And Then I Read: HAL JORDAN, ABIN SUR Movie Prequels

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The film has come and gone in the theaters, and I think is out on DVD, but the prequel comics are still coming, I just got another one this month (Sinestro). These two have been out for a while. Kind of strange that they weren't all out BEFORE the film, but in a way I can see why doing it this way works to keep the film on people's radar longer. And I like these new stories much better than a simple adaptation of the film.

Abin Sur is a character that never had much play in the comics, as he was simply the dying GL who gave Hal Jordan his ring. His role has been filled in a lot more in both the film and comics like this one, but he's still not a particularly memorable character. I did enjoy this story of Sur coming to Earth in secret to try to retrieve some alien technology that landed there accidentally. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the book was the role of a young Amanda Waller (who also appears in the film I believe). Considering she was created decades after Hal Jordan, it's interesting to see her being retrofitted into his story, but it works for me.

The art by Patrick Gleason and Tony Shasteen is okay, but it doesn't really capture the look of the actor on the cover. Still solid comics work, though.

Hal Jordan is not front and center in his own book, surprisingly, but is the subject of a discussion/argument between Sinestro and Tomar-Re about whether he deserves a GL ring. This isn't a bad idea, as we see flashbacks of Jordan's life while the two argue pro and con, but it's not exactly action-packed. Then there's what seems to be a random GL Corps backup feature which seems to be here mainly to fill out the issue.

The best thing about this book, and perhaps the best thing in any of them, is the terrific art of Jerry Ordway on the main story. No one else has come close to matching his take on the movie characters, and Jerry's dramatic lighting and layouts make even talky pages work great. Why Ordway does not have a regular series at DC to keep him busy is a mystery to me, his work is solid and appealing in every way.

Recommended.