Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #12

Again, it took me a while, but this really was quite good.



Yes, this takes place after the conclusion of the War of the Green Lanterns, but other than showing us that Guy survives, it doesn't give anything away, so you can read it with impunity. And pleasure.

We begin with some Lanterns hanging out in their precinct house, one of whom is grousing about the boredom. Unfortunately for him...THAT doesn't last long. Eventually, it comes to the attention of the Guardians, that...Something is tearing through various precinct houses, and that Lanterns are disappearing. What is even stranger, is that their rings haven't gone on to chose a successor, which Salaak finds most peculiar. Furthermore, all of the destroyed precinct houses are in a direct line towards Oa.

After pointing out that they're smarter than Salaak (oh really?) the Guardians put their blue heads together and decide that Something Must Be Done about the terror that has been unleashed. So, naturaly, they go and get Guy Garnder. Because really, who else is there? Guy is trying to get some details out of the Guardians, but as usual, they are playing coy, just saying that the destructin of Mogo, lead to the demolishing of the ancient prison that held the ancient evil, and that perhaps something should be done about it. They don't want to get THEIR tiny blue hands dirty after all. So, Guy goes and rounds up some other Lanterns, mostly ones that seem to have a problem with authority or use of excessive force. Since excessive force is exactly what is called for, it seems like a good fit. Two of the Lanterns, Kruul and Squillic are particularly glad to go and punch things, which leads to my favorite quote from Guy..."Good. I like your misplaced enthusiasm."

Guy also grabs a Lantern named Theodoric, and Artois, who helps train the nite-lites in how to shoot straight. There are some nice small panels showing the continuing mayhem, as Guy puts his little group together, and they head out to face the Big Bad Guy. Everyone is tense, and eager for action...but once they actually confront it...Well, let's just say, that's one terrifying alien monster!

They're brave and fearless...and pretty much outmatched, since the Monster can become invisible, and their rings don't seem to be able to spot it either. It's picking them all off, one by one, until only Guy and Theodoric are left. Theodoric is stunned, that his comrades have all been eaten, but Guy realizes that they've been SWALLOWED, which may be all the difference, and the two of them get their shields up and blast right into the Monster's gullet.

Inside it's stomach, they are horrified to see all the bodies, their rings still on their fingers. They are alive, but only enough to feed the Creature...which is feeding off of the ring Energy. Theodoric wants to put them out of their misery, but Guy figures that they can do that...and destroy the Monster at the same time, by connecting to ALL of the rings, and feeding their power into them...thus blowing the Creature up from the inside!

That...that is a serious case of gas.

It works, and all of the rings are now free to go in search of new Lanterns. So...they destroyed an ancient Evil, and won the day...but Guy certainly isn't happy about it.

This...was a really good story. A nice "done-in-one" tale, just like last month, but very well written. Good stuff indeed.