COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Green Lanterns Annual #1 'The Tale of the Lost Lantern'

It’s an annual Gathering of the Green Lantern Corps to remember the light of the Lost Lantern. Both Simon and Jessica are expected to Present, but can they conquer the greatest Fear of them All? Public Speaking!

Green Lanterns Annual # 1
Writer: Andy Diggle
Artist: Mike Perkins
Colorist: Andy Troy
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Andy Troy
Editors: Brian Cunningham Asst. Editor: Andrew Marino
Publisher: DC Comics
What You Need to Know:

The Green Lanterns of Earth are partnered up and share the duties and their lantern. They are Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. Considered by most to be Quite “Green”. They have been called to a Summit of Lanterns to present a story and speak the verbal histories of the Green Lantern Corps at the Tomb of the Lost Lantern. Sort of a Convention for Lanterns. To make things worse Both are expected to present in front of the entire Corps, and Hal Jordan himself! They talk about the tradition and their anxiety (mostly Jessica) but she has been preparing well in advance for this day, while Simon plans to Wing It.

What You’ll Find Out:
On the Planet Vaikea they meet the Caretaker of the Tomb, and Insectlike Lantern with a penchant to deem just about everything inappropriate named Yli’laatua, and Insectoid Alien that has been dubbed the Master of Ceremonies.

What Just Happened?
Nearly every greeting or custom of Earth has been found Inappropriate by Yli’laatu so Jessica is going nuts walking on eggshells, but Simon is taking it all in stride. Jessica is freaking out and doing so much research for her presentation since she is terrified that she will blow it, yet Simon sees things differently.

He likens this to building a Car Engine. One piece at a time, and solving the problems by breaking them down to the most simple piece. Simon goes on stage first. He tells the story of an old man and how he lost something. He finishes up with an old joke and actually despite not really being prepared at all, does quite well.

Jessica is up. She fumbles and forgets her lines, and is pretty sure this is the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened in her lifetime. She leaves in a huff to blow off some steam.

While she is off destroying asteroids in a fit of anger, she happens upon a green beacon of light that shot out from the core of the planetoid. It is followed by some green tendrils that ensnare the Lantern. As much as she resists, she is dragged down into the planet. She Calls for help from Simon or Hal or John, but no one can be reached, and her ring is at 255% power? Huh?

Not too long afterward Simon decides that Jess has spent enough time blowing off steam and uses his ring to locate his teammate. John Stewart and Hal Jordan accompany him after they hear that Jessica is nowhere to be found, they fear the worst and go to her last known location. Only to find the same tendrils that Jessica encountered that pull them into the depts. of the planetoid as well.

Well, Let’s just say that Hal and John and Simon do not do so well considering. They end up in restraints. At least Simon is in good spirits.

Jessica, However, seemed to pose no immediate threat and was not as restrained as they were. She begins to investigate the underground lair of her captor.

With some old-fashioned Detective work, she determines that this is a cocoon set to protect the former inhabitants of Vaikea and this is indeed the Tomb of the Lost Lantern. He had protected the citizens of this planet for Millennia with the sheer power of will!

Jessica releases him from his chrysalis and learns the true story of how a Lantern saved the civilization from the Exploding sun of this Galaxy. She releases him, and all he can feel is shame. He put the needs of his people above the Green Lantern Corps, and he hid when the Sun exploded, unbeknownst to him, that he controlled the entire will of his people to survive that kept them all going all these years. Jessica frees Simon and John and Hal. They set the people of Vaikea free, and then it is a change of setting to a tribunal for the crimes of the Lost Lantern.

It is a bit of a formality and really the weakest part of the story, but basically, they let him off for a crime that Hal or John have committed many times worse, with Time served.

Rating: 9/ 10
Final Thought:
For an Annual this book does its job very well. The story is outside of any current plots, and does a good job at pushing the characters forward, and establishes their voices nicely. It occurs to me as I continue to read these stories, just how much I like Jessica, and really how much I find Simon to be rather boring and two dimensional. I was glad to see a spark of interest in this one, where he is kind of a mix of Hal Jordan and Jon Stewart when it comes to cars or engines, but hopefully, he will shine soon. The plot was a single contained story that was interesting and I actually liked it. I think that DC has done a great job on their annuals this year, from the Batman to Detective Comics and now the Lanterns as well. The art is the true star here. Mike Perkins, should be drawing this complete run! He has these dimensions that are just plain sexy! I’m a big fan of the artwork and the Inks in this issue, too bad they are uncredited. That said this issue really gives you your money’s worth, and I recommend it to any Lantern fans.