Last time they took the Guardians, this time they have a new plan! The Controllers have a new plan to enforce lethal justice across the universe. But what if their creation has other plans? The Darkstars are coming for the GLC, things are gonna get interesting!
Title: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #42 (Darkstar Rising pt 1)
Writer: Robert Venditti
Art: Ethan van Sciver
Colors: Jason Wright
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Publisher: DC Comics
What You Need to Know:
Months ago the Green Lantern Corps and the Sinestro Corps split apart from their attempted partnership following the murder of a Sinestro Corps member, Romat-ru the child murderer, by a Green Lantern, Tomar-tu of Sector 2813! Tomar-tu’s arrest did nothing to resolve tensions between the two corps, and a separation soon followed. Tomar-tu was eventually replaced as Lantern of Sector 2813 by Somar-Le, the youngest Green Lantern ever, at the equivalent of 14.
The Controllers are a divergent race of Maltusians, genetically identical to the immortal Guardians of the Universe. The Darkstars are their answer to the Green Lantern Corps, with similar power sets but none of the limitations, and unflinchingly loyal to their creators. Following their defeat and the destruction of their base on Maltus (Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #36) the Controllers regrouped further within their home planet and began work on their Darkstar Corps. Unfortunately, when 10th metal leeched into life in the universe (Dark Knights: Metal #6) it infected the Darkstar Corps in unexpected ways. Looks like the Controllers will be getting more than they bargained for.
What You’ll Find Out:
We open in sector 0001, Maltus, the homeworld of the Controllers, since their defeat by the four Corpsemen, the immortals have been hard at work creating a new army, the factory is churning out thousands of Darkstar suits, certainly enough to match the 7200 strong Green Lantern Corps!
We cut to Mogo, all is quiet for the Green Lantern Corps, increased numbers and patrols have effectively curbed interstellar crime. We pan down to the sciencells, the Green Lanterns supervillain jail, one of the prisoners is the aforementioned Tomar-tu, Somar-le asks him for guidance, but he has nothing to offer her.
Hal approaches, Tomar and Hal’s conversation is shocking with a phenomenal conclusion! Pick up a copy of Hal and the Corps #42 today!
What Just Happened? (Spoilers)
Wooow this issue was a typically phenomenal entry in Robert Venditti’s run on Green Lantern, I loved it. It is super interesting the way Tomar-Tu has evolved as a character the last couple years more than he has in the last 10, I seriously can’t wait to see how it all turns out. I feel the same way I did when the Red Lanterns were introduced, is this the dawning of a new corps, and a new power in the universe?
My one nitpick is Tomar-Tu’s speech, which is almost verbatim Punisher’s argument to Spider-man (more recently Daredevil in the Netflix series) on the subject of murdering criminals, not that I disagree or think it’s a bad argument, it’s just pretty close to the exact same speech. It was well worded and the art was fantastic, the usually fairly friendly and hopeful Tomar-tu pledging to murder all criminals, his eyes narrowed in rage, was a killer visual. The final panel is unbelievable!
Ink and pencils by Ethan Van Sciver are shockingly great at all times, with one particular panel having caught my eye every time out of the four or five times I read it, pictured below, fisheye reflections are crazy tough and these are some of the more detailed I’ve ever seen. The title page (picture above in full) and the intro in the Darkstar assembly line feel like something out of a movie from the 70’s, great effect.
Rating: 9/10
Final Thought:
Might be a bad issue to jump on for a new reader, as 99% of this issue hinges on prior knowledge of characters involved, but if you’re a fan of Green Lantern and aren’t reading this book, you’re wrong. READ IT!!
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