REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern’ Issue #14

Green Lantern #14 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 Darick Robertson, colors by Diego Rodriguez, and letters by Dave Sharpe. This is part of the Absolute Power event. Hal Jordan tries to break out of his prison, as the other Lanterns around the world join in the resistance.

Of all the Absolute Power tie-ins, Green Lantern has the biggest range. It jumps around the characters and locations more than any other, having to deal with domestic and intergalactic fronts of the war. Hal’s attempt to escape is phenomenally written. Without his ring, Hal has to resort to using whatever he can find, fighting human soldiers and an Amazo robot. The location is filled with weapons captured from the heroes and villains locked up. This makes the fight wholly unpredictable and extremely fun. Famous gadgets and some deep cuts are found in the battle. The pace is phenomenal, and the escalation of excitement is intoxicating.

The structure of the comic is excellent, jumping across to other major characters. But it is advised that Absolute Power: Task Force VII #3 is read first, as it places many of the figures in the places where they appear in this issue. Alan Scott is imprisoned, and Carol Ferris is in the Tower of Fate with the Justice Society of America. The Lanterns have infiltrated most of the most integral avenues of the crossover. And even out in space, the United Planet has its own plans. But even with all of these storylines happening at the same time. The structure makes it easy to follow, and each scene is given long enough to build its own identity and atmosphere.

The script and characters are terrific. Hal, Alan, and Carol each have narration following what they are doing in Green Lantern #14, all in the first person. Adams makes the narration brilliantly informative, guiding the reader and explaining what’s happening. It highlights what’s happening specifically in the panel and the broader story and emotions involved. Hal’s captions are in the moment, superbly matching his speed of thought as he rummages through boxes and thinks on his feet. Each weapon is quickly explained, but these moments are kept concise to keep the issue’s pace flowing.

The Amazo robot that hunts down Hal is Jadestone, who has already absorbed the power of many JSA members. Where there were signs earlier in the crossover that this robot could be reasoned with and was less severe than its fellow soldiers, this chapter excellently ensures that it is intense and terrifying.

The art in Green Lantern #14 is sensational. With each location comes a different concept brought to life by Pasarin and Albert. The details are unbelievable. For Hal, he runs among boxes filled with gadgets and weapons, leading to a cornucopia of references. There is a magnificent understanding of angles and space, which is also shown in Alan’s situation. He is in a cramped cell, playing chess with Jadestone.

Where Hal has a vast amount of space to play with, Alan is stuck in a tiny area, and the dimensions of both locations are perfectly presented. With Carol, the situation is entirely different again. In the Tower of Fate, the laws of physics change. There are stairs everywhere, where gravity is altered, and the whole scene becomes similar to an M.C. Escher piece. The fight scene between Hal and Waller’s soldiers is humorous and exciting, filled with slapstick and high-stakes action.

The colors are fascinating because none of the Lanterns can use their powers, so there are no bright tones of green or pink. There are still some vibrant shades on clothing and armor. A great contrast is created by Alan Scott, wearing a red shirt and sitting opposite the green of Jadestone, which also serves as the two colors in Jadestone’s captions when it considers its options. There are occasional bursts of energy when Hal opens fire with one of his borrowed weapons. The lettering carries many features created in other Absolute Power books, helping craft a synergy across the titles.

The backup story is a pivotal part of the off-world conflict. It shows the Green Lanterns and their struggle with being puppets to Lord Premier Thaaros. It’s a sensational and deeply profound story about sacrifice. The art provides a fantastic barometer of the variety of alien designs that can be found within the Green Lantern Corps.

Green Lantern #14 is a vital part of Absolute Power. It is involved in the event in many ways, with Lanterns included on Earth and beyond. Each of the main characters is experiencing something unique, yet they all have crucial roles in the crossover. The core of the issue revolves around Hal’s attempt to escape Gomorrah Island, which is one of the most ingenious action sequences in ages. But around that are a host of other storylines that make the issue full and satisfying.

Green Lantern #14 is available now wherever comics are sold.