In this review of Green Lantern #13, Hal finds himself at the mercy of Amanda Waller and King Shark. Or is he?
Green Lantern #13
(Defenses Down)
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Art: Fernando Pasarin
Colors: Frank Martin
Main Cover by: Ariel Colón
Variant Covers: Salvador Larroca, Gleb Melnikov, José Luis Garcia-Lopez, Chuma Hill
Release Date: July 10, 2024
For those just jumping into DC’s newest run on Green Lantern with Green Lantern #13, let’s bring you up to speed: Hal Jordan (and our other favorite intergalactic cops) are at the mercy of a new regime – Premier Lord Thaaros – a cunning and draconian despot has usurped power from the peaceful Guardians of the Universe and destroyed the lantern central batteries that provide our heroes with their abilities, effectively de-powering anyone who dares combat his rule. Never one to back down from a fight, Hal and a ragtag group of Lantern rebels work to take down Thaaros and reinstall order in the galaxy. As if that isn’t enough pressure, Green Lantern #13 finds Hal held hostage by Amanda Waller – a tie-in story to DC’s Absolute Power multi-series event. Thankfully, for those unfamiliar (or reluctant to fork over cash for unproven titles), a brief synopsis is provided on the opening credit page.
Writer Jeremy Adams fights an uphill battle, challenged to continue an ensemble-based series with a lot of moving parts and simultaneously delivering a tie-in story worthy of the Absolute Power event without ostracizing readers. The high-wire act is remarkably executed, all things considered – and any stray gripes lay at the feet of the format, not the author. For instance, at least six other comic titles are referenced in this issue alone (by my count, Justice Society, Kneel Before Zod, Sinestro Sons, Task Force VII, and Absolute Power); as rewarding as that may be for die-hard fans, this is an egregious level of prior-knowledge required to appreciate the narrative fully.
Thankfully, Adams, who has penned the series since its first issue, manages to create a compelling comic book that stands on its own two feet. That success is due to the utilization of a new conceit: every few pages, the story switches to a new perspective. By shifting our focus to the cast already established in previous issues (and not affiliated reading), folks can reclaim their handle on the story’s momentum. Checking in with our characters individually, even for a moment [see Kyle Rainer’s cameo on page 9], lends itself to an absorbing read, even when no considerable plot progress is made. Part of the fun of Adams’ run has been the consistent incorporation of a larger ensemble of Green Lantern characters, both on and off-world.
Surprisingly, the Earthbound relationships of Hal’s ex-girlfriend Carol Ferris and her new beau, Nathan Allen Broome, are equally as compelling as the splash page space battles between the ever-scheming Sinestro and stalwart duo of Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz. This issue, in particular, uses its cast to its strength: taking the burden off the A-story by shifting attention to brief peaks at our other characters. Doing so effectively distracts us from the heavy lifting of inserting tie-in content into a storyline already in motion. Thankfully, the momentum is maintained, and issue 14 (out August 14th) has a pre-heated stove to cook on.
While Xermánico’s crispt art has been a signature delight of the series thus far, the reigns are passed smoothly to Fernando Pasarin, whose use of body language is incredibly important with limited panels. Even captured, tortured, and interrogated, Hal’s defiance is clear against King Shark’s wrath and Amanda Waller’s stoicism [pages 2-3]. Page layout, often an underlooked component of the reading experience, stands out this issue by making the most of scene transitions between small thumbnail-sized images and full-page brawls.
(Patient Blade)
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Art: Matthew Clark
Colors: Matt Herms
An additional story in Green Lantern #13 brings up the rear of this issue: the origin of Premier Lord Thaaros as told by Arroverse’s Marc Guggenheim. While insightful and entertaining, the story feels out of place so late in the series. By thirteen issues in, we’ve accepted Thaaros as our villain and chalked him up to being ‘bad for badness’ sake.’ First appearing in Action Comics #1036 a few years ago, Thaaros has established himself as a politically motivated, power-mad ruler. This flashback to his traumatic childhood reveals his deepest wound but ultimately adds very little in the way of fleshing out the character. An explanation of his behavior, especially one not witnessed by any other relevant characters, seems too little too late. Nonetheless, the antagonist has been a necessary device in pushing the larger plot, and one can’t complain that he gets more screen time, so to speak.
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