It’s a bit of a fishy edition of Subway Shorts today and there is actually a theme, one that I didn’t expect when I started reading Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps and New Super-Man, but that’s what makes doing this fun!
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps 8
Written by Robert Venditti
Art by Ethan Van Sciver
So, we start off a new story arc with this issue, and Hal Jordan is nowhere to be found, other than his ring. Having turned to pure willpower last issue to destroy Warworld, Hal’s ring assumes that Hal is dead. But instead of going off in search of a replacement, like the Green Lantern rings are programmed to do, the ring instead goes off in search of Hal. So, we have our first hint that Hal Jordan has not actually died. Again.
While the ring searches space for… something… the newly-returned Green Lantern Corps and the remaining members of the Sinsetro Corps try and figure out how they go forward in their new incarnation, as former GLC member Soranik, daughter of Sinestro, tries to convince John Stewart that she and the rest of the Yellow Lanterns want to help. That includes running off to defend a planet from a surprisingly-used Starro the Conqueror. Unfortunately, when every member of the two Corps except for planet Mogo go to the planet, Starro disappears and the Lantern teams discover they’ve been bottled up on the planet.
Wait, who would possibly bottle up various species of Corpsmen?
No, not Stephanie Brown, but here be spoilers. of course…
Brainiac 2.0 is revealed as the one who trapped all the Lanterns, claiming that the “Grand Collector” would be pleased. DC really needs to stop giving all of Superman’s villains to the Lanterns. First the Cyborg Superman, now this. Where will it end? Actually, I would read a Green Lantern-Mxyzptlk battle…
Brainiac isn’t the only big reveal, as Hal’s ring also travels to find the exiled Guardians Ganthet and Sayd on the Indigo Lantern homeworld.
I won’t lie, this book was on the bubble for me, but tossing Brainiac into the mix, along with Ethan Van Sciver’s art, is going to keep me in the mix for at least one more story arc. I’m really looking forward to see where this goes.
New Super-Man 5
Written by Gene Luen Yang
Pencils by Viktor Bogdanovic
Inks by Richard Friend
Another book that’s managing to bring me around to enjoying it more, maybe it’s this issue’s theme of fathers and sons and how important family can be. Also, the book didn’t seem to fly by, so I felt like I got my $2.99 worth.
The reveal last issue that Kenan Kong’s father was the leader of the revolution trying to take down the Ministry of Self-Reliance and bring democracy to China. Not only that, but Kenan’s mother was the country’s first super-hero, inspired by the American Justice League. Kenan’s dad convinces him to join the revolution along with his formerly-imprisoned uncle and fight the Ministry. It’s just a shame that his uncle seems to be a little bit crazy. He has weaponized mini Starros (see, I TOLD you there was a fishy theme today!) and willing to use them to take control of the Ministry in order to bring about a new system. I’m not sure he understands how Democracy works…
So now the leader of the Revolution needs to work with the very agency he was fighting against to ensure that people don’t get hurt. Classic funny book stuff. Gene Luen Yang seems to have found a groove here and Kenan is finally becoming more and more likable. I think this may end up being a great book after all.