HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS written by Robert Venditti, pencils by Fernando Pasarin, inks by Oclair Albert & Eber Ferreira, colors by Jason Wright, and letters by Dave Sharpe enlightens our shelves with some fantastic art this week while Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner escape their own personal prisons with some helpful friends.
Unless you’ve read this issue or enjoy hunting for early Christmas presents, now is the time to turn back before I brighten up your day with some Hal and Pals SPOILERS.
Overall, this issue didn’t progress the story much at all. Hal Jordan loses his mind only to gain it back about eight pages later. The tricky Guy Gardner gets Round 2 with Arkillo only to break free from the Darkstar’s using his willpower. And, Orion breaks Kyle Rayner and Space Cabbie out of New Genesis Jail. The story feels like Robert Venditti was forced to wrap this series up quick with a nice bow. The wrapping is pretty good but let’s check out the gift inside.
Let’s talk about the best part. Fernando Pasarin’s pencils, Oclair Albert & Eber Ferreira’s inks, and Jason Wright’s colors. Their art pops right off the page. The art team did a fantastic job this week. Give credit where credit is due. These guys had such bright and vibrant colors mixed with such specific detail.
Just look above at the fight between Guy Gardner and Arkillo as proof. I can feel the pain from Guy’s uppercut. Also, look between Arkillo’s legs at Guy’s dad. This art team could have fudged together some profile of his dad. Better yet, they could have left him entirely out of the page. But the fact that they left him in AND gave him specific detail shows me the time, and dedication Pasarin, Ferreira, and Wright put into this issue.
Even though this page above looks kind of busy, I wanted to point out the lettering by Dave Sharpe. There’s a ton of dialogue down the left side that makes the page extra busy. That very well could be Robert Venditti trying to fit too much into one page. However, I loved the lettering of Guy Gardner on this page.
I can physically see his anger in his words. The KOOOOM down the right side helps show the reader how powerful Guy’s hits are, as well as how loud they are too! Arkillo is taking a pounding for someone else’s dad to help out a friend. I sincerely hope this relationship between Guy and Arkillo continues somewhere when this book is done.
Venditti gives us a trip down memory lane of Hal Jordan as he remembers everything from the past 46 issues. We also get Kyle Rayner escaping with Space Cabbie and Orion in what appears just to be extra fluff squeezed into the issue. And lastly, Arkillo gets Guy Gardner to come to his senses and regain control using his willpower. So as the Earth Lanterns race back with help, we end the issue with Mogo surrounded by thousands of Darkstars.
I’m sorry. I want to like it more than I do but everything feels rushed, forced, and packed in before the series ends. I enjoyed the Guy/ Arkillo fight but was it needed again? Did we need a trip down memory lane for Hal? And Kyle has felt like a throwaway character for most of this arc as well as the last. There is too much happening right now. So much that we didn’t check in with John at all.
Should you pick up this issue?
Every aspect of the art was outstanding. But, I think you could skip this issue and not miss a beat.
Should you add this series to your pull?
Yes! Why? Because this arc started off really well and I have faith that Venditti will right the ship. Plus, we got 3 issues left. You’ve got to know how it all ends!
Well, what did you guys think of HAL JORDAN AND THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #47? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu
