Green Lantern #36

Hal Jordan rejoins his brothers to celebrate Christmas. 

Wait a minute! I thought Hal Jordan was Jewish! In 2016, it was revealed that Hal's dad was Catholic and mom was Jewish. This issue took place in 1993. So technically, when Hal was converted in the pages of Justice League: The Darkseid War: Green Lantern #1, nothing altered the possibility that the Jordan family could have celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah. It's possible that that year's Festival of Lights had ended days prior and so when Hal was able to come home, it was for Christmas festivities only. 

This issue has a lot of other things going on that I wasn't really aware of. For one thing, Doctor Light had at one point died and as a sort of passive aggressive punishment, was turned into a wave of light by a demon. Then for some reason, Hal Jordan no longer works for Ferris Air and has become a taxi pilot. Now Hal has always been flighty when it comes to working at Ferris as he keeps leaving and returning. But now Carol Ferris is no longer with the company and is instead working for Hal's small business. That sort of career move doesn't make any sense to me. Obviously, a lot transpired in the issues prior. 

That's a real problem with holiday issues that occur in the pages of a regular non-humor series. There always seems to be a lot of talk about past problems that had transpired in the last couple of issues. And if you aren't a regular reader of those books, you're often in the dark trying to understand what happened. 

This sort of thing doesn't deter me from wanting to own holiday themed comics. But it does move me to lower my rating as I feel that books that take place during Christmas, Halloween or even St. Swithin's Day, should be self-contained because these type of issues have generally been the introductory pieces for comic collectors. I can't tell you the number of posts I see on social media of fans pointing to a holiday themed book being what got them into reading and collecting comics. Sure, this issue is nearly 30 years old and there's nothing that can be done to fix it. However, this is definitely a lesson that all comic book publishers should learn from going forward.

Festive. Adventuresome. But full of drama that really doesn't help move the story along very much without confusing the casual reader.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold

Collecting the six-issue miniseries from 1999-2000, this volume recounts the long and complicated friendship between the Barry Allen Flash and the Hal Jordan Green Lantern.

This is a friendship that on paper shouldn't really be. Barry is a nerd, nebbish and sorta a prude. Plus he's a family man, married to Iris West and surrogate father to Wally. Hal is a playboy, a loner, a rebel. He's devoted to Carol Ferris but he plays the field quite a bit. The closet he has to a family is a pair of brothers that he only sees maybe for Thanksgiving and Christmas if lucky.

Clearly this friendship is proof that opposites attract. 

This book is beautifully illustrated by A.D. 2000's Barry Kitson and Tom Grindberg. It's topped off by the epic storytelling of Mark Waid (Daredevil) and Tom Peyer (Batman '66). 

Just as with the history of these two characters, there's highs and lows. I thought the entire book was great. But I hated seeing how both characters were affected by loss and tragedy. Both Hal and Barry have gone through some really crappy stuff in their nearly 70 some years of existence. 

The best chapter has Barry and Hal going on an intergalactic camping trip with their Earth-2 predecessors Jay Garrick and Alan Scott. It's very funny seeing the generation gap between Jordan and Scott and how much Barry and Jay are like mirror images of each other.

A great book that is a must for any fan of the Silver Age Flash and Green Lantern! But be sure to read with tissues nearby.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Unlimited Access #1

Axel Asher, also known as in inter-dimensional skipping hero Access is back. 

This time, he doesn't just have to prevent heroes from both the DC and Marvel universes from jumping between worlds, he now has to prevent them from screwing up with the time-line.

During a period of lost time, Access discovers that the believed long dead Hal Jordan Green Latern has returned! Not only that, but the Hulk has been sent back in time to the Old West. 

Generally, when a hero from one world enters the other world, there's a loose period of time in which Access must return the interloper to their original world. To go past that limit could mean the return of the Amalgam Universe; another dimension in which the Marvel and DC Universes are blended into one. But when people are starting to be sent back and forwards in time, those rules are no longer in play.

There's no telling how much time Access has to fix time before the Amalgam world returns...

Written by Karl Kesel, a writer with experience in both DC and Marvel lore, Unlimited Access is in good hands. But this 1997 miniseries isn't written by someone who was involved with the three prior stories in the DC/Marvel crossover Saga. Having time travel being thrown into the mix was a brilliant twist. It really makes the story of Access that much more interesting and fresh.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Green Lantern/Space Ghost Special #1

 Both Hal Jordan and Space Ghost answers a distress call from a planet besieged by a mysterious entity that can destroy planets. In typical (but very awesome) crossover fashion, both Green Lantern and Space Ghost believe that the other is the dangerous foe. When the true enemy is revealed, Jordan is now in possession of Space Ghost's battle bracelets whereas Space Ghost is the newest Green Lantern in the sector! It's an dynamic buddy-cop team-up full of excitement and childhood dreams come true!

The story was very good but the art and colors by Ariel Olivetti was just amazing. I'm a big fan of Alex Ross and his realistic painting style. Olivetti boasts similar skills but his style has a more 1940s pulp action feel to it. It's freakin' awesome stuff.

The secondary feature star a pair of Hanna-Barbera characters that I have never heard of. It's a cat and dog duo called Ruff n' Ready. In this story, both are down-on-their luck comedians that just can't find the right partner until one fateful day the two happen to pull up a seat next to each other an a local bar and comedic history is made. 

This Howard Chaykin penned story promises more of Ruff n' Ready in the future. Somehow I doubt it. This tale, while an interesting take on how comedy duos are formed, just didn't feel to me something that's going to spawn a future mini-series. I might be wrong but I doubt it as I really felt that the Jetsons back-up in Booster Gold/The Flintstones was going to become a series and in November, my instincts will be proven right. With Ruff n' Ready, I don't have that same vibe.

This crossover special overall was enjoyable. But the title feature of Green Lantern/ Space Ghost is really what carries this book. Just because I rate this book lower because of the back-up feature doesn't mean that this special isn't Worth Consuming- it really is!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #3

     Hal Jordan prepares for the suicide mission upon the Amazons on New Themyscira. Armed with a Queen Industries Green Arrow missile, Highball Jordan is the human race's last hope in stopping the Atlantean/ Amazonian War that's taken half of Europe with it and threatens to split the earth's crust in two. But he's not going alone as Carol Ferris will be his wing-man on this mission. Will she be an asset or Jordan's greatest distraction?

    A very good conclusion to this Flashpoint tie-in with fantastic art by Cliff Richards (All-Star Western) and I'm really digging the cover by J.G. Jones (52.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint #4

   Spinning out of the pages of Hal Jordan #2, America's last hope to end the Atlantis/Themyscira War has failed. Meanwhile, Barry Allen's memories of the pre-Flashpoint universe have nearly been wiped from existence. For Thomas Wayne, that means that any hope of a universe in which his son Bruce Wayne lives is fading fast- and so to prevent that, the Batman has finally decided to lead Cyborg's coalition. But who will answer the call to save the DC Universe?
     The first half of this issue is filled with lots of interesting quantum theory and strategic planning. The last half is filled with dynamic action that pulls no punches and is filled perhaps some of the most shocking and graphic death scenes ever illustrated in the pages of DC Comics. When the cover says that it's rated Teen- the editors aren't lying.  
    The penultimate chapter of this universe changing classic. It may not be the most exciting (or my favorite) of the miniseries crossover event, but it's not to be missed either. 
     Note: the editors at DC missed a great opportunity by not having a miniseries based on the SHAZAM! gang. That's all I will say about that without giving away any spoilers, but DC dropped the ball on that one, folks. That's for sure.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
    

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #2

   After the Atlantean assault in issue 1, the only fighter battalion left to defend the United States is the squad contracted out by Ferris Aircraft. But things are looking up as the aerospace plant has been assigned with retrofitting their planes with technology cloned from Abin Sur’s crashed ship. However, the hopes and dreams of a Guardians powered air force will come crumbling down when Ferris is attacked by a fleet of Amazon piloted planes.

   INVISIBLE Amazon piloted planes!

  This chapter in the Flashpoint tie-ins was awesome! Thrills on every page. Adam Schlagman has crafted an amazing storyline that interweaves with his other Flashpoint title Abin Sur- The Last Green Lantern.

  But once again, it’s the amazing art by Cliff Richards that steals the show. The majority of his work over his career has been contained to horror titles like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Yet, his work in Hal Jordan looks like he’s been crafting war comics for decades. It’s his genius level of attention to detail that is making him a new personal favorite artist with every page I turn of this dynamic miniseries.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Abin Sur- The Green Lantern #2

  After having crashed landed on earth, it looks like Abin Sur will spend the rest of his days under the microscope of scientists at the Superman Project. But seeing the alien as a new weapon against the Amazonian/ Atlantean threat, the President of the United States enlists Hal Jordan to act as a the Green Lantern's partner in conducting rescue and seek and destroy missions in war-torn Europe.

    But as Abin Sur assists in the war in Europe, the clock is ticking for the Green Lantern to complete the mission given to him by the Guardians: destroy the earth to prevent a dangerous weapon hidden in the planet's core from being used by an unknown alien force. Assigned to put him back on task, Sinestro intercepts Abin Sur. With Sinestro being at odds with the Guardians will he good against their orders or will Abin Sur have to fight his best friend and fellow Lantern to the death?

    Not my favorite chapter of the numerous Flashpoint tie-ins. There's so many flashbacks, that the action never gets a chance to get rolling. But, the pacing isn't my biggest reason for not liking this book- it's the length.

    After I finished this issue, I thought that it felt a little light. So, I went back and counted the number of pages that contained storyline. There was only 18-pages of story! I kid you not; every other page was an advertisement.

    In contrast, I looked back at some other tie-in issues. Knight of Vengeance #2 has 22 pages of story whereas Green Lantern Industries #1 had 29. Where's the consistency??? And if I had paid the full price of $2.99 for this issue, I'd be majorly pissed! Thankfully, I only paid a quarter, but still there's a standard of consistency and quality that just wasn't there in this issue. Bad form DC editors!
   
   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #1

   Hal Jordan- Green Lantern of Sector 2814. He's been so hit-and-miss with me. As a child I loved his costume and above all else, his power ring and all the funky things that he could create with it led to the character being such a favorite of mine. For quite some time, he was in my top-5 superheroes. Then when I started collecting comics again 10 years ago, I bought up a fair share of Green Lantern books and I was completely unimpressed. Then I discovered Darwyn Cooke's tribute to the DC Silver Age, The Final Frontier, and Jordan captured my heart again. That was until Ryan Reynolds took on the mantle in the 2010 film, I mean,  stinker of the same name. Why can't the character be executed consistently?

   Well, Adam Schlagman (Flashpoint: Abin Sur- The Green Lantern) was able to craft an opening chapter in this 3-part mini-series tie-in and capture that child-like wonder and Silver Age goodness that I loved about Hal Jordan's character. It felt like I was reading a vintage classic filled with action, adventure, and above all, it was fun!

   Hal's been haunted by his father's ghost as a hot-shot pilot since I can remember. Here, with Hal Jordan being the East Coast's first line of defense as a combat pilot contracted out through Ferris Air and NOT a Green Lantern, I felt like this was a comfortably familiar but completely original take on the DC Universe's Man Without Fear. Plus, the smart-ass that is Oliver's Hal Jordan is what Ryan Reynolds' Green Lantern should have been!

    Added to this issue's brilliance was the artwork by Ben Oliver (Ultimate X-Men.) His airbrush painted quality style was amazing. His character's looked like I was looking at photographs and then there's the action scenes. From opening the book to the very first page, every dogfight scene was action packed and breathtaking.

     So good, I'm tempted to read ahead for more action and thrills instead of waiting until after reading about 2 dozen other tie-ins.

    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.
    

Legends of the DC Universe #36

  The 'Destroyer of Worlds' storyline finally comes to an end with Hal reconciling with the Spectre entity and pulling a time-travelling trick that obviously was stolen from the Superman: The Motion Picture playbook. Also, what Hal does is kinda what got him in trouble as Parallax and was what resulted in his need to become the Spectre and find redemption in the first place. Talk about ironic switcharoos.

   This issue did help to clarify why it took so long to make Caul into a full-on bad guy. As I mentioned earlier, his reasons for taking down the Spectre was due to his inherent nature for self-preservation. This made him sympathetic. That was until he also destroyed all of creation after temporarily offing Hal Jordan. 

   In this issue, we learn that being a powerful psychic isn't all it's cracked up to be as hearing everyone's inner most thoughts is enough to drive anyone mad. So, in order to find peace without dying, Caul sought to quiet the voices instead and decimate all humanity.

    This was an exceptional ending to an otherwise hoo-hum story. There's a couple of great cameos and having some of Hal's family members finally realize it had been him trying to make contact with them through the other side was very touching.

   This story ends with a blurb that continues this story in the pages of Spectre #1. Normally, this would tick me off but the ending of the story didn't end on a cliffhanger. Had I have to grab that issue to discover if Hal lived or died from a burning building or something, that would be another story. But this tale was a teaser for the new series much like the old Showcase Presents: created to garner interest without tricking the reader into having to buy another series they otherwise might not have any interest to buy. Man, I miss the old days.

   If this overall story was any indication of the quality of the Hal Jordan Spectre series then I have no interest in collecting it. But if I was to find issue #1 in a dollar bin or grab bag, I would give that series a chance. But it's not something that I will be actively seeking to make a part of my collection at this time.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #35

   Finally, we're getting somewhere. 

   The power psychic Caul decides to put on some clothes and invites some of his former fortune-telling cronies from his CIA days to a seance. There he takes advantage of their unassuming nature and he destroys them. Now Caul is a super-charged battery of metaphysical energy and he's ready to take on the Spectre. 

    On the side of good, thanks to the spiritual guidance of Abin Sur, Hal Jordan's has finally been preparing for this battle as well. But when he renounces the power of the Spectre, he finds that he must battle Caul alone. Once free from the villain's snare, Jordan will discover that he's lost more than just his only chance for redemption.

   The action and adventure were better in this issue, mostly because there finally was some to enjoy. But the dialogue was lame and the art was even lamer. Though, I really like these painted covers. This one looks like it was painted by Dave (Sandman) McKean, but it's not. But I liked it anyway.

   Thankfully, there is only one more issue left. I don't think I can take much more of this storyline. It's not been one of my favorites in an otherwise superior anthology series.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #34

Great cover- cruddy issue.

As Hal Jordan continues to find his purpose as the new Spectre, the psychic Caul continues to grow stronger. It's all leading up to a final conflict between the two powerful entities. But before this happens, Hal makes a few visits to old friends and family on earth. However, because of his spiritual status, nobody can recognize him and after they part, they soon forget ever meeting with him. 

   These not so great reunions only make Jordan feel more obsolete. While it makes for an interesting story thread, it doesn't do much to save this issue from being an utter bore. Plus, in order to boost Hal's confidence, he's now been paired with the spirit of Abin Sur. But just who is behind this supernatural pairing of Pinocchio Hal with Jiminy Cricket Abin isn't clear. Is it God? Fate? Hal's Imagination? It's not revealed. 

   What is revealed is that its Abin Sur whose been the narrator of this story all along. You think it's Hal but with the introduction of Hal's precursor, it's now clear that this tale is being recalled through the alien's perspective. But again, I'm not really sure what his role is other than being some sort of conscious guiding force to a weary Hal Jordan.

   As for as our mystery villain Caul, not very much is revealed about him either nor does he really do anything to progressive this story along.  We do learn that Caul was working for the CIA, but they let him go for being too powerful. Now, I'd think that the intelligence community would want to keep their heavy hitters around so I'm thinking he's also a bit of a loose cannon. As for his lack of contribution to the story's plot. He spends the first 4 pages doing naked yoga. Sure, it's a way to help him build up his macabre powers but it's about as unneeded a nude scene as there will ever be one in the history of comics. 

    This issue just wasn't my cup of tea. The art was fair. The coloring was bland. As for the story itself, it seemed stuck in neutral. Why this story needed to be a 4-parter is beyond me.

    Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Legends of the DC Universe #33

   This story takes place just after Hal Jordan became the Spectre. Riddled with guilt over the actions he committed as Parallax, Jordan seeks to redeem himself. Now as God's personal vessel of wrath, the former hero gets that chance. However, Jordan's piled up even more grief as he heaps vengeance over a myriad of souls. To Jordan, it's okay to reap justice over evil doers but since the Spectre-side of him has a bit of a mean streak in him, some of the methods employed are a bit too violent. This puts Hal at unease and he feels like his own humanity may be slipping away with each punishment.

    Thus, Jordan seeks out advice from God in the realm of Heaven. But he ends up meeting people from his past who have also transversed to the great beyond. Their words of wisdom seem to do little to ease Jordan's conscious and that's a very bad thing as a powerful psychic on earth named Caul has had a vision that he's not fond of. Thus, Caul is planning on destroying the Spectre before the spirit of God's vengeance gets to him first.

    I remember seeing this issue in stores when it first hit shelves and thinking 'So Jordan's the Spectre now..." I was glad that DC hadn't given up on the former Green Lantern. But I didn't buy this issue and so I haven't been very familiar with Hal's time as the Spectre. Finally owning and reading it, this opening chapter helped to fill in some of those gaps and it was great seeing some long past heroes from DC's Silver Age.

    But there's very little action in this issue and it moves at a snail's pace. Also, with the new character of Caul added to the mix, Jordan's trip down memory lane takes away from establishing the villain as anything more than a psychic seeking to prevent his own demise. Thus, Caul is a more sympathetic character as who can't relate to self-preservation? Maybe the next issue will give this mystery man a little more meat to make him more interesting and more villainous.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

DC Retroactive Green Lantern The 80s #1

   This retroactive has a lost tale featuring John Stewart. It reveals why he forwent wearing a mask and a secret identity. The story was very clever and the art was classic.

   The reprint tale has Hal Jordan returning from a year-long exile in outer space. It also explains why John Stewart replaced Hal- a mystery I never understood ever since I saw Stewart’s first appearance on a magazine stand in a 1980s Rite Aid when I was not even in Kindergarten. (Yes- I’m old!) It too is a very good story and it features wonderful 1980s DC art, of which I am a huge fan.

   I only wish Guy Gardner was in this book. He’s on the cover, but nowhere to be found in it’s contents. Bummer.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Justice League Europe #40

Finally, Hal Jordan has returned in order to claim his promised role as JLE leader and it seems all is right with the world. At least all the members are in agreement that Hal’s the right guy for the job. Sadly, the battle with that deranged artist has really worn out the League’s welcome and the prospect of housing an embassy in merry old England is pretty much kaput.

It has taken several issues, but it seems that Justice League Europe has returned to its former glory. I said that something was missing in the chemistry and it seems having a Green Lantern in the mix is just what this team needed.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.