liked Guy Gardner...at all. I didn't like the "I'm the Greatest Green Lantern" ever attitude, the "you can't tell me anything" arrogance, I didn't like the Moe Howard haircut, the "ski instructor" take on the costume and don't even get me started on Warrior. All and all, I would rather read about Kyle and John long before caring about anything Guy is doing. But with all that said, in Emerald Warriors, I have found a Guy Gardner that I can stand. Maybe it is the inner monologue. Who would have thought that Gardner had the brains to have an internal monologue? But he does and it brings a great deal of insight into him. Guy sees himself as a cop and the universe is his beat. The arrogance and attitude are still there, but they are tempered now through all that he has been through, especially the recent events of Blackest Night.

This issue is heavily couched in the Brightest Day saga as we see Guy and Ganthet as they begin the journey to honor the deal that they made with Red Lantern Atrocitus for his aid in the Blackest Night. To legitimize the journey, Guy manages to use logic to convince the Guardians that evil doings were occurring in the unknown sectors and the lack of Lantern presences was dangerous to the entire universe. What is odd and particularly un-Guy like is that we find the beginning and the end of the story with a Guy that is recording a message, as if he is worried that he may not return. And the last panel shows Guy may still be in the grips of one of the most harrowing experiences of his recent life. For his own activities, Atrocitus is building a wall of the dead using the skulls of all the fallen that he blames the Lanterns for. Not wishing to be distracted from his task, he instead sends Bleez to meet with the coming Lanterns.

This story managed to do a number of things fairly well. First, as mentioned, it managed to make Guy bearable. It also was strongly connected and adds to the overall story of Brightest Day. It uses the connections to the story but avoids the urge to have the characters monologue a recap of what has come before. It is mentioned, certainly and commented on but it is conversational and feels organic to the story. Peter Tomasi does an excellent job of weaving together all parts of the needs of a first story: introduction, anticipation and moving the story along.

Fernando Pasarin and Cam Smith do an amazing job with the visuals of this story. Guy has moved away from the simple fists of old and creates constructs that are layered, inventive and punctuate his mood. The overall artwork is excitingly layered and dense giving as much to the story visually as do Tomasi's words. The colors of Randy Mayor are so vibrant, layered and intense; the issue practically shines with the lights of the individual Lantern's light.

Emerald Warriors has gotten off to a great start and has changed my opinion of a character that I had written off long ago. So, unless the "real" Guy shows up, this is a book that will be a welcome addition for my pull list.

Take A Look Inside

The Official Word From DC Comics

Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #1

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