REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern’ Issue #13

Green Lantern #13 is published by DC Comics, written by Jeremy Adams, pencils by Fernando Pasarin, inks by Oclair Albert, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr and letters by Dave Sharpe. There is a backup story written by Marc Guggenheim, art by Matthew Clark, colors by Matt Herms and letters by Sharpe. This is part of the Absolute Power event. Green Lantern is held captive and tortured by Amanda Waller, whilst the other Lanterns face conflicts of their own on Earth and Oa.

This issue spreads across several stories, projecting itself across the universe. There is a fantastic structure that makes it effortless to follow the situation. The plot is bookmarked with Hal, trapped on the island of Gomorrah, and being beaten to hell by King Shark.  The comic takes time with all of the major plot points of the Absolute Power events and Adams’ Green Lantern run as a whole. The pace is slow but there is a lot of story to unfold, all of which is fascinating. By checking in with several lanterns, the size and scale of this saga are awe-inspiring. Avenues are being crafted everywhere, with dozens of possibilities.

There are threats around every corner, all reaching the next stages of their plans. Villains emerge at every juncture. The fight scene, a scrap between the Justice Society of America and an Amazo stealing their powers, is scary and prescient, given the current crossover. The danger of the Amazo robots will be a real, powerful threat. There are so many endings, all of which are surprising. The mystery is how they will interlace with each other.

Adams is fantastic at switching between characters. This is extremely noticeable within Green Lantern #13. The book transitions seamlessly, moving across the most prominent figures within the history of the Green Lantern lore. Hal Jordan, Sinestro, Alan Scott, and many others are also brought in, which is crucial to this particular series. There is a monologue in the captions for each scene, focusing on the main character. These monologues help cature the pressure they’re suffering from.

There is clarity to the narration, detailing what’s happening whilst also infusing personality to the text. The Lanterns are all experienced heroes crafted by war and conflict. The villains are arrogant and nefarious. Alan’s description of the battle is fascinating. He understands superpowers more than most and knows when the fight is over before anyone else.

The art is sensational. The location and scenario change entirely every few pages, and yet Pasarin and Albert take it in their stride. The details are terrific no matter where the Lanterns find themselves. Each segment opens with a shot of a close-up of the characters’ faces, drawing out their pain, fear, and other palpable emotions. It is easy to see both pain and strain on their faces. The fight between the JSA and the Amazo in Battery Park is impressive. The desperation and despair on the faces of the heroes are distressing, especially as the situation worsens. But even the quiet moments, such as one of the characters wallowing in their bedroom, are dripping with emotion and feeling.

The colors are perhaps more important in a Green Lantern comic than in any other DC book, as the spectrum of light is an intrinsic force within that segment of the universe. The layers and blending of tones are stunning, giving beautiful depth to every page. And there are multiple examples of what happens when those colors are mixed together.

The backup story is a flashback for Lord Premier Thaaros, the antagonist of the latest arc and one of Waller’s allies in her war against the superheroes. It is an excellent description of the character’s backstory and how he has blocked off Earth and isolated it from off-world aid. Guggenheim delves slightly deeper into Thaaros’ mental state, inferring severe instability. Every move is designed to deceive.  The art is grunge, dark, and visceral, fitting in with the main story within the issue.

Green Lantern #13 feels full. There are so many levels to the story being told by the creative team on this issue alone. The story jumps between the characters to showcase how many directions the plot is moving in but reamains easy to follow. There’s never a place to get lost or confused, with each point perfectly explained. It also effortlessly brings in the elements of Absolute Power, linking the book with the event on an intergalactic and terrestrial scale.

Green Lantern #13 is available where comics are sold.