REVIEW: ‘Green Lantern Corps’ Issue 2

Green Lantern Corps Issue 2 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jeremy Adams and Morgan Hampton, pencils by Fernando Pasarin, inks by Oclair Albert, colors by Arif Prianto and letters by Dave Sharpe.

John Stewart, Hawkwoman and a team of Green Lanterns head to the ruins of Thanagar, but Atrocitus and the former Red Lanterns have gotten there first.

This issue heads to a once majestic planet that has become a war grave. It’s still an open, traumatic wound, especially for someone like Hawkwoman, who called it home. It was one thing to see it shatter and the aftermath, but there is a quiet horror to the silence in this issue. But it can’t be silent for long before Atrocitus shows up. The leader of the Red Lantern Corps is an example of the consequences being faced across the universe. Their Central Power Battery is broken, and they have lost their wings, although they still have access to some of their powers.

The pace is slow and methodical, biding its time before erupting into action. The Green Lantern Corps splits. Some enter the Atrocitus’ ship, others explore what’s left of the planet. There is something in the core of Thanagar that will be immensely valuable and coveted. The fractured spectrum adds unpredictability to Green Lantern Corps Issue 2. Any emotion can lead to an outburst, and anyone can show up.

The battles at the end of Green Lantern Corps Issue 2 are frantic and ferocious, a sign of how angry and volatile the universe is now. A surprising and alarming reveal occurs with a character that also appears in Green Lantern, which shows how connected the two books are.

The cast is shaken up in Green Lantern Corps Issue 2, altering the chemistry and personalities that appear. John Stewart, the heartbeat of this series, is joined by Kilowog, Razer, and Hawkwoman. It’s a mixture of experienced Lanterns and volatility. Superwoman is tremendously written. She is viciously angry, foul-mouthed, and rough, while John is more calculated and calm. This creates a terrific relationship that teeters on flirtation.

Kilowog is also a calling influence whilst still loud and determined. This is an excellent contrast to Razer. Once a Red Lantern himself, Razer struggles with the change of ring and faces emotional turmoil. Kilowog is perhaps the character most comfortable with willpower in the entire Corps, but that is put to the test. When the emotional spectrum starts to warp, the effect on the characters is extremely unsettling, just before a huge reveal.

The fantastic art makes the universe look violent and unsafe around every corner. Green Lantern Corps Issue 2 occurs around a shattered planet, a bleak setting in an unforgiving universe. The team must navigate ruthless rocks and giant asteroids containing a gigantic spaceship. It’s a glorious spectacle, seeing a gorgeous starship among the ruins of a world, with Mogo, the now inert living planet that caused the damage behind that.

The level of detail within this space opera is extraordinary. The characters also look phenomenal. Hawkwoman’s armor is remarkable. She looks like a knight, armed with a massive mace. The Red Lanterns are the most fascinating part of Green Lantern Corps Issue 2 art because most of them no longer have their rings and uniforms. Atrocitus’ armor is gone. He looks more monstrous. His mouth is enormous and snarling, much bigger than the other proportions of his head. It creates a feral and scarier look. Those other figures are also there, but different. Dex-Starr, Bleez, and others have unique new designs that imply stories that haven’t yet been told.

There is a variety in the action. Whilst one features large constructs, the other is more physical and scrappy.
The colors are interesting because they signify the change within the emotional spectrum. The green is perhaps the most stable part of the spectrum, so it is a dominant shade. There are still flickers of red around Atrocitus and his allies, but it is much less intensive and all-encompassing than it might have been before. The lettering has a pivotal role in the storytelling later in the issue. It is clear that something is wrong, that something is coming because the word balloon changes. The blood runs cold before the villain makes themselves known.

Green Lantern Corps Issue 2 explores a broken universe. Every part of the cosmos has changed and looks different. Planets are gone, and even the villains aren’t who they should be. The damage done is widespread, and the Lanterns are only now beginning to understand the scale. And alongside the desolation, space has become the Wild West. It’s lawless, with some traumatized figures lurking, ready to fight back. The issue feels like the characters are moving through the expanse of space, and the fragility of every element makes it seem like any decision could lead to disaster.

Green Lantern Corps Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.