Green Lantern #32

Hal's origin story just keeps getting better and better. Now we have Hector Hammond getting into the mix, and I must say, that I am enjoying Geoff John's take on the character. It has been made pretty well evident that Hector has something of a compulsive personality...not to mention stalkerish tendancies. All of that is beautifully portrayed in the opening pages of this issue, with Hector calling up Carol...AGAIN...and getting quite pissy that she's not at his beck and call. Meanwhile, his flunkies are examining the remains of Abin Sur's ship, and are a bit hesitant about opening up the fuel chamber.

Hector blows them off, and insults them all into the bargain, and breezily opens the chamber...which promptly blows up in his face. Oh Abin Sur, you mad scamp! Did you forget to put a "Danger, Meteor" sign on the handle? Osha wouldn't like that! And right then and there, we have the origin of Hector Hammond along with Hal! Hector begins to freak out, understandably enough, when he can suddenly start to hear everyone's thoughts. They aren't particularly very nice thoughts either, it turns out that just about everyone thinks he's a jerk.

What IS interesting, is the use of the coloring. In the various explosions, and reflected in his eyes, is...orange. Heh heh.





Back at the new acquisition of Ferris Air, Tom Kalmaku just can't stop gushing over Hal and his fabulous new jewelry and accessories. Hal's been training on Oa, so he's a little befuddled over what has been going on. Apparently just about everyone has walked out. Carol is brooding in her new office, trying to cover for her father's absence, and feeling a little sorry for herself. In his usual loveable fashion, Hal barges in and starts laying down the law. He's ticked that her old man isn't there, and when Carol gets miffed, he finally lets out what has been bugging him all this time, the fact that Ferris put Hal's father in a faulty plane, and that he's the one responsible for his death. I guess that Hal needs SOMEone to blame, and old Man Ferris is as good a choice as any.

Carol actually takes Hal's tantrum pretty well, and then even offers him a chance to fly again. She may be suffering from a little guilt as well, plus she's getting a tad on the desperate side, since all of the other pilots have quit.



Meanwhile, Atrocitus is laying low at some poor guy's campsite in the woods. Atrocitus recites a VERY cool version of his oath, while eating the poor camper. That camper just happens to be named William Hand. Oh boy.

Hal is back in the air again, and loving it. He's still pissed at Carol's father, but is finding it more than pleasant to think about Carol herself. Oh Hal. You just can't help yourself, can you? So, he's up there flying around without a care in the world, when he spots a figure, and there is a big BOOOM!



Goodbye plane...hellooooo Sinestro!

Sinestro introduces himself, and seems a bit irritated that he even has to do so. He doesn't think too much of Hal, that's for sure, OR his second-rate little planet. Hal isn't too thrilled either, it never ends well when you put two Alpha Males together. They each do a little posturing, and Sinestro gives Hal some advice. Good advice as it turns out. Hal's constructs are weak, because he's angry. "...and although the Guardians believe Fear creates cracks in our Willpower...Anger will distort it."

And then Sinestro does something absolutely amazing.



Hal's happy to have his plane back, but still can't keep himself from mouthing off to Sinestro, who does eventually share with him the reason that he's there, to investigate the death of Abin Sur.

I have to say, that this one feat of Sinestro's in reassembling Hal's plane, just made me pleased as punch. For YEARS, I have worried about this, whatever would Hal say to Carol, if the first time that he flew, he managed to blow up a multi-million dollar plane? It BOTHERED me! And now, that weight is off of my shoulders, because it turns out that Sinestro put the friggin' plane back together, none the worse for wear! Heck, he probably improved it!

Now, Hal only has to explain why he disappeared!

Turns out that he doesn't even have to do that! Who should show up but good old, newly whacked-out Hector Hammond! He's having a lovely time messing with everybody, and reading their minds. At first, he goes for Carol, but his manlove for Hal cannot be denied...and he discovers a few things that Hal would REALLY prefer he didn't know.

The writing is exceptional, and the art is gorgeous. The inking is gorgeous. The coloring is gorgeous. This is one of the best series that DC is putting out, and I am enthralled.