REVIEW: ‘Absolute Green Lantern’ Issue 4

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 is published by DC Comics and written by Al Ewing, art and colors by Jahnoy Lindsay, and letters by Lucas Gattoni.

As Hal’s true form is revealed, Jo has a conversation with Abin Sur.

This issue is all about finding answers. The structure is still split between the two points in time, but they’re starting to connect closer. The exposition in Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 is heavy, but it’s well-executed. The questions aren’t completely answered, but new avenues are opened up and revelations are made.

The first part of the comic returns to the fight between Jo and Hal, routinely evolving to show more danger and surprises. The Black Hand is turning Hal into something terrifying, perhaps even irreparably. This provides the issue with some pace before it slows down for the conversation with Abin Sur.

Some of the major plot points of the whole series are wrapped up here, from how Jo got her powers and how the huge Green Lantern symbol ended up crushing a small town. The majority of this story has been centered on small American towns, but it’s starting to expand into something much bigger. It was in the previous issue that suspicions grew that what happened to John, Guy, and other residents wasn’t what it seemed. Now that idea is realized, but not entirely explained yet. The ending takes a significant step forward, with newcomers entering the series at the perfect moment to refresh a story that could potentially be growing stale.

The dialogue in Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 is terrific and truly alien. Ewing writes Abin Sur like a real extraterrestrial, speaking with basic English that’s intelligent, but lacks colloquialisms and context to make sense to Jo. It appears to lack empathy and concern for humans in general. Where the original Abin Sur on the main Earth was a recruit of the Green Lantern Corps, looking like a foot soldier who could be understood and responded to. This version is almost celestial in nature, on the fringes of comprehension.

Likewise, Hal is becoming increasingly sinister with every page he appears on. Whatever force is sharing his body can speak through him, and it’s terrifying. Yet Jo approaches the monster that was once her friend and Abin Sur with incredible bravery, especially in the flashback, where she doesn’t yet have abilities. It’s not that she isn’t afraid, but she is the only one who’s willing to stand up for the rest of the town.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the series so far had been the lack of focus on this particular character. We have learned a lot about Jo through clever dialogue, but she hasn’t had the chance to shine as the hero of the comic yet. No one has.

The art is mesmerizing, even in a static comic. Abin Sur remains the highlight so far. The design is incredible, making him imposing and immensely frightening. He’s huge, with two sets of arms, rippling muscles, and a massive tail attached to the back of his head. He towers over Jo. The intricate details that Lindsay adds to panels are extraordinary. The moments Jo takes to push back her fear before confronting Abin Sur, and the furrowed brow of the alien as he tries to understand what the human is saying, are just two examples. It’s profound and stunning.

For a being so imposing, Abin Sur’s face is relatively small, yet it conveys incredibly complex emotions and expressions. In the other confrontation, Hal has transformed. He’s become a writhing, stretching monster, but still has Hal’s human face. It’s a harrowing concept that reinforces the part of the series with a cosmic horror element.

The colors are phenomenal. The way the green light moves and looks is gorgeous. It envelops the user, glowing with a multitude of shades. It’s like a flickering fire, but colored green. And at the start of Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4, another color is introduced: red. It slowly moves like blood in water, until the whole page is covered, making it menacing. The lettering is fantastic. What works brilliantly is the difference in size. Gattoni frequently uses small text just before the regular word balloon. It reveals the secret mutterings the characters make to themselves before speaking out loud. This adds depth to the dialogue and those saying it.

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 bridges the past and the present. The book has two terrific plots being told simultaneously, and they’re now being threaded together, with answers emerging. The creators are enormously talented, and the unsettling universe has completely obliterated a quaint little American town. Perhaps the arc itself was getting tiresome, as the characters hadn’t moved much from their original locations. However, by the end of this issue, new features are introduced that not only reinvigorate the world but also begin to connect the Absolute Universe together.

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 is available where comics are sold.