Green Lantern #23.2

The Team

Writer Jim Starlin Artist Howard Porter

Jim Starlin is one of the comic book greats of sci-fi. He brought life into the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, and introduced some of the greatest concepts in that given aspect of the publisher. With the rise of Thanos on the big screen, the writer has never been more relevant than right now. After Johns left the mythology of the Green Lantern property, the title has really been in need of some revitalization. The expansive changing of the lead corps. has been absent, until the big Relic issue from last week. The new ideas will jolt the series with a sense of purpose. After this stab from Starlin at reinvigoration of a tired lantern rogue, this should be a series stuffed with ideas going forward. Howard porter is an artist that is as underappreciated in the modern space of comic books as Starlin, hopefully together they can bring something new to this franchise.

Count on none other than Jim Starlin to bring something new to the formula of these Villain’s month issues. The framing device used in these pages by the writer is quite brilliant, as it exemplifies an interesting use of the tired formula that plagues these issues so far. Seeing a new version of a character through the eyes of someone righteous brings out all of the complicated emotions readers should feel about the character. Mongul is a despicable individual that would not be invited to your dinner table, as his search for conquest really covers the darker aspects of his personality. At times the writing and narration in this span of twenty two pages is dull and redundant. Yet to me, it seems as if this shows off some of the negative aspects of Mongul’s personality. The stakes are being raised incredibly high here, as the issue is built around a Breaking Bad like twist of story that should have fans jumping in their seats with anticipation.

Porter’s art is quite brilliant in this installment of the series. It melds an interesting dichotomy of being grounded and cosmic at the same time. The package brings two disparate threads together in full force, as watching Mongul walk around a space station seems incredibly ominous. At the halfway point in the book there is a splash page bursting with detail that beautifully illustrates the expansive nature featured in Porter’s work. Even though this is a dour comic, it is still filled with smiling rogues and a playful nature. This is another side of the duality that the penciller brings to the title wonderfully. The line work is the main factor bringing out the softer side of the visuals recquired to the story. Also integral to the story is the slight redesign of Mongol, which is indeed interesting. The last time we saw him in the Lantern title was when Sinestro took his Corps. back from him. The triangular outfit is slightly more complicated, yet well drawn by the veteran DC artist.

This is an impressive outing for Starlin and Porter that does not quite feature any new ideas, but makes the old seem very menacing. The Green Lantern’s are not well suited to attack this character head on. The comic has everything a reader could possibly want from a Villain’s month issue.