REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern Civil Corps Special’ Issue #1

Green Lantern Civil Corps Special #1 is published by DC Comics. It’s written by Jeremy Adams and Phillip Kennedy Johnson, with art by Salvador Larroca, colors by Luis Guerrero and letters by Dave Sharpe. This is part of the DC All-In Initiative. The Green Lanterns have regrouped on Earth, taking the fight to the United Planets and Thaaros.

This special combines the Lantern storytelling over the last year and joins it into one book. The plotlines of Hal Jordan in Green Lantern and John Stewart in Green Lantern: War Journal merge together, using both of them to unleash their attack strategy against the villains that kicked out the human Lanterns and have been destroying the Central Power Batteries on the home-worlds.

New threads are also introduced for this issue, with an old friend now being used by Thaaros against the Lanterns. The pacing and the structure are fantastic, utilizing the added space that this special allows. The opening is slow, catching readers up with all the major headlines from the respective series, especially after so much was sidelined during Absolute Power.

However, once the briefing is set, the pace increases as the plan is enacted. It feels grandiose and broad, attacking a dictatorship from multiple angles. In the inevitable battle, many surprises stem from combining the two elements of the series, using tactics and strategies that were not available in the singular series.

Green Lantern Civil Corps Special #1 brings many of the Lanterns back together. Issues in Adams’ Green Lantern run did feature many Lanterns on Oa, including Jessica Cruz and Kyle Rayner. However, with Guy Gardner and John Stewart in their own stories and individual books, they weren’t ready to join the fight.

This special returns those figureheads. It is great seeing Hal, John, and Guy reunited, with their powerful personalities meshing well. Despite their strength, a natural hierarchy and respect for one another has been developed over time. While it is easy to focus on the Lanterns that don’t appear, several still light up the pages. Primarily, this issue focuses on the main characters of the two big Green Lantern series to cement their status within the galaxy.

Two of the most notable figures within this special are Carol Ferris and Jadestone. Carol has become Star Sapphire. And whilst she is new to being a superhero, her authority and intelligence are extremely useful for calming Hal down. And Jadestone is a leftover from Absolute Power. Immensely powerful but reformed, it will be interesting to see what part the Amazo will have in future stories.

The art is fantastic. One of the most interesting aspects of this particular corner of the DC Universe is how many times the character of Green Lantern can effectively change completely. There are many men in this issue who have the title of Green Lantern, and yet all show unique designs. The details in the characters are exceptional. Jadestone has gone from being ominous and menacing to suddenly friendly, just from a change in context.

When the battle erupts, it takes place in numerous locations at the same time. Guy and Shepherd are on Oa whilst Hal, John and Carol go to the United Planets. More familiar faces appear in these areas as the battles get started in earnest. Those are sprawling, frantic, and intense, with some important ramifications in the final pages.

The colors are always crucial in a Green Lantern comic. The spectrum of colors is an essential concept within the DC Universe, even as it faces changes through the assaults on the Central Power Batteries. And through one of John Stewart’s rings comes a purple that always represents something ominous and horrifying. The lettering is full of clarity and consistency.

Green Lantern Civil Corps Special #1 is rewarding. The United Planets storyline has been progressing for a long time, and this issue directly addresses and dismantles the lengthy saga. The Green Lanterns shine together, feeling big and expansive. It’s not vital that you read every issue of Green Lantern and Green Lantern: War Journal before going into the special, but it’s also not a great jumping-on point as so much history is fed into the beginning. But as All In begins, it is important to be fresh and get the overarching storyline to its finale. This is not the end, but much of the frustration and tensions is released.

Green Lantern Civil Corps Special #1 is available where comics are sold.