Green Lantern Corps #6

And our little romp through Machoville, comes to a satisfactory close. Yes, "Lee", "Bronchuk" and "Flint" were a bit over the top, but I actually find the idea of a bunch of gnarly, leathery old Special Ops sorts of guys hanging around stealing beer from Warriors to be a great idea. I hope that this isn't the last we've seen of them. And besides, I'm sure that Guy was having the time of his life. And although we haven't seen Arisia or Soranik in a while, we DID get to see Sheriff Mardin and Brik. I like Brik. I've always liked Brik.

Anyway, John and his two remaining Lantern comrades are still being tortured by the Keepers, who want the codes for the Central Battery...OR ELSE! Ve haff Vays of making you cooperate, Amerikaners! But then the Keepers go and show that they aren't just misunderstood and oppressed nice guys, but that they are draining their own people for the power to open the Stargate and to destroy the Guardians, thus proving that they are actually your average power-hungry tyrannical despots. The usual Ends Justify the Means sort of guys.

Unfortunately, Kirrt, one of the Lanterns being tortured just can't take it any more ,and offers to spill the beans. John and Vandor are outraged, but Kirrt starts whimpering and apologizing. John says he's sorry too...and BREAKS HIS NECK!

Geez...John!

John and Vandor manage to break out, powered by John's stolen bit of willpower, but they're surrounded and about to be recaptured...when Guy and his Wild Bunch show up, mad as hell and armed to the teeth! Woohoo! As Guy points out, the Keepers may be immune to Willpower, they ain't immune to Lead! Earth Weaponry Rocks! Take that you pansy Aliens!

There is subsequent mayhem...LOTS of mayhem, but in the end, they just can't do it all by themselves, there are just too many Keepers, who are fighting to the bitter end. So...back up in the ship, they decide to drop their Fear Bomb. You remember those two nasty little Sinestro Corps members that they borrowed from the Sciencecells last issue? Well, they drop them into the fight zone, and they detonate, and...and...SCARE THE BEJESUS OUT OF THE KEEPERS!

I kid you not.

So, they start to grovel and surrender, and the Lanterns are able to free the rest of the populace from their evil overlords, and once they've recovered from their fear, they demand to see the Guardians. Except that John and Guy have already talked to the Guardians, and their punishment is to stay...and bury the bodies of all the victims that they killed when they stole their air, water, etc. Which is a rather nice twist. Guy's idea...he has rather a talent for this sort of thing.

I have to say that this was a little on the ridiculous side...but heck, it was also rather fun, in a completely over-the-top sort of way. And you also have to admit that Guy and John are VERY efficient. However...dropping Fear Bombs? Killing a fellow Lantern? I certainly can't see Hal doing something like that, at least not in the old days. But the new Corps seems to be a bit leaner and meaner. And now of course, the Guardians are planning to dump them, which I am sure isn't going to go well in the long run.

And I also assume that John's actions will have consequences. Granted, he didn't off another planet, for which we can all be thankful...but...still!