REVIEW: ‘The Green Lantern: Season Two’ Issue #3

The Green Lantern, Season Two #3, is written by Grant Morrison, illustrated and colored by Liam Sharp, and lettered by Tom Orzechowski. DC Comics publishes the series. Following his banishment to Earth by the Young Guardians, Hal Jordan struggles to adjust to life on Earth. However, he is approached by General “Herc” Stone to test an experimental X-300 teleport plane, which can pass through dimensions. Stone needs Jordan’s help to find several pilots who disappeared while testing the X-300, including Jordan’s ex, Jillian “Cowgirl” Pearlman.

This issue is unique in that it features very little Green Lantern action. Jordan refuses to take his ring while testing the X-300, claiming it’s a “safety net.” Thus, he enters another dimension with nothing but his wits and will. It’s a fun way to raise the stakes.

However, that doesn’t mean that the issue isn’t full of Morrison’s usual mind-bending concepts. A plane with the ability to cross dimensions, living beings who take the form of storm clouds, and tiny flying bird children who follow Jordan around are prominent. Morrison fills the issue with the material that only he can pull off.

That being said, if there’s one problem I have with the issue, it’s that the crisis is resolved too quickly. Not a lot of time is spent in the alternate dimension. That’s not even mentioning the fact that Jordan finds Cowgirl pretty quickly. It takes a lot of tension out of the proceedings.

The end of the issue promises a more exciting adventure. Even better, an epilogue toward the end promises genuine danger for Green Lantern. I would refer to this issue as a “filler” episode in The Green Lantern: Season Two. It’s entertaining, but it’s a pit stop on the road to a much more exciting installment.

Sharp’s art gets an upgrade in this issue. The majority of the issue features a watercolor-esque look. It feels like Sharp painted the book instead of using regular pencils. Sharp also adds his own colors, leading to some striking images. Perhaps his best work is done in the alternate dimension. When the plane prepares to teleport, it blurs, and then seems to blink out of existence.  The dimension itself features a violent purple sky cascading with lightning. The ground itself is a thick, murky swamp with blood consistency. Sharp’s art and colors make you feel like you’ve entered another world.

The Green Lantern, Season Two #3 boasts some of the most beautiful art in a weekly comic and continues to push the limits of the Green Lantern mythos. Morrison and Sharp are a well-oiled creative engine. The fact that they’re willing to push the envelope in so many ways is a good thing, especially where Sharp’s art is concerned. I’m eager to see what they do in the next issue since another DC superhero will be a guest star.

The Green Lantern, Season Two #3 is available in stores and online now.