REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern’ Issue 19

Green Lantern Issue 19 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jeremy Adams, art by Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert and Jason Paz, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr and letters by Dave Sharpe.

The Green Lanterns gather a team, preparing to head after Sorrow. But a whole new Lantern Corps is being created and the universe’s fate is at stake.

Green Lantern Issue 19 has a calm quality to it. It’s a lot of preparation and catching everyone up to speed on what’s happening. The rebirth and rebuild of the Green Lantern Corp happened in a one-shot, Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum Issue 1, so it is important that the main elements are also featured in the main series too. The return of Sorrow and the potential risk to the emotional spectrum will control the next saga of the Green Lantern storylines.

The structure of Green Lantern Issue 19 bounces around space, mainly around Earth, Oa, and the new Justice League Watchtower. Hal is checking in on Carol and the Justice League, whilst Kyle Rayner is building a team. There is enough action to keep the pace fast, only slowing down to allow for brief moments of exposition. For much of the book, the mood is upbeat and exciting.

The reunion of the League members with the Lanterns is energetic and rewarding because they have been absent from most of the comics set on Earth. But by the end of the issue, the tone dampens, and the seriousness of the situation becomes more apparent. The damage to the emotional spectrum means anomalies and dangers can emerge from anywhere, leading to a grizzly scene by the end of the book.

The cast of Green Lantern Issue 19 is kept within groups to focus on relationships. Hal gets a chance to see Star Sapphire (Carol Ferris). As Green Lantern has been leading the rebuild in space, Star Sapphire has been a prominent fixture in the new Justice League. She is learning how to be a superhero, and the character’s growth is excellent. The writing for the relationship is beautiful. Adams leans into positivity and love, and the romance is warm and rich.

As a famous love story rekindles, the start of a crush forms elsewhere. The group that Kyle gathers is small, with only two characters enlisted to help him on his mission. They are a funny mix of personalities with a flirtatious introduction. One is a well-known character who often tries to find a book to fit into, while the other is a newcomer. The shorter size of the team heightens the individuals instead of drowning their voices out. Then come the villains, who are ominous and powerful. Sorrow is just a small part of a wider plot, and the volume of enemies is only made evident in this issue, making for a daunting reveal.

The art is sensational. The book’s first scene is an intense fight scene featuring many of the Justice League’s greatest members. The spectacle is superb, and the sense of scale is phenomenal. Each hero is terrifically illustrated. This scene kickstarts the energy of the issue. All of the locations, from Earth to Oa and beyond, are incredible.

The technology is clean and sleek, with gorgeous details added by the inkers of Paz and Albert. Each place looks unique, making the book seem well-traveled and varied. The art captures both the serious and the silly in Green Lantern Issue 19. The villain’s lair is terrifying, cold, and desolate. But then the humor is mainly visual, purposefully objectifying one of the characters. It’s ridiculous yet fun.

The colors are also fantastic. There is a bright and colorful atmosphere in the presence of all of the heroes. Their costumes are vibrant, and the fights take place in broad daylight. It’s engrossing and refreshing/ But on the other side of the universe, it’s bleak and grey, lowering the temperature. The lettering is easy to read from start to finish.

Green Lantern Issue 19 prepares for an expedition. More than just a filler issue, this chapter ensures that the DC Universe’s many corners are on the same page and moving at the same speed. With the Green Lanterns all out in space, it was refreshing to see interactions with not just Carol but the other members of the Justice League. It’s a character-focused issue that adds new faces to liven up the book. This storyline will be split between Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps, and Adams highlights the split within this issue. This individual comic has Hal and his supporting cast at the helm. 

Green Lantern Issue 19 is available where comics are sold.