Green Lantern #48 review

Green Lantern #48
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Doug Mahnke
Inks by Christian Alamy, Doug Mahnke and Tom Nguyen
Colors by Randy Mayor with Gabe Eltaeb
Letters by Rob Leigh
Published by DC Comics
Review by Lan Pitts

"We will find it, Green Lantern. And we will give everything we have to destroy it." -- Ganthet

Note: The events in this issue, occur before Blackest Night #6 and acts as sort of the beginning to Blackest Night #5. Savvy?

Since most of the action has been diverted to the plot in "Blackest Night", this issue is more of a set up and character establishing if anything else. Not to say it's boring or anything near that, just sort of takes a breather. Green Lantern #48 focuses on the poster boys/girls of each Corps: Hal Jordan (Green), Carol Ferris (Star Sapphire), Saint-Walker (Blue), Sinestro (Yellow), Larfleeze (Orange), Indigo-1 (Indigo...duh), and Atrocitus (Red). I love how each of these characters have their own distinct voice and really get a chance to be showcased. There is a hint of Atrocitus' background, and we realize just how of a tortured soul he is.

Also, I'm finding myself liking Larfleeze more and more. He blurs the line between amusing and horrifying quite well. You have to admit, it's just perfect for him to ask for his Corps' own Guardian. Like I mentioned, there is really great character development going on here.

Of course the inevitable happened and the Corps leaders forge an uneasy alliance for the time being to destroy the Black Lanterns and their source. Johns has really given us a fantastic story thus far regarding anything Green Lantern, and I'm sure the finale of this crossover will not disappoint. Doug Mahnke's art is a perfect match for this sort of story. It's dynamic and an excellent mix of superhero imagery to the subtle things like Sinesto's smug face. He's accompanied by two other inkers, and of course himself on inking duties as well, and you can see minor details to each character and how they differentiate.

You have to admire Johns for basically doing a balancing act between to huge stories. One, being the dead rising all over in the DC Universe and becoming Black Lanterns, and the other is the beginning to the War of Light. If you've been reading just "Blackest Night", I think you might want to pick this one for a better understanding as it provides a level of background going into Blackest Night #5 that I'm sure would help you enjoy the full scope of things.