REVIEW: ‘Absolute Green Lantern’ Issue 7

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 7 is published by DC Comics and written by Al Ewing, art by Jason Howard and Riley Rossmo, colors by Iñaki Azpiazu, and letters by Lucas Gattoni.

The cosmic universe expands as a wider war is revealed.

This issue reveals so much more about the more expansive universe. Writer Al Ewing completely leaves Earth behind, instead moving to the far reaches of the cosmos. The tiers of the color spectrum in this universe’s version of the lantern colors are explored further and on a much larger scale. Mogo, the giant sentient planet that seems to be the leader of the Black Lanterns, is bearing down on a planet filled with people. This part of Absolute Green Lantern Issue 7 is easy to understand.

The magnitude of the plot is surprising and engrossing, with other Lanterns trying to reason and push back Mogo. But the more intricate part of the lore, including motivations, can be challenging to get your head around. It’s a huge spectacle, but it’s nigh on impossible to follow. There are many surprises, and it’s that which draws the eyes.

There are many familiar faces in Absolute Green Lantern Issue 7, but not necessarily in places we would expect. The most famous figures in the universe of Green Lantern are making appearances, both good and evil. Their personalities are some through to. Iconic phrases and words pop up in the dialogue. Their future in this series is very uncertain, partially due to the brutality and ruthlessness of the Absolute Universe.

It’s as if the characters have been shuffled, with entirely new histories. Much of the dialogue is exciting, with grit and menace. And while there are attempts to explain the system and intricacies of the colors, it will take time to sink in.

The art changes for the first time in this series. Howard and Rossmo create a chaotic and fascinating universe. The cosmic battle was a chaotic scene. Two gigantic planets are coming closer and closer to each other, with Lanterns on either side. Many of these chargers are recognizable, but they have evolved and been transformed into something new.

It’s exciting to see the lantern powers be used by those who are more experienced. There are more concentrated constructs, like Lanterns of old, but there is still the flaming appearance. The Black Lantern moves like a mixture of a fluid and Venom’s Symbiote.

The cartoony, angular style works wonders in Absolute Green Lantern Issue 7, as it is a comic filled with a multitude of alien lifeforms. There’s a lot of fun surrounding the designs of the chargers. Many of them are one-eyed and big. However, this issue is also extremely violent, as was glimpsed in previous chapters when Abin Sur began purging the humans. There are severe injuries and extreme blood splatter. With that and some of the changes made to existing, well-known characters, it’s evident that this universe is nasty.

The colors are phenomenal, showing how the colors are shown on a letter setting. There is a stunning celestial quality to the Green Lantern glow, encasing the users entirely. But the black of the villains and the dark red blood are much more solid and striking. It creates a sense of impending, unstoppable doom. The lettering for the word balloons is easy to read, even when colored to match the Lantern colors. However, Mogo’s dialogue didn’t have a word balloon, and therefore can be difficult to read.

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 7 moves light-years away from Earth. After so much time stuck on the ground, the fact that Al Ewing moves the story to the other side of the galaxy has to be celebrated. It’s fresh and exciting, with spectacular visuals. But the finer details and the inner workings of how this spectrum works are still as alien as the creatures on the page. It will take more examples and stories to fully grasp the lore.

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 7 is available where comics are sold.