Green Lantern #38

And so we come to the conclusion of the Rage of the Red Lanterns, and let me tell you...it's a doozy. There is a LOT going on in this particular issue, not to mention the peeks at the future displayed in the Origins and Omens back-up story.

We begin with Carol Ferris, who is still carrying a torch for Hal Jordan. Oh, Carol...join the club. So, after a bit of lip-biting and contemplation, she decides to call Hal's apartment.



Well...THAT was a bit awkward.

Meanwhile of course, Hal is having his own problems, what with his encounter with Atrocitus and Sinestro, and the death of Laira. In his usual fashion, Hal is fed up, and he's not going to take it any more! Which leaves him wide open for THIS!



Holy Cow, he's hot in that uniform!

This turns out to be an unfortunate circumstance for the two Blue Lanterns however, Warth and St. Walker, whose powers don't seem to be working any more. Whoops. There's always a catch it seems. Atrocitus is gloating over the fact that Hope needs Willpower in order to function, and he's busy cackling away with glee, when St. Walker suddenly shoves a blue ring onto Hal's finger.
Since Hal is also busy trying to electrocute Sinestro, this turns out to be a smart move on the part of St. Walker. The blue light of Hope burns out the infection of the Red Rage, and Hal is able to concentrate once more, except that now his uniform is a strange amalgamation of blue and green. Being the fashion concious person that he is, Hal, not unnaturally, is a bit staggered. But not more so than St.Walker, who obviously didn't have any idea what exactly was going to happen.

So Atrocitus is beaten, and Sinestro grabs his few remaining minions and high-tails it out of there, back to Qward.

Carol is still moping over Hal, and in the hope of clearing her head, decides to take his old plane up for a ride. Doesn't she remember what happened to her the LAST time she went for a spin? Apparently not, because, lo and behold, the Zamarons are busy recruiting again!

In the midst of all of this, the Controllers make their way to the planet Okaara in the Vega system, intent on stirring up a little trouble. Naturally they find it, in the form of Larfleeze, who is now all pissed at the Guardians, since they had promised him that "it" would be forever his. We don't know what "it" is, but I'm sure it's special. Scar, the renegade Guardian is up to all KINDS of shenanigans, actively stirring up trouble and doing her very best to bring on the War of Light.

Whew! That's a lot of plot threads being established!

We then proceed to the Origins and Omens story, which takes place in the future,and has Guy chiding John about going off to Xanshi and moping. We also see Carol taking her oath as a Star Sapphire,and in a chilling final page, Hal and Sinestro surrounded, John being embraced by a corpse-like Katma Tui, Black Hand, and Alan Scott, Torquemada and Mordru standing in judgement before the Guardians...who don't look happy.

So...obviously there is a LOT going on. I found the revelation that the Blue Hope Corps may be the most powerful, but that they need Willpower in order to wield that power. In a way, this hearkens back to when Guy had Sinestro's yellow ring, and it would periodically run out of juice. He'd have to sync up with a passing Green Lantern in order to recharge it. So, I'm wondering if this is why Willpower is the balance between all of the various colors and various corps. They may have great power, and represent the various emotions along the spectrum, but without Willpower, they can't use that power as well. Which of course, makes the Green Lanterns the bestest of All. I can go along with that!

It's also interesting that they are pulling Carol right back into the story. Too bad about Cowgirl, I guess. And the future scene with Alan, Torquemada and Mordru makes me think that the Guardians are going to be making another of their patented bad decisions by outlawing all magic. I'm sure THAT will turn out well.

I do believe that this is also Ivan Reis's last issue, with the exception of a number of Blackest Night issues, which just breaks my heart. He draws Hal and all of the other characters SO purty.

Wow. For a relatively small week, at least for me, there was some really fabulous comic book goodness.