REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern’ Issue #5

Green Lantern #5 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, art by Xermánico, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr, and letters by Dave Sharpe. There is a backup story titled “Wayward Son Part 2,” written by Peter J. Tomasi, art by David Lafuente, colors by Tamra Bonvillain, and letters by Rob Leigh. Sinestro unleashes the next stage of his plan to create fear, which involves Carol’s drones. 

This series appears to be constantly increasing its intensity, and Green Lantern #5 is an example of that. The team-up last issue was exciting, and yet this chapter is even more so. The drama erupts instantly, With Hal forced into action across the globe against numerous foes, with Sinestro conducting a choir of devastation from afar. The pace is rapid and relentless, constantly sending drones into the air that need to be dealt with. 

Where Green Lantern’s fights with Sinestro have often been in space or on distant panels, now they take place on Earth, with recognizable locations at risk. What works brilliantly within this run is the fact that each issue has its own plot wrapped up within the individual pages, while also serving as part of a larger saga between Green Lantern and Sinestro. The final part of the comic is a brilliant confrontation that ends with a shocking shift in the trajectory of the comic.

The dialogue within this issue is phenomenal. Adams beautifully implements a sense of history between Hal and Sinestro. For much of the book, they are far from each other, with Green Lantern constantly playing catch up. The book has brilliantly been adding new elements to the capabilities of Hal’s new rings, and Green Lantern #5 highlights a few of them to thrilling results. The men know each other well enough to try and counter their moves. But it isn’t until the last scene that their mutual hatred comes out. The speeches are large and dramatic, with both characters possessing vast amounts of arrogance. Using Carol’s own machinery to inflict the carnage is a clever personal touch, although the real ramifications are not quite clear within this specific story.

The art is sublime. Xermánico draws some of the best Lantern-based action that has been seen in years. The destruction very early in the book is huge and sets the momentum rolling, with the ominous drones flying overhead. Then Hal joins in. The motion blur to convey the extreme speed they are all moving at is terrific and explosive. The cities below them are absolutely stunning, with the artist including some locations beyond the fictional DC cities.

The constructs have a brilliant sense of scale and intricate details that showcase both Hal’s and the artist’s imagination. The worldwide aspect of the issue is represented superbly, with the Lantern having to move across the planet at vast speeds. Sinestro and his group of minions are brilliantly designed, with intricated details displaying various races. However, these minions have done basically nothing for the whole series so far, and their contribution is minimal again in this issue.

The colors are excellent again. The interesting facet of this book is that the emotional spectrum seems more available now, with Hal able to use multiple colors if he needs to. And in Green Lantern, the colors of the rainbow are more important than perhaps any other comic. The look of the constructs is stunning, with a rich green that is nearly translucent. Then, there are the stark white lines that give the objects their detail and specificity, showing the immaculate designs. The colors show a variety of custom word balloons, but they are all easy to read.

The backup story is a continuation of the previous issue, with the revelation that Sinestro has a son, who is forced to fend for himself on a brutal planet. This issue introduces more of the young boy’s decrepit and harsh lifestyle. Whilst both the art and the writing set the story on a blocky, futuristic world, there is simultaneously a Star Wars and a Victorian England feel, like an interstellar Oliver Twist. The method in which impoverished figures are treated and the workhouse concept work together to press down on Korg, giving him all the more drive to climb his way up.

Green Lantern #5 is a tremendous issue. The decision to ground both Green Lantern and his greatest enemy was genius, as it localized the storytelling. The sci-fi and the action are still intense, but they take place in the skies of Earth instead of a planet far far away. Each issue allows Hal to demonstrate why he is an incredible hero, facing a character that also illustrates why he is an incredible villain. One of the most famous rivalries in DC’s history is reignited and reforged, with the damage their battles caused being felt by people who are just spectators.

Green Lantern #5 is available where comics are sold.