This issue of Green Lantern Corps deals with the fallout from the arc dealing with the Keepers and all the decisions made during that story. Guy Gardner’s decision to use Sinestro Corps members as living fear bombs, and the death of a fellow Green Lantern at John Stewart’s hands. So, how does this issue stack up with how GLC has been so far?
It begins with the fallen Lanterns being interred into the crypt on Oa. Guy is getting chewed out by the Guardians for his actions of removing Sinestro Corps prisoners from Oa and dropping them onto the Keepers. Guy tells them he did what he had to do and flies off. John is packing up Kirrt’s things to return to his parents. Kirrt is also the Green Lantern that John killed to prevent him from revealing how to get the Keepers into Oa. John delivers Kirrt’s body parents and discovers that his brother, Birrt, is mentally challenged and as difficulty accepting his brother’s death. The issue ends with John erecting a memorial while Kirrt’s family stand with him.
Peter Tomasi’s writing continues to impress. There is some pretty intense subject matter that is dealt with and Tomasi handles it beautifully. The revelation of Birrt to the end of the issue feels a little rushed, but it’s not a big deal. Tomasi does have Guy pen the best nickname for the Guardians I have seen, “bluechachos.” I did like the comparison of what he did with the Allies using the atomic bomb to prevent further casualties during World War II.
Claude St. Aubin’s art is good, but I didn’t notice a lot of difference between his and recently departed artist Fernando Pasarin’s pencils. But, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s still pretty crisp and clean, and the reaction from Birrt’s family on their faces is moving. If there is one thing I have a problem with it’s the banner on the cover. While it’s not too bad on this issue, it does cause a bit of a detriment to what should be a really powerful cover by Ivan and Rod Reis.
This is a good introduction into the different aspects of Guy’s and John’s personalities. The Guardians are, for some reason, blasting Guy for using the Sinestro Corps as weapons to end the fight with the Keepers. Guy is able to blow them off, because while his methods aren’t always the best, they get results. And John is having to deal with killing a fellow GL. Even though he made a hard decision to save lives, it still weighs on him greatly. I question the decision to have him kill another GL so soon after what happened with Mogo during the War of Light, but I digress. I’m really looking forward to where this title is going, it continues to be one of the better titles out there.
Art: 8.5/10
Script: 8/10
Parental concern: None whatsoever.
