Green Lantern Corps #1: The Big Rebuild

Big storylines, such as the new “Fractured Spectrum Saga,” are always a good opportunity to launch a new series. And in this case, with the Green Lanterns picking up the pieces after “Civil Corps” a new series focused on the larger world of the Green Lanterns makes sense. Hence Green Lantern Corps #1.

The Green Lantern Corps took a beating during the recent “Civil Corps” storyline, and it’s time to rebuild. Green Lantern Corps #1 opens with the villain Kanjar Ro capturing inhabitants of the Antares System to sell as slaves. His victory is short lived, though, as a dozen Green Lanterns arrive and place him under arrest. With the United Planets in disarray and the emotional spectrum shattered, the Corps is trying to pull itself back together. And part of the Corps pulling itself back together is inviting back the greatest Green Lantern ever, Sinestro.

First issues often fall into one of two camps–the amazing “wow” spectacle, or the mission statement. Green Lantern Corps #1 lands firmly in the latter. With the United Planets arc and the “Civil Corps” storyline that brought it to its end concluded, this creative team is setting up the next chapter in Adams’ Green Lantern story. This was already evident in Green Lantern: Fractured Special #1 and Green Lantern #19. In this new series, the creative team turns its attention to the Green Lantern Corps as a whole and the larger setting of broader interstellar space.

Green Lantern Corps #1 is also a solid jumping on point not just for the new series, but for everything Green Lantern. Hampton and Adams cover a lot of ground in a short space. Readers will get very barebones information on the long United Planets arc as well as more substantial expositional nuggets about the fractured emotional spectrum, the aberration that is new character The Sorrow, and Hal and Kyle’s mission in Green Lantern. And of course, the issue sets up what this series is about while also delivering a fun adventure.

The most effective part of the issue is Sinestro’s return as a Green Lantern. He is central to resolving the conflict in Green Lantern Corps #1, and Hampton and Adams even have him devise how the Corps can rebuild and more effectively police the galaxy. Longtime readers may reflexively view his presence with skepticism, but the two writers don’t lean into that. They play it straight with the character which proves very effective.

An issue focusing on the larger Green Lantern Corps naturally features a large cast as well as conflicts between Corps members and large numbers of enemies. Pasarin and Albert fill Green Lantern Corps #1 with panels and full pages replete with large numbers of detailed characters. These detailed images give the issue a large-scale feeling from the beginning. The opening fight sequence is dynamic and sets the stage for the far reaching storyline.

That same detail is particularly effective with individual characters, and with none more so than Sinestro. In almost all cases Pasarin uses lighter shading to accentuate Sinestro’s facial structure–for instance his cheekbones, general shape of his mouth, his jawline–whereas features resulting from emotions such as worry lines on his forehead are solid and thicker. Albert’s inks further contribute to these distinctions. The result is that Sinestro and most other other characters seen in close-up are consistent in general appearance which leads to clear communication of emotional states.

Unsurprisingly, the most vibrant color in Green Lantern Corps #1 is green. Prianto reserves it almost entirely for Green Lanterns and their base. It’s an effective way to center the issue around the corps in its entirety; it’s not just Hal or Guy or John who stand out, but everyone. This is especially the case during the large-scale fight sequence that opens the issue.

Prianto’s work in the rest of the issue is muted compared to the assorted green hues he uses for the green hues, but that’s not to say the issue isn’t still rich in color. Prianto especially succeeds at creating depth with color by blending light and dark to showcase shadow and distance.

Sharpe’s lettering is well organized and efficient, especially in a sequence filled with dialogue late in the issue. There is very little embellishment with the dialogue. And like Prianto’s coloring choice, Sharpe reserves the color green for sound effects directly related to Green Lantern powers.