Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4: The Mirror Looking Back At Me

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4 picks up with the revelation that the mysterious Red Lantern is actually Alan’s lost love, Johnny Ladd, whose real name is Vladimir Sokov. The ramifications of this reveal are far spread across the DC universe, most directly within the context of the current Justice Society of America. The way this revelation is handled within the pages of Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4 is demonstrative of the creative team’s ability to really grab onto the reader’s heartstrings and draw them into the narrative. It’s hard to talk about the subject matter within this specific issue without going into spoilers so definitely beware that this review will contain spoilers.

The first half of Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4 delves into the backstory of the Red Lantern, revealing that Johnny Ladd was actually a Soviet spy named Vladimir Sokov. Vladimir had infiltrated the US Military and formed a close relationship with Alan in order to bring the Soviets closer to capturing The Crimson Flame. The flame grabbing Vladimir and dragging him into the water and drowning him was not a part of the original plan; however, the flame then revived him and allowed his Soviet counterparts to bring him back to Russia without the US or Alan’s knowledge. Back in Russia, Vladimir underwent several tests which ultimately led to the Soviets turning him into The Red Lantern. With that backstory established, the issue then delves into Alan’s current conflict with Vladimir, where the two avatars of the mystic flames trade blows across the cityscape. This is where the meat of the plot and themes surrounding lost love and forced repression come to light, with Alan coaxing Vladimir into revealing that he still harbored feelings for him, although he is married to a woman and has a child back home in Russia.

The plot writer Tim Sheridan and artist Cain Tormey have created here really establishes the best of what makes a great, modern comic book story. Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4 allows the story to briefly pause and redefine the relationship that served as the mini-series’ foundation. This twist in the plot is played off far better than just a way to give the villain a backstory, instead opting to deepen the profoundly rooted themes that have made this the best series currently being released by DC. Alan and Vladimir’s relationship is bound to grow even more complex here, but the pieces revealed in Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4 firmly establishes the duality of the narrative that creates an everlasting similarity behind the way that these two’s sexuality has defined their futures. 

While Sheridan’s plotting and pacing really give this issue its emotional core, it’s Tormey’s pencils that truly sell the drama within the pages. There is something truly profound that comes from the emotion within the character’s faces as Vladimir reveals that he truly has harbored feelings for Alan. Tormey’s art also goes on to convey Alan’s underhandedness as he uses this fact to manipulate Vladimir into letting his guard down. This, in combination with Matt Herms colors really redefines the way that the emotional core of a comic can extend beyond the action. That being said, it is Herm’s colors that really make the action pop. Vladimir reveals ways to use his powers that Alan has never imagined, which really gives the artists the chance to draw some truly spectacular things.