Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #49 Review

Writer: Robert Venditti

Artists: Rafa Sandoval and Sergio Davila

Inker: Jordi Tarragona

Colourist: Tomeu Morey

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

 

The pacing of this series has always been problematic, and this issue is the perfect encapsulation of the frustrations I have with this book, coupled with the things I like.

 

I’d like to clarify on my frustrations. This issue is the penultimate issue of the series. That’s right; for those who didn’t know, #50 is the final issue of the series. This issue is very filler save for some fantastic moments made great by the brilliant art team. The concept of page space economy is something I’ve come to learn the ropes of by reading a lot of comics. The misuse of page space economy is what got me noticing it in the first place. This issue misuses page space economy. For example, three entire pages are wasted at the end of the issue. There’s a meaningless and unnecessary double page spread, which is then followed by the final page which takes the concept of this double page spread and focuses it into one page. So we essentially get three sequential pages of the same idea with one sentence uttered between them. So that leaves seventeen pages of story left. I did some counting, and it seems to me there are ten pages that I would consider “essential” to the story, leaving the rest to be filler. This angers me.

 

Thankfully the art is sublime. Rafa Sandoval is joined by Sergio Davila; Davila’s sections blend in nicely for those who can’t really tell the difference, but the inking and colouring duo of Jordi Tarragona and Tomeu Morey finely blur the line between the two styles. Davila’s portions are fantastic but Sandoval is as fantastic as ever. His eye for action and emotion is brilliant and there are two pages in particular that I think are the best pages this series has ever had thus far. Stunning, stunning work from the team.

I’ve said what I have to say about the story. I’m not going to go so far as to call it a ripoff, but it’s pretty damn close. This issue is beautiful however, and I hope that this art team goes on to do incredible things in the future.