REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern’ Issue #17

Green Lantern #17 is published by DC Comics. It was written by Jeremy Adams, with art by Xermánico, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr, and letters by Dave Sharpe. In this latest issue, the Green Lanterns battle to liberate Oa as Hal Jordan and John Stewart race towards the world with a living planet in their wake.

The frantic pace of the previous issue continues into Green Lantern #17. The frantic nature of the battle bounces around the galaxy, but there is a stronger focus on the ground of Oa. As Varron, an undead assassin, wreaks havoc, the rest of the planet is included. Characters that have not been featured so far appear, finally incorporating all of the Green Lanterns in the book. Jessica Cruz and Kyle Rayner have parts to play. The scale is immense still, with an exhilarating energy that makes the book move at breakneck speed.

This can sometimes be hard to track, but the spectacle is remarkable. While liberating Oa is the primary objective, saving the entire planet from destruction soon becomes the goal. Mogo, a living planet once a Green Lantern, is approaching Oa. Because of what happened to Thanagar, it is clear what can happen, and a sense of panic sets in. Adams is never quite finished delivering surprises, bringing out characters from across the galaxy.

Each character gets the chance to do something impressive in this war. The cast is enormous, featuring close to a dozen human Green Lanterns, from Alan Scott to Simon Baz. When you think a member of the Corps has been forgotten, they make an appearance. However, the number of people in the book can shrink when necessary, increasing the suspense.

The dialogue is excellent, tapping into the drama of the situation and getting more desperate and awe-inspiring as Oa’s destruction draws near. When the narration begins for a single scene, it looks to drag the most emotion out of the scene, igniting a part of the Lantern spectrum. Not a word is wasted.

The art shows the breathtaking stakes of this war. It’s a gorgeous comic that revels in chaos. The character reveals are stunning, showing them as cosmic powerhouses but also as people, with intricate details etched against the vast expanse of space. What Lord Premier Thaaros is becoming after his apparent death is awe-inspiring and superbly designed by Xermánico. Each battle brings something new and different, with so many bodies involved and at various angles. The Lanterns fly in at speed, creating constructs and blasting their way out of trouble.

The villains all have unique designs. The Unseeing, servants of the evil United Planets, are very creepy-looking beings. They are magical, blindfolded, and unsettling. Varron is a collection of shadows, like a sentient cloud of smoke. All you can make out is his limbs and his snarl. Then, there is Mojo, the astronomical planet that is hurtling towards Oa. Hal Jordan and John Stewart’s expressions magnify the planet’s magnitude and the velocity at which it is travelling. This is an example of how the small details have a much more significant impact on the comic.

The colors are impressive. The Green Lanterns have their power back, leading to a wash of green across almost every page. As long as that green exists, safety and success are always possible. Varron draws the eye because he is the complete opposite of the brightness within the series. Almost entirely black, the secretive assassin has a purple energy aura that contrasts brilliantly against the green of Oa.

Other colors become important to the story, especially blood red and pure white, which will resonate among Green Lantern fans. The lettering is dynamic and constantly changing to fit the tone. The bigger world balloons and sound effects fit the magnitude of the book.

Green Lantern #17 is the continuation of an epic. Following the events of Green Lantern: Civil Corps Special #1, the war against the United Planets has been relentless. Through living planets and assassins coming back from the dead, the Lanterns are being pushed to extremes. The scale is reaching levels that are nearly unfathomable with a huge cast.

Green Lantern #17 is a merger of two series: Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps. Yet Adams keeps the story tethered and understandable, cutting through the universe with a scythe. The art is simply glorious. With each issue comes enormous consequences and acts that have reshaped an entire galaxy.

Green Lantern #17 is available where comics are sold.