Green Lantern #38
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Admira Wijayadi
Green Lantern had been lacking attention and praise since the departure of Geoff Johns. Many fans decided that the franchise was worthless without Johns and abandoned the comics, condemning Robert Venditti before he was able to show his strong writing capabilities. Finally, Venditti has enticed a lot of new readers with the epic Godhead crossover that ended last month. With his run, Venditti has found various ways of topping his previous story’s scale and Godhead achieved an irresistible level of scope. And with this momentum, Venditti must sustain this quality if he wants to sustain his augmented readership and with Green Lantern #38 he delivers a solid story on a small scale that will undoubtedly convince readers to stay for a little while longer.
Rather than sticking to a previously established, unwavering rendition of Hal Jordan, Robert Venditti preferred portraying him as his own character. However, he doesn’t stray far from Hal’s fundamentals. At the heart of Venditti’s run is Hal learning to overcome his impulses and change his nature in order to adapt to his new role as leader of the corps. Which has always been this book’s main appeal to me. Here, Venditti writes a low-key issue about Hal’s first vacation from space as he wishes to spend a night alone at a pilot’s bar drinking beer. Wishes. His plans are interfered by the imposing Guy Gardner who decides to join Hal and invite Barry Allen. This results in very well-written character interactions and theories on Hal Jordan’s status as a member of the Justice League. Despite the relatively slow-pace, the comic manages to entertain through force of character.
Then the cover’s depiction is brought to the story. Hal and Carol. With all the comments and reactions that I’ve read (a lot), I’ve scarcely seen one person appreciate Hal and Carol’s breakup. Most fans completely abhor the idea of Carol leaving Hal for Kyle and accused Venditti of butchering the end of Geoff Johns’ run. Which I candidly find to be completely ridiculous. Robert Venditti is not continuing Geoff Johns’ story. He may have been obliged to pick up right after the events of Geoff’s run but that doesn’t mean he’s writing a sequel. I’ve always viewed the 2 runs as being completely separate from one-another so as to give Venditti the chance of telling his own story, rather than being fettered by another writer’s run. Here, Hal and Carol have a much needed conversation about their relationship and they part ways in a hopeful manner. Venditti has left the idea of Hal and Carol getting back together open which will most likely serve as a greater development for Hal in the future. The scene serves as a strong interaction, capping the issue off very well.
Green Lantern #38 is the subdued issue that this book needed following the events of Godhead. Venditti doesn’t squander his down time though, taking the time to set-up Hal’s compelling new character arc and leave Hal and Carol’s future in a state of uncertainty and hope. Hal has always been a very confident character and seeing him question his identity feels like a natural next step for his growth. Robert Venditti’s unique take on Hal Jordan shines bright in Green Lantern #38 and if you hopped on for Godhead this issue will warrant your continued attention.
Artist: Admira Wijayadi
Green Lantern had been lacking attention and praise since the departure of Geoff Johns. Many fans decided that the franchise was worthless without Johns and abandoned the comics, condemning Robert Venditti before he was able to show his strong writing capabilities. Finally, Venditti has enticed a lot of new readers with the epic Godhead crossover that ended last month. With his run, Venditti has found various ways of topping his previous story’s scale and Godhead achieved an irresistible level of scope. And with this momentum, Venditti must sustain this quality if he wants to sustain his augmented readership and with Green Lantern #38 he delivers a solid story on a small scale that will undoubtedly convince readers to stay for a little while longer.
Rather than sticking to a previously established, unwavering rendition of Hal Jordan, Robert Venditti preferred portraying him as his own character. However, he doesn’t stray far from Hal’s fundamentals. At the heart of Venditti’s run is Hal learning to overcome his impulses and change his nature in order to adapt to his new role as leader of the corps. Which has always been this book’s main appeal to me. Here, Venditti writes a low-key issue about Hal’s first vacation from space as he wishes to spend a night alone at a pilot’s bar drinking beer. Wishes. His plans are interfered by the imposing Guy Gardner who decides to join Hal and invite Barry Allen. This results in very well-written character interactions and theories on Hal Jordan’s status as a member of the Justice League. Despite the relatively slow-pace, the comic manages to entertain through force of character.
Then the cover’s depiction is brought to the story. Hal and Carol. With all the comments and reactions that I’ve read (a lot), I’ve scarcely seen one person appreciate Hal and Carol’s breakup. Most fans completely abhor the idea of Carol leaving Hal for Kyle and accused Venditti of butchering the end of Geoff Johns’ run. Which I candidly find to be completely ridiculous. Robert Venditti is not continuing Geoff Johns’ story. He may have been obliged to pick up right after the events of Geoff’s run but that doesn’t mean he’s writing a sequel. I’ve always viewed the 2 runs as being completely separate from one-another so as to give Venditti the chance of telling his own story, rather than being fettered by another writer’s run. Here, Hal and Carol have a much needed conversation about their relationship and they part ways in a hopeful manner. Venditti has left the idea of Hal and Carol getting back together open which will most likely serve as a greater development for Hal in the future. The scene serves as a strong interaction, capping the issue off very well.
Green Lantern #38 is the subdued issue that this book needed following the events of Godhead. Venditti doesn’t squander his down time though, taking the time to set-up Hal’s compelling new character arc and leave Hal and Carol’s future in a state of uncertainty and hope. Hal has always been a very confident character and seeing him question his identity feels like a natural next step for his growth. Robert Venditti’s unique take on Hal Jordan shines bright in Green Lantern #38 and if you hopped on for Godhead this issue will warrant your continued attention.
A Look Inside
