Green Lantern #22

The Team
Writer Robert Venditti Artist Billy Tan

Even though this is another good issue of Green Lantern, my interest in not the same as it was with Johns. A big part of this is artist Billy Tan, who simply is not anywhere near the level of Doug Mahnke. This book does not seem as important as it should in relation to the DC Universe. Hopefully with the coming of the new crossover for the title these strange feelings will subside. While Venditti turns in a good script here there is nothing overtly substantial about these pages, standard superhero fare persists in the comic.

The plot sets up a new villain for the Green Lanterns to face in the coming issues. Also featured here is the conclusion of the conflict set up with Larfleeze last issue. The knockdown drag out fight with the Orange Lanterns proves amusing here, along with the interaction with Hal Jordan and the new recruits which has some of the best material in this title. A moment with a certain new lantern trying to use his ring, is a great bit of humor for the title. Also enthralling is the new status quota for Kilowog that was in play towards the previous installment. Little bits of dialogue here continue to setup the coming event for the corps. Writer Robert Venditti has stated that there is a substantial part of the mythos that he is adding to the characters in september. An added burst of energy would serve the book and readers of this title very well. In general the comic is lacking a driving force or reason why this title exists. Previously Sinestro and Hal were always trying to save the planet from the evildoers plaguing the universe. Many readers have also voiced some minor complaints about the lack of Sinestro in these pages, hopefully when the character returns it will make the title that much fulfilling.

Billy Tan continues to impress in these pages, he gets better issue to issue here. While the pencils are good, Saint Walker does not look quite right in this issue. The character should serve as a beacon of hope, and does not look as happy or heroic as he should. Larfleeze looks wildly different from panel to panel in the twenty two pages. Many characters simply look to scratchy in general. While Billy Tan is inconsistent, it seems obvious that he is learning his craft in these pages. Hopefully in time the artist will serve as a worthy replacement to the legacy Doug Mahnke on the title.

This comic would do wonders amping up the pace, but for now remains a competent superhero book. New villains are lurking around every corner and will hopefully make a big splash when introduced. Decoding what these new heroes and villains could mean for the title gives the story a bit of momentum that is desperately lacks. The upcoming Light’s Out crossover also offers something for readers to get excited about in this universe.