And Then I Read: GREEN LANTERN 20

Image © DC Comics, Inc.

This issue is remarkable in several ways beyond its story and art. First, it’s the finale of not only the current GL crossover, but the culmination of several past ones all written or created by writer Geoff Johns. Second, it’s Geoff’s swan song on the title. It’s impossible to miss this fact because, instead of ad pages, the book has many pages full of tribute quotes to Geoff from the famous and familiar, people who worked with him and/or admire his writing. I’m all for that, but placing these throughout the story was distracting, they should have been at the end.

As a story, it’s very appealing. Hal Jordan is finally back on the scene, confronting the First Lantern and Sinestro. All the GLs from all the spinoff books are there with their own bits of wrap-up and action to do. There are happy reunions, well-resolved plot threads, a cast of thousands, and an emotionally satisfying conclusion. Most of the art is pencilled by Doug Mahnke with his usual excellence, and with the other regular GL artists filling in the rest. there’s a wonderful double gatefold spread to finish the story, so essentially a four page spread of all the colors of Lanterns in flight. Good stuff. Kudo’s to Geoff on a fine nine years of work on the Lanterns. I haven’t loved every minute, but overall it’s been a great ride.

Recommended.