Green Lanterns #24

Writer: Sam Humphries

Artist: Carlo Barbieri

Colourist: Ulises Arreola

Publisher: DC Comics

The last few issues have seen a bit of an upsurge in this series, and this issue is no exception. It was a lot of fun seeing Simon and Jessica interacts with Kyle and Guy. Sam Humphries, as I've mentioned before, clearly has fun writing Kyle. Simon and Kyle's interactions were what made the issue for me, since they've got a clear rapport.

I feel the need to heavily criticise this title after reading this issue. There isn't any discernable identity. The constant art changes prevent the book from setting itself apart from the other Lantern book. The last three issues alone have had three different artists working on each one; the lack of initiative to rotate artists properly so each arc has one artist bugs me. Most titles in Rebirth attempt to do this, with Batman being the absolute success. David Finch and Mikel Janin have told their stories in full, which can't be said for other titles, Green Lanterns included. This lack of initiative is worrying, making it seem like the creative team just might not care.

The title's lack of identity also extends to its main characters. Simon feels very underdeveloped compared to Jessica, who herself is reduced to the simple, unchanging anxiety character trait. There might be nothing else to her. Her sister, who played a prominent part in the first arc of the series hasn't been seen in quite a long time. The family drama that Humphries set up a few issues ago back when Simon was still on Earth hasn't come into play yet, and that upsets me because it was interesting and I wanted to see where it went. It seems Humphries is dangling a dozen or so plot threads in front of us and pulls one away the moment we gravitate towards it, replacing it with uninteresting drivel. You can't spend three issues showing us Simon and Jessica train which could have been done in two, maybe one and a half. Maybe Humphries was trying to extend it to the 25th anniversary issue to tell more story there, but at this rate I highly doubt it.

This issue continues showing us the origins of the first Green Lanterns, which I didn't find interesting before and I don't find interesting now. Showing us what happened to them is utter filler and there are better ways to achieve informing the reader.

I know it looks like I hated the issue, but I didn't. It was a lot of fun. Carlo Barbieri was on art here and I loved it. He drew Action Comics #979 and I was impressed with his work then, and I'm glad to see more of him. His style suits the world of the Corps and I'd love to see him stay on the series.

Volthoom in Rami's body shows up again, and I'm sure glad he did so the plot could finally move along. The terrible pacing applies to Volthoom as well, as his whole story here could have happened last issue.

This book continues to provide surface-level fun but nothing else. The characters aren't changing, they're being tested in the most menial ways, and they continue to have no solid identity as characters 24 issues in. Barbieri's art was a welcome breathe of goodness and I hope the story can finally move on from here.