Far Sector #3 Review

Written by: N. K. Jemisin
Art by: Jamal Campbell
Lettered by: Deron Bennett
Published by: DC's Young Animal

Green Lantern Sojourner Mullein has been sent to the City Enduring to investigate their first murder in over 500 years. The alien races of the City Enduring have kept the peace by becoming genetically incapable of feeling emotions, but a street drug known as “Switchoff” can exploit that and restore the user’s emotions. Jo is now in the chambers of a high-ranking member of the City Enduring's government who seems to be hopped up on the drug. Is she’s locked in there with him, or is he locked in there with her?

The beginning starts with a game of “Civil War” (alien chess) between Jo and the Switchoff-using Nah councilor, Marth. While it starts off feeling like more time is going to be used for worldbuilding, it turns into a conversation about the ideologies of Marth and how they relate to Jo’s. The City Enduring’s peace through emotionlessness is being shown to be a fallacy and is starting to become the bigger issue at hand. After their interaction, Jo converses with her assistant @ICanHazEarthStuff01, of the @AT race. I liked the addition of CanHaz, it’s the first time the @AT race has gotten a more in-depth explanation of their culture. The idea of them collecting “vintage” Earth memes is fun and cheesy in a good way. Dialogue and narration are used to give a very small glimpse of Jo’s family life that seems like a new piece of the puzzle of the, yet undefined, Lantern Jo Mullein. In this issue, the narrations have started to become more telling of Jo’s personality, helping us relate to her in the situations she finds herself in. While the “murder mystery” has yet to be picked back up, the events in this issue give the world a feeling of progression. Not that a story has to be “plot-driven”, but not having a clear ongoing situation left the last issue feeling lost. Now, a new event has arisen, and it is making Jo act. More of her personality is shown off when she responds to the issue at hand. I liked that it wrapped back around with her debate with Marth (along with the “rebels” digression). The end is a declaration by Jo and other characters that their war of ideologies may have only one resolution.

The art is starting to fall into place like the writing. Since the beginning, both the art and the writing have been manned by talented individuals that are brimming with ideas, but the execution of those ideas has been rough around the edges. The art has been undeniably some of the best in any comic out but has been slightly disorienting to try to read. But, like N. K. Jemisin getting a hang of the comic form, Jamal Campbell’s art is finding its way. The panels are more clearly defined, and the foreground isn’t getting overwhelmed by the great detail in the backgrounds. There is nothing Campbell can’t do visually. His character designs are amazing (the greatly thought-out backstories for his aliens make their designs even better), he cuts no corners with his landscapes and scenery, and his coloring is magnificent and eye-catching, good enough to earn him a second career if he ever wanted it. Now that his craft for interiors is forming just as well as his technical prowess, there will be nothing to stop him.

This talented duo is starting to gel together and craft a comic experience of cosmic proportions. The main “ideas” of the story seem to be getting clearer. Jo is still on her way to becoming a Lantern that can bring balance to the galaxy, but the situation she’s found herself in may drive her closer to learning what she’s made of. This was an entertaining issue that balanced its themes with its narrative and the excellent art is similarly finding its footing. It’s a step in the right direction and an enjoyable read.