Absolute Green Lantern #2 – Enter Abin Sur

Absolute Green Lantern #2 begins where the first issue ended with Jo, the bearer of the Green Lantern ring, confronting Hal in the diner that he just trashed and killed the occupants of with his black hand. The two go over the events that transpired in Evergreen with the appearance of the alien Abin Sur, who is there, as he states, “to judge them.”

Readers are introduced to the Absolute Universe’s Guy Gardner, who is the sheriff of Evergreen, and his deputies, as they confront and try to make sense of Abin Sur and his appearance in their town. The narrative spins its wheels a bit as the standoff between the cops and Abin Sur takes a deadly turn. Abin Sur’s movitives and what he is judging them on remains unclear, except that Guy is “judged” and his fate remains unknown.

Related: The Comic Watchers – Episode 254: Scott Snyder Goes All-In With Absolute Batman & DC Comics

The drawn-out standoff, while intended to build the mystery around Abin Sur, how Jo acquires the Green Lantern ring, and how Hal gets the Black Hand, doesn’t develop in the issue, but sets up the mystery that should keep readers coming back next issue and beyond. While meant to be foreshadowing, John Stewert telling Hal, who is pointing a gun at Abin Sur that shooting won’t work against the alien, may cost him a hand (a deputy named Roy perhaps, Roy Harper of the Absolute Uninverse. loses a hand from a richocetting bullet), is the voice of reason in this situation, but also a bit on the nose with foreshadowing Hal’s eventual fate. Ewing also drops some familiar concepts from the DCU such as Hal referring to his hand feeling like a dark star, a wink and nod to the group of intergalactic policemen, The Darkstars, which have  clashed with the Lanterns in the regular continuity.

Comic Watch Reviews:

• Absolute Martian Manhunter #2: Streams of Colorful Consciousness
• Absolute Wonder Woman #7: Godly Deception
• Absolute Flash #2: And I Ran, I Ran So Far Away, Gotta Get Away
• Absolute Batman #7: The Doom That Freezes in Gotham
• Absolute Superman #6: Welcome to Smallville

Jahnoy Lindsay’s art and colorwork continue to impress and capture the muted feel and mood of the Absolute Universe.  The work on the facial features and expressions of the characters especially stand out and reflects the emotions and tense situation as the standoff unfolds.