Absolute Green Lantern #20: Homecoming

Jo and friends(?) return from their crazy adventures in space and things have gotten even more hectic. Hector Hammond is dead, but there are still forces behind the scenes that are conspiring to control the light.

After two issues of table setting, this issue starts the next arc on a fairly low-key note. Hector Hammond is dead after the events of the first arc of Absolute Green Arrow, and Carol Ferris is picking up the pieces. There is also the fact that Amanda Waller and her Suicide Squad are hot on their heels. The second half of the issue focuses on Jo’s return to Evergreen with her newly formed “Green Lantern Corps” to stake a claim against the forces coming after them. Again its more setup for future issues, but the seeds themselves have a potential to be compelling.

Al Ewing starts things off well by establishing the new status quo after Jo’s adventure in space. The best moments of the issue come from how Jo’s new group can coexist with each other. The Earthlings are obviously close-knit, but it’s the aliens that will prove to be an issue. While Tomar Re and Jo are starting to build a mutual respect for one another, John and Katma Tui (whose Prime Earth romance is referenced) have a clash of ideals that could cause problems for later. Amanda Waller’s scheming is similar to her Prime universe counterpart, and the bits of comedy sprinkled in for levity make this script a breezy read.

Sid Kotian and Prasad Rao continue their hot streak of solid pencils and stellar colors. This issue saves its action for the back half when Jo and the gang confront some of Hammond’s soldiers, but the rest of the book is solid as well with some good shots and color selection.